Car Hire - Pisa
Discussion
Anyone got any reccommendations for suppliers?
I know I can book with one of the big 5 or 6 and pay around £5-600 for 10 days, but there are loads of smaller independent suppliers that come back on HolidayAutos/AutoEurope/Kayak etc for half that price.
Looking at Google reviews, it would seem both the major players and the smaller ones are pretty hit and miss with regards the experience.
I know I can book with one of the big 5 or 6 and pay around £5-600 for 10 days, but there are loads of smaller independent suppliers that come back on HolidayAutos/AutoEurope/Kayak etc for half that price.
Looking at Google reviews, it would seem both the major players and the smaller ones are pretty hit and miss with regards the experience.
Went to Tuscany last June and collected our rental from Pisa airport. We used stressfreecarrental.com before we went and the best deal we got through them was with Sicily by Car. We paid just over €380 euro for 7 days unlimited mileage. I think we also paid about €500 deposit on a card which they held and then give straight back once you return the car.
We opted for a Peugeot 208 but got given a Fiat 500X when we turned up. It helped as there was 3 of us and it gave us more room. Absolutely gutless performance wise though! We got Super Gold Cover through the website which covered theft or accidental damage. I also made sure I took pictures / made a video on my phone of any scratches / dents etc when I picked the car up so they wouldn't be able to blame us when we took it back.
All went well though. Returned the car before we flew home and the bloke at the kiosk wasn't even arsed about checking it over. I heard plenty of horror stories before renting but it really helped using that website.
We opted for a Peugeot 208 but got given a Fiat 500X when we turned up. It helped as there was 3 of us and it gave us more room. Absolutely gutless performance wise though! We got Super Gold Cover through the website which covered theft or accidental damage. I also made sure I took pictures / made a video on my phone of any scratches / dents etc when I picked the car up so they wouldn't be able to blame us when we took it back.
All went well though. Returned the car before we flew home and the bloke at the kiosk wasn't even arsed about checking it over. I heard plenty of horror stories before renting but it really helped using that website.
We hire a car from Pisa most years, and generally just tend to go with a reasonable value supplier.
Main thing to make sure of is that they are on the airport. There's a big building that's a 10/15 min walk or shuttle bus from the terminal which houses all of the rental companies. Some are off-site, like miles off-site.
We've very rarely got what we asked for from anyone - this year, asked for a 'Golf equivalent' and ended up with a T-Cross. Apparently a T-Cross is better because it is higher.
One suggestion would be to try Zest, who include excess insurance as part of their price. They are more expensive, but it saves you having to worry about the possible excess or getting a separate policy. They also offered an online check-in, so we just picked up the keys with very little hassle.
It has sometimes been hit and miss for queues too. I've gone straight to the desk and waited in a queue of 10/11 groups for the same company on different visits - none seem any more reliable in that regard.
Random info - you can usually get from Lucca to Pisa airport without your fuel gauge dropping below max !
Main thing to make sure of is that they are on the airport. There's a big building that's a 10/15 min walk or shuttle bus from the terminal which houses all of the rental companies. Some are off-site, like miles off-site.
We've very rarely got what we asked for from anyone - this year, asked for a 'Golf equivalent' and ended up with a T-Cross. Apparently a T-Cross is better because it is higher.
One suggestion would be to try Zest, who include excess insurance as part of their price. They are more expensive, but it saves you having to worry about the possible excess or getting a separate policy. They also offered an online check-in, so we just picked up the keys with very little hassle.
It has sometimes been hit and miss for queues too. I've gone straight to the desk and waited in a queue of 10/11 groups for the same company on different visits - none seem any more reliable in that regard.
Random info - you can usually get from Lucca to Pisa airport without your fuel gauge dropping below max !
I used Easy car hire, via rental cars.com.
For me it was easy and cheap. It cost me £50 for 4 days. But they found a 25mm scuff on a hub cap and rushed me £110 for a new one. The check-in guy said “sorry, I have to. But I didn’t notice that you’ve not refilled the tank”. It was fair.
BUT BUT BUT I was the only person in the queue who got a car. The others were bounced due to a variety of credit card issues. Also, the queue was long, presumably because they were cheap.
Top tip - make sure you’ve got a credit card (not debit) and that it is in the name of the hirer. You CAN hire with a debit card but the prices are way higher, as those in the queue before me discovered when they had to find another provider. Deviate from the “credit card in the name of the hirer” rule and expect problems.
For me it was easy and cheap. It cost me £50 for 4 days. But they found a 25mm scuff on a hub cap and rushed me £110 for a new one. The check-in guy said “sorry, I have to. But I didn’t notice that you’ve not refilled the tank”. It was fair.
BUT BUT BUT I was the only person in the queue who got a car. The others were bounced due to a variety of credit card issues. Also, the queue was long, presumably because they were cheap.
Top tip - make sure you’ve got a credit card (not debit) and that it is in the name of the hirer. You CAN hire with a debit card but the prices are way higher, as those in the queue before me discovered when they had to find another provider. Deviate from the “credit card in the name of the hirer” rule and expect problems.
Semmelweiss said:
Just make sure you have excess insurance. Very well known location for agents claiming new damage when returning. Take photos and video of every wheel and panel before and after returning.
This is generally excellent advice, and something I do any time I pick up a hire car, although I've never personally experienced this in maybe 20 rentals from Pisa.Gin and Ultrasonic said:
Semmelweiss said:
Just make sure you have excess insurance. Very well known location for agents claiming new damage when returning. Take photos and video of every wheel and panel before and after returning.
This is generally excellent advice, and something I do any time I pick up a hire car, although I've never personally experienced this in maybe 20 rentals from Pisa.Cheers for all the replies, much appreciated.
I've gone with Zest, with full excess cover, utilising Sicilly By Car as the provider.
Seemed a good few positive reviews and was in the middle regards price.
I can cancel up to 48 hrs prior to arrival, with no cost, so will check prices again 3 weeks before I arrive there to see if its cheaper.
I've gone with Zest, with full excess cover, utilising Sicilly By Car as the provider.
Seemed a good few positive reviews and was in the middle regards price.
I can cancel up to 48 hrs prior to arrival, with no cost, so will check prices again 3 weeks before I arrive there to see if its cheaper.
MattS5 said:
Cheers for all the replies, much appreciated.
I've gone with Zest, with full excess cover, utilising Sicilly By Car as the provider.
Seemed a good few positive reviews and was in the middle regards price.
I can cancel up to 48 hrs prior to arrival, with no cost, so will check prices again 3 weeks before I arrive there to see if its cheaper.
Essential Italy recommends Zest.I've gone with Zest, with full excess cover, utilising Sicilly By Car as the provider.
Seemed a good few positive reviews and was in the middle regards price.
I can cancel up to 48 hrs prior to arrival, with no cost, so will check prices again 3 weeks before I arrive there to see if its cheaper.
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