When picking up a car rental in France, would one be able to pick it up an hour earlier from what was booked on the reservation? I've never rented a car in another country and was curious if I should change my reservation or just hope to be able to pick the car up earlier then what was booked on the reservation. We're taking a train from Paris to Rennes and looks like we'll be there 2 hours early. It appear Rennes train station doesn't have a place to hold luggage if we wanted to kill time. Thank you for any and all advice.
Posted by
USA
369 posts
Your car is likely to be available but of course, no guarantees. And it's good to have some buffer time in case your train runs late. If you change your reservation, you probably have to cancel and completely rebook and that could mean a price change. Try a new booking for the earlier pickup time and see if you get the same (or better - unlikely) price.
Posted by
Chicago
8053 posts
We have waited two hours for a car because they didn't have one in time for our reservation. Probably you can pick it up early but if you know you will want to do so, I would change the reservation. We had one trip where we changed the drop off location twice and were able to do it fairly easily on line. WE also once almost didn't have a car in London for Christmas (no public transport on Christmas and boxing day) because people who couldn't get a rental car, just got one a few days early and then didn't return it; the agent drove my husband and a couple of others in the same boat to Heathrow to get a car there. I am assuming someone was arriving at Heathrow later and would not have a car. Car rental agencies never guarantee a car will be there. As the Seinfield episode joked 'don't you people know the meaning of the word 'reservation'.'
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1189 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
You could get lucky and get the car early. It might cost you an extra day rental fee. Why, the extra day? If you agreed to pick up at noon and return three days later at or before noon, you would get charged for three days. Picking that same rental up at 10:00 and returning at noon or before three days later would likely constitute an extra day. Just sayin'...
The car rental agency may be willing to hold your luggage. Remember this is France. Every request should end with "If you please". Politeness goes a long way every where in the world. I see several museums with in two blocks of the Europcar rental office. I don't know who you booked with but Europcar has been excellent for us when we have needed help. Even when we haven't had one of their rentals...
2 hours is a nice cushion in case something gets hung up in your travel. Better to have slack time than be nervous about being late.
wayne inWI
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1137 posts
What Janet said. I have arrived on time only to have my car not yet available. But if you want to get it earlier, I'd at least tell the company that.