I realize this is a transportation question, but it is specific to Italy...so I'm posting it here. Has anyone had good/bad experience renting from Budget in Rome? Their deductibles are higher than Autoeurope ($1500 & 1000 vs. $540 & 310), but the price for an intermediate car ($486) is more than $100 less than autoeurope ($610 incl. 'road use tax'), & charge for extra drivers is $3.75 x day vs. $10. Any opinions from personal experience? (And no, we're not driving IN Rome...just using it to go north.) Thanks...
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Just give Autoeurope a chance to match the deal. Call their 800 number in Maine and work with a human.
Posted by
OP
Arlington
127 posts
Thanks, Doug...I tried calling autoeurope last week w/a quote from economycarrentals.com. They told me it had to be apples-to-apples comparison, & that a Ford Focus wagon was actually a compact, not an intermediate (both ECR & Budget classify it an intermediate)...& that their Fiat Croma was larger. (The picture looks identical, but I'm not going to research the specs.) There's also the difference in deductibles (AE's is lower). I know everyone recommends AE, but it sounded to me as if this is the way they avoid matching prices.
Posted by
Alpine
31 posts
I have always found www.kemwell.com gives best price. Will upgrade up if car in not avaiavle when you arrive.Turn key includes Insurance etc. but second driver is extra. What doyou mean by deductible. We paid speicific price for car, insurance etc. and received credit when we turned car in early.
Posted by
OP
Arlington
127 posts
The deductible is your out-of-pocket expense in case of theft or collision. It's in the fine print. I checked kemwell...thanks for the tip...but their rate was about the same as autoeurope. You have the option of bringing deductibles down to zero (no cost to you) by paying a higher rate for the rental.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
Have you tried europcar.com?
We rented a car in Amsterdam a few years ago and it was the cheapest.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
I thought the theft waiver was included in price.
Europecar doesn't charge you extra for that.
Posted by
DeWitt, MI, USA
199 posts
Jean, try Avis, using any possible discounts. We rented from them in September, and it was a little more than Budget and Thrifty, but I've been pleased with Avis a number of times in Europe. They made it very easy.
Posted by
OP
Arlington
127 posts
Thanks for all the helpful replies. I continue to follow up on leads. The main problem seems to be that the bargains out there are for the smaller cars & we need 2 intermediates (7 ppl plus luggage); so the rates aren't as competitive there. Not to beat a dead horse, but Italy is infamous for auto theft (& collisions, too, I assume)...so the cheaper rates (Budget, Avis) that "include" this coverage actually have $1500 deductibles, unless you purchase additional coverage. Guess it gets down to 'do you feel lucky?'