after living in Spain, I always use doyouspain.com. They are cheap, check all the providers at the site you are collecting from, not just the big boys and also let you pick the fuel policy (you pay a bit more for full-full but prob get this back as you don't need to pay for a full tank up front). They also don't charge any cancellation fee - if the price goes down nearer to your hols simply cancel and create a new rental. give them a try in europe

Exactly. These low-cost broker offers are just attention-getters. By the time they have finished adding extra charges you might as well have gone direct to one of the big companies, at least they are straight up with what you have to pay.

I rented a car for a week back in September from Malaga to go to Ronda, Granada and Sierra Nevada. Low broker prices for Goldcar etc... were tempting, but having read all the reviews I realised I would end up paying the same or more than booking direct with Europcar, so that's what I did.
The cost displayed on the website was the cost I paid (£126 for a week in a Polo auto) took less than ten minutes to collect, the lady made a feeble attempt to upsell insurance, I said no thanks, got my own and she let it go.
Pre-existing damage correctly noted, and no subsequent charges.
Also the car was slightly better spec than the Goldcar Polo (saw one in a hotel car park, no cruise control)

£3, plus extra money to drop the exorbitant insurance excess, plus more for fuel which you don't get back at the end, plus a fee for turning up 5 minutes late, plus a few hundred for the scratch they claim is on the car when you return it, plus more charges for an extra driver etc. etc. etc. - I've been burned on the 'cheap' car hire in Spain and Portugal - take it from me, it's cheaper and you have more peace of mind if you go to a reputable hire firm like Avis ... oh, and the rental excess insurance bought elsewhere is often not accepted by the 'cheap' companies

>after living in Spain, I always use doyouspain.com. They are cheap, check all the providers at the site you are collecting from, not just the big boys and also let you pick the fuel policy (you pay a bit more for full-full but prob get this back as you don't need to pay for a full tank up front). They also don't charge any cancellation fee -
if the price goes down nearer to your hols simply cancel and create a new rental. give them a try in europe

just dont do it too near the travel date - did that & they didnt provide the car endedup paying full prices at the desk & to top it all DoyouSpain refused refund - good luck trying to contact them for anything not on their preselected questions - will not be using them again!

I think it is probably a great deal if you are savvy enough to know how to rebuff many of these issues.
It really shouldn't be that difficult unless you are pretty clueless. That said, it is a dodgy business model which relies on duping as many people as possible no doubt.

Re comments about the excess - I have found that most of the cheap providers do not accept external excesses and cover themselves by deducting a hefty upfront payment from the credit card - have been lucky & fully refunded on returning the car so far

If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't. Instinct should tell you to steer clear, if it doesn't, well serves you right!

Well, I see this is looking to be a worse deal than I thought originally. I don't mind admitting when it looks sour. Thanks for your input fellow HUKDealers, I'll look to get my £3 back now.

Oh and I once hired in Ibiza and despite having a printed contract they tried to say it was wrong and wanted loads more money.
They even had the cheek to say "you have two choices pay the extra or hire with a different hire co " I hadn't paid so I told them to stick it.............the taxi cost less than a hire car and if I had prepaid I could have reclaimed from the credit card as goods not received.

I hire cars every month is Spain and only hire with full/full no excess...........always print the terms and conditions and if possible pre pay so they cannot argue (of course with a credit card as extra guarantee). I still often have to fight to keep to the contract I have agreed to and also agree that Avis and Europcar (also Keddy which is Europcar) are the best. I have had a couple of rows with record and gold car so avoid them if possible.
I usuallyt use agent Booking centre online as they have a clear policy and can only search full/full etc. They also let you pay in advance. hth :smiley:

At last, somebody speaking some sense in this thread! Others clearly can't read and don't understand how car hire excess insurance works. I travel to Spain 4-5 times a year and hire a car for around 50 days each year (I have a property in Spain). I second that doyouspain are regularly the cheapest agent to hire from. I probably have a Goldcar car 90% of the time and never have any trouble whatsoever. I have annual XS insurance and can confirm that Goldcar are very quick in refunding any unused fuel (in fact, I often have an email detailing the credit before my return flight has landed).

