Rental car with autoeurope.com

Bridgette, did you rent the car or lease the car through the Buy Back Program? What country are you getting the car in?

Thanks Steve. I do have my pre-paid voucher that I am definitely bringing. It notes on the voucher that I owe nothing at time of pick up.
Andrea: I am renting, no buy back (whatever that is)
I am renting in Italy. I pick up and drop off at FCO airport. I rented it online.

You got a great price.

The Autoeurope buy back program is a lease for rentals of more than 17 days. It is all inclusive of insurance, etc. and is a good way to book a long term rental.

The disadvantage to the lease is that any pick up and/or drop off outside of France you have to pay extra.

Brigette, I've rented from Auto Europe several times in the past and have never had a problem. The amount I paid was always what was quoted, and service has always been excellent. I'm using them in a month to rent a car for 3 days in Germany, and got a rate ($153) that was far cheaper than anything else I found.

You will want to be sure to read your voucher. I'm thinking that your rate might not include CDW, theft or road tax. Such is the case per the Auto Europe voucher I have made payment for a similar car & term for this fall. But if all this is covered in your rate, you scored!

This is what is says on my voucher:
[YOUR RENTAL FROM HERTZ INCLUDES]
* 20% Sales tax as of Booking Date: 09-Jul-2010
* Unlimited mileage and fire insurance
* Liability Insurance for injuries or damages to persons or things outside the vehicle.
* Rental includes Collision Damage coverage Rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to deductible of approximately EUR 300.00.
* Rental includes Theft Protection for the vehicle. Rental limits potential vehicle loss liability to deductible of approximately EUR 300.00.
* 14% Airport Surcharge included for rentals commencing at an airport location.
[RENTAL DOES NOT INCLUDE]
* Insurance coverage for personal injuries to driver or passengers. Optional coverage may be offered locally for an additional fee.
* Gasoline. Client is advised to return the vehicle with a full gas tank and to retain copies of gas receipts. Personal Accident Insurance.
* Road Tax of approximately €2.16 per day, maximum charge of approximately €32.40 per rental.
* Local toll, highway fees or travel stickers which may be required by local authorities
[GENERAL TERMS]
Auto Europedoes not provide insurance . Coverage is provided by the rental company, as indicated. Additional coverage may be available for purchase from the
rental company.
* Insurance does not provide coverage for damage to windows, wheels, tires, roof , underside or interior of the vehicle.

OK: so road tax is not included? But is the CDW??

The line "Rental includes Collision Damage coverage Rental limits potential vehicle damage liability to deductible of approximately EUR 300.00" would suggest this is the CDW with a 300 Euro deductible....meaning they'll put a 300 Euro hold on your credit card until you return the vehicle.
If you remain unsure, the best thing to do would be to simply call Hertz and ask them to clarify for you.

Brigette, we rented from Autoeurope twice, and had not problems. Last December we missed the day to pick up because of the Eurostar fiasco, and when we did turn up to their office and explained, they were fine with that. We were not charged the two missed days.

You're in good hands.

"Insurance does not provide coverage for damage to windows, wheels, tires, roof , underside or interior of the vehicle."

Find out how you can cover yourself for these damages, because they can add up to a hefty amount. If damage occurs, you can be sure Hertz will charge you as if the car were brand new.

"[RENTAL DOES NOT INCLUDE] * Insurance coverage for personal injuries to driver or passengers."

Be sure you and all your passengers have health insurance that will cover you in Europe.

I bought travel insurance that includes insuring the car, in addition to medical, etc. If you plan to buy insurance you can check with insuremytrip.com and compare policies. I bought my policy directly from the insurance company after comparing.

Has anyone actually claimed on their VISA or Mastercard auto insurance when it was used to only cover the "extras" such as window, windshield, tire or undercarriage damage not the result of a collision? Visa's website says that "the Visa Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit ("Auto Rental CDW") provides—at no additional charge—reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles." Before assuming it WILL cover the extra provisions, I'd call their benefits administrators.

I do not believe your credit card company will cover cdw when renting in Italy in which case cdw must be purchased through the rental company. Looks like Autoeurope has included that in your contract with a $300 deductible so you should be ok. You can call their toll free number and verify. European rental companies are required by law to provide third-party liability insurance which covers you for damage to property and persons outside your vehicle.

The terms I've read for credit card rental coverage say that you have to decline the rental company's coverage to be covered by the credit card.

EDIT: oh, and as Lane says, generally credit card coverage isn't available in Italy (or Ireland).

