AutoEurope and rental car insurance

I usually use AutoEurope, and I’ve always found the service excellent. I usually opt for the full no deductible coverage so when I get the car, I don’t have to buy anything extra,

See what AutoEurope has to offer and then compare with Avis direct after you add the insurance on the spot.

We have used Auto Europe exclusively for over twenty years for yearly trips to Europe. They will stand behind you if you have any problems. Avis is one of the companies AutoEurope frequently uses. But you have more protection and support by booking through Auto Europe and no hassles if you have a problem.

IMHO Avis versus AutoEurope versus any other large corporation generally makes no difference other than the logo you see at the counter. The guys you're renting from are locals, working for a local company that just has some loose agreement with the familiar named company.

I'm a satisfied customer of gemut.com, a US-based service that specializes in (among other things) setting up European car rentals. I tell them exactly what I want (locations for pickup/dropoff, dates, what class of car I want, etc.), they do all the shopping for me and come back with a price quote. Once I approve that and pay up front (fully refundable up to the actual pick-up), they send me the paperwork, which I print out and show the agency staff. Their prices are good (they'll meet or beat any price for a comparable rental you might find). They work with Europcar, Avis, Hertz, and others, they do all the detail work, you just pay, show up, and drive. (If your car is pre-paid, you can count on it being there when you arrive - no Seinfeld experiences.) If there are issues before, during or after the rental, they work with you and the agencies to resolve things favorably. I've rented cars through them for decades and have always had positive experiences. I've been places where they could not arrange a car but those are off the mainstream European tourist circuit. I have rented through them in Italy several times before, and am doing so again next week. Our car is from Budget, booked via AutoEurope; I deal with Andy at Gemut.

For insurance, I pay with a credit card that provides full, zero-deductible comprehensive coverage at no additional cost. (Some credit cards provide this benefit, some don't - check to see if yours does; if you want to use that, call the card customer service number and ask about the insurance coverage; they'll send you a note via email with details and that you can show at the counter in case you get any pushback).

I use this benefit often and have saved thousands of dollars over the years by skipping the supplemental insurance offered at the counter. Yes, it works in Italy, and in Ireland, and other places where people will tell you it won't. (Caveat: Always understand whatever insurance coverage you have or think you have, and be sure to follow the requirements of whoever is providing it - that goes no matter where you get insurance from).

See you out on the road in Italy!

When we lived in the US and visited Europe, we always rented through AutoEurope and bought full coverage that we prepaid. AutoEurope went to bat for me several times when I had conflicts with the rental agency. They are based in Portland, Maine and have a 24-hour number you can call from Europe. The representatives from the car-rental companies have desks in the AutoEurope headquarters so problems can be quickly resolved.

We alway use AutoEurope will full coverage
They are having a flash sale today-set up an account to get those rates
(I just booked an 8 day rental automatic midsize diff drop off point with full insurance for $415)

You will have a choice of agencies (Europcar, Hertz, Avis etc) so if Avis is your preferred vendor see what they offer on AutoEurope
We have had rented Europcar, Avis and Hertz thru AutoEurope

When using the Search Function you need to filter by Type and Date to get the most recent posts

IMHO Avis versus AutoEurope versus any other large corporation generally makes no difference other than the logo you see at the counter. The guys you're renting from are locals, working for a local company that just has some loose agreement with the familiar named company. I'm a satisfied customer of gemut.com, a US-based service that specializes in (among other things) setting up European car rentals.

Gemut says this on their website:

Why We Use Auto Europe Exclusively
As most readers know, for the past 16 years we have booked all our rental customers through Auto Europe. The principal reasons are competitive rates, service, and post-rental resolution of disputed charges.
https://gemut.com/car-rental-europe-tips-and-advice/why-we-use-auto-europe-exclusively

Thank you all so much for the rental info and for the filters for search!

Just a note

With AutoEurope you will pay upfront but you can always rebook if you find a better rate with them
Since you are just 2 weeks out probably not going to happen -but you never know
I would just check daily anyway

If you have any questions just call them toll free
They are US based and extremely helpful and knowledgeable

Enjoy your trip!

Also make sure all drivers have an IDP-required by law and AutoEurope also notes this on their rentals
We HAVE been asked to show it at rental desk-they don’t always ask-but if they do and you don’t have it they can and will deny you the rental

@John...

Why We Use Auto Europe Exclusively
As most readers know, for the past 16 years we have booked all our rental customers through Auto Europe. The principal reasons are competitive rates, service, and post-rental resolution of disputed charges.

Yes. But two things can be true at the same time.

AutoEurope books through multiple rental agencies...including Avis and Budget and more. I'm picking up a car on Tuesday in Italy, at the Budget Rent a Car counter. I had Gemut arrange the booking for me, and I paid them. They (Gemut) went through AutoEurope, who booked our car from Budget. Budget probably got the car from some guy named Enzo or Luigi. I expect to see signs with the logos for most of them at the counter (except gemut....don't know about Luigi).

I have had Andy at Gemut book cars for me all over Europe, from the Azores to Lithuania to Italy to Ireland to Malta to Turkey. Exactly whose logo is on the keychain may vary. At some rental counters, I see familiar international signage everywhere. At others, I've seen plastic signs for 8 or 10 different, famous international companies on the wall (Hertz, Avis, AutoEurope, Sixt, whatever), along with the local company's real name (which I had never heard of before arriving). A couple times, no familiar logos anywhere. I've come to accept that I shouldn't be distracted by the logos.

This certainly runs counter to the accepted wisdom for booking flight tickets, which always says to book directly with the airline (which I agree with and almost always follow).

This long chain of company affiliations we see with car rentals seems to work out just fine - for car rentals. Different business models. I just shrug and move on.

Well, renting from Avis USA is not the same as renting from Avis Italia. They are two different companies although both part of the AvisBudget Group. Also consider that many offices are just independent franchisees (maybe a car dealership, or even a gas station), which has entered a franchise contract with Avis. The same is true for all other car rental companies.

In any case, just want to remind you that many cars in Europe, especially in Italy, are diesel cars. Diesel cars are good, as diesel fuel costs less (the fuel tax is lower) and diesel cars get more miles with a gallon, and have much more power (torque), which is very useful on steep mountain roads.

However you must make sure you know what AdBlue additive is, in case you run low. AdBlue is an additive required by European emission regulations, and if you run low and don't refill it, the car will not restart. Usually the car rental company will give you a car that has enough, but if you drive for a lot of miles, you might run into the situation where you have to refill it.

https://gemut.com/car-rental-europe-tips-and-advice/diesel-rental-cars-need-adblue

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/emissions/adblue/

You can also get insurance from third parties, like Amex and Allianz. In Italy you're going to want to have as much insurance as possible to cover anything.