Does anyone have any experience with Europcar in Ben Gurion?

[Centurion]

Centurion........

yes?? are you guesstimating my age? driving legally over 20 years..

[milechazzer]

I just booked a Mazda5 or similar ("standard van") for 2 and a half weeks on Expedia from Europcar for about $236 total! I used a world mastercard, so no CDW. the closest price was $919. Am I in for a huge headache when i get there? Does anyone have any experience with them? How bad are they? Should I reserve another car at another company just in case? Is their place really far away from the airport? What am I in for?
Any info would be appreciated.

I think I booked the same vehicle. Europcar calls it a Standard or Standard Van. My reservation says it's a Toyota Verso, but I think it's interchangeable with the Mazda MPV 5.  (They call that category SVAR.)  The Europcar website says that it seats 7 people, plus 3 bags, but that can't be accurate, since it looks like there's very little room for luggage when the back row of seats are open.  The price I got was $146 for 10 days, which seems very good for a car/van with 7 seats. Even if you have to pay for CDW, you still can beat that rate anywhere else.

I was hoping to decline CDW and use my World MC, and I called up Europcar in TLV to inquire as to whether I would have to pay for any liability coverage. The guy on the phone told me they don't accept any credit cards for coverage, and everyone must pay for "CDW and TP".  I don't know if what he was telling me is true, and it seems like people here have used WMC coverage there, so I'm not sure what the story is. 

Can anyone provide any insight into this? How much should liability cost if they accept the WMC coverage? How much is CDW and TP if they don't accept WMC coverage?

[Centurion]

fair warning - make sure you have a backup plan.
call them (call the us number and confirm the res - as well as get the number in the airport BEFORE U FLY)
GET READY TO PAY 22 EURO PER DAY IN ADDITION TO YOUR PRICE! (for insurance)

[milechazzer]

Called Europcar TLV again and spoke to someone else there. He told me the same thing - that they don't accept any CDW coverage from credit cards, and I would have to purchase CDW and TP coverage from Europcar for 22Euro/day ($27/day).  Even if they fleece me $270 for CDW+TP coverage, the total 10-day rental is still only $146+$270=$416.  Lowest price elsewhere is at least $580.

[milechazzer]

I emailed Europcar customer service to inquire why the Israel reps are saying that they don't accept MasterCard CDW coverage, and this is the response that I got.....

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your email.

In israel, the coverage insurance provided by your credit card is not accepted.

I suggest you to purchase the SLI insurance :
SUPPLEMENTARY LIABILITY COVER which costs 20 EUR/25.42 $ per day.

[Dan]

I emailed Europcar customer service to inquire why the Israel reps are saying that they don't accept MasterCard CDW coverage, and this is the response that I got.....

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your email.

In israel, the coverage insurance provided by your credit card is not accepted.

I suggest you to purchase the SLI insurance :
SUPPLEMENTARY LIABILITY COVER which costs 20 EUR/25.42 $ per day.

So send them a latter from MCW with coverage.

[milechazzer]

So send them a latter from MCW with coverage.

I don't think the letter is going to work with them (but I'll try when I get it). It seems that they leave everything up to the local branch, and the Israel location probably adopted a policy of forcing everyone to pay for their CDW.

I sent them another email for clarification, since the Israel reps told me I need CDW and TP, and the message from Europcar Customer Service said I need SLI.  This is the response that I got:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your email.
the Thrid party liability insurance is included
the cost of CDW is EUR 15.85 (USD 20.14) per day excluding tax
thank you
Best regards

If this is correct, then I may be able to get a better deal on CDW by including it in the reservation (for EUR 15.85/day) than by adding it in TLV for EUR 22/day.

[arch]

So send them a latter from MCW with coverage.

If they force me to pay, do you think i can get reimbursed by MC? I can tell MC that the rental place didnt accept their coverage.

[Centurion]

itried and failed but others have told me they tried and tried and succeeded..

[arch]

Called Europcar TLV again and spoke to someone else there. He told me the same thing - that they don't accept any CDW coverage from credit cards, and I would have to purchase CDW and TP coverage from Europcar for 22Euro/day ($27/day).  Even if they fleece me $270 for CDW+TP coverage, the total 10-day rental is still only $146+$270=$416.  Lowest price elsewhere is at least $580.

any idea what it would cost if they charged me CDW+TP coverage on a 17 trip? Its only telling me in euro...

[milechazzer]

any idea what it would cost if they charged me CDW+TP coverage on a 17 trip? Its only telling me in euro...

I think it varies by car, but assuming your insurance fees would be the same as mine, then is should be 17x$27=$459 (in addition to the base rental rate)

[arch]

Ouch! That's a lot. It's still $200 cheaper then the next best price buti might be able to do better with free upgrades etc. Are there any sites that I could pay upfront now for the car so I won't get screwed at the counter?

[Medic97]

I'm going to use them in Spain for a one way rental on Friday. After reading this I better check and make sure I can use my United card as my insurance side that was my plan.

[Jkhein]

I just got this email in reply to if i can use my card. It must be just an Israel thing.

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your email.
you can cuse your credit card to decline the insurance proposed at the counter.
if you prove that your credit card covered you, you did not need to take the insurance when you pickup the car
thank you
Best regards

Soumaya BOUASSIDA
Europcar International Reservation
Quality to Customer

You do realise this thread is specific to EC in Israel?

[Medic97]

You do realise this thread is specific to EC in Israel?

I really dont understand why ppl feel the need to be snotty. It is for this reason ppl dont like helping other out on forums.

Of coures i realize that but it is the same company and I was concerned. I then shared my experience just in case someone else had the same concern. There i deleted my comment since it obviously bothers you

[milechazzer]

Getting back to the subject of Europcar Israel ......

If anyone has any experience with the Toyota Verso ("standard") minivan that Europcar seems to be offering for a far lower rate than everyone else, can I trouble you to share...

I'm particularly interested in how well it accomodates 6-7 passengers, and how much luggage space there is.

thx

[statusmiles]

I really dont understand why ppl feel the need to be snotty. It is for this reason ppl dont like helping other out on forums.

+10

[arch]

Getting back to the subject of Europcar Israel ......

If anyone has any experience with the Toyota Verso ("standard") minivan that Europcar seems to be offering for a far lower rate than everyone else, can I trouble you to share...

I'm particularly interested in how well it accomodates 6-7 passengers, and how much luggage space there is.

thx

I would also like to know if you can walk thru from the front row to the back like I can do in my odyssey.

[milechazzer]

I would also like to know if you can walk thru from the front row to the back like I can do in my odyssey.

I'm pretty sure it's not configured that way. I think the middle row is a 3 seat bench configuration, and the back row is a 2 seat fold down bench

[Jkhein]

I'm pretty sure it's not configured that way. I think the middle row is a 3 seat bench configuration, and the back row is a 2 seat fold down bench

oh thats forsure. Never been in one, but it does look tiny!