Car Rental Italy

[aussiedom]

We're off to Italy for 6 weeks in April 2011. While I am fairly experienced with renting cars in the US, I've never done so in Europe.

Can anyone offer me any advice as to which firms to look at? The majors such as Budget, Avis, Hertz etc or the more locally-based outfits perhaps? I'm not interested in paying over the odds doing it through a travel agent as many seem to do for the US.

We will only need the cars (probably two of them as there are six adults) for a week or so for one leg of the trip ('one-way rental') so the 'leasing' option that many Aussies talk about if staying a while is not realistic for us.

I believe from my initial research that the insurance cover we'd need is basically included in the quoted rate, unlike the US where it is not required by most renters and therefore not included in the basic rate. Is this correct?

Thanks

Dom

[straitman]

We're off to Italy for 6 weeks in April 2011. While I am fairly experienced with renting cars in the US, I've never done so in Europe.

Can anyone offer me any advice as to which firms to look at? The majors such as Budget, Avis, Hertz etc or the more locally-based outfits perhaps? I'm not interested in paying over the odds doing it through a travel agent as many seem to do for the US.

We will only need the cars (probably two of them as there are six adults) for a week or so for one leg of the trip ('one-way rental') so the 'leasing' option that many Aussies talk about if staying a while is not realistic for us.

I believe from my initial research that the insurance cover we'd need is basically included in the quoted rate, unlike the US where it is not required by most renters and therefore not included in the basic rate. Is this correct?

Thanks

Dom

Dom,

I suggest you look at netflights dot com and
arguscarhire dot com

The big difference is that with Netflights you get to pick your rental company as part of the booking process but with Arguscarhire you do not find out until (who) until you have completed the booking.

From memory both charge in English pounds.

[aussiedom]

Thanks Bill - so Angushire is a little like Priceline or Hotwire for hotels/rental cars in the 'States then?

I might look at the other option - I generally use Budget and have always been happy with them in the US and at home. I am a 'Fastbreak' and 'Business Club' member with them, which doesn't seem to really get me a better rate than I can do anyway (better than 'rack' I guess) but Fastbreak is certainly handy when arriving at a crowded rental office!

Can I ask what is the main advantage of the outfits you've mentioned over going direct with the majors? Do they tend to offer better rates?

Dom

[Homer]

I’ve never used one of the car booking aggregators but I have heard from others that they do work out cheaper than booking direct. However I just booked a car directly with Avis in Italy for 2.5 weeks starting mid-October. I thought the rates were fine, though I do get a 30% discount through American Express. I got an E-Class Mercedes with child seat for the equivalent (at today’s exchange rate) of about $87 per day. That was their highest category in Italy so obviously you could do a lot better with a smaller car.

[straitman]

Thanks Bill - so Angushire is a little like Priceline or Hotwire for hotels/rental cars in the 'States then?

I might look at the other option - I generally use Budget and have always been happy with them in the US and at home. I am a 'Fastbreak' and 'Business Club' member with them, which doesn't seem to really get me a better rate than I can do anyway (better than 'rack' I guess) but Fastbreak is certainly handy when arriving at a crowded rental office!

Can I ask what is the main advantage of the outfits you've mentioned over going direct with the majors? Do they tend to offer better rates?

Dom

They tend to offer better rates and include 'most' of the extra as part of the package. I would be interested to hear back from you after you have looked at them.

[vec]

I've just booked a Alfa 159 wagon for 8 days picking up VCE for $AUD680.00 through www.autoeurope.com.au

Got some good feedback about this site from a few FT members and the fact they actually book through the big companies (our car is actually being picked up at Avis).

aussiedom, will post back the whole experience mid November if you're interested.

[aussiedom]

Thanks vec - that would be great.

Dom

[drron]

Last year we used driveaway.com.au for a 2 week rental in Germany and had no problems.Rate was much cheaper than booking direct.Driveaway dont tell you the name of the company until the pay page but when doing a search they give you the pick up address so you can always find out.
Ended up with a Merc station wagon as a compact.

[Travel Guru]

Last year we used driveaway.com.au for a 2 week rental in Germany and had no problems.Rate was much cheaper than booking direct.Driveaway dont tell you the name of the company until the pay page but when doing a search they give you the pick up address so you can always find out.
Ended up with a Merc station wagon as a compact.

I've noticed that, the funny thing is on the agent side of the website it does tell you who the company is...not sure why they'd withhold it on the consumer side.

TG