Solmar Car Hire Charges

Anyone any experience of hiring a car through Solmar at Malaga airport?

I hired a car in January for a week, was quoted 70 euros and offered an upgrade for an extra euro per day which I accepted. The desk assistant at the airport went  through the details, offered the insurance, which I declined and I had the weeks hire. When I returned the car it was checked (including the fuel) at the airport by a Solmar staff member and I was told all was fine, I had filled the car up 1 prior to the airport on its return.

Credit card statement arrives and I expect the charge for 77 euro's but my card is charged 121.40 euro's. When I emailed the UK booking agent for a breakdown of this, I am told that I have been charged 44.40 euros for fuel as the 7 day hire operates a collect full return empty policy.

My opinion is I would put a bet on being told at the collection desk that it had a full tank of fuel and should be returned the same way.

Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this with Solmar?

Best regards

Marcus

I have never booked with Solmar, but if booked on the internet, there must have been something somewhere on the fuel policy. Did you get a booking confirmation where it was stated that the policy was full/ full? Looking at their FAQ's on this page, it states:

- How much will I pay for a full tank of fuel?

Obviously the price of fuel will depend on the model of car, pick up location, and the price of fuel at the time. The price varies from 35€ Euros for small cars and up to 85€ for the larger ones.

That says to me they operate a full/ empty policy and unless you have anything in writing saying otherwise, I think you are stuffed.

Mark

I don't get it - if it was a full/empty policy, why didn't they charge for the full tank of fuel on collection?  When I hired last year, through hirecarsinspain.com, our rental was with Goldcar (Europa) and we were charged at the point of collection for the fuel (nearly 90 euros for an Opel Astra!!  Bit steep but the whole deal was very good).

So if they operated a full/empty, why didn't they charge for the fuel upfront?  Does seem a bit weird for them not to fully make you aware and then charge you after the event.

Not had a problem with the fuel policy with Solmar (we use them quite a lot), but once when we'd had a bit of a bump that was covered by the insurance they charged us an extra days hire. The reason? It was to cover the day the car would be off the road being repaired. It was a while ago now so I can't remember how it ended whether we paid it or not but I expect we did.

Regards, Poppyseed

My thoughts are, the sceptic in me tells me its a way to get an extra charge out of you, you think you have to fill the car up and then return it which you do, you then get charged for the fuel when your credit card statement arrives, check the original hire agreement and then see their collect full-return empty policy. The hire company gets a car with a full tank of fuel and payment for fuel as well, just my opinion obviously.

Marcus

Whyever did you (presumably) sign at their desk for 121.40€ when only expecting 77€ ?  Alarm bells would be ringing for us. We've always been told there's a certain charge upfront for fuel & to return car as near as empty as possible.

Your contract will indicate what is what too. Fuel part will say full/empty I suspect. Have a look.

We have used Solmar efore on 2 occasions with no problems. The first time we got the fuel payment back as we returned the car with a full tank - the hire period was 5 days. The next time we went for 7 days and I asked on collection if we could do this again and were told no but to bring the car back empty as if was a period of 7days plus.

We got car for a week with goldcar,booked on the internet befor we went and was quoted 78euro.When we handed in credit card we were chaeged 140. The car was a yarisa nd i dont think it takes 70 euro to fill one.I think it is a money racket for the companies to get as much cash in while the business is quiet.A lot wont give you full full on more than 3/4 days.That way when you bring back the car nearly full it will only cost them 10.00 euro or so to fill it again but they will charge the next person hiring 70 euro again.Its a  Rip off   !!!!!!!!

Sandiemac, every car hire company (pretty much) does this.

At the bottom of this page http://www.goldcar.es/en/ you'll see Goldcar terms, click here >>  Terms and Conditions

It states ......

Fuel Policy:

• For rentals of three days or less, you will receive the vehicle with a full tank and upon the return or the vehicle you will be refunded the proportion of unused petrol.
• For rentals of a minimum of four days, you will receive the vehicle with a full tank and you should return it empty.
• The price of a full tank varies from 45€ to 120€ depending on the make and model of the vehicle, and we kindly request be paid upon pick up.

Hello,

For a good price and good conditions for care hire use the website from doyouspain read the conditions etc.

They have a deal with all the car hire concerns.

wouter

We always use Econorent through Hire cars in Spain, they do full tank on pick up and you return it full.

Alan 

Marcus

Have used SolMar several times with no issue.Always got a refund on petrol in tank on return after paying for full on collection.Worth calling or writing to them,nothing to lose

nailer

Marcus

Have used SolMar several times with no issue.Always got a refund on petrol in tank on return after paying for full on collection.Worth calling or writing to them,nothing to lose

nailer

Tanks for the tips.

Going back out next week so ill keep u posted .

We also use ECONORENT through Hirecarsin spain we get a full tank and return with a full tank irrespective of how long the rental is for.

DO NOT  USE SOLMAR.The worst experience in 30 years .I booked a car at Malaga.But there was no car.Plus staff was insisting thre was no booking while I was showing the confirmation.They are totally UNprofessionals.

I think they are all just making money out of the fuel. I hired a Berlingo in March. It has a a 60 litre tank and diesel was .82 Euros a litre. They charged me 75 Euros for a tank full! I didn't query it at the airport as someone here suggests, as at that time I had no idea of the size of a Berlingo tank and wasn't sure of the price of diesel. Since my return I have queried the price as it is excessive. I'm told it is correct as they have a refueling charge of 15 Euros. Still only makes 65 Euros and I have asked for 10 Euros to be refunded! I'm waiting for a final reply. I believe there is somewhere to report this type of behaviour. Does anyone know the e mail address? Thanks. The company Goldcar avoid like the plague the rental conditions small print are designed to give you a fright! 

Just returned after a week and used easycar to book a hire car.  The car company was Auriga Crown which I've used before with no problems, but this time at the desk I was asked if I wanted the usual insurance.  If not the deposit charge to my credit card before i could have the car was 300 euros!  i paid the insurance.  Not funny tho.

Hi Jane

We just had exactly the same experience as you with Auriga . Does anyone know if it's just Auriga doing this or are the other rental companies doing the same??

Centauro website say they charge 15€ per hire period for tyres/windscreen/underside insurance so not bad. Some charge 3€ a day with a ceiling of 2 weeks = 42€

http://www.centauro.net/Estaticas/GB/Condiciones.aspx

12. SCDW Plus.
A further insurance of 15 euros per rental can be taken to cover damage to tires, wheels and the undercarriage of the vehicle