This deal is a joke. Never going to just cost you £3... Wake up hot voters!

For the love of god................................................................................



DON'T USE GOLDCAR!!!!!!!!!

I've used gold car twice and although they do charge you over the odds for the fuel, it still works out cheaper, never had a problem

or walk

take the bus hahahha

get in the banana??? I don't get it

But you are not going to be leaving the airport with the car having paid only £3.
It even says so in the terms and conditions you will agree to without reading:


So let's look at the pertinent points in Goldcar Rules & Restrictions:



You will be charged for a tank of fuel (at an inflated rate to be decided when you get there) and they will block 1,200 euros on your credit card. You have agreed to this, so how much of a fight can you possibly put up? They will not hand over the keys until you have paid for the fuel and deposit.
Enjoy.

To be honest, I wasn't looking at getting a car at all, it's a short city break, so public transport likely the order of the day. Though for a few quid and driving myself instead of a cab between the airport and airbb each way - it still looks like a deal.

Never had a problem with Gold Car. Always get excess cover from a third party just in case though.

Sixt were good for Tenerife, they actually use Reisen.
Zero excess(does not include wheels, glass or underside) Fuel was bring it back as you found, full to full would have been better but at least you didn't have to pay for fuel up front or get charged a deposit. Car was less than a year old.

tbh for all the bad press gold car get, I really have never found them to be too bad, but I do always take out their insurance, yes it's expensive and cheaper doing it through another car hire excess comany, but less hassle should you damage it, just hand over the keys and walk away

COLD
If you know the rental firm, then you know why COLD.

I hire cars in Spain regularly, Used to avoid Goldcar like the plague they were on watchdog once. But they seem to have turned around the policy's somewhat.

1. they refund part used fuel even on full / empty

2. haven't stung me for any damage in 3 recent rentals with them

3.they don't refuse your own policy excess , but put a block on your credit card to cover any excess which you then claim back if needed.

I am not recommending Goldcar but they definitely in my experience are not as bad as they used to be. @ Alicante airport anyway.

Heat added
But use your own excess insurance for peace of mind.

Edit* had to claim once(not goldcar) for damage to wheeltrim was insured with http://www.insurance4carhire.com/ paid out with little effort from my part.

If they are getting you in the door for £1 a day they are going to make their money elsewhere or they would go out of business. Car hire is cheap in Spain compared with some places but this is too cheap. Those of you willing to have a fight with them I pity the people you travel with. You are supposed to be on holiday and adding stress or fighting at the beginning or end of your holiday sounds awful. Pay a bit more and get a good service...

Nice voting again HUKD. Does nobody ever read any of the thread before voting?

Oh? £3 for 3 days?

Hot.

Brilliant deal, then GOLDCAR. Oh gawd, I travel away 12 times a year. I know it all, got the excess insurance, got the knowledge, and you know what they will screw you. Don't do it. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187801-i508-k8679998-Goldcar_carhire_problems_AGAIN_now_at_Bologna-Bologna_Province_of_Bologna_Emilia_Romagna.html

Like others been there, done gold car rental once... never again. You have been warned.

Although I have avoided Goldcar in the past having heard of the bad rep that follows them

I just rented a car via atlaschoice using Sixt. Only cost £35 for the week. Had the choice of full to full fuel or a very reasonable pay up front. Decided against the insurance, bit risky bit all went smoothly, very new car. Excellent service all round.

As with other comments here I would steer clear with any company not offering Full to Full fuel policy. Recently hired through Autoeurope who contracted out to Interent in Rome. Nightmare experience which spoilt my holiday. They ended up taking money off my credit card for 'Peace of Mind' insurance although I have a private car excess insurance policy. I've not been refunded despite several complaints - Autoeurope hopeless and just not interested. Fortunately Direct Car Excess were brilliant and compensated me with £40 (although Interent took much more) as a goodwill gesture.

