Europcar Reviews

Horrible! Avoid at all costs. They forced upgrade by creating fake demand. Bait & switch.

I am (was) a repeat renter of Europcar… I am was a repeat renter of Europcar over the past 10 years. No more. I rented a car through Auto Europe for a 15 day rental (I usually rent for 21 days) for a CDG Europcar in February 2026. The Auto Europe voucher for the car was $810. I upgraded, which I have done before. That usually only costed a few hundred more. This time I was charged over $1,440 not including the gas charge at the end on top of the original Auto Europe charge. So my initial $810 charge turned into a $2300 rental for two weeks. This was three times the amount I ever paid for a three week rental. Through multiple card disputes, no human reply to multiple emails it took until today (late August) to clarify the actual charges. P.S. I was also a "preferred member"

We rented a car with Europcar through Expedia in August 2026. The rental was supposed to be at the Calgary airport but we found out after arriving that you needed to take a shuttle to the Routes car rental (so not at the airport). When we arrived at Routes we found out that in the small print if you went to BC, even for part of your trip, the unlimited mileage no longer applies and it would cost an additional $11 per day on top of that. The car itself was nice (small Ford Bronco for Nissan Sentra size). However, charging an additional daily fee plus additional mileage seemed a bit much given it was written in the fine print under "other" and not mileage. A lot of people were not happy with that. If that is how you make your fees I recommend being upfront about it. My advice is rent directly through the car rental agency and you will actually get an airport rental agency instead of off-site with additional fees.

First off, we had to wait 3 1/2 hours at Shannon Airport because Europcar didn’t have the prepaid car we reserved ready for us. Imagine just sitting in the airport with your family for over three hours on the first day of your vacation. While all other car companies were moving their customers into cars, Europcar didn’t seem to think not having a car available for over three hours was an inconvenience or breach of their contract. They told us to get some coffee while waiting.

Scam company. Will charge you for extras and have someone else sign it and claim it was you. Will not return the stolen money.

It's been a few years since I rented a car from Europcar but I now remember why. I'm extremely disappointed with the lack of professionalism from the office in Madrid, Spain at T1 airport. We had a reservation (from August the 7, 2026 to August 14, 2026) for economy class car which would have been sufficient enough for the three of us plus the two large suitcases we had with us. Instead, we were greeted with a only one option of mini class (Fiat 500) and were told that car we reserved had been rented and there is no other options for us. We took the as our only option by smashing our daughter with suitcases in the back of the car and barely able to shut the trunk closed.

Rented a van for 18 days for a total of 1800$. Arrived at the airport in Munich and was told they don’t have the right vehicle and they only have a new Mercedes van for an extra 900$. I agreed to that and took the van with me. One day later I got an error message on the vehicle so I called Europcar and the lady told me to go find a Mercedes dealer and hopefully they can help me. I did that, lost half a day of the rental and they replaced a fuse on the van. One day later the same issue came up again and it turned the engine to emergency mode. It was Saturday and I wasn’t able to find another Mercedes dealer so I called Europcar. They told me they are looking for a replacement car but they will tow the van I had. They didn’t care that I had 7 family member with me. Some of them older than 60 years with medical conditions and they said they’re only responsible for the driver.

Don’t ever rent from this company. We reserved a car from Canada for Italy for 14 days. When we got at the counter they used the excuse about using a Canadian driver's licence to which was a lie since we inquired prior to leaving Canada. They gave our car away to someone else charging them more money. Then we were forced to go to Avis where driving licence wasn’t an issue but was charged 3 times more money. It is a shame that they take such advantage of tourists. This company is not reliable, rude, and overall a horrible car rental service. I will never rent a car from them.

After being forced to pay an additional €230 for extended insurance/coverage, due to having only a debit card for the deposit/hold, we were handed a car with 79.000 km mileage on it; fully shot suspension. Awful, unhelpful staff + terrible car + hidden fees (and dubious at that; ad hoc reduced from €360 to €230 midway) = avoid.

When I arrived at the rental location the small hybrid I reserved was not available so I was bussed off site. There I was given keys to a large, dirty and damaged SUV. 3 days later, when turning off a one way street into a parking lot and driving about 10 km/hour, a tire came off the its rim. If it had happened anywhere else, to a less careful driver, in this county of narrow, twisty roads, high hedges and rock walls, there would have been mayhem and possibly loss of life. Europcar charged me to have the vehicle towed 80 km from the incident and 95 km from home. I then had to transport myself back. The ordeal took 8 hours. I was not compensated for my trauma, time, meals or fuel. It was an incredibly awful experience.

