Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
May 24th 2011, 2:16 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 134
Re: Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
Thanks for the replies so far. It's our first trip back and my relatives are unable to do the airport run hence needing to have the car from the airport and back. For the 13 days there I've actually been quoted just over 200GBP which I didn't think bad. I'm planning to use my UK credit card to book.
I've always rented Avis at LHR, never had any problems with them, although they don't like me too much because I never go for their unncessary add-ons and I never fall for their "would you like to be billed in US dollars?" exchange rate scam.
Take online reviews with a grain of salt.....the vast majority of people that tend to go through the effort of posting online reviews are those that have or feel that they have been seriously wronged by the company.
May 24th 2011, 2:45 pm
#17
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
In my experience it is best to rent the car from the US -- see www.kemwel.com or www.autoeurope.com.
They appear to use the same software so the site work alike. But they are different companies. ].
They appear to use the same software so the site work alike. But they are different companies. ].
May 24th 2011, 2:49 pm
#18
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
Thanks for all the replies. Does anyone else have anything good/bad to say about any rental car places at Heathrow? I just don't want to be done over paying for damage that I've not caused but it seems as though it's common practice...
I've heard that Thrifty require 2 forms of ID with your address - utility bill etc in order to rent.
I'm using my UK license and UK credit card so I should be ok right?
I've heard that Thrifty require 2 forms of ID with your address - utility bill etc in order to rent.
I'm using my UK license and UK credit card so I should be ok right?
May 26th 2011, 4:09 pm
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: NC Triangle
Posts: 324
Re: Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
Past 4 years used Avis from LHR too - no issue until I locked myself out of the car last year. They sent the RAC and was all sorted, but when I returned to the US, I ended up getting a bill since it was viewed as non-emergency assistance.
Contested it and it was eventually dropped, but just be wary that this appears to be current policy - i.e. if you need roadside assistance and the rental company deem its your fault, they'll try and charge. Think that Avis is not alone in doing this now - they're all out to maximize revenue...
Contested it and it was eventually dropped, but just be wary that this appears to be current policy - i.e. if you need roadside assistance and the rental company deem its your fault, they'll try and charge. Think that Avis is not alone in doing this now - they're all out to maximize revenue...
May 26th 2011, 7:51 pm
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Choosing a UK car rental company - which one?
Thanks for the replies so far. It's our first trip back and my relatives are unable to do the airport run hence needing to have the car from the airport and back. For the 13 days there I've actually been quoted just over 200GBP which I didn't think bad. I'm planning to use my UK credit card to book.
With Alamo I also got an additional driver for free.
