Excellent customer service from all the staff at the Truro branch. Always so helpful and friendly especially Lily who checked the vehicle back in this morning. Would highly recommend them for your nex... See more
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Travelling from Derby to Margate Kent on a work project, a broken tyre valve left me stranded in Hythe. I contacted the Folkstone Thrifty branch and a lady by the Name of Paula. went above and beyo... See more
Company replied
First time using Thrifty and was very impressed. Particular thanks to Noel at Bristol North - super friendly, explained everything really clearly and kindly gave us an upgrade that was much appreciate... See more
Company replied
Brilliant experience with Thrifty. Really nice car. High spec. Europcar was uncomfortable. Issues with them. I would recommend Thrifty without question. Really nice people in their customer service de... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Thrifty Car Rental can offer a wide range of hire cars and vans within the UK. We cater for customers who require manual or automatic, compact or economy through to prestige and luxury cars and vans. Reserve your hire car or van online and see how much you could save with Thrifty Car Rental.
Contact info
Scot House, Matford Park Road,, EX2 8AW, Exeter, United Kingdom
- customer.service@thrifty.co.uk
- www.thrifty.co.uk
3.5
Average
1K reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 24 hours
How this company uses Trustpilot
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Neil at Thrifty in Dudley was fantastic…
Neil at Thrifty in Dudley was fantastic with the hand over of the hire car, definitely recommend!
October 30, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Whitney,
Thank you for your kind feedback. We're delighted to hear that Neil provided a fantastic handover experience and made such a positive impression. We'll be sure to pass your comments on to him and the Dudley team. We appreciate your recommendation and we hope to be of assistance again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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Excellent customer service from all the…
Excellent customer service from all the staff at the Truro branch. Always so helpful and friendly especially Lily who checked the vehicle back in this morning. