Voitures de location à Punta Arenas

Border Problems

Points positifs : The car was new, and fit our needs perfectly. We had plenty of room for ourselves and luggage.

Points négatifs : We rented the car in Punta Arenas, a city near the Argentine border, with plans of visiting national parks in both Chile and Argentina. When questioned by the Europcar agent about our plans, I fully disclosed that we would be crossing the border. I fully realize that I missed the fine print in the agreement, and that it wasn't the desk agents job necessarily to alert me of the necessity of obtaining a border crossing approval from Europcar. My complaint is that in the entire rental process, it was never made evident to me, a rental car novice, that this document was necessary. I contend that I cannot be the first to experience this hassle. Secondly, when we found ourselves in this situation at the border, Europcar was not at all helpful in resolving our predicament. It was extremely difficult to contact anyone. When we did contact someone, they were unable to help us. The border agents explained that in the past when travelers encountered the same difficulty, the rental car companies simply call, fax, or email the necessary documents. Not so in our case. We were required to return to Puerto Natales where we were told that we would need to exchange cars in order to cross the border. This was not the case. We were simply given the required document and sent on our way. This certainly could have been done the evening before and sent electronically. Again I fully recognize that the documentation was my responsibility to obtain. I only wish that Europcar had been more responsive to my predicament in our time of need. We lost a full day of our vacation, and incurred the extra expense of gas to return to Puerto Natales, and pay for unexpected hotel aswell.

Points positifs : Overall the car was fine. I only had one complaint which I list again, which does not seem fair. They were great when we had an issue running out of gas in helping us retrieve the car and filling it out.

Points négatifs : The rental car company started us off with 3/4 tank of gas and then to bring it back with 3/4 gas. There is no way that you can estimate bringing back 3/4 gas, especially when language issues exist with the gasoline attendant. We therefore end up filling the tank, which at expensive prices ends up costing about an extra day or two of rental. I don't see why they do this, it seems just an unfair way to get the renter to pay extra. They should change this and always start the car full.

Cars are expensive in Patagonia

Points positifs : The car was good to use in Torres Del Paine.

Points négatifs : Pick up was a bit slow & complicated in Punta Arenas. Drop off was difficult. I arranged for a drop off in Puerto Natales. When I arrived at the office, the office was closed for the week for the holiday. There was no message of what to do with the return. I called the airport in Punta Arenas, they gave me the cell number for the manager of the Puerto Natales. Once I reached him, the return was easy, but I was unsure of how to return the car