Car rental questions including supplemental liabitlity insurance

We almost used AutoEurope last year (appeared to be a low rental price per day, but then it appeared they would be requiring us to get their insurance, no option. As our Chase VISA card gives insurance coverage. we wanted to have the option to skip their insurance, so we looked elsewhere, and have never used them in 25+ years of renting in Europe.

My guess is that the €30,000 supplemental coverage would be if you hit someone and severely injured them, the coverage would provide an extra €30,000 for medical coverage than the “regular” €100K … or if you total somebody’s big BMW or Mercedes, instead of a little Renault or Kia, you have slightly better coverage. I’m sure experts here will provide a definitive answer.

We’ve almost always rented directly from the company (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Dollar, etc.), but have also used a couple of third-party companies (always cheaper than AutoEurope), DiscoverCars and (in Italy only) Noleggiare.

Thank you Cyn. I have been loyal to Auto Europe because they helped me with the situation when I called them from England. It appears the company is cutting costs by cutting customer service. I appreciate your suggestion on someone else to try.

Remember that AutoEurope is not a car rental agency. They are the front end for accessing multiple rental agencies. Costco Travel is analogous.

Any "requirements" regarding insurance and associated fees are those of the actual rental agencies. I've rented several times over the past two months using AutoEurope as the front end, with two different rental agencies. Wasn't obligated to pay for added coverage in any of the rentals. My Costco Visa card coverage is what I rely on.

Thank you jphbucks. I am aware that Autoeurope is not the rental company and have been renting from them for at least 10 years. Also, I should have put in the original post that I have purchased their insurance voluntarily )Their insurance is not the rental cars company, they offer their own through a 3rd party). In the past, I could get zero deductible. Now I have to push "basic plus" where I am offered to upgrade to full protection which I did. (with full protection, you are supposed to get your deductible back if something happens. Thankfully, I have never had to use the insurance)

I have continued to read and research, and it seems that the "Supplemental Liability insurance deductible" is not on the "Full Protection" information. I just wish they had a phone number you could call to verify that.

I have been loyal to Autoeurope since they helped me in 2014 with a rental from Heathrow. Back then, I was using my own travel insurance for car rentals. The man was refusing to allow me to use that coverage and would not give me the car unless I bought their insurance. I called Autoeurope and they cleared it up.

My concern now is that if something happens now, there is no toll free 24 hour helpline and everything is much more confusing. I tend to be a "research until I'm sure I understand" person.

Edited: I researched the company and found out it was sold to deck-2 capital in December of 2025. The web site looks the same, but the paperwork does not. I did rent in Turkey and Greece this last March and I noticed some differences then. Now back to my investigation (which means reading RECENT reviews)

Connie, I’m in Wales at the moment, and just being curious, I typed “AutoEurope phone number” into my Search Box. For what it’s worth, it displayed +44 123 322 5114, but that’s for AutoEurope UK, probably because I’m in the U.K. It also gave be a number for AutoEurope Germany (+49 894 120 7269), although I hadn’t request that. The response also gave a U.S. “headquarters” address in Portland, Maine, but gave no phone number.

If you search on the Internet and are in the U.S., although you’ve likely already done this, maybe multiple times, would you possibly get a U.S. phone number?

This is infuriating, but more and more companies seem to have eliminated customer service phone options, or at least have made the phone numbers hard to obtain. They have a cheery Autobot all ready to assist you with your every need, but the Bot doesn’t solve anything. If you do happen to find a phone number, you’re now usually greeted with a robot that claims it can resolve whatever it is that made you call, but getting a human is less and less likely, or you have to try and try again.

Any service company that fails to provide service is going to lose customers.

Thank you Cyn for looking for the numbers for me. I do have the old numbers for the US as I have been a long time renter with them. When I call Customer service and the 24 hour helpline, they both have the same recording. They tell you the numbers have changed and to check the website to contact them. Of course, there are no new numbers on the web site and no bot. I did get to a "send an e-mail", but I haven't figured out how to get back to it. I did look at recent reviews. They have all been one star since the new company took over in December. (One exception, but his review was for the web site and he had not taken the trip yet). Some of the reviews didn't relate to me, but ALL of them complained about not being able to reach anybody either during the trip or after.

I know some people have rented off the UK website, and I don't know if they are still owned by the same people. If you just googled it, it may be inaccurate. I googled it, and they showed the numbers I already had tried. I will check out the web site to see if they still display phone numbers. I've pretty much decided to cancel with them, and I am researching other options.

Thanks again

Update: There are no phone numbers on the web site and it looks identical to the US. Previously, the web site said to call them if you have a flight delay so they can change your booking . (otherwise your car can be given away and you still have to pay!) Now if FAQ it says "we have no control over your flight delay. Call the car rental company and they may be able to hold your car". This is not the company I have rented from for many trips, and I am not impressed with the new owner (which happens to be an investment company)

BBB shows a phone of (207) 842-2000 and (207) 842-2094

https://www.bbb.org/search?find_country=USA&find_latlng=43.665619%2C-70.258163&find_loc=Portland%2C%20ME&find_text=auto%20europe&page=1&sort=Relevance

Not sure if that is any new info

The BBB shows the 2 most recent complaints are 'unanswered' ( from May and June)

Good luck

Their insurance is not the rental cars company, they offer their own through a 3rd party). In the past, I could get zero deductible. Now I have to push "basic plus" where I am offered to upgrade to full protection which I did.

Ah, now things make more sense. I need to quit relying on my own paradigm of using credit card coverage. Need to remember that there are other ways of protecting oneself against rental car damage costs. Sorry about that.

jbhbucks: No worries. Everyone responding with different ideas drove me to continue my research and make a decision. After finding out the company has been sold and reading recent reviews I have decided to cancel my reservation and book directly with Euopecar. I also looked at the BBB reviews. Every business gets bad reviews, but seeing my concern (not being able to reach them in an emergency) mentioned in almost every review, leads me to feel it is not worth it to save a few hundred dollars. I will miss the company I used for so many years.

Thank you all

we have no control over your flight delay

Well, they didn’t have any control over flight delays before now, either, but at least they were willing and able to help their customers in the event a delay occurred … and made it possible to be contacted about it. Sad.

I wonder if the investment company is trying to ruin AutoEurope, so they can write off a huge loss?!?

My experience is that supplemental liability coverage is only offered to American renters. I think that’s all you need to know.

AFAIK: only the owner needs to worry about liability insurance, not the driver.

Lastly: My only AutoEurope rental had additional liability included in the AutoEurope contract but the local company refused to put it in the actual rental contract.

Also for Cyn: Chase doesn’t care about insurance that can’t be waived, call them and ask. I often use Chase insurance just to cover the deductible on rental car insurance that can’t be waived.