Supplier reviews

Europcar car hire reviews

15 reviews52 countries covered
3.5

Europcar is one of the biggest names in European car hire, and that scale shows in both good and bad ways. On the positive side, it has deep airport coverage, a familiar booking flow, and plenty of mainstream fleet options for city breaks, family holidays, and cross-border driving. On the less charming side, the customer experience can feel very franchise-dependent, with some desks praised for calm handovers and others criticised for admin-heavy returns or variable vehicle condition. Our verdict: Europcar is rarely the most exciting option, but it is often a sensible one when the local branch is well run. The reviews below are the useful part, because they show whether Europcar behaves like a dependable workhorse in your destination or whether another supplier would give you less hassle for the same money.

Counter signals

15–30 min reportedMedium pressureMajor damage dispute risk
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3.5

Good

15 reviews

KW

Kate Williams

1 Apr 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified

3.0

Melbourne, Australia

Car was good, counter was slow

The actual car was nice and clean, no complaints there. The frustrating bit was the desk, just really slow for no obvious reason. Took about 35 minutes and there were only a few people ahead of us.

30+ minutes
moderate
yes
No damage dispute
Melbourne Airport
MS

Matilda Shaw

7 Feb 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified

2.0

Vienna, Austria

Unexpected extra fees ruined an otherwise average rental

I rented from Europcar at Vienna airport as a solo traveler last month. The pickup process started fine, though the queue was quite long—waited about 30 minutes even though I arrived on time. The staff member was polite but definitely pushed the extra insurance coverage hard, which I declined. I received a Skoda Octavia, which was clean and ran well. However, the drop-off experience left a bad taste. A week later, I noticed unexpected admin charges on my credit card that weren't in the original quote. It felt like a hidden fee just for the sake of it. Disappointing end to the trip.

15–30 min queue
High upsell pressure
issues
No damage dispute
Vienna Airport
KW

Kate Williams

12 Jan 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified

3.0

Melbourne, Australia

Car was good, counter was slow

The actual car was nice and clean, no complaints there. The frustrating bit was the desk, just really slow for no obvious reason. Took about 35 minutes and there were only a few people ahead of us.

30+ minutes
moderate
yes
No damage dispute
Melbourne Airport
FW

Freya West

11 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

4.0

Belgrade, Serbia

Professional service

Europcar at Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport were professional and quick. I was on the road in under 15 minutes. The Dacia was basic but very economical for a week of city driving.

5–15 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Belgrade Airport
SM

Scarlett Mills

3 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

4.0

Lisbon, Portugal

Smooth pickup for our Lisbon weekend city break

We rented from Europcar at Lisbon Airport for a quick weekend trip to Cascais and had a largely positive experience. There was a bit of a queue at the counter when we landed around 10 AM on a Friday, but it moved steadily and we were seen within about 20 minutes. The staff member was efficient and, unlike some other rentals I've had in Portugal, there was no hard sell on extra insurance, which was a relief. We were given a nearly new Seat Ibiza, which was perfect for navigating the coastal roads. The car was clean and the return process was just as smooth. I’m knocking off one star only because the paperwork took a little while to process, but overall, I would definitely use them again for the convenience.

15–30 min queue
No upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Lisbon Airport
LC

Lucas Cole

17 Nov 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

3.0

Rome, Italy

Decent car but the wait at Fiumicino was frustrating

We rented from Europcar at Rome Fiumicino for a couple's trip to explore Lazio. The actual rental process was fine once we got to the counter, but the queue was honestly a nightmare. It took nearly three-quarters of an hour to be seen, which isn't exactly what you want after a long flight when you're desperate to get to your hotel. The staff member was professional enough and didn't aggressively push the extra insurance, which was a relief. We ended up with a Fiat 500L, which was perfect for the narrow Italian roads. The car was clean and ran smoothly. Just be prepared to factor in some waiting time before you hit the road.

15–30 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Completely different car
No damage dispute
Rome Airport
OJ

Olivia James

20 Oct 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

4.0

Split, Croatia

Reliable and no surprises

Europcar at Split was straightforward. Pre-booked online, picked up in 10 minutes. Drove around Dalmatia for a week without any issues. Fair price too.

5–15 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Split Airport
OJ

Olivia James

4 Oct 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

4.0

Belgrade, Serbia

Smooth pickup for our Belgrade weekend trip

We rented from Europcar at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport for a weekend break. There was a bit of a queue when we arrived, probably waiting about 20 minutes, but the desk agent was efficient once we got to the front. I was bracing myself for a hard sell on extra insurance, but they just asked once and accepted my 'no' without any drama, which I really appreciated. We got a decent Renault Clio that was clean and ran perfectly for driving around the city. Drop-off was the best part—super fast and easy. I'd definitely use them again if I'm back in Serbia.

15–30 min queue
High upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Belgrade Airport
DM

Daniel Moore

27 Jul 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

2.0

Kos, Greece

Stressful start to our honeymoon with hidden charges

We rented from Europcar at Kos airport for our honeymoon, expecting a smooth experience. Unfortunately, it was the opposite. The queue at the desk was incredibly long, and we waited over 45 minutes after landing. The staff member was quite pushy, insisting we upgrade our insurance multiple times even after we declined. We picked up the car, a scratched Fiat 500, and made sure to photograph every mark. On return, they tried to claim a minor scuff on the alloy wheel was new damage to charge our deposit. It felt like a scam to cash in on tourists. It put a real dampener on the start of our trip. I wouldn't use them again on this island.

