I'm looking into renting a car with pickup in Florence as I leave Florence heading into Tuscany. I'm a Hertz Gold Plus member and can book a car through Hertz directly online. They have a pickup place in Florence, Via del Sansovino 53, that has a car large enough for my family of 5. We plan to drop the car off at Hertz in Orvieto near the train station. I can do all the reservations online from Hertz website, but I just don't know if this is a good idea. The alternative is to book the same car from Hertz but book through Auto Europe. I just want the best most reliable booking method to ensure I won't have any issues when I arrive at the Hertz counter in Florence to get the car I have reserved.
Any advice on which method is the best or most reliable?
Thanks!
Posted by
4533 posts
The booking method won't matter, you'll get a car either way. Just choose the cheaper one. Sometimes a one way fee that shows up on the rental car website disappears on the AutoEurope website for the same car and company.
Realize with AutoEurope you will have to prepay and may incur a cancellation charge. AutoEurope "guarantees" you a car, but I think if you prepaid through Hertz you would get a similar guarantee. I'm not sure how you will get points for the rental thru AutoEurope.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7396 posts
We've generally gone directly thru the rental company's Website (Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Europcar, etc.) when renting a car, just to ensure there's no intermediary, and the price seems to be the same or better when we do so. Also, if your Gold Plus status makes a difference with Hertz, going directly thru them would seem to make sense.
Posted by
Ventura, CA, USA
297 posts
I agree with Cyn. I always have booked directly through the Hertz web site. With your gold plus membership, you might even get a better price, or perks like super coverage included.
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1166 posts
I know everyone sings the praises of Auto Europe, but we just book Hertz, Sixt, or Budget online based on opening times and pricing.
We are members of each and it's easy to book direct.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Auto Europe is not currently working with the Hertz office in Orvieto, so you have to go direct.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11199 posts
Book directly with Hertz.
Cannot imagine how having an intermediary would be better. That just gives rise to the situation of being in a "its the other guys fault" blame game if something did go wrong
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10216 posts
For planes and hotels we book directly to avoid the situation Joe describes. However for European car rentals, AutoEurope has advocated for us several times. They have reps from the car rental companies in their Portland office to settle problems fast. OTOH there were several posts here a couple years ago from people who had problems with Hertz Italy. When they called US corporate to work on the problem, they were told these were different companies and to deal with Italy. This is just my deux centimes.
Posted by
Ventura, CA, USA
297 posts
There is a Hertz office in Chiusi, north of Orvieto, right across the street from the train station.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Cathy, check with Roberto,
https://community.ricksteves.com/users/57528
He can tell you if you would be able to avoid the ZTLs at this location.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
I just booked Hertz through Expedia. The exact same car was $30/day less through Expedia than with Hertz direct - I am also Hertz Gold. I called Hertz to check if this was right and was told yes - the higher price per day direct from them was correct. It was a no brainer to book through Expedia.
My take away from Hertz was:
Book with us and we'll not even kiss you!