Auto Europe review: Prepaid booking refused at the counter — refund stonewalled

I prepaid $395.19 to Auto Europe for a rental car at Albuquerque Airport (October 8, 2026). When I arrived, Avis refused the reservation — the agent said Auto Europe is not authorized to book through Avis in the US, and that it had been happening frequently. I got no car and had to pay $977.97 for a walk-up replacement.

Getting my money back has been worse. I contacted Auto Europe four times over two weeks. Every reply was the same canned message telling me to submit a form through my booking page — a form that does not exist on their website. I even submitted their general contact form; the reply to that was the same instruction to use the nonexistent form. I set a deadline of October 28; they never responded. I have had to dispute the charge with American Express and file complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Maine, Oregon, and New Mexico Attorneys General, plus a report to the FTC.

Avoid. If anything goes wrong, there is no functioning way to get help.

Booking/voucher number: [protected].