Autoeurope Reviews 31

I have used AutoEurope more than 7 times over the last year. They have a very useful overview of the cars available on any date/time. This saves a lot of time looking for a good deal with real avaiability across a large selection of companies. Furthermore, the insurance deal is better (lower cost) than with the actual rental companies. EA provide immediate booking feedback. Everytime I have arrived at the car rental desk or whatever rental company the booking has always been ready.
Only once did I have a problem, where due to unforseen circumstances I needed to change the drop-off location. They were unable to help. I guess you lose a bit of flexibility when you go via an intermediary. A solid 4 stars

I booked a car rental in Italy through AutoEurope using Avis. When I picked up the car in Bari additional products were sneakily added to my contract that I did not need, resulting in unexpected costs. These additional products were disclosed on the contact using acronyms and were not communicated to me when I picked up the car (I would have declined them). When I challenged the additional costs later, AutoEurope stood by Avis that basically said "you signed so you are liable". I learned a lesson here about scrutinizing car rental contracts -- however I also feel that AutoEurope could have done more to help its customer deal with a situation that involved deceptive sales practices by Avis, one of its suppliers.

On arrival in Portugal it was quickly realise that auto Europe is enabling a bait and switch scam with the Portuguese partner (Klass Wagen). Youl lnotice the small print says that a £4000 euro deposit is needed on arrival and only credit card is accepted. They will also tell you that if someone scratches your car (for example in a car park) it will cost you €550. When you realise that no credit cards for normal people that have this kind of limit, the klass Wagen employee will offer you their extortionate 'insueance policy' as an alternative (€225 insurance for a €60 rental). All round complete scam, stay away.

Autoeurope used to be one of the better services, but thats unfortunately no longer the case. Today they care more about their internal guidlines than actually servicing their customers.
From someone who started using Autoeurope back in 2013 I can confidently say that over the years their service level and functionality has declined greatly.
This week I have tried 3 times to book at car for next week, each time when processing to the payment ending up with a page saying that they are sorry but the rental cannot be booked at this time. At the same time you are informed that AutoEurope will contact you for a solution - which they have not done.
Today I tried again to book the car, with the same result. I therefor proceeded to call them and got in touch with an agent who could help make the reservation. BUT OMG was that a painstakingly slow process further complicated by the fact that the agent just could not spell my name (Michael) correctly - it took three attempts to get it right.
When we finally came to the last step and I should pay, he wanted my credit card info - meaning all data. I was not at all comfortable giving out this info over the phone to a stranger, so I asked if it was not possible for him to make the reservation in my name (he could see my account in their system), and then I could login to my Autoeurope account and make the payment though the website. But no, he was not allowed to do that due to the amount af the rental (447 Euro)?!?!? Are you kidding me... half an hour on the phone, and he cannot make the reservation for a car rental costing 447Euro - what a joke. But even worse, when I asked if the reason for him not wanting to do this was that he would miss out on some commission, he just hung up. What a shameful and childish behaviour, but I guess I was right about my assumption.
Will for sure not use AutoEurope again - which is their loss as I have around 150 travel days a year in my job, meaning also quite a few (+10) car rentals a year.

Customer service is dreadful

Agents are unwilling to help, and extremely passive aggressive.

I was charged multiple times for same reservation, they do not respond to emails. Customer service only open 3 limited days per week. If you get hold of an agent they refuse to help.

DO NOT BOOK WITH AUTOEUROPE.

I booked a fully insured car via Auto Europe with Hertz Germany (voucher EU22525070). The reservation included Super Cover, CDW, Theft Protection, and VAT — all prepaid.

However, at the pickup desk in Munich Airport, I was asked in German if I wanted "Super Cover." Believing this referred to what I had already paid for through Auto Europe, I said "yes." No clear explanation of additional charges was provided.

Later, I discovered I was charged an additional €642, including:

€315 for Super Cover

€36 for CDW and Theft Protection

€69 for an EV charging fee — even though I returned the car with 68% battery

The contract was only in German, which I do not understand. I feel misled and overcharged for services I already paid for. I have contacted both Hertz and Auto Europe multiple times, but no resolution has been provided.

This experience was disappointing, non-transparent, and financially unfair.
I request a full refund of these extra charges.

