For our trip in April, we had our travel agent make our transaction and have what Auto Europe refers to as a "VW Polo or similar economy 4-door car, manual with A/C" I've checked out the configuration of the Polo (size-wise) and that's okay with us. Price is right (we are getting a zero deductible for 10 days in France (p/u Caen-drop Avignon) for about $600. Our travel agent said we will pay (locally, in euro) a surcharge for pickup at rail station in Caen (no other option there) and 3.15euro/day in road fees. No one-way destination charges. We have our International Driving Permits... Questions- 1) What have others experienced picking up their cars- anything to be aware of? 2) Are there any other local fees the agency may try to tack on other than those mentioned above? 3) Does a boot cover come standard with these rentalsso one can cover up what's in the rear of the vehicle? (Unfortunately a portion of our trip will require leaving bags in the car while looking at some Normandy sites. We are in route from Bayeux to Mont St. Michel for that segment.) I went on the VW website and it says boot covers are standard with the carbut wasn't sure if the rental companies had them available. Someone on another thread said they would not accept the rental if the boot cover wasn't there...but if none is available, what option since the car is prepaid...?? Thanks-
Cheryl
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Cheryl, we use AE for most of our EU rentals. AE is a broker, based in Maine, that carries all of the majors. A travel agent friend set us up with them the 1st time. After that we just went to their web site' and did it all ourselves. We picked out the location that we wanted to pick up our car (noting that there can be a sizable fee for picking up a car at an airport or train station, but no fee to return one at an airport, etc.), the type of car, and the place where we want to it off. If we had ANY questions we just called them on their toll-free number in Maine. They are just awesome to deal with. Call them with your questions! AE is very reputable. Read your contract; it specifies everything; including the firm that you will actually renting from (Hertz, Europcar, etc.) They do not tack on extra fees. When you get there, the rental agency will try to get your to sign up for extra insurance, etc. Make sure that you bring your GPS (or get one of their deals on a free rental), and Michelin map of the country you will be visiting, and your personal drivers license. Do the standard things; inspect the car, and photo both before and after your trip PS If you are picking up your car in the airport in Paris there are no signs telling your where the rental places are (upstairs and over a causeway). Go to Slow Travel. They have an excellent primer telling you how to find the rental car locations.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Thanks. Good to know; will do as you suggest. We are taking train from Paris to Caen, picking up car there in order to avoid Paris...want to see the WWII Museum in Caen anyway so that seemed a good fit.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
Cheryl, this past summer we rented a car through AutoEurope, paid all in advance. The actual rental was with Europcar. We picked up the car in Lille and dropped it off three days later in Caen. Both the pick up and drop off were very smooth. We knew that we would have to pay a rail station surcharge but were not asked to pay any additional fees while in France. After we got home we received a statement that the rail station surcharge had been billed to our credit card. One of the easiest rental car experiences we have ever had, anywhere!
Posted by
Saratoga, NY, USA
75 posts
Had a great experience with Auto Europe last week. Pre-paid for the car for 6 days, with a pick up from CDG and unlimited miles... paid about $350 dollars. Pick up was quick and easy, as was drop off. We had a hatchback car, but there was a black top that descended over the bag space whenever the hatchback was closed, so we had no trouble keeping our bags safe and out of site. Good luck!
Posted by
Auburn, Alabama
1064 posts
Kris, my definition of great experience would be a little higher: For instance, AutoEurope providing the car for free just to be nice, furnishing a driver (a young, female Paris fashion model/Grand Prix racer, although my wife would probably
insist on a male fashion model as driver), having the car waiting at the curb, free fuel for the whole trip, free lodging at six-star hotels, the driver letting us off at airport and taking us through the crowds to the front of the line at the end of the trip and then returning the car for us without an inspection. :) Your experience sounds normal. What company supplied the auto? They, too, deserve credit for meeting your expectations; most of the time reputable brokers and rental car companies do. I am more impressed by how a company responds when a problem does occur?
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
I once had to cancel an AE rental, and they worked perfectly: in less than 4 days after I requested the cancellation the full amount was refunded on my credit card.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Did you price the rental yourself via AutoEurope without the Travel Agent middleman? There's no need for a TA with AutoEurope. If there's a problem with pickup or drop-off you're going to be calling AutoEurope's International Toll Free number...not your TA.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Again, thanks to everyone for weighing in on this. FYI- I did go through a TA because when I went online and got the quote directly from Auto Europe, the one my TA got was about $50 cheaper (the discount she got was better than what was offered directly to me for some reason). She did not charge me to make the arrangements.
Also, I did call Auto Europe about the boot cover. While they were very nice and assured me they were "90% certain I would receive the cover" what it boiled down to is if one wasn't available, I could "upgrade" for an extra fee...