Europcar vehicle rental process

Questions regarding the processes at pick-up time, during the rental and at return time, if your subject is not covered online or you require additional assistance please contact us.

How can I locate the nearest Europcar rental location?

Click here to check our worldwide location details and maps.

Which Europcar locations offer the Ready Service?

Please click on this link: Ready Participating Locations.

Which Europcar locations offer Ready Self Service Terminals?

Please click on this link: Ready Service Terminals.

Can anyone other than myself drive the car?

Please check our Additional Drivers policy by clicking here. Only drivers recorded on the rental agreement are covered by our insurances.

What if I have a problem with the car?

In many countries, Europcar provides Emergency Roadside Assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Details will be supplied at time of rental.

Is there a minimum / maximum age for renting a vehicle with Europcar?

In most countries, you must be aged 21 or over to rent a car and in any cases have held a driving licence for at least one year. However, the age requirement may vary according to the country and to the vehicle category considered. A Young Driver Surcharge may be applicable in some instances. For online bookings, this information can be found in the country rental conditions pages and in the rates conditions part . It will also be given to you automatically if you entered with a Europcar driver ID.

What documents do I need to present at the Europcar counter when I pick up my car?

You will need to present a driving licence in your name, issued by your country of residence (N.B. For licence holders from the UK, where the driving licence is issued in 2 parts, both parts of the licence need to be presented). The driving licence must be valid in the country of rental (driving licences in characters not readable in the country of rental must be accompanied by an International Driving Licence) and held for a minimum period of time depending on local legislation or conditions.

You will also need to present a valid credit card. An identification document, such as a passport, may also be required and at certain locations for luxury models a second credit card and / or utility bill dated within the last 3 months from the same address. The same documents (driving licence and Id Card or Passport) will be requested to additional drivers.

If you use a Europcar prepaid voucher (with a specified value or the mention Group Days apply), you must also present a credit card for the charges which have not been prepaid (extras, refuelling charge, excess due in case of damage to or loss of the rented vehicle).

What is a Rental Agreement?

The rental agreement is the formal contract, signed by Europcar and the customer at the time of check-out, which shows the terms of the rental, the vehicle statement and the rate applied.

Will there be a deposit taken with my credit card when I pick up the car?

Please contact us specifying your request in the mail.

What is the Credit Card Currency Conversion (or dynamic currency conversion) service?

Credit Card Currency Conversion is a service proposed to foreign travellers, Visa and MasterCard cardholders, renting abroad. It enables them to benefit from a currency conversion while paying with their card: The currency conversion is processed by Europcar instead of the customer card issuing bank.

In addition, the renter will benefit from transparency of fees (only 2.75% currency conversion fee per transaction), and a currency conversion receipt will be available on www.europcar.com (Online Invoice Reprint) for each transaction.

This service is available in 9 European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom).

Please click on Credit Card Currency Conversion service for more information.

Do I need to check the condition of the vehicle prior leaving the location?

Yes, you have to check that the vehicle conditions written on the vehicle statement and if an apparent defect is not listed, please proceed to a joint examination of the vehicle with the Europcar employee.

Is there mileage limit for my rental?

Europcar offers two types of rate:

Rate including unlimited mileage, which means that you can drive as much as you want. However we recommend that no individual driver be at the wheel for extended periods and / or without taking appropriate rest.
Rate including a limited mileage, which means that you will be charged for extra for additional mileage over that limit.

You will be advised on the rate pages of our online booking service whether unlimited mileage is included, or you can ask at the counter when you pick up your car.

Can I drive into another country?

Europcar may permit you to cross the border with the vehicle. This varies according to country of rental, car categories and the countries you wish to visit. Please check on our general conditions pages. To cross the sea or the Channel, a written autorisation may be asked by the country. Check at the reservation time or in your agency.

What happens if the car breaks down or if I have an accident?

Most Europcar locations provide clients with complete 24-hour emergency road side assistance. The numbers to be called are printed on the rental agreement and on the rental agreement wallet. In many countries, the number is also on the windscreen of the rental vehicle.

