A California man renting a vehicle in France was surprised by a substantial additional charge after returning the car three hours late, highlighting potential ambiguities in long-term rental agreements with mileage policies.
George Meyer of Fair Oaks rented a Europcar vehicle last summer for 27 days, paying $670 on a voucher obtained through his travel agency that specified “unlimited mileage.” Upon returning the car at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport later than scheduled, Meyer was billed an extra $650 for exceeding the mileage allowance. The delay reportedly resulted from local traffic.
After initially receiving no response to repeated inquiries, Meyer's travel agent explained that the late return had effectively extended the rental period to 28 days, which under Europcar's policies altered the terms of the mileage agreement. The agency said that the rental supplier, not the travel agent or customer, determines additional charges according to its pricing structure.
Vincent Vevaud, a spokesperson for Europcar Mobility Group, confirmed that European Union regulations treat rentals exceeding 27 days differently from short-term leases. Specifically, unlimited mileage applies only up to 27 days; beyond that, a mileage cap of 3,750 kilometers is imposed, with fees charged for any distance above this limit.
This policy effectively reclassifies long-term rentals into a separate category governed by distinct rules, which are not always clearly communicated to renters. While Meyer expressed willingness to pay for an additional day’s rental, he contended that the $650 mileage fee was disproportionately high for a delay of just three hours.
Europcar stated it conducted a thorough investigation and ultimately agreed to refund the disputed $650, acknowledging the lack of prior notice regarding the shift in mileage terms after 27 days.
Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott noted that renters should be aware that even minor delays can trigger a full extra day charge in France, and that extending beyond 27 days often involves a costly change in contract conditions. He recommended that customers maintain detailed communication records with rental agencies and escalate unresolved issues to company executives or consumer advocacy groups when necessary.
This incident underscores the importance of closely reviewing the fine print and understanding varying regulations in different jurisdictions when booking long-term car rentals, especially with respect to mileage limits and late returns.