Goldcar Car Hire

I am just back from a fortnight on CDA.  On arrival I went to the Goldcar desk (horrendous queue) and was told that the €251 euros for a 13 day hire booked through Do you Spain was 3rd party only and they wanted another €60 on top of that to make it fully comp!!  Now I am used to the old €20 or so 'upgrade' for tyres and windscreen cover patter but this was a whole new ball game.  I was furious as I have booked through DYS around 8 times now and it has always been fully comp with a free additional driver if required.  Told them to shove their car and went to the Sol-mar desk (no queue) who gave me a bigger car at the same price and drove it right to the front door for me.  Called DYS and explained but don't think they were too bothered.  However, the real point of this whole saga is, worryingly, that some people must be driving off with a car booked via DYS thinking they are fully comp.  If an accident happens they would be liable for the Goldcar damage.  Scary stuff. I normally end up with Auriga Crown and I am always fully comp with them via DYS.  No idea why the rules seem to change for Goldcar???? Arlene

Hi Arlene,

We landed on Saturday and the Gold Car queue was all the way back to the baggage carousels, lots of people complaining that they had been queing for over an hour. We were with Auriga Crown and done and dusted in 15 mins, didn't even have to pay for the tank of fuel, had qtr tank in and told to bring it back the same.

We tried to book through DYS for Easter next year and when the voucher came back with Gold Car we instantly cancelled. Also noticed the small print on the bottom for the 2nd driver of 2€/day.

Hi Mike,

Did this cancellation incur any penalty?

Ali

Arlene - good move - Solmar seem to be on top of things any time I use them.

I've booked Hertz cars regularly and we are directed to Solmar. Their cars are excellent (good models / low mileage) and tend to cost no more than the others. Queues are usually smaller. The only issue I suppose is their car parking bays are furthest away but I can cope with that.

I'd certainly recomend them and given that I'm moving back up to Stonehaven soon I'm aware that any duff advice might easily result in you coming down the road to get your revenge.................,

Peter

Ha ha.  I may well do that.  I normally get Auriga Crown when I book with Do You Spain and they are good.  I will be giving Goldcar a wide berth though from now on.  Hope Stonehaven is a bit warmer than it was last time I was down there.  BALTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ali

No penalty incurred when you cancel with do you spain as you don't pay until you actually go and collect the car.

Think we've been given solmar for the next of trips booked

Arlene thanks for that. Very interesting for all the wrong reasons and really looks like yet another scam  Glad it all worked out for you in the end though

Thanks for opening this thread, I have booked with Goldcar through Do You Spain and have not used them before. I really don't like th idea of being ripped off so I started to look through other older threads that have opened on this site, surprise surprise, all the bad press seems to be going in the direction of Goldcar, so i have decided to cancel my booking with Do You Spain and look for alternative suppliers. I'm flying into Murcia San Javier with wife and two kids in Feb, I've just looked and Auriga Crown seem to be a fair price, does anyone have any prior deelings with them? If so, was it good?

Thanks for the replies.

Chris.

I normally get Auriga Crown (through Do You Spain).  They have always been great.  I was a bit miffed I didn't get them last time but decided to give Goldcar a try - big mistake.  A lot of folks also like F & C car hire and they seem to have a pretty decent reputation too.  Arlene

Hi all,

Just thought i would share this amusing turn of events involving Goldcar, firstly i booked with car hire 3000, only to get to the voucher stage which resulted in the supplier being Goldcar oh eck i thought, dont want to be ripped off by this lot on their fuel charges? so i cancelled and booked again, this time with Autoeurope as thier rates were very competitive £67 for 5 days hire in early December, So get to the voucher stage and guess whaaat?? yep! Goldcar again although this time it states goldcar europa?? im guessing its the same firm??  so here lies a question to an old saying? that, if at first you dont succeed, try again!! but blimey how many times is it gonna take??

gathering my thoughts, ive decided to maybe see it through with Goldcar as i might end up cancelling booking after booking, so will let all know how we faired on our return from condado next month

hasta luego

 pete n ange j3

Try using 'Carjet', if you're not happy with your reservation you can telephone them and they'll offer you different companies.

I've booked manfy times with Carjet and more often than not you are sent to the Goldcar rental desk.  However, there have been times when I have been sent to the Centauro desk which is usually less busy particularly in the summer months.  Carjet would seem to act as agents.  I have always found them very good though and the booking process is very easy and easy to cancel or make changes if you want to.

Anne Marie (Los Naranjos)

Hi everyone,

Just brought this thread back to the top to ask a question. We have booked through DYS for March and got Auriga Crown. The price is good but I know there has been a lot of discussion about some rentals having high fuel prices added to the booking. The main culprit being Goldcar.

Does anyone know if Auriga Crown charge high fuel prices or are they usually good ?

Thanks,

Phil

Hi lytton - I have used this company 6 times over the last 2 years and had no problems. I haven't paid for fuel (yet) you get the car full and you return it full, very easy. the last time I used them was earlier this week.

Regards Tim

We've also used auriga crown many times in the past couple of years and have had no problems at all.

There were problems in the summer where auriga had overbooked cars and had cancelled bookings prior to people coming out. Do you spain said if this did happen they would find you another car hire company for the same price.

I've heard of no problems since

We have used Auriga Crown during the last week and had no problems- they wanted the car returned with a full tank. As we did slightly less touring around than  in previous visits we still had over a quater of a tank as we returned to the airport and to fill cost 29 euro's. Previous companies have charged 50 euro's for a full tank on collection. The car we had did have damage along one side but it was pointed out to us when we picked it up. We also collected at Alicante and returned to Murcia and collecting and dropping off processes were quick and easy.

We were stung by DYS and  Auriga crown by deciding not pay the local insurance. DYS did not inform me of any additional insurance charges (i think it was to cover wheels and windscreens) so we thought it was auriga crown being a bit sharp. Instead they wanted my credit card details. We thought they'd hold on to them in case we returned the car with damaged windows or wheels but instead they took the money off immediately which amounted to 300 euros. We brought the car back in perfect order and they put the money back onto the card but it cost nearly £30 in excahnge rate difference and charges.

When booking be sure that all insurances are included,  if not i'd pay the local charge it works out cheaper. It's a proper sting and I emailed DYS twicw with no responce. No suprise there!

Beware

Jay

Regarding Auriga Crown and local insurances I was surprised about your info Jay- especially about the 300 euro's. So I asked my husband he said that they ( and any hire co we have used so far) have always made it perfectly clear at the desk if you chose not to take local insurances  you will pay 300 euro's surety for use of the car which will be refunded- but they probably dont all mention exchange rates : and it costs about 3 euros a day for those insurances otherwise. He thinks thats why you havent had a response to your emails- its standard practice.

Hi Lytton - I have used Auriga Crown several times (prior to my Goldcar debacle) via DYS and I really like them.  No problems other than those mentioned on the forum last year when they ran out of vehicles.  Hopefully this is all resolved now though.  Arlene

Hi

Thanks for the comments from you all, really helpful as the last thing I want is to turn up in March and have to empty my wallet to pay for the ridiculous cost of fuel....!

Happy New Year

Phil