Car rental outside working hours

[Alberto]

Maybe someone has plenty of experience on car rental here...

Travelling to a place (Bolzano, Italy, getting there via train from Hamburg Germany). I'd like to rent a car over there. But my arrival is expected after their office closed (even worse in case of delays, of course)

They say in their website the rental is nevertheless possible, but no further explanation.

I emailed them but no reply yet. And I will try to call but haven't managed yet.

Anyone has experience on this?

Thanks

[LeonG]

Only the car rental you will be using can answer that, but they might have someone stay late if they know someone is coming.

[Franklan]

Never take a rental car "as is", never give back a rental car "as is".

You want to inspect the car, together with a representative of the rental company, and note all damages, when you get it.
You want to inspect the car, together with a representative of the rental company, and note all damages, when you give it back.

Anything else will lead to expensive trouble.

[Alberto]

I managed to speak with the rental office.
They say if my specified arrival time is after their closing time of 1730, they can stay open until 19:00 latest (for extra 30€/day). But if I arrive even later I'm cooked.
Sounds too risky. I was secretly hoping they have a 24/7 robot or something...

BTW curious that the "late arrival premium" scales with the rental duration.

[Fraufruit]

Surely there are more car rental companies there.

https://mietwagen.check24.de/ul/mietwag ... SoQAvD_BwE

[PandaMunich]

I like Billiger-Mietwagen.de.
I always add maximum cover, i.e. "Vollkasko ohne Selbstbeteiligung" (fully comprehensive insurance without excess): https://www.billiger-mietwagen.de/de-de ... %3Dinclude

But standard rules apply: take plenty of photos of all sides of the car when you get it and when you give it back.

[Nixon]

I like Billiger-Mietwagen.de.
I always add maximum cover, i.e. "Vollkasko ohne Selbstbeteiligung" (fully comprehensive insurance without excess): https://www.billiger-mietwagen.de/de-de ... %3Dinclude

But standatd rules apply: take plenty of photos of all sides of the car when you get it and when you give it back.

Didn’t know about this site. Thanks!

[Sx4]

Never take a rental car "as is", never give back a rental car "as is".

You want to inspect the car, together with a representative of the rental company, and note all damages, when you get it.
You want to inspect the car, together with a representative of the rental company, and note all damages, when you give it back.

Anything else will lead to expensive trouble.

+1 to this advise...my significant other got a rental car in a hurry from Enterprise, was in a hurry to get out of town so didn't go over the damage with rental car representative. Also declined additional insurance. The car was returned after business hours in the parking spot designated by the rental car representative....again no pictures at drop off as it was dark. No wonder after 8 weeks Enterprise sent a bill for repair for 900 Euros....when we asked for before and after pictures or when the damage pictures were taken, they refused to send any evidence, but simply blacklisted us from Enterprise and its affiliates.
A google review of the rental company local branch showed several people complaining that they got billed for damage to rental cars several weeks to months later after drop off (some had even inspected the car with a representative at drop off)...yet received invoice for damage repair like we did.

[Franklan]

They say in their website the rental is nevertheless possible, but no further explanation.

So, how did this work out in the end, if I may ask?