Rental Car fees

Rentals booked Feb 08, 2019 onward fee is included in the rate.

Since it is after Feb 08, 2019 does that mean it is included in the quote or is in addition to the amount quoted?

Seems the answer to your question is included in what you quoted of their policy.

Suggest you contact the rental agency to confirm what is 'included' and what is an 'extra'.

Not that this gives a definite answer, but regarding the rail station charge, it must be similar to the extra fee (although ours has been just €40 or less) we’ve had when renting from or returning to an airport office. Maybe the rental company is just passing on the fee the rail station charges them for the office space and parking lot real estate their car operation is taking up.

I’m guessing the environmental fee is something the government (national? departmental? municipal?) has assessed to offset petroleum-fueled vehicles, wear and tear on roads, etc. Hopefully not something the company made up that sounds like they’re saving the planet, but just collecting more from customers.

How’s their overall rate, compared with other rental firms?

I'm looking on Autoeurope and it is quoting Europcar $290 for 9 days for an automatic compact car, so not a bad quote. It's just if those fee are an additional fee, it adds almost $150 to the cost.

You are asking a good question. These charges are common. But it's unclear from language whether or not they are already included in your $290 quote. Only way to know for sure is to contact them. Enjoy your trip!

My Autoeurope quotes have always included everything when rented from an airport, no hidden suprises, including any insurance I take out with them.

GPS and tax on the GPS are paid locally. GPS fees are cheapest with Europcar (through Autoeurope).

Also looking at AutoEurope for my upcoming rental in France. Our last rental through them in Italy included everything (including winter tire chains). We had zero surprises. They are very transparent with their pricing.

If you ever have questions or problems with a rental through AutoEurope, call them on their toll free number. Their customer service personnel are a wealth of information and will bend over backwards to help.

Location surcharges, where applicable, are payable at drop off but are charge referencing where the car was picked up, such as at airports or train stations. As of last year, Autoeurope now includes most fees in the quote (apparently since February 2019).

Additional driver fees and additional insurance coverages are not included in Autoeurope quotes and will be charged at drop off. Autoeurope quotes are very clear, to those reading the agreements, about what is and what is not included.

Hello from Wisconsin,
I have had nothing but excellent service from Auto Europe. Give them a call. They can tell you. I am betting, they mean bookings made after Feb. 08.

Both rail stations and airports often come with a surcharge because of limited and expensive parking available near either.

I have booked a car for England this spring, it too has a clause...starting Feb 24 (or some date) the road tax charge will be part of new quotes. There must be a movement afoot to include environmental and road charges in rental quotes. Legal requirements so all quotes are on the same up and up. Owning a car in Europe requires even locals to pay these fees. Having a car in Europe is expensive compared to our free wheeling, ignore the true external costs of cars, life style we live.

wayne iNWI

Update:

I called Autoeurope and they were very helpful. Indicated that all those fees were included. They were able to look it up and tell me there were no additional local fees. We went ahead and booked the car. Also nice to confirm that there is no one way rental fee with the Europcar we are renting.

My Autoeurope rentals for the last 10 years or so have have included any airport fees and insurance I requested, paid up front ( apart from a GPS, which is all explained clearly). I used to use Sixt previously (ridiculously expensive now), and the same applied with them.

No idea why this Feb 08, 2019 date comes into the picture.

My Autoeurope rentals for the last 10 years or so have have included any airport fees and insurance I requested,

While insurance has been included whenever I bought it through AE, airport (or rail station) fee, road fee, and environmental fee have never been included in the past. The AE voucher always has said that those fees will be paid locally, although it gave an estimate for what the fees would cost. Now, I've booked through AE again for April, and for the first time those charges are included (the voucher states that road tax and airport surcharge are included).
So something changed in February 2019. Maybe there was a new French or EU law. Or maybe the car rental companies adopted a new policy. Or maybe AutoEurope adopted a new policy (I'd be curious to hear from someone who has recently rented directly from a car rental company).

My experience in France lately, be it through Auto Europe or directly, is that I never have to pay any fees on top of the voucher / or what the reservation says when I'm not pre-paying. Besides optional insurance, of course.
Basically just confirming other posts!