Is Firefly Car Rental a Good Choice?

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Thinking about renting from Firefly Car Rental? The Hertz-owned cost-conscious brand has a broad network of locations outside the U.S., especially in Europe.

Perhaps you’ve seen a great price on a Firefly rental car. Maybe you want to know whether it is a good option. If you aren’t familiar with the name, here’s what you need to know for your next rental reservation.

Basic Facts About Firefly Car Rental

Firefly Car Rental started operating in March 2013. Its parent company, Hertz, created Firefly to serve the budget market.

Today, Firefly operates a large network of locations throughout Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean. It operates in a wide array of countries, including Australia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Spain, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Romania, St. Barts, Serbia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Reviews of Firefly Car Rental

Though you can find some positive reviews of Firefly Car Rental, customers have posted a significant number of complaints about their experiences. Firefly is known for its low prices. But many customers claim they have been overcharged for things like insurance and damage to the vehicle.

The car rental company has a “bad” rating of just 1.3 out of 5 stars on the consumer review site Trustpilot, based on more than 2,000 reviews. Recent reviewers largely complained about being charged more than expected. A typical recent review reads, “Do not rent from this company!”

On Tripadvisor, reviewers claim they were overcharged for extra items like premium roadside assistance. For example, Firefly’s location in Alicante, Spain has just 1 out of 5 stars. That’s because all of the location’s eight reviews fall into the “terrible” category.

Is Firefly Car Rental a Good Choice?

Based on the negative reviews customers have posted about Firefly Car Rental, we recommend doing your due diligence. Research a variety of car rental companies before deciding to rent from Firefly. While you may think you are getting a deal, it pays to consider other options.

In AutoSlash’s Ultimate Rental Car Ratings, we give Firefly 2.5 out of 5 stars, the second-lowest score. We consider it a “Tier 4” company after hearing complaint after complaint after complaint. While Firefly may offer what looks like an attractive price, you run a risk of an unsatisfactory experience.

A number of customers have complained about finding extra charges on their credit card for services they did not sign up for.

If you rent a car from Firefly, we recommend making sure that you document the condition of the car in detail before driving it off the lot to avoid any issues with damage claims later on. Also, be sure to read the terms and conditions outlined in your contract extra carefully. In addition, make sure that the total charges matches the quote you received. Be sure to check that unwanted add-ons were not tacked on to your reservation that will hike up your costs.

This will help ensure that you do not unknowingly sign up for any additional services. Some customers have complained of false charges for damages. Also, be sure to confirm whether Firefly is operating under its own brand at the specific rental location, or whether they are using an affiliate company.

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