Car hire @ Murcia Airport - who's best?

Have recently seen an advert for Flamenca Car Hire from Murcia Airport. Looked kosher &'maybe worth looking up. One of my fellow posters, Rob, may well respond with another suggestion. We have noted a number of posts commenting on 'bully-boy' tactics by a number of car hire firms in relation to Insurance waivers & the like.

Happy New Year,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Thanks Bob, the insurance angle is what concerns me - maybe Rob can hopefully advice?

my advice would be that you  purchase an independent policy  for car hire excess

A good independent car hire excess policy it is much  cheaper  than even the most  transparent  bundle a an airport desk

Just google “car hire excess insurance ” before u leave the uk 

Good morning & Happy New Year,

Unfortunately it has been reported here by previous posters that certain firms at the local airports refuse to accept these and basically 'strong arm' the client into their expensive option with monies removed from their CCs. Also the usual false debits from the Cards having left Spain. Happened to my wife's eldest son and we ourselves had a 'try-on' by Europcar.

Best to make detailed enquiries from any firm when booking & keep copies of relevant e mails. Still, what do you do when you are standing at their airport desk and refused your vehicle UNLESS!!!!!!!!?????

Ask for the Complaint Book????

Dr./ Coln Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Hello

We too got stung by taking out in the UK but we now always email firefly at Murcia direct for a quote.  All insurance, waivers and additional drivers is included.  You pay a fuel surcharge of about €70 but this is refunded on return of the car with a full tank.  I suggest you try them and also you will pay normally when you arrive and not in advance.

Regards Tina

Email: [email protected]

Hi sorry forgot to mention they will also accept a debit card which most will not.

I got stung by Interrent for excess insurance that I did not agree to after a very agressive, dishonest, hard sell.   I now hire with EDI  (edirentacar.com)probably more expensive than all the airport shysters - used twice now, met by pleasant person - english lady married to Spaniard, with my name on card,  return car with same fuel level, car in first car park away from shysters and return same, very trustworthy nice pleasant people and no hardsell of anyn insurance whatsoever which for me was an immense relief. I did buy my own annual policy as recommeded by other members. EDI do Murcia and Alicante only. Good luck

Chris, from Murcia we always use Centauro - https://www.centauro.net/en/ - and even though we have excess insurance through Insurance4carhire, mostly for when we rent from Avis at Almeria, we nevertheless use Centauro's Premium plan. It is the most expensive of their 3 plans but:

• there is full insurance and no excess on the car at all so they won't hassle you:
• it provides an extra driver at no cost; and,
  
• most crucially for me because I hate this practice, they don't block anything off your card;
• you also get faster service when you pick up the car but there are never too many people anyway so it's not a huge bonus.
• All you pay for on collection is a tank of fuel which is normally €70. You get this credited back to your card within 24 hours if you return the car full. We pay this on a Spanish bank card so there are no exchange rate differences but even with a British credit card it works fine and they always return the money.
  

I haven't used their other 2 cheaper plans, but with those they WILL block off money on your card and will most likely at least ask you to take their extra insurance, but on one occasion when someone was in the queue ahead of us they didn't push it and accepted that the traveller had their own. 

Centauro are 5 minutes off the airport but they send a shuttle bus for you and we have always found them to be very friendly and efficient.

I have also used them from Alicante and it was equally good there except that for some reason the fuel cost was €85, again refunded in full within 24 hours if you return the car full.

One thing Centauro might sting you on is if you return the car to a different airport. Next week I am arriving at Alicante but leaving a couple of weeks later from Malaga. Centauro wanted to charge me a €120 one-way fee whereas Avis was a slightly less unreasonable €60. But that's the only thing about Centauro that I've found annoying so far. 

Rob
Los Gallardos and Palomares

Thanks everyone and we'll be looking at the ones advised

Rob - do you know 'ball-park' what a weeks small car hire with Centauro is under their premium plan?