Are Europcar really that bad?!

[Mooloolabababy]

So, after our car died on Monday and with a holiday to Cornwall booked for Saturday, we decided that our only real option was to rent a car. After taking 4 hours to try and book online this morning, I finally managed to book over the phone. I have now just gone on to trustpilot and read the reviews about them and they are shocking!! I'm now shitting myself that I'm going to either turn up on Friday to no car being available, or having to pay extra for a different type of car (this one is already costing us over £500 for 10 days) or being charged for damage on return that I haven't caused. Have I made a huge mistake? Has anyone had a positive experience with them? Or are they just totally shit?

I've used them twice in the past 3 months due to my unreliable piece of shit car.

They've been fine, no issues at all. Deposits returned within 12 hours.

Used them in Spain several times, always much better than other companies. Never had a problem with them.

I've rented from them 4 or 5 times, never had a problem.

Never had any problem with them either 🤷‍♀️

Ah thanks for the positive responses! I'm just fretting at being fleeced for something that I haven't done. Tbh the experience I've had with them so far isn't good and I'm hoping it'll get better and not worse!

Never had a £70 deposit returned that they took when we were given a car as a courtesy car when ours had serious repairs under warranty. They said they only took it as a holding payment and it never left our account. It bloody well did because we were pretty skint at the time so it didn't go unnoticed! They just point blank refused to return it, it went on for ages and they just would not return it and said I was in the wrong. Gave up in the end but this thread has fired me up again 😂🙈

@Ohshittt

Never had a £70 deposit returned that they took when we were given a car as a courtesy car when ours had serious repairs under warranty. They said they only took it as a holding payment and it never left our account. It bloody well did because we were pretty skint at the time so it didn't go unnoticed! They just point blank refused to return it, it went on for ages and they just would not return it and said I was in the wrong. Gave up in the end but this thread has fired me up again 😂🙈

You see that's what I've been reading a lot about, being charged for things or being double charged and not being able to get a refund!

When you collect the car walk around it videoing everything that you can. Hopefully that will ensure that you don't end up being responsible for damage that was already there.

@SofaSpuds

When you collect the car walk around it videoing everything that you can. Hopefully that will ensure that you don't end up being responsible for damage that was already there.

Thanks for the tip! Was going to take loads of photos but will film it too.

Video/photograph the car and make sure they note every single ding.

Get excess car hire insurance. It's dead cheap and will protect you from any rip off claims.

@Clymene

Video/photograph the car and make sure they note every single ding.

Get excess car hire insurance. It's dead cheap and will protect you from any rip off claims.

Yeah I've called my car insurance company and they'll charge me about £25 for fully comp for the 10 days (compared to about £150 through europcar!) So I'll call them and sort it before I leave the rental place.

YY to extra insurance but not through the hire car company, as it's always a rip off.

Be prepared to leave a huge deposit if you don't take their insurance, like £1000. Do you have a credit card you can put it on?

Europ Car are one of the better ones but to be honest, all car hire companies are dishonest crooks with endless ways to trick you into paying more than you expected. We use another big name at work and have frequent moans and niggles with them. You just have to be very careful to reduce the risk of it happening to you.

But also, people tend to post their problems a lot more than 'it was fine' or even 'this car hire company is marvellous' so you're seeing all the problems without the backdrop of probably more people that didn't feel ripped off.

I use Enterprise and Sixt regularly. No problems with either over many rentals. .

I've had no issues with them, use other rental companies if their location is better. They were prompt in refunding me when I cancelled a hire over last Christmas when the Covid restrictions were changed.

Yes.

I used them last week. Lovely car. No problems with it all what so ever

We’ve used them several times over the years. I find them totally unremarkable. Do what they say when they say, cost what is agreed. Perfect in my experience.

I used them 6/7 times a year for about 10 years never had a problem.

Never ever again, hired a car from them, returned it, no problems on the return inspection. By the time we'd returned home £500 had been taken from our account for 'damage' when pushed to explain this 'damage' it was that one of the strings holding up the parcel shelf had come loose! £500 for that?! It took over a year to get the money back and now I have a rental car insurance policy every time I hire a car, would never hire one without it.

Used them twice, no problems.

Used them in the past, they were better than other ones in my experience. Hertz was shit and charged me for the damage I hadn't done and I never got the money back.
Europcar were fine, nice car, no extra costs or trying to fleece me for additional costs.

To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever read universally good reviews for a car hire company. I don’t think you’re any more likely to be ripped off that by anyone else. Take loads of photos/videos and have excess insurance.