Dollar Rent a Car Very Cheap in Europe?

clevtrev

Just doing some price research for france Carcassonne rent a car this summer and Dollar rent a car are at least 50% cheaper than any other company for a 2 week hire. The rates are via their international website. If you reserve on their french website the rates at least double. Mid-size people mover for 2 weeks is 556 euro. Hertz are over a 1,000euro

There is no requirement to input credit card details whereas other rental companies charge extra if you dont pay upfront - seems too good to be true?

Has anybody any experience of renting with Dollar in France or anywhere else in Europe?

Hertz are the partner in Carcassonne so you are not dealing directly with Dollar employees so you would probably avoid the hard sell for CDW etc

https://www.dollar.com

Would hate to arrive in France to be told I had to pay an extra 300 quid for insurance or worse that my reservation is not valid

vandriver

Have you tried booking ?
When I tried,I could only get it to work with an American format phone number.

clevtrev

vandriver wrote: »

Have you tried booking ?
When I tried,I could only get it to work with an American format phone number.

Yes took my booking no problem. The email booking didn't list my phone number but think I just entered 00353 and my number

clevtrev

clevtrev wrote: »

Yes took my booking no problem. The email booking didn't list my phone number but think I just entered 00353 and my number

Also the reservation is in euros so not an exclusively USA site

vandriver

Did you try argus car rentals?Similar prices to dollar.

clevtrev

vandriver wrote: »

Did you try argus car rentals?Similar prices to dollar.

prices for what im looking for (peugeot 5008) are about double on argus with Thrifty compared to the dollar site

coylemj

clevtrev wrote: »

Just doing some price research for france Carcassonne rent a car this summer and Dollar rent a car are at least 50% cheaper than any other company for a 2 week hire.

.......

Would hate to arrive in France to be told I had to pay an extra 300 quid for insurance or worse that my reservation is not valid

If you can't see the link between those two statements, you deserve to be ripped off when you get there. Nobody can be half the price of everyone else without hidden charges.

vandriver

Dollar appear to be quoting with no insurance included.Will they allow you to leave the yard with none?

clevtrev

coylemj wrote: »

If you can't see the link between those two statements, you deserve to be ripped off when you get there. Nobody can be half the price of everyone else without hidden charges.

Think that is why I posted the thread as I wanted to know people's experiences not someone telling me 'you get what you pay for' or some other platitude

clevtrev

vandriver wrote: »

Dollar appear to be quoting with no insurance included.Will they allow you to leave the yard with none?

Think most quotes from most rental companies only provide basic third party cover. Generally they push the extra insurance at the rental desk. Although I have never encountered a hard sell in France. According to dollar terms extra insurances are optional

coylemj

clevtrev wrote: »

Hertz are the partner in Carcassonne so you are not dealing directly with Dollar employees so you would probably avoid the hard sell for CDW etc

I just did a quote for Carcassonne and they say that Thrifty is their local agent.....

PICK UP INSTRUCTIONS
Your reservation will be honored by Thrifty. Locaton is In Terminal, cars on-site.

which means you probably will get the hard sell for additional insurance ....

COVERAGES

Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) is optional. Cost varies by cartype rented: EUR18.39 - EUR27.29 per day. Purchase reduces renter's responsibility in case of damage to between EUR900.00 and EUR1900.00. If LDW is declined, renter is responsible for the full value of the vehicle. Theft Protection (TPC) is optional. Cost varies by cartype rented: EUR7.94 - EUR12.12 per day. Purchase reduces renter's responsibility in case of theft to between EUR900.00 and EUR1900.00. If TPC is declined, customer is responsible for the full value of the vehicle rented. Super Damage Waiver (SDW) is optional. Cost varies by cartype rented: EUR16.66 - EUR24.16 per day. Purchase reduces renter's responsibility for the vehicle to zero. Must be purchased in conjunction with LDW and TPC

vandriver

If the car is stolen,your €400 saving could cost you 25k!

clevtrev

vandriver wrote: »

If the car is stolen,your €400 saving could cost you 25k!

The comparison quotes from other providers all include CDW (27 per day) and theft cover (12 euro per day) so the quote I got would increase by about 500 quid to get a like for like comparison. So not the deal of the century after all!

thebiglad

Dollar is part of Hertz but a budget brand

All hires include CDW but watch the excess they apply (often €1k plus) and limitations - sometimes no theft, wheels/tyres, glass cover on the basis.

For insurance either upgrade with the hire company (expensive but avoids all hassle) or buy with carhireexcess.ie or similar - you will have to pay the 'excess' and then recover it back.

Check the car very carefully before you drive it away - if it's dark move to a light area, if car is blocked in get it out and check it before you drive off.

Take photos on your phone of any damages and ensure they are on the damage sheet and and if not they are reported to the rental company before you leave.