Pick up and drop off similar to Grand Theft Auto

Very good.

The car pickup location was at Plaza de España, Madrid, and it was relatively easy to find. The paperwork process was straightforward, but the small space was packed with cars, making it impossible to get the car out. I requested help from the staff, who seemed experienced with this issue and took about twenty tries to maneuver the vehicle out. The car had numerous scratches and dents all around. When I asked the staff to inspect, they recommended taking photos. To avoid disputes during return, I took around 30 photos. The road trip through the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal, went smoothly, and the vehicle's condition was fine overall. However, returning the car at Madrid Airport T1 was problematic. I entered the wrong entrance twice despite seeing the EUROCAR logo, only to find out the area was separated by a parking lot. After paying a parking fee and trying multiple times, I finally found the return location. The inspection staff reviewed the existing damages documented in their system but oddly asked about a small scratch near the door handle. Fortunately, I had a photo, showed it to him, and he had no arguments, marking the car as free of scratches or dents on the inspection form. While the inspection seemed complete, I later received an email noting three minor scratches, which felt dishonest. Future renters should stay vigilant. At Iberian Peninsula gas stations, be cautious to differentiate between gasoleo (diesel) and gasolina (gasoline). Picking the wrong one would be a costly mistake.

vehicle was not provided, need to take lower category, on top for expebsive insurance, insteqd of 413eur, they blocked 513eur, because of spending about 2 hours to solve the situation and with small kids I had no choice to accept thia situation..

trying to support,

I've rented cars in over 20 countries and at least a dozen times, but I was still scammed by Europcar at Madrid T1 Airport. To be more organized, let me list the traps set by this company step by step: 1. During the car pickup, the counter staff tried to upsell a different car model, claiming my current car was petrol and the upgraded models were diesel, and the fuel savings would cover the upgrade cost. I've rented diesel cars in Europe before, and they are indeed more fuel-efficient, but the upgrade cost was almost double the original rental fee, making the fuel savings negligible, so I declined. As the car models don't specify fuel types, this seems like a loophole they exploit. Later, I found out their quotes didn't include the 21% VAT. 2. After confirming no upgrades, the counter staff printed a Spanish pickup confirmation, despite our entire conversation being in English. (The return confirmation was in English, proving the system can change languages.) The payment section of the Europcar confirmation was very confusing, showing amounts in both euros and dollars. I saw the €119.46 and €419.46 (including deposit) amounts from my reservation and assumed it was correct, so I handed over my card. However, the transaction didn't go through a POS machine, and later my bank notified me of a $487.83 charge, at an exchange rate higher than the day's rate. Clearly, the counter did a Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) without my consent. I've disputed this with my bank. 3. After getting the keys, I took photos of the car using an app to document pre-existing damages. The car had visible dust from sitting for a long time, making it hard to photograph. Besides the two noted damages, there were additional scratches. 4. Inside the car, the fuel gauge was at 15/16, but the confirmation showed a full tank. I let it go, but later realized that driving from full to 15/16 tank could cover 150 km on the highway. Either the previous renter returned it not fully fueled and Europcar didn’t refuel, or they siphoned gas from the full tank. Given the car (BMW X1, 7673KVS) seems geared for scamming and considering the company's ethics, the latter is possible. 5. After the journey and navigating tough roads in Spain and Portugal, thanks to the 360-degree radar, I returned the car to Madrid T1. Knowing self-return often causes disputes, I called over an employee. The difference between self-return and assisted return is merely getting scammed behind or in front of you. The inspector ignored the pre-documented damages and pointed out two new ones – a small cut on the right front tire and a tiny dent on the lower left windshield. Both were in my photos. These damages, especially the windshield dent, are hard to spot at pickup, making disputing them nearly impossible. 6. At the counter with the damage report, the staff swiftly announced the charges: €116.43 for damages and a mysterious €50.75 'damage management fee'. Having third-party insurance and in a rush for my flight, I took the receipt and left. Back home, I noticed these charges had an additional 21% tax. In conclusion, a few recommendations that might apply beyond just Europcar: 1. Avoid renting from Europcar; their scamming tactics are systematic and company-wide, not just isolated to a single branch. 2. If you must rent from Europcar, never sign any documents with unclear details. 3. Allocate at least 30 minutes for document verification and an hour for thorough car inspection and photography during pickup. 4. Be extra cautious with the BMW X1, license plate 7673KVS, at Madrid T1 Airport Europcar as they might not honestly document its damages.

The lady on duty was very stubborn. We arrived two hours early and wanted to pick up the car early and return it early, but she refused, saying the price would be different if we picked it up early. Who is she trying to fool? We had to wait until her shift ended. Then a young lady helped us pick up the car early, and we also returned it early. It felt like the first person was either unfamiliar with the job or discriminating against Chinese people. I strongly complain about someone called Sevilla.