30–60 min queue
High upsell pressure
issues
No damage dispute
Kos Airport
SM

Scarlett Mills

6 Jul 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

1.0

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Avoid Europcar Dubrovnik Airport: Unfair Damage Charges

I rented from Europcar at Dubrovnik Airport for a weekend break, and it was a huge mistake. The pickup process started poorly with a long queue and a staff member who was pushy about extra insurance. I stood my ground, but they still put a high deposit hold on my card. The car itself was fine during the trip, but the real trouble started when I returned the vehicle. The attendant claimed he found a scratch on the bumper that I know wasn't there when I picked up. Despite pointing out that it was just dirty, he insisted it was new damage. A week later, I saw they had taken a large sum from my card for 'repairs.' I'm currently fighting to get my money back. Definitely avoid this location.

30–60 min queue
High upsell pressure
issues
Major damage dispute
Dubrovnik Airport
GH

Georgia Hunt

18 Jun 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

5.0

Dublin, Ireland

Smooth pickup at Dublin Airport for our Irish road trip

My partner and I rented from Europcar at Dublin Airport for our recent couple's trip, and honestly, it was the smoothest part of our travel day. We arrived around 9:00 AM and were pleasantly surprised to find absolutely no queue at the counter. The staff member was friendly and efficient, getting us sorted in under ten minutes. There was a brief mention of upgraded insurance, but it wasn't a hard sell at all, which was a relief. We were given a nearly new Toyota Corolla that was spotless and perfect for navigating the coastal roads. The pricing was exactly what we booked online with no hidden fees. It’s rare to find a car hire experience that is genuinely stress-free, but this was definitely one of them. Highly recommended.

0–5 min queue
High upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Dublin Airport
MS

Matilda Shaw

31 May 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

5.0

Lisbon, Portugal

Smooth and efficient pickup at Lisbon Airport for our couple's trip

My wife and I were a bit apprehensive after reading some horror stories about car rentals in Portugal, but our experience with Europcar was surprisingly seamless. We landed at Lisbon Airport around 10:00 AM and headed straight to the counter. I expected a long wait, but there was literally no queue, which was a huge relief after a tiring flight. The staff member was friendly and didn't try to pressure us into buying expensive extra insurance, which I really appreciated. They simply explained the fuel policy and sent us on our way. We were given a nearly new Renault Clio that was spotless inside and out. The pricing we paid matched exactly what was on our booking confirmation—no hidden fees or nasty surprises at the desk. It honestly made the start of our couple's trip completely stress-free. I would definitely use them again for the honesty and efficiency alone.

0–5 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Lisbon Airport
EC

Evie Clarke

14 May 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

5.0

Kos, Greece

Smooth and efficient pickup for my solo trip to Kos

I usually dread the paperwork at airport counters, but renting from Europcar at Kos airport was surprisingly painless. I was traveling solo and had booked a compact car, which is exactly what I got—a nearly new Toyota Yaris. The counter was easy to locate in the arrivals hall, and I was pleasantly surprised that there was no queue at all when I landed around midday. The staff member who assisted me was professional and polite; she didn't aggressively push the extra insurance, which I really appreciated. She simply explained the fuel policy and the deposit hold, and I was on my way in under fifteen minutes. The car was clean and performed perfectly for driving around the island. Returning the keys was just as straightforward. A stress-free start to my holiday.

0–5 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Kos Airport
OJ

Olivia James

1 May 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

5.0

Malaga, Spain

Stress-free pickup at Malaga for our Costa del Sol trip

I was a bit worried after reading some horror stories about car rentals in Spain, but my experience with Europcar at Malaga airport was honestly brilliant. We arrived around 9 PM on a Friday for a weekend break, and I expected a long queue, but we were seen within ten minutes. The staff member at the desk—pretty sure his name was Miguel—was cheerful and efficient. He did ask about additional insurance, but took my polite 'no' on the first attempt without pushing further, which I really appreciated. We were given a nearly new Seat Ibiza, which was spotless inside and out. The return process on Sunday was just as easy; simply parked the car, handed the keys back, and the deposit was back in my account by Tuesday. No hidden fees, no fuss. Highly recommended.

30–60 min queue
Mild upsell pressure
Car matched booking
No damage dispute
Malaga Airport
AS

Amelia Scott

8 Apr 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified

3.0

Dublin, Ireland

Clean car but the insurance upsell was exhausting

I rented from Europcar at Dublin Airport for a quick weekend trip to the west. The location is convenient being right in the terminal, but the pickup process left a bit to be desired. I had to wait about 20 minutes in line despite having a reservation. The staff member I dealt with was professional enough, but the conversation quickly turned into a hard sell for extra insurance coverage. Even after I declined, I was given a bit of a lecture about potential excess fees, which felt unnecessary since I already had coverage. On the positive side, the car itself was a VW Golf that was spotless inside and out, and it ran perfectly for the whole weekend. Returning the keys was fast and easy. It was a mixed bag—great vehicle, but the aggressive sales pitch at the counter put a damper on the start of the holiday.

15–30 min queue
High upsell pressure
Completely different car
No damage dispute
Dublin Airport