Extremely disappointing experience. I rented a JEEP Avenger and during my rental the vehicle suffered a complete electronic failure. The dashboard, infotainment system, and all displays went completely black, making the car unsafe and unfit for use, especially as I was travelling to the airport. I tried calling customer service immediately, but the office was closed and no assistance was available. I was forced to arrange alternative transport at my own expense. Since then, I have sent multiple emails, including a formal complaint with photos and videos showing the fault. Weeks later, I have still not received a meaningful response or a refund.

I had a TERRIBLE overall experience with Europcar in Germany. I arrived at the pickup location in Trier, Germany (run by Michael **, according to the rental contract) on a very warm afternoon, 18 June 2026. I had reserved a "Standard Estate (Skoda Superb or similar)" car through Booking.com, had already paid $517 for the rental plus an additional $72 for insurance). I was expecting to pay an additional $127 or so on pickup for a one-way rental and an additional driver. On arrival, I was told that they did not have a Skoda available but they DID have a BYD for only a small upgrade fee. (Yes, the counter agent told me it was a BYD, a Chinese made car.) I asked for clarification and was shown a screen that seemed to indicate a total charge of approximately $1100. This was much more than expected, but it was hot, I was tired, and we needed to get on the road. So, foolishly, I signed on the signature pad which did NOT show the entire contract.

Thieves. Liars in Portugal. Run away. They double the contract price and overcharge hidden fees. So corrupt. Thieves. VERY BAD COMPANY. EVIL AGENTS AT ALL LEVELS OF EUROCAR EUROPE. PORTUGAL WORSE..

Do not rent from Europcar - specifically the Chur Switzerland Office. We had an absolutely horrible experience. We got a flat tire on a Saturday. There was no spare tire. No repair kit. Customer service closed. Roadside assistance number doesn't work for US phones. Totally stranded with all of our kids in the middle of nowhere. We found a local company and paid 250CHF out of pocket to patch the tire. When we returned the car Europcar told us to send an email. So we did and they responded by promising us a refund on the tire repair. We just had to send our banking details. So we did. Then they emailed and said actually no we aren't going to refund you. This is horrible customer service!

I rented a car from Europcar in France and later encountered a damage charge that required insurance resolution. Customer service communication was slow, inconsistent, and difficult to work with. It required repeated follow-ups over a long period just to obtain basic documentation needed for the insurance claim. There was also a lack of clear photographic evidence of the vehicle condition at the time of rental and return, which made it difficult to verify how and when the reported damage occurred. Although Europcar eventually provided the required documents and the insurance claim was successfully reimbursed, the overall process was unnecessarily prolonged and frustrating due to poor communication and incomplete initial documentation.

I was going through my bank statements today and found a random charge from Europcar for $645.92. I called immediately, and engaged in one of the most frustrating calls in my life. All the responder could tell me was that it was a cleaning fee. Later (literally an hour) she was able to tell me that she would need to process $250.00 from me to have the $645.92 returned to my account. It was the only option provided. When I asked to have some sort of explanation or summary of how the cleaning fee was assessed, or any details to support this type of fee, they could not provide anything other than 'I am sorry ma'am, this is all I know'. Later I was told there was a 'sensor glitch'. When I asked if I could get an email outlining the charges, I was also told that was not possible. I am beyond frustrated and will never use this agency again.

I rented a vehicle from Europcar in Naples, Italy. When we arrived, they did not have size car I reserved with an automatic transmission. I was told, to get a vehicle with an automatic transmission, they would have to upgrade me. When I returned the car, they charged me 180 Euros for the upgrade that was their fault, not mine. When I called customer service to request a refund of the upgrade charge, they said they would not refund the charge because I signed the rental agreement. Not sure how I'm expected to pay for an upgrade when they couldn't provide the car type I reserved.

These are disgusting liars and scammers! I booked a car for $137, and that was the "total price". At the counter, they refused to give me the car until I bought insurance for extra $230!! And, oh yes - "you can cancel reservation with a $91 penalty". Thank you very much! Car rental in Inverness. Jun 6, 2026 - Jun 16, 2026. Confirmation: #**.

I would like to share my experience with Europcar and formally express my disappointment regarding two separate vehicle rentals that raised serious concerns about customer service, vehicle quality, and safety. My first experience took place in Italy. The customer service was poor from the beginning. Staff members were not welcoming or helpful, and when I raised concerns about the condition of the vehicle, I felt that my feedback was dismissed. The cars appeared old and poorly maintained, and the representatives showed little interest in assisting customers or finding reasonable solutions.

