Rental Car Offices at Bournemouth Airport not always staffed

I booked online at Tipoa.com for my recent return to the UK. Europcar was the chosen supplier, as they had the cheapest rate for a 7 day hire. To my surprise when I arrived at the tiny office all the car suppliers use at the Airport, the Europcar desk was empty !!

rental car cabin at bournemouth airport

The portakabin is just across the road, a simple walk from Arrivals.

On my arrival at the Europcar desk I found there were no staff, and yet my reservation was confirmed for mid-day arrival. There were also other customers wanting cars. 

Europcar can't afford to staff their desk?

#Europcar are one of the largest car hire companies in the world and yet they cannot afford to employ one person to stay at the desk when they know clients are arriving? amazing !!


Luckily there was a sign provided saying that we can call a mobile number and talk to the representative. It turns out he was 15 minutes returning as he is the only employee and was cleaning cars a few miles away?

When he did return, he did process the paperwork extremely fast and efficiently. I was soon only way in my little FIAT 500, which was brand new and very clean, this is an excellent car with good fuel consumption. I had a full / full fuel policy thanks to Tipoa Car Hire.

Vacancy apply within !

I had to return my car full of fuel on Sunday afternoon, and it came as no surprise that none of the hire car suppliers were open on the Sunday, so I used the Europcar key dropbox return system.

The nearest petrol station I found was the Tesco at Ferndown which is open 24 hrs

If for any reason the rental car desk person doesn't have time or isn't there to make the car inspection with you, make sure you follow the instructions displayed on the outside of the paperwork folder, supplied by Europcar. If you discover any damage that isn't shown on the damage inspection sheet call their number to report any damage as soon as you are able.

Road side assistance telephone number

Also the road side assistance number is displayed here 0800 0280 999 should you have an accident or breakdown.

When I returned home I must admit I was impressed to receive an email invoice from Alamo/Europcar for zero, which was 100% correct.

Moral of the story, make sure they have your email address, especially if you require a formal invoice.

Alamo / Europcar Invoice

Jim Obrien

Southampton Airport Tipoa Car Hire & Enterprise

Tipoa Car Hire & Enterprise Southampton Airport

I must say I was impressed with the service the new local Enterprise assistant manager at Southampton Airport afforded me on my recent rental car hire. As always I used the Tipoa Car Hire website to make my reservation, as I know I am always going to get good after sales support should I need it. On this occasion I did not, as the local supplier chosen by the Tipoa system, was Enterprise.

Located with the other rental car agents just across the road from the exit of the arrivals door at Southampton Airport. For those who have not previously used this airport, I can tell you it is small and easy to negotiate your way around. As soon as you exit the terminal building simply walk across the road crossing toward to car covered car park and the car hire desks are all grouped together.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Damage Evaluator

I produced my confirmation voucher, and because I had purchased my zero excess additional insurance with #Allianz Insurance, I didn't purchase any extra items, and was not pressured to do so by the Enterprise representative. In no time we both were inspecting the car using the new #Enterprise Rent-A-Car Damage Evaluator gadget (see photo)

Basically a device that measures the severity / size of any existing damage when you collect the car and likewise when you return it.  I like the fact that the representative had the time to inspect the car with me, which was reassuring.

I was only renting for a few days, had unlimited mileage in the deal and I wanted to return it very early morning, which was free of charge. The rental car companies at the airport all have early return drop boxes for out of hours key return. The box is located just inside the felt hand glass door entrance to the airport ( departures) on the right hand side. Please be aware that at 05:30 am nothing is open inside the airport, not even security, so you cannot check in until 06:00 hrs

My security deposit was returned within 3 days as I returned the car full of fuel. There nearest gas station to the airport is the local Asda store at Eastleigh which is open 24hrs a day.

Asda Eastleigh 24 hrs Petrol Station

If like me you have a very early flight, then I recommend the #PremierInn which is located right at the airport, just a walk across the road from the terminal building.


Joss Williams

Review of Green Motion Car Hire Heathrow Airport

Brian based in Dusseldorf, a new Tipoa customer sent us this review of his impressions of Green Motion at London's Heathrow Airport and one of the off airport rental car suppliers:

Green Motion Office next to Holiday inn

Directly outside of Heathrow Terminal 1 after exiting the arrivals hall. is the bus stop is marked BUS STOP 3 and you take the bus number H1 marked "H1 Holiday Inn (M4)" There is a bus every 20 minutes from 04:42 and from 15:22 every 25 minutes. The bus ticket costs £4.50 single and £8.00 return. The journey time is about 15 mins (it goes via Terminal 3).

Green Motion have their rental car office located in separate building opposite the Holiday Inn entrance. I arrived on a busy Monday morning and their office was staffed with at least two people ( that I could see)  They took 15 minutes to process the paperwork. I pleasantly surprised when I was offered a very new Honda Civic with only 8,200 miles on the clock.  The overall process time was about 30 minutes, by time you check over the car.

New Honda Civic rental car

It was a similar experience when I returned the vehicle. Overall time from arriving at the Green Motion office to returning to Heathrow again was 30 minutes.

The bus did stop at two other nearby hotels, both close to the M4 motorway, but the bus journey itself was only 15 minutes.

The whole process ran very smoothly, given I arrived on a Monday morning and departed on a Saturday afternoon. - On this ocassion I can definately recommend booking online with www.tipoa.com and
there is no need to avoid Green Motion as often they are the cheapest option.

I had read on the internet some less than complimentary reviews on Green Motion, but as I was travelling on toe Swindon, their M4 location was perfect, so I decided to try them. I am glad I did as the week before again booking through Tipoa Car Hire, I was allocated SIXT and I was not at all impressed with, as their location was again off airport, and not at all convenient for me at least.

Green Motion Heathrow M4

Brian's review has been edited and we hope it will assist others. If any other customers, wish to provide similar articles on their travelling experiences, then we would be more than happy to publish it to our blog. (good or bad)

Tipoa Car Hire