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(c) Elliott Publishing.

Auto Europe Rules
Cheap Charlie · July 14, 1999

There are many ways of finding rental car bargains. My first rule is call at least three different rental car companies and compare their rates. You will find that prices will vary by as much as $100 a week, maybe more.

When heading to Europe, here is a secret that will save you a lot of time, and in most cases a bundle of money. When traveling to the continent, I have one rule -- I call Auto Europe at (800) 223-5555 or hook up with its Web site.

Why? Auto Europe is what I call a rental-car consolidator. They work with many of the major rental car companies in Europe and guarantee the lowest rental car price for comparable service and car types. It is easy to use the word guarantee, but over the past decade, through thick and thin, Auto Europe has consistently come through.

Just a month ago, I told a friend to call Auto Europe for a rental in Amsterdam. He called Auto Europe and Hertz. The first report was that the Hertz deal was better, with an upgrade. I asked him what prices he had received from each company. Indeed, the price for the rental car quoted from Hertz was lower than the Auto Europe price.

However, upon further examination, several costs had been left out of the Hertz quote that were included in the Auto Europe quote. These were the three charges that were included in the Auto Europe quote that were not found in the Hertz quote: value-added-tax, airport surcharges and insurance discounts.

When those costs were added into the rental rate, Auto Europe provided the best bargain. Though my friend would not need to purchase Collision Damage Waiver, he would have saved additional money through Auto Europe for that insurance. A spokesperson for Auto Europe said, "Factoring in the taxes and airport surcharges eliminates 99 percent of the 'better rates' quoted from other companies."

There is one other major consideration to take into account: the type of car. In Europe the categories of cars are not as consistent as those in the United States, mainly because we Americans are not familiar with the different car models in Europe. Most Americans know the difference between a Chevy Metro and a Chevy Cavalier, but who can tell me the difference between a Renault Megane and a Renault Clio? Both are listed under the "compact category" with different rental car companies. The Renault Megane is much larger than a Renault Clio.

Auto Europe takes this into account when matching rates. The rate matching program covers major international car rental companies. Auto Europe normally works with Avis or Europcar. If you find a better price on Rent-a-Wreck in France, Auto Europe may decline to match, because part of the equation is service.

Though a local car rental company in Paris may be very inexpensive, if vacationers are planning a trip to Italy, they would be better off with a company with offices throughout Europe. You are responsible for returning your car to a local company, even if it breaks down thousands of kilometers from the rental office. In these cases Auto Europe's prices are slightly higher, but with far more service. If you want to stick close to Paris Auto Europe can find another car rental company and beat most local rates individual travelers can find.

Another consideration is to ask for a guarantee of the class of car or upgrade when the reservation is made. Many companies say then need a couple of days to guarantee the type of car. If you have to wait for confirmation, you may be out of luck when the reservation comes back finalized. Also, ask about blackout dates when requesting rates.

Always, always ask if there are blackout dates. Always, always ask if the upgrade is guaranteed. In almost every case the fine print says, "If available." Auto Europe can guarantee your automobile upgrade and has no blackout dates. Auto Europe also will guarantee your exchange rate when you make your deposit for your car.

If the dollar rate of exchange goes down, Auto Europe will honor the initial US$ price you were quoted. If the exchange rate strengthens, you win again.

Travelers can't ask for more. This is a car rental money-saving tip you can take to the bank and spend on a great meal in Europe.

Charlie Leocha is the Boston-based author of Travel Rights: Know the Rules of the Road and the Air Before You Go. Cheap Charlie appears every Monday on this site. E-mail him at cheapch@aol.com or access his Web site.