Avoid Europcar

I've used Europcar in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy and never had a bad experience.

I’ve had this experience more than once with other car rental companies, i don’t think it’s unique to Europcar. It’s very disappointing when it happens, so i hear you.

I’ve also had the opposite experience with other companies… the only car available was an upgrade from the one i reserved at no extra cost to me.

rental lots are franchises. One experience does not an awful company make.

Where was your experience?

Probably was the last one. We once got to Orly near July 31st and got the last one, a lemon.
We’ve had dozens of good rentals with EuropeCar, so I’m not going to throw out the baby with the bath water.

But a dirty car is yucky. Leaves you feeling uncomfortable. Lack of personnel, probably, like in many sectors.

I think it is good to post a poor experience about any company you deal with and for you not to rent from them again is surely your own choice. Personally, I like many others, have had many good rentals with them. Why don't you call them in Chicago and let them know of your experience?

Europcar's reply: Because of Covid and a short supply of new cars they are keeping cars in their fleet longer. They said they are doing extra cleaning because of Covid. This in no way explains why the car I rented was damaged, dirty, filthy inside, and poorly maintained mechanically. I made a reservation several months in advance and picked the car up in Cefalu Sicily. I asked for a different car and was told that this was the only one available. I will never rent from them again, especially given their canned customer service response.

I’ve never had an issue previously with EuropCar but in Italy last week, it took 3 cars before we had one that was useable. First one had tire pressure issues, alignment issues, dropped my phone and the boot around the gearshift wasn’t attached at all (took awhile to get the phone out) and was just smashed on one side. After the tire light came on they exchanged the car and not more than 25 km, the oil change light came on, then the fuel additive light and the service now light… Then the car was running hot. Had to exchange again to finally get a car in good condition… This all on top of them not having the car class we reserved and basically gave us a downgraded car which was $150 less than the class I reserved. Figured I will deal with Kemwel later or just make a claim with the credit card company. Cars of classes the didn’t have were still reservable which shouldn’t have been…

I thought that might be the case - Cefalu is a small town so they probably don't keep more than a very few cars at any one time. One is always better off renting from a location that is more likely to have more cars - in the OP's case, I would have suggested Palermo city location or Palermo airport.

And even the large airports run out at vacation time, such as spring break, or even this weekend, Victory in Europe day. Our Fiat lemon was the last in stock at Orly airport at the height of summer vacation.
European city dwellers rent cars for long vacation periods, too.

I worked in Customer Service for years. I don't enjoy giving negative reviews. It was not spring break, a holiday, or summer vacation time. I don't see any excuse for such poor Customer Service. Rent from anyone except Europcar!