PORT RENT A CAR - Rhodes Greece

PORT RENT A CAR, located conveniently at AUSTRALIAS 1, Rodos 851 00 on Rhodes Island, Greece, offers car rental services. Reviews for this establishment present a mixed picture, highlighting both commendable service aspects and significant concerns regarding post-rental charges.

👍 Positive Aspects & Customer Satisfaction

Many customers have reported highly positive experiences with PORT RENT A CAR, particularly praising their responsiveness and convenience:

1. Excellent Service & Responsiveness: Reviewers frequently commend the staff for their professionalism and ability to assist, even with last-minute requests. One customer specifically praised "Melissa" for doing a "great job renting us 2 cars in the last moment." Another appreciated their "support and labor intensive service" in preparing pre-booked cars.
2. Prime Location: Its location "literally outside by the port" is highlighted as a major advantage, making it highly accessible for arriving and departing travelers.
3. Good Value & Transparent Pricing: Customers found the rental prices to be "good" and "suitable for Rhodes." Some noted that returning cars in Rhodos town incurred "no extra charge," indicating flexibility and transparency in initial agreements.
4. Reliable Vehicles: The cars rented, including models like Toyota Aygo X and Fiat Panda, were described as looking "good" and working "well," allowing customers to explore the island without issues.

⚠️ Negative Experiences & Concerns

Despite the positive feedback, a few users have reported deeply troubling experiences, primarily centered around alleged fraudulent practices concerning vehicle damage and charges post-rental:

1. Allegations of Scamming & Unjustified Charges: One highly critical review describes being "effectively scammed" after returning a car with no observable damage. Hours later, the company allegedly attempted to charge €800 to the customer's account for a claimed "mechanical issue" (a "clicking sound") that was not noticed by either the customer or the employee at drop-off.
2. Lack of Transparency & Documentation: In instances of alleged damage, customers reported that the company would not allow them to see the vehicle post-claim, nor could they present an official damage report. Promises of detailed reports from licensed dealers were reportedly unfulfilled, with full amounts kept without documentation months later.
3. Aggressive Tactics & Pressure: Negative reviews indicate that employees became "heated and pushy" when confronted about these charges, with one customer reporting being threatened with police intervention at the port to compel payment of a deductible.
4. Disputed Pre-existing Damage: Another review mentions being charged €150 (settled for €100) for a "small scratch on the plastic bumper," which the customer suspected was pre-existing, leading to a "fraudulent company" accusation.

💡 Key Takeaways & Recommendations

PORT RENT A CAR appears to offer convenient service and competitive pricing, which is appreciated by many. However, the serious accusations of unjustified charges and lack of transparency regarding vehicle damage from some customers are a significant concern. Potential renters should consider the following:

• Thorough Inspection: Before taking possession of the vehicle, perform an extremely detailed inspection, noting every scratch, dent, and existing issue, no matter how minor. Take clear photos and videos of the entire car, inside and out, before and after rental, ensuring timestamps are available.
• Document Return: Insist on a joint inspection with an employee upon return and obtain a signed document confirming no new damage. Do not leave until you are satisfied with the inspection process.
• Understand Insurance & Deductibles: Fully understand your insurance coverage and any deductible amounts before signing the contract.
• Monitor Bank Statements: Keep a close eye on your bank statements for any unauthorized or unexpected charges post-rental.

While many experiences are positive, exercising extreme caution and meticulous documentation during the rental and return process is advised to mitigate potential risks associated with disputed damage claims.

we hired a car for 6 days, £25 per day, bargain, 2 drivers as well, all paperwork and driving off all done within 20 mins, NO deposit needed or credit card. was the best. thank you.highly recommend. they collected car from the hotel the morning it was due back, we just left the key with our receptionist x

Big shout-out for Melissa. She did a great job renting us 2 cars in the last moment. We got a Toyota Aygo X and a Fiat Panda. The cars looked good and we didn't have any problems with them.The returning was made in Rhodos town, no extra charge and everything was perfect. I recommend!

We are really appriciated with their support and labor intensive service. Before our travel, we booked and made pre-payment for two B-Segment Auto Transmission cars and notified for timing. They paid their attention and prepared the cars properly. The prices are also suitable for Rhodes. I strictly recommend them for travellers.

Rented a car last minute.Best location as it's literally outside by the port.Good and straightforward service.Good rental price.Car worked well, got us around the island and back without issue.

Extremely unprofessional. We were effectively scammed. Please do your research and take your business to a more reputable rental service. It’ll save you potential headache in the end. Everything went fine with our rental until the day we had to return it. We dropped the car off at 9 am after 5 days as agreed and with no issues or observable damage to the car. The man who rented it to us did a brief inspection when we returned the car and gave us the greenlight to leave. We were eating breakfast a few hours later when I received a notification from my bank that the rental company had attempted to charge €800 to my account (keep in mind we already paid for the full rental cost upfront) without contacting me first. We were extremely confused at this point so we went back to the rental office in person. They claimed that there was a mechanical issue we caused to the car (a clicking sound that neither us nor the employee noticed when dropping off the vehicle), and they needed to charge us the deductible we agreed to in the contract. They would not allow us to see the vehicle for ourselves claiming it was on the other side of the island by then, and they were unable to present us with any damage report. They argued we should trust them because it’s being sent to an officially licensed dealer who will inspect the issue and give us a detailed damage report in a few weeks. They ensured us that the deductible was the maximum we’d be liable for and that we’d most likely be refunded the difference if it was found to be a minor issue. We started to sense that this operation was highly fishy at this point, and the rental employees began to get heated and pushy towards us. We went against our better judgment to pay the deductible in the office because they were threatening to have the police stop us from leaving at the port. We knew we were innocent, but our departure time was rapidly approaching and we didn’t want to risk getting stuck on the island with our limited understanding of the local legal system. It has now been over two months since we left Rhodes (we visited in late May), and we still have not been provided with any documentation of the damage let alone an official report from the dealership. They’ve kept the full amount of the €800 deductible they charged us without sending any of the documentation they promised, despite me reaching out with inquires/reminders over the email they provided. This experience left an annoying stain on otherwise very enjoyable visit to Rhodes.