In the event of a breakdown or an accident, you will receive prompt assistance. You must always remember to complete an accident report form, if an accident happens, giving a full account of the circumstances in which the accident happened.

In the event of an accident, always make out a jointly agreed report with the other person involved (you'll find one in the folder containing the vehicle's documents). If you don't, you could be held liable for the cost of repairing the damage done to the rental vehicle. Please read carefully the rental terms and any instructions provided at time of pick-up.

What happens if I return the car late?

Late returns can affect the type of rate assigned to the rental. In most cases, returns of less than a half hour late (up to 29 minutes) will not be charged extra hours. Returns 30 minutes late or later will result in charge of another day. Remember that our insurances only cover you for the period mentioned on the rental agreement.

Do I need to return the car with a full tank?

Vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel and unless you purchase a full-tank of fuel when you check-out you should return the vehicle with a full-tank. Otherwise, Europcar will charge for missing fuel at the end of the rental.

Can I extend the rental duration?

Extending the rental duration is possible at time of check-out or during the rental itself (according to Europcar acceptance). According to the country of rental, you have to contact or come in person to the nearest rental location .The extension is subject to vehicle availability and extra payment. The additional charges will be payable in the local currency of the renting country. A complementary autorisation may be requested on your credit card. Do remember that you are only covered for the period mentioned on your printed rental agreement.

Can I return the vehicle outside the location opening hours?

Yes, you may return your vehicle when the Europcar location is closed, but please check return facilities when picking up the car. The vehicle will remain your responsibility until it has been checked by a Europcar representative.

Do I need to check the condition of the vehicle prior leaving the keys at the counter?

Yes, and if you found a new apparent defect ( not listed if any on the vehicle statement remitted at time of pick up) you have to inform the Europcar employee for a join examination.

Does Europcar offer One Way Rentals?

If you wish to return the car to a different rental location, please check the rate and feasibility during reservation process. Europcar operates a network of international key cities in order to allow flexible travelling, however in non-participating locations you will be required to pay a higher price.

Aside from the basic rental price, are there any additional charges?

Additional charges to your basic rental rate may include:

Additional Driver charge: when there is more than one driver associated with a rental, the second, or subsequent, driver is referred to as the additional driver. There may be a charge applied for each, or all, additional drivers.
Young driver charge: see our section “Insurances”.
Premium Location / Airport / Railway Service Charge: an additional charge which applies at certain central-city, airport or railway locations.
Any additional equipment: please review our section Special Car Equipment.
After hour service: If you pick up or return the car outside the normal opening hours, some country can bill "after hours service". Please check at reservation time.
Full tank option: in some countries, you have the choice to pre-pay your refuelling service.

What methods of payment are accepted by Europcar?

Credit Cards: Europcar accepts major credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard, Visa. As certain credit card companies may not be represented in all countries, it is advisable to verify in advance the acceptance of a given card in a small or remote country. Credit cards are accepted to the limits authorised by the credit card company.
Debit cards are NOT accepted at time of reservation or rental by Europcar.
Europcar charge cards and Full Credit vouchers are accepted throughout the network; on their own, they permit the rental of most vehicle categories.
Europcar prepaid vouchers (with a specified value or the mention Group Days Apply) are accepted as means of payment of the rental charges, but they must be accompanied by a credit card for the charges which have not been prepaid (extras, refuelling charge, excess due in case of damage to or loss of the rented vehicle).
Cash/cheques: only the lowest vehicle categories may be rented against cash or cheque payment ; an additional reference is required and a deposit covering the estimated rental charges and the accident/ theft excess has to be paid in advance.

Can payment be made at one location and the car rented at another one? Can another person pay for the Europcar rental?

No. The renter must qualify at the renting location with their own form of payment, valid driving licence, and meet the minimum age requirements. At the end of the rental, if both parties are at the return counter, the second party may place the charges on their credit card.

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