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Auto Europe car hire review

We survey thousands of customers of car hire brokers to give you an independent, unbiased rating of Auto Europe and let you compare it with six other car hire brokers
Guy HobbsPrincipal researcher & writer

Guy is an award-winning travel writer with 20+ years' experience. He runs a crack team of researchers, unearthing everything from the best beaches to the worst car hire companies.

Logo features the text "Auto" in blue, a red circle with the "æ" character, and "Europe" in blue.

What is Auto Europe?

Auto Europe, launched in 1954, is one of the oldest car brokers and now serves more than 28,000 locations worldwide.

Which? verdict

You can expect clear pricing and no hidden extras with Auto Europe. Its customer service is well rated, too, so it’s well worth trying if you’re unable to find what you need with Which? Recommended Provider Zest Car Rental.

Visit Autoeurope.co.uk

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Auto Europe car hire broker customer ratings

If you want to see how Auto Europe measures up to its rivals, read our best and worst car hire brokers page.

Car hire brokerWhich? Recommended Provider?Overall score
Auto EuropeNo79%

Overall score is a combination of the customer score (overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the company) and our own expert analysis. Survey carried out in Feb/March 2026.

What’s Auto Europe like?

Auto Europe was rated highly by customers and in our expert assessment, with a very respectable overall score of 79%.

It received a maximum five stars for the clarity of its final hire cost and for the transparency of any additional charges so, unlike many car hire brokers, a booking with Auto Europe is unlikely to come with any nasty surprises.

One satisfied customer told us: ‘The price is clearly shown, with any options available, and bookings can be cancelled without charge up to 48 hours before collection. If the price drops, it is easy to modify the booking online to get the new price. The refund is credited within 48 hours.’ 

Auto Europe was one of only two brokers to be rated four (or more) stars for its customer service, and several customers praised the ability to talk to a ‘real person’ on the phone. One told us: ‘If you need to contact their customer service agents, they are polite, helpful and respond quickly’.

If you do book through Auto Europe, steer clear of the Full Damage and Theft Protection insurance it sells alongside bookings. It is the least comprehensive policy of the broker cover we assessed, and there are far better Excess Reimbursement Insurance policies available from specialist insurers online. Read our reviews of the Best car hire excess insurance 2026.

Should I book with Auto Europe?

Auto Europe offers a great service, and was highly praised by those who used it. It also performed well in our pricing clarity checks. However, Which? Recommended Provider Zest Car Rental still edges ahead.