If you are thinking of hiring a car through Auto Europe then please take note of my bad experience with this company. I hired a car this month for a short break to France. The insurance excess was 900 Euros so I decided to take the option of paying for their Excess Refund package so that in the event of an accident I could reclaim the excess I would have to pay. I never thought I would need it. During the online checkout process I was advised by Auto Europe not to take out any excess protection directly with the hire car company and I chose to follow this advice. Unfortunately while on holiday I had a minor accident. I admit it was my fault and no third parties were involved. I scraped the wing against a very low concrete bollard while exiting a petrol garage forecourt into rush hour traffic where the entrance was narrow and the bollard was below my line of sight, below the level of the bonnet and on the far (passenger) side of the vehicle. I was driving at less than walking speed at the time. I was confident that this would be covered by the excess insurance I had taken out but it seems their list of exclusions is extensive and of more value to Auto Europe than their good name or the potential for repeat business from their customers. My claim was denied as they said I had not taken due care! Cost to me almost £800! Surely by definition any accident is the result of some level of lack of care else no accident would occur. I am disgusted with their penny-pinching attitude and would advise any potential customers think very carefully before making the same mistake as I did. When returning the vehicle to the airport and waiting in line to explain what had happened I got talking to another couple in the queue that had a similar accident last time they hired a car, but they had done so directly through Hertz. They said they had experienced great help when dealing with their claim, all of which had been refunded. I think I will go with them next time.
Posted on: Fri, 31 May 2013 20:05:08 +0000
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