mogish
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Post by mogish on Nov 16, 2021 8:08:07 GMT
Morning alk. I'm needing to rent a car in Barcelona soon and would like to avoid the usual Goldcar type stress.ie insurance pressure, fake damage etc. I've looked at Europe car and avis but they too have bad reviews! Is it because people complain more or are companies more ruthless now. Just looking for a stress free rental. TIA.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Nov 16, 2021 9:02:55 GMT
I suspect the complaints will actually form a tiny minority of rentals, even for the alleged total pariah companies.
Amongst those, there will almost certainly be people under whose time with the car it has been damaged. Some of those won't realise, perhaps because the damage happened while it was parked. Others will know damn well, but simply don't want to own up to it.
Just about every time I've hired a car, I've done the dance around reviews and price comparison and whatever... then when I've arrived at the airport, I've found there's actually only one or two companies with cars, and I've paid a middleman...
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JamesFrance
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Port Grimaud 1974
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Post by JamesFrance on Nov 16, 2021 9:46:12 GMT
We kept a yacht in Sant Carles marina for 12 years until last year. People flying into Barcelona were booking via this site
but preferred an annual damage insurance as they were regular hirers.
From personal experience do not let anyone stop you on the motorways near Barcelona, we survived a few robbery attempts there over many years. They target hire cars, caravans and motorhomes and try to wave you down to stop behind them or knife a tyre at filling stations and tolls then offer to help you.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Nov 16, 2021 9:51:14 GMT
Just about every time I've hired a car, I've done the dance around reviews and price comparison and whatever... then when I've arrived at the airport, I've found there's actually only one or two companies with cars, and I've paid a middleman... The airport's website has a list of desks. www.aeropuertobarcelona-elprat.com/ingl/car-hire-barcelona-airport.phpNot all desks will be open all the time, of course, so you may still end up being serviced by a different company...
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Nov 16, 2021 9:57:02 GMT
This is of no use to the OP but might amuse a couple of you so... I flew to Umea, in Sweden once, with a friend - fly fishing trip. We'd arranged in advance to hire an 800cc Nissan Micra (or the like). Unfortunately when we arrived the only car they had available was a 2.5 turbo diesel Volvo. We had to drive 300km north west towards the border with Norway. We saw a whole six other cars on that journey and covered the distance in what might be described as "good time". Collin McRae rally style weeeeeeeeeeeee . (Doing 120km / hour along a dead straight metalled road only for it to turn 45 degrees and change into a non-metalled road, with no warning / signage, in woods, at night, is... exciting).
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Nomad
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Post by Nomad on Nov 16, 2021 10:04:34 GMT
Morning alk. I'm needing to rent a car in Barcelona soon and would like to avoid the usual Goldcar type stress.ie insurance pressure, fake damage etc. I've looked at Europe car and avis but they too have bad reviews! Is it because people complain more or are companies more ruthless now. Just looking for a stress free rental. TIA. I've found Enterprise and Sixt to be good.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Nov 16, 2021 11:28:04 GMT
Morning alk. I'm needing to rent a car in Barcelona soon and would like to avoid the usual Goldcar type stress.ie insurance pressure, fake damage etc. I've looked at Europe car and avis but they too have bad reviews! Is it because people complain more or are companies more ruthless now. Just looking for a stress free rental. TIA. Stress free rental? Only if you are prepared to buy the expensive insurance at the pickup or having a credit card to preload ££££ excess at the desk if you are having your own car insurance from the UK for driving abroad. It’s highly likely you will pick up a “damaged” car for a cheap rental. It might be cheaper of have your own insurance to cover your “claims” for the trip. Just extra work.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Nov 16, 2021 11:48:23 GMT
It’s highly likely you will pick up a “damaged” car for a cheap rental. Probably. So take the time to make sure the pre-existing damage on the car and the form agree with each other. Because if you agree on collection that there's no damage, then return it with damage...
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Nov 16, 2021 11:56:18 GMT
Forgot to mention prepaid cards like Revolut or Curve are no credit cards, cannot be used for pre-authorisation.
The car hire company will normally take ££££ pre-authorisation on your credit card when you reject their CDW.
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keitha
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2024, hopefully the year I get out of P2P
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Post by keitha on Nov 16, 2021 12:21:11 GMT
It’s highly likely you will pick up a “damaged” car for a cheap rental. Probably. So take the time to make sure the pre-existing damage on the car and the form agree with each other. Because if you agree on collection that there's no damage, then return it with damage... Last Time I hired a car I walked round and took Photos. Recently my Car was in the garage for repairs and they gave me a "hire" car with a shocking £1000 excess on it. Walked round with rep Noted all the damage etc on the forms and signed it off went back in and was handed the key and the car wouldn't unlock ! Discovered the car I had been allocated wasn't the car I'd looked over. I refused to budge until they did a complete new form,I'm still not sure it wasn't a planned scam ...
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Nov 16, 2021 12:38:59 GMT
Recently my Car was in the garage for repairs and they gave me a "hire" car with a shocking £1000 excess on it. Walked round with rep Noted all the damage etc on the forms and signed it off went back in and was handed the key and the car wouldn't unlock ! Discovered the car I had been allocated wasn't the car I'd looked over. I refused to budge until they did a complete new form,I'm still not sure it wasn't a planned scam ... Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence.
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Nov 16, 2021 12:46:56 GMT
Thanks all. I've heard Barcelona can be a bit dodgy. We are flying in to Barcelona then heading 2hrs inland. Tried doyouspain website but dudnt try the other 2 hire cos mentioned. Will give them a try. Think we used holiday autos before for insurance. Prob use them again.
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travolta
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Post by travolta on Nov 16, 2021 15:05:59 GMT
Made the mistake of hiring Gold Car once in Spain . Across the years they then attempted to bill my credit card for hire cars in various other parts of the country. It IS true what they say about the company.
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ptr120
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Post by ptr120 on Nov 16, 2021 18:55:35 GMT
I've got some great deals via the autoslash website in the past. If you are the kind of person that wants full insurance, get your own stand-alone policy before you travel. I also find that you tend to be treated slightly better if you apply for the 'frequent renter' program from your chosen provider.
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Nomad
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Post by Nomad on Nov 17, 2021 1:30:35 GMT
I see Turo.com is now available at BCN.
I've had nothing but good experiences with this "Airbnb for cars".
One deals direct with pleasant, helpful vehicle owners; pays a reasonable rental + insurance; I often have the car delivered where and when I need it, and I have never had issues over fictitious damage.
Usually I select a car about 3 years old with multiple good reviews.
Reservations can be cancelled with 100% refund up to 24 hours before pickup.
BUT at present there don't seem to be many cars listed for BCN and thus prices are high...
My other standby for dealing with Sixt, Hertz, et al is Carflexi.com - always gives clear pricing for one ways.
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