Car rental - assuring a car will be there?

There will be a car, the bigger problem is usually if you specifically request a certain size car or request an automatic transmission, then they may not have that option on arrival. The problem is more serious if you request an automatic because you cannot drive a stick, otherwise they likely will offer an "upgrade" if the car you requested is not available, do not get sucked into paying for a more expensive car if what you reserved is not available.

We once in Rome had to accept a seriously damaged car (the attendant had run it into a pole bringing it from the back lot) or have no car. It was driveable but we had to insist they provide us with extensive documentation of the damage and then in Paris where we turned it in they demanded we surrender the documentation and were not willing to provide copies. We returned it at CDG but to their chagrin we were not catching a flight and so were able to wait them out and get copies. I am convinced we would have been billed for the damage if we had not retained copies of the documents.

In Rome also it took us two hours to get a car (which is not unusual); we had to wait until cars were turned in; we were driving stick, the guy who had reserved an automatic had been at the airport Hertz for 3 hours and still was there when we left with our car two hours later.

Since our damaged car in the small agency in Rome, we have rented from airports usually and sometimes train stations and have always gotten a car.

Oh, once in London we had reserved one Christmas Eve for Christmas day since there is no public transport at Christmas and we were doing Christmas with relatives in East Anglia. When my son and husband arrived to pick up the reserved car around 4:30, they had no cars, because people who needed them and couldn't reserve had simply rented earlier and then failed to return them. The agent in London drove my guys and 3 others in the same situation to Heathrow and got them cars there. I assume someone came into Heathrow Christmas Eve and probably didn't get their car.

You can't guarantee it works but by renting from airports your odds should be higher that a car will be available.

After more than 30 minutes of aggressive "negotiations" the car hire in Paris upgraded our car, because I wasn't leaving or letting them do anything else until they did. (I know that makes me sound like a bitch but I had had enough and they were incredibly rude). They offered as a tiny little two door car for four of us plus luggage and said that's all they had. (had booked a mid size 4 door sedan). When I said it wasn't what we had booked, they laughed and said "you are in France now". The car hire were the only rude people we came across in the whole country. In both cases (problems in Italy and France) the only solution came after calling AutoEurope to fix it. Also don't assume you can stick to an itinerary based on picking the car up at a set time. Just because you booked a 10.00am pick up and you are there at 10.00am has no correlation to what time they will make a car available to you. You may be lucky but give yourself plenty of leeway on that first day so you don't get too stressed.

Lots of horror stories here, but it seems most of them took place at smaller rental offices. If you are arriving at the Nice airport, you should be fine. I was there last May and there were PLENTY of cars available.

Thanks for the information.
Our reservation is for pick up at Nice Train Station.

Had heard that Airports and Train Stations generally a good bet.
We were interested to know if there were suggestions to help ensure availability.. .. like paying a deposit, or calling the office directly a few days ahead.. which we might try.. tho we don't speak French..

If you go through a US company like Autoeurope or Kemwell a car will be there because you've paid in advance, reimbourseable up to 48 hours prior. If it's a small agency, you still may have a little wait for the exact size, or until it's washed. If you pick up a car, even at the airport, on the busiest rental week of the year--as we did-- you may get the last car, one that they've saved for you due to it being prepaid. It was my least favorit car ever, but at least it was there.

I have rented dozens of times (a few automatics) and have never had a problem like these. I typically rent at airports despite being told it might be a few dollars cheaper elsewhere... Guess this is a good indication that maybe you get what you pay for. Also, if you reserve through Priceline instead of prepaying there are usually plenty of other rental car desks that you can go to if they don't have the car you want.

how about a minivan in July at the Disney Paris Eurostar train station thru either Avis or Hertz. We will have 6, so have to have a bigger vehicle. We did not prepay. We are dropping at a different city, if that makes a difference.

Elaine... you should post a separate question...
However, we have rented vans a couple of times (9 passenger) at the airport in Marsailles. We never had any
problems, but if you rent from one of the big companies, chances are they will have your vehicle. Obviously we cannot assure you that your vehicle will be there, but tons of people rent and are happy every day.

@Elaine During peak vacation times (July, August, Christmas break) even the large agencies run out of some classes of cars. So if you have specific needs, you should pre-pay via a consolidator.

I rent from Hertz or Avis at major city train stations and have had no problems. A couple of times I have been upgraded because the car I had chosen was not available, but they always manage to provide an automatic transmission for me.

I have never had any issue and I have rented from all kinds of places in Europe, but I drive a manual transmission. I have seen people waiting for automatics.