I agree with the bad reviews. I am however, well up for a fight with these numpties. And if all else fails,

GET IN THE BANANA

What muppets are voting this hot?

Goldcar are legalised scammers

You have been warned

Comment

Malagacars is local and inexpensive, and they pick you up extremely swiftly and take you to their office a two-min. drive away - barely any queue or wait ever.

Would never ever go for Goldcar, given the thousands of horrific reviews and all over tripadvisor too. Give it a miss!

... And you will end up renting at the airport that is going to cost you much more, give them a miss, seriously.

Goldcar - been there, done that, never ever again.

Gold car will probably say they won't accept your UK excess policy and make you take their insurance...

after living in Spain, I always use doyouspain.com. They are cheap, check all the providers at the site you are collecting from, not just the big boys and also let you pick the fuel policy (you pay a bit more for full-full but prob get this back as you don't need to pay for a full tank up front). They also don't charge any cancellation fee - if the price goes down nearer to your hols simply cancel and create a new rental. give them a try in europe

Follow the links through, and I expect you'll get the same rate £3 for 3 days - 5-8 Dec.

Though I'm wondering if Europcar/Avis/Sixt etc aren't better for peace of mind. These fellows do seem a dodgy lot. I'll report back.

Ad says from £7 per day, so how was yours £3 for 3 days?

I am sorry, but how can you expect someone renting you a car for £3 (for 3 days) ??? Severe mental issues of the owner ? The admin cost is higher.

Always check reviews with TripAdvisor or similar sources. There is no best ultimate choice, even avis, europcar or sixt may not be locally the best. The hirers are either local providers or franchises of big boys, they live of the hire and the quality of service may differ depending on location and current situation. The more established or richer companies will have open to late offices at the airport as well as the vehicles parked just outside, very often smoother procedure of collection, and newer fleet. I always stick with the reputable companies, i do not need extra pressure on holiday just to save £100, when the holiday costs me few grands anyway.Yes, do search for a good deal, book early if possible as it helps them to plan (thus give you a better rate) but don't expect people working for you for free.Just use common sense and remember they have your credit card details and you are going to be already back home...

Unfortunately I have to agree with the bad reviews of gold at. I have not been stung with them but was given really hard sell on insurance ... 'We don't know what happens tomorrow' they also took an age to refund deposit. Steer clear. Europcar on the other hand ... Used in Norway and Germany this year and could not fault.

I used goldcar before. I booked one week for £18 , ended up paying over £350.

They charge around €100 for petrol even if you don't use much, then they charge around €50 per day insurance, and dealing with them is a pain.
I would avoid them at all costs

Google Goldcar. Good luck with the hire.

What's the fuel policy? When I hired from them in Ibiza a couple of years ago you had to pay for a full tank + a surcharge which came to about 90 euros (though I probably only needed 20 euros of fuel). The car was fine, but they were super inefficient and painful to deal with. I personally wouldn't touch them unless the fuel policy was full to full...

£3, plus extra money to drop the exorbitant insurance excess, plus more for fuel which you don't get back at the end, plus a fee for turning up 5 minutes late, plus a few hundred for the scratch they claim is on the car when you return it, plus more charges for an extra driver etc. etc. etc. - I've been burned on the 'cheap' car hire in Spain and Portugal - take it from me, it's cheaper and you have more peace of mind if you go to a reputable hire firm like Avis ... oh, and the rental excess insurance bought elsewhere is often not accepted by the 'cheap' companies

[quote=aabarcellos]Great find
Beware £219 bill at end as mine earlier[/quote
Could you explain what you meant by this please? why £219

Great find
Beware £219 bill at end as mine earlier

Quid is more in our price range on here. :smiley: