Europcar reveals strangest car hire stories

Europcar hires out thousands of vehicles daily, so it’s not surprising that a survey of its branches revealed some strange excuses for damage and late return as well as rather unusual items of lost property.

One customer got more than he bargained for while he waited for a horse to pass on a country lane, after the horse decided to take a rest on the bonnet. The driver watched in horror as a horse, with rider in tow, slowly backed onto the car as a vehicle on the opposite side passed on a narrow country lane!

Another animal encounter occurred when Europcar staff at the Newport branch noticed a large chunk was missing from a bumper. The customer explained they had visited Longleat Safari Park and driven through the lion’s enclosure where a lion had taken off a part of the bumper with his claws.

Europcar’s Funniest Reasons for Damage and Late Returns

- A collision with a cow (Liverpool Branch)
- A horse sat on the bonnet (Newcastle Branch)
- A nasty accident with an ice cream (Derby Branch)
- Keys go missing while driver has a snooze (Derby Branch)
- Car is lost in multi-storey (Birmingham South Branch)
- Helpful neighbour gives keys to dustman (Leicester Branch)
- A lion took a dislike to the car (Newport Branch)

As you would expect, sunglasses, CDs, mobile phones and keys are among the most common items left in Europcar’s vehicles, but sometimes odd items turn up – ranging from a mannequin, to 50 fluorescent light bulbs, and a Scottish Piper’s black ostrich hat. As well as these strange items, Europcar’s customers have also been known to leave more valuable goods. One customer left £1000 worth of designer clothes in the boot of a car!

A customer who hired from the Derby Branch nearly lost their cool when they were hit by a van driver from behind. When Europcar’s staff asked why he had driven into her, she explained that he’d been distracted by the ice cream he was eating flying onto his seat. Another customer from the Derby branch had their friendship sorely tested when he decided to go for a snooze in his hire vehicle. The friend decided to play a practical joke and take the keys from the ignition while he was sleeping. Needless to say, the customer was panic stricken for a couple of hours until the friend showed up – and he had to drag a red-faced friend into Europcar’s office to explain!

Unusual Items Left in Europcar’s Rental Cars:

A false leg (Liverpool)
A mannequin (Hull)
Furry Handcuffs (Yeovil)
50 Fluorescent Light bulbs (Hamilton)
A Scottish Piper's Black Ostrich Hat (Hamilton)
A printer (Aylesbury)
Flowers (Stansted)
A wheelchair (Bradford)
An ammunition case and stretcher (Reading)
Half a pint of beer with a CD called ‘The Art of Speed Seduction’ (Reading)
10 odd pairs of shoes (Salford)

Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar comments, “There’s never a dull day in the life of a hire car as some of these stories and items of lost property reveal. Our staff are always professional and understanding no matter what the reason for late return or damage and often go to great pains to reunite lost and forgotten property with their rightful owners.”