GOLDCAR - Beware

[gavinhenson]

If anyone is thinking about hiring a car then please stay clear of GOLDCAR - they will charge you for a full tank of fuel at inflated rates when it comes to pick up the car, and ask you to return it empty. We booked with them through a broker and thankfully did some research and managed to cancel and rebook with another hire company through Enjoy Car Hire which has a 'fair fuel policy'.

[Bruce Wallis]

If you are a good boy, and regularly read your Carvoeiro.com, forum, you would have become aware of this scam, which was first highlighted, last year.

[gavinhenson]

Must admit I didn't search the forum, I feel so ashamed it's a lot easier to search Google and find 35,000 results for 'goldcar scam'. Consider my post a simple way of bringing the issue back to everyone's attention!

[HampshireRich]

Well I've used YOR and picked up the car with a full tank and was asked to return with full. Simple, easy, no fuss - what a hire car should be.

[gavinhenson]

Well I've used YOR and picked up the car with a full tank and was asked to return with full. Simple, easy, no fuss - what a hire car should be.

Totally agree HampshireRich, last thing you want is hassle when you've just landed and want to start enjoying the sunshine. How much did you pay for your car hire with YOR if you don't mind me asking? I paid £85 for a week for an Opel Corsa through Enjoy Car Hire, wasn't brand new but not too bad, no problems.

[HampshireRich]

Well I've used YOR and picked up the car with a full tank and was asked to return with full. Simple, easy, no fuss - what a hire car should be.

Totally agree HampshireRich, last thing you want is hassle when you've just landed and want to start enjoying the sunshine. How much did you pay for your car hire with YOR if you don't mind me asking? I paid £85 for a week for an Opel Corsa through Enjoy Car Hire, wasn't brand new but not too bad, no problems.

290 euros for 2 weeks - admittedly not the best car in the world but done OK for the 400 or so kilometres we've done. Don't think Steen wanted to trust a first-time driver in Portugal with a brand new Polo - I'll have that next time Steen

[Michael Crane]

Just paid £172 to Travel Rent via ECH for two weeks in December including all-singing, all-dancing insurance. Well pleased.

[alf1956]

if you search my posts you will see that the general opinion of gold car is that they are not worth using & they also are a set of arrogant so &so's !i have had experience of them in the past through booking through the internet & i was not aware at the time of their sharp practices but as soon as i was aware i gave them a very wide berth !

[TomUK]

I am also a YOR car fan (via AlgarveDriver). Just worth pointing out that Hampshire Rich's experience of collecting with a full tank and returning with a full tank is not the case for every hire. Like him, I have had a car with a full tank, another with a quarter full tank and last time (Aug. 31st) with the low fuel warning light on. However in each case I was told to return with the same amount (although returning with the low fuel warning light showing was a bit nervy, but you do have quite a few kilometers in reserve after the light comes on).
Regarding the age and condition of the cars, it is a variable, depending I suppose on what they have available at any given time. Last time I had a Fiat Panda, 3 years old with 59,000k on the clock. The previous time (last May) I also got a Fiat Panda, but this was almost new with just 400k on the clock. The three year old one had a few scratches and dents, but these were all carefully indicated on my hire document and pointed out by the rep. The car was checked against the sheet on return to show there was no extra damage. I've always found the reps friendly and easy to deal with.

[LICY]

About the same time i saw the previous post they had a piece on TV about the fuel trick. Just back this morning and every time I saw Goldcar users I wanted to tell them not yo use them again, but they were always driving at the time. We use Travelrent. Just got my brother 1 week mid November small car for an amazing €60.

[ncook]

I got stung by Goldcar this year too - won't be using them again.

Thet were very rude when I said i didn't want their damage waiver insurance because I had my own. Wanted to look at my policy then said it wasn't as good as theirs, but I managed to stick to my guns.

I very nearly got back with an empty tank, but chickened out as I got to VdG bridge and put 10 euros in as it was flashing empty at me.

Also. when I got back there was no-one there, so I pushed the keys back through their letter box, but forgot the car documantation and took it home with me. For a little plastic wallet with a card with the car details on it, they charged me 100 euros plus VAT!!

Never again!

[shanagarry]

I have just finished a trawl of the 'net to find the best rental price for 8 days over New Year. I went to all the usual suspects and got prices ranging from £130 (Goldcar & 2 others) to £240 (Avis, Hertz & Europcar).

A friend recommended Travelrent (I never heard of them) as they have used them for several years and gloats about how good they are. Their price €50 for the same size car and time - by the time we added a few extras the price rose to the heady heights of €59.I've checked the T's & C's and can't find a catch. Have I missed something?

We might end up driving a 'shed' but the saving should pay for New Year's Eve at Primavera.

[snowbirds]

We have been renting from Travelrent for ten years (during our four month winter stay). They have always provided a good car, at a very reasonable price and we have never had any problems with them. Recommend them highly.

[DaveK]

No, I don't think you have missed anything. I would also recommend Travelrent. I have now had over 30 consecutive hires with them booked through Economy Car Hire without a problem. Ok, the cars are generally between one and two years old; maybe three in peak season, but always in generally good condition. I always used Avis prior to their charges becoming ridiculous. The hike to car park 4 is well worth it for the savings.

[EMM]

Is the travelrent price just the basic lead in,
When you arive to collect you vehicle are there additonal charges for transponder hire 15-20euros and insurance 6-8 euros day.
When collecting our cars we overhear almost every rep sayng that will be an extra etc etc.