I note you will be dealing with Hertz. BE SURE to fill the gas tank before you turn the car in. I was so focused on following the signs to Munich airport this summer that I forgot look for a gas station and returned the car with a half-full tank.

Hertz charged me an exorbitant amount per liter for a FULL tank of gas, which cost me more than the great rate I'd gotten on the four-day car rental!

(They also tried to charge me for a week's rental but I got that resolved after standing in a loooong line at the airport terminal. Look at your receipt if you're checked in by an employee outside with a hand-held machine.)

Steve is right - Visa card coverage is good in Italy. But Mastercard coverage may not be. I have a "World" Mastercard. It excludes coverage in Italy (as well as Australia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica & New Zealand). If you're planning to rely on Mastercard coverage, better check your most recent benefits booklet.

Wow!! So much input and good advice. Thanks all :)

OK...........today I called customer service at autoeurope.com. Very helpful.
The ONLY other charge I have is the road tax. Which will be around euro 32.00 (for the entire rental period). If I want to add another driver it would be euro 7.50 per day.
The CDW, theft, sales tax is all included.
But, the windshield, undercarriage and tires are not. But my Visa might take care of that.
I am SO happy with the rate: $527.00 for 17 days!!
I got a quote today from Gemut.com and it was $963.00!!!! Same pick-up/drop-off and coverage.
I am now fully satisfied and confident of my Voucher from autoeurope.com. And don't fear any 'unknown' charges when I go to pick up.
Thank you all for your help :)

We are indeed quoting $953 today for a 4-door compact VW Golf or similar at the Rome Airport. This is for a Hertz car booked with Auto Europe. I believe Brigette obtained her $527 price last month when Auto Europe was running a sale on Hertz. However, as I recall the $527 price was for a 2-door economy Ford KA or similar, so it's not an 'apples to apples' comparison. The quote for that same 2-door economy car today is $698. Brigette's timing was perfect and she got one of the great deals of the summer. BTW, in addition to the $527 she will pay a local road tax of 2.16 euros per day.
Bob Bestor
Gemut.com
800-521-6722

True Bob, it is a 2 door economy car. And I did book and pay for it last month. And yes, like I stated I do have to pay the road tax. But..........I am still HAPPY!!!
I was also fortunate enough when I booked my airline tickets too!! RT from San Fran. to Rome was $635.00 ea.
I am all for the 'best bang for my buck' motto :)

You really hit the jackpot with your car rental AND airfare! I'm curious -- what time of year are you traveling?

Hi Andrea, Oct 5-26 of this year. I just kept checking the airfares for when we wanted to go and it was running $900-$1000.00. Then one night I checked and it was $635.00 (incl. taxes). That lasted for about a week, then it was gone! And then up to reg. prices again. So it definitly pays to keep checking. For some reason I think yahoo travel (or airlines in general) do some price changes on Tuesdays?? Just my observation, may not be true. Just pays to shop around and be patient.

Brigette, you got a great deal on the car. Congratulations. It was good to see Mr. Bestor explain the rate disparity of the two quotes you got noting that yours was an economy car vs a compact he quoted. Also, your timing was perfect since Autoeurope was offering a special on the Hertz economy car at the very time you checked. You should have played the lottery that day.

Brigette, Good work! I was originally going to say that you got lucky, but I know it takes lots of time and research to find the good deals. I got some bargains on airfare to Europe two and three years ago during spring break the same way you did -- no deals to be had this summer, though, where I paid an exorbitant amount for airfare from CA to Rome. :-( It really pays to travel during the off-season, doesn't it? (And to do your homework!) Have a great trip! Andrea

We usually use AutoEurope, and have never had a problem. For our trip in Italy/Sardinia this last May, AE had the best price, but it was thru Hertz.

I refused to rent from Hertz in Italy; they have been known to automatically place Italian ZTL/ traffic/ parking fines on your credit card, leaving you no opportunity to appeal.

They also do like the other auto rental agencies, and charge a large "locator fee" to tell the authorities who was driving the car.

AE found us another rental agency, with a little higher price; but at least I was satisfied.

We used the buyback program through Kemwel, a company based in Maine when we went to France (Provence and Dordogne River valley (Perigord) for 3 weeks in 2008. They were great. See http://www.kemwel.com/

Hertz does charge customers for traffic tickets. They charge an administrative fee to provide contact info to the ticketing agency on renters who get ticketed while driving a Hertz car. Even in Italy there is due process. Also, for the record, Kemwel is owned by Auto Europe.

Sorry about the above post. I meant to say Hertz does NOT charge traffic fines to customers....only admin fees for providing info to the ticketing agency about who was driving the car when he was ticketed.