Not sure where to start? This is a shady business, no clear policy outlines, do things in rush, so you sign a standard agreement. We were tourists from USA so not familiar with UK, especially London driving, parking signs etc. After car is returned, we start receiving fines ranging from $3.5 for parking violation to $90 for a tunnel passage payment.

Booked a rental through Expedia. Total for four days $96.55. Picked up the car at an off airport location. Attendant told me there are MANDATORY FEES but offered NO BREAKDOWN. Final amount $313.79. Unconscionable. BUYER BEWARE. Bait and switch in action.

Rented a car at Las Americas airport in Dominican Republic from Europcar. I told them I wanted only liability insurance at $10 a day. The car was full of gas. After keeping the car for 32 days I returned it full of gas. They charged me $720 for comprehensive insurance that I declined. They charged me for a tank of gas. They took the gas off but refused to budge on the insurance. I asked for a manager and was told one was not on site. I contested this to American Express. When the bill came to American Express the gas was added back on. American Express was no help. Cancel the $895 dollar a year card and get a better card at no fee. Never never rent a car from Europcar and don’t expect American Express to help you. I have been with American Express for 43 years. No mas.

Very dissatisfied with car pickup at Heathrow. Bait and switch type experience. Aggressive upselling and inconsistent price offers. Will not use Europcar again.

Reserved a Car from Heathrow, in London last Mar 25, we picked the car up on 30 May; at pick up the car was too small, so we were able to get a larger car. The Agent said it would be additional $818.00 at time of drop off. We returned the car on 17 Jun, full of fuel. We paid the additional $818. Jump to Aug 4, they tried to charge me $1602.00. Europcar claimed there was a Clerical Error with the 3rd Party (Priceline). Navy Fed agreed with me that the charge was Fraudulent and reverse the charges, however it's been 8 Months and this still isn't resolved. I've wrote and called Europcar to resolve the issue but the ONLY response I get is "you owe us £634.77". I have tried reasoning with them and offered to pay the difference. I initially paid $647.41 when I reserved the car, then I paid $818 at drop off. I am will to pay the $137.00 difference to get the total $1,602. I feel harassed.

Using a rental car from Europcar in Barcelona was one of the most stressful and unenjoyable days of my life. To begin with, when I reserved the car I paid a higher price to get a Europcar Comfort Plus package which was supposed to provide us with an electric vehicle that had a range up to 410 km. However, upon arrival at the Barcelona Poblenou-Sant Marti office the young man said that in order to get an electric vehicle with a high range we needed to pay 20 EUR more. We told him where we were going and that it was a 140 km drive one-way and he assured us multiple times that we would not have to charge the vehicle.

On Feb 23, I reserved a car and the total came to USD 585.45. When I arrived to pick up the car, I was asked to provide the credit card used to make the reservation. I told the attendant that I had used a virtual credit card. She said that she would have to refund the virtual card and charge me the same amount on a physical card. Afterwards, I realized that I had been overcharged. The final amount I was charged after returning the car is USD 833.99. While we still had the car, I tried calling customer service but they said that since we still had the car, they couldn't help until there was a final invoice. When I returned the car, they said they couldn't help because I had to contact customer service via email. I emailed the email address that they sent me and the email bounced back. I filled out the contact form on their website a week ago and have not heard anything since.

CLASSIC BAIT AND SWITCH! My rental through Europcar was fully prepaid via a voucher issued by the rental agent, AutoEurope. When I arrived at my destination in Rome, Europcar failed to provide the contracted vehicle. The car I was first assigned did not have the requested GPS. When I inquired, the desk agent dismissively told me to "just use your phone," which was not an acceptable solution due to international roaming charges. After insisting on a car with GPS, I was directed to a second vehicle. This car was in appalling condition, with pages of pre-existing damage, including a detached bumper and a smashed passenger door.

Terrible company. Had to wait hours to get a car I prepaid for. Missed my speaking event and to add they charged me fees for nothing. This company is trash and never again will I use them. I rented out of ATL. I am mad.

I rented in Central America both Mexico and Panama who is managed by Europcar Mexico. In the past I had good service and honesty from Europcar in Europe. This is not the case now however, I can testify that you will face phony come-ons, low prices, refusals to accept your valid insurance and lies, etc. when you rent with Europcar in Central America. I believe that Europcar Mexico may be to blame, They have been getting away with these tactics for a while now. They advertise low prices and third party insurance that will not be accepted. Plan to pay about triple or more whatever the rental fee advertised on many platforms is. And don't be fooled by unrealistic come-ons like $1/ day rentals.