On Saturday, I wanted to pick up the booked rental car at Budapest Airport with my wife and two kids and experienced something I've never experienced before. It was so disappointing that it ultimately ruined the first few days of my vacation.

When I picked up the rental car at a location about 5 minutes by shuttle from the airport, the first thing I was asked for was my credit card – not my driver's license or the order number.

When I handed the employee this (debit) card, he immediately chuckled and told me it wasn't valid. The same applied to my second and third debit cards, as well as my wife's credit card. He referred me to the terms and conditions, which clearly stated (somewhere in the quagmire of the 6 small-print pages of the A4 PDF) that only the driver's credit card could be used.
I offered the employee various options – PayPal payment, on-site bank transfer, my wife's credit card... but he just laughed at me (or at me) and declined everything.

He did, however, come up with a suggestion: He offered to let me use my debit card (instead of the mandatory credit card). However, I would have to pay an additional €280 for this. That's double the actual rental price, mind you. He called this an additional security measure.
I declined, whereupon he suggested a 20% discount on the said €280.
What followed was a heated argument. I admit I didn't have the best manners either. With 33 degrees Celsius, two tired children, and little sleep in the kitchen, I was simply at the end of my strength and understanding. Because one thing was immediately clear to me: someone was trying to rip me off.

Two colleagues intervened (one was very short-tempered, one very calm). They explained to me that I should have read the terms and conditions and that this was Hungarian law. I wouldn't be able to get a car anywhere in Hungary without a credit card.

After about 30 minutes, my wife, children, and I left the rental car company's yard without a car.

Back at BUD Airport, I tried my luck with the seven local providers: Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, WizCar, etc.
Of course, the prices were significantly higher than what I would have to pay with the dubious provider, after all, I wanted a car right then and there and without an existing reservation. But one thing was extremely interesting:
None of the seven (!) providers told me, when I asked, that I would need a credit card. I got a lock-up car from Avis – with the deposit and rental price paid with my debit card.

There's no question in my mind that you at AutoEurope are trying to rip off tourists. There's definitely no Hungarian law requiring a credit card.

In my opinion, this practice is fraud.

I had to endure being laughed at and insulted in front of my family and children—all because I didn't fall for the tourist rip-off.
This is a disgrace for your company!

Still after accepting there was not the contracted car available and agreeing to repay, this company will not repay the car hire costs.
They are a scam of a company and DO NOT USE,
I am now going to claim through the courts

Never rent through AutoEurope.
We had booked a rental car with Goldcar through AutoEurope. At the airport we find out that our flight will be delayed by about 2 hours.
We call Goldcar and inform them about it. They say that the rental office is closed when we arrive. They have someone to wait for an hour, but if it is later they can't do anything. They want to cancel the reservation and we can't get our money back!!.
They cannot change the reservation to the next day and referes to AutoEurope.
We try to call AutoEurope on all the numbers we can find on our voucher, but there Office is closed.

Then Goldcar cancelled the reservation, because we did not show up in time. They told us to claim our money through AutoEurope.

When AutoEurope opened their office, we contacted them, but they refused to help.

They told us the money was lost. We told them how we tried to contact them in all possible ways that evening. We also sent them an email that night because we could not get in touch with them by phone.

We have made a complaint, but AutoEurope said here was nothing they could/would do.

We have lost approximately 500 euros due to the cancellation. (Cancellation and renting a new car, that was more expensive)

Never rent a car through AutoEurope!!
Voucher number: EU22005370

Very thorough and patient. Got the results we needed.

Great interaction with Otian at Auto Europe today. He was very professional in making a currency correction for my car rental reservation for Florence.

Otian helped me with my auto rental. He was knowledgeable and very pleasant.
Good Job

Sabrina was an outstanding customer service agent: friendly, cooperative, professional and patient!
Thank you!

Otian provided outstanding service cancelling my reservation which was made in error today.

Thank you!

Rolf

Otian was very helpful in changing my car rental reservation!

Otian - I had a great customer service with Autoeurope renting a car in Italy. Otian spent quite a bit of time with me getting me the right car for my needs. He was very clear in the charges and provided the car that fit my needs. Very happy with the service from Otian. Definately 5 star.