Whatever you do, STAY AWAY FROM EUROPCAR. I rental a vehicle through Expedia, which I paid $191.09 CDN for the vehicle. When I arrived at the counter, the employee working there took my booking confirmation and told me I had only two cars to choose from, (MIND YOU, both of these options ended up being classified as upgrades, even though I was told from the employee that Expedia would cover the difference.). Then I paid for the insurance, being from a different continent, it felt right getting insurance, however I ended up paying a higher amount because of this 'upgraded' vehicle. THEN the part they don't talk to you about, the 19% PR Station Charge. What is it you ask? Well, I didn't know either until 1 week after I dropped off my rental. It is a mandatory charge of 19% which they bill you on anything you get, the vehicle, insurance, extra fuel, fees.

I rented a car in January at the Paris airport for 2 days and they charged me a $400 deposit. When I got back to Canada after 5 days, I followed up my deposit. Agent told me they wouldn't give it back until I paid 402 euro because I was smoking inside the car. I said, "How can I smoke inside when I’ve never smoke." Then He said, he would talk to his manager first. When he got back to me, he said he would only charge you 200 euro because I didn't clean the car. Fellow Canadian please don’t ever rent a car in this company. They’re lots of hidden charges. You imagine they’ll charge you 200 euro because you didn’t clean their car. They are scammers. Never again!

Fraudulent charges from the car rental. Rent elsewhere. After declining insurance, they ask you to initial the screen to decline - which actually tricks you into signing up for it. The comp said it was because we did not provide the required paperwork which they did not request. Don't book Europcar in Puerto Rico!

CONSUMER BEWARE! I rented a car at DWF airport and within minutes of leaving the airport, the seatbelt sensor kept beeping. I immediately called the roadside service number to report it. She asked if I could turn around and go back to the airport to exchange. I explained that my daughter and grandson were in the hospital and I did not have time to turn around. She stated she made a note and that I need to see the manager for a credit upon return. I returned the car a week later on 01/18/26 (listened to that annoying beeping for an entire week) and the gentleman that checked my car in apologized because he was told that issue had been fixed. He directed me to the manager, Scott for a credit.

I don't normally leave negative reviews, but this company deserves it. I had the same negative experience as many of other customers with unintentional up selling and overcharges. I initially made a reservation for a car rental on Travelocity at Europcar, before traveling to England for 6 days. I paid in full before arriving at the pick-up location. When talking to the cashier I was told the car I reserved wasn't available and they could "upgrade" me to a different car for a "small" upcharge. After being shown what the new price was, I specifically asked if the amount I had already paid would be applied to the final invoice and was told a definite YES.

We are being totally RIPPED off by this company. We rented a car for three days in Ravenna, Italy and dropped it off at Milan Airport. We received a bill for over 800 Euros a couple of months later for every little ping that was ever on the car which, unfortunately, we never took a picture of. We disputed it and they dropped it to 400 Euros. I have disputed the charge on my credit card. We caused ABSOLUTELY no damage to this car. Do not EVER rent from Europcar and if you do make sure you get LOTS and LOTS of pictures!!!

Fraudulent company. London Heathrow office employee required us to take an optional insurance we did not need before he would rent the vehicle. This occurred in August of 2025. We then cancelled within their 24hr window and have all documentation yet they refuse to refund the money. This company supports their employees using coercive tactics to obtain additional revenue. Buyer beware.

I rented a car in June 2025 for 2 days. I paid all costs and left the car back with full gas. This company have been fraudulently charging me in 3 different instances (3 months later) 65 dollars each time. I have try reaching out through email and they have not responded or gave me any refunds!!

An absolute rip off. Upon getting my vehicle in Siena, Italy, was told the compact car I reserved would be too small for 3 people. When I agreed to upgrade to larger size, they tried to quadruple the price. They were trying to charge me $280 per day! Absolute thieves.

Terrible customer service in Punta Cana. They gave my car away while my flight was delayed. They wanted to charge more 25 dollars a day for 14 days on top of 800 I just paid. They did not honor the insurance I purchased. They wanted a statement from my bank of 3500 dollars. The person was rude. It really disgusted me. After I called Routes the rental car and they helped me out. I was able to rent a car and only 300 deposit. I love ROUTES and the person working there. They are cheap and always willing to help you. But Europcar suck ass so much. Please please never rent from them. They will leave you stranded without help.

My experience is the same as others. Rented a car London Gatwick South Terminal. Told the clerk "No Thank you" to insurance. She snuck it in and quickly told us to sign. Super tired and too trusting that she heard me properly I signed. $755 extra charge for Premium Insurance. Google reviews, Trust Pilot, Trip Advisors etc.. Read it all, scathing reviews. This is a horrible company which I guess is seeing how long they can get away with this practice. Sad to see so many people being scammed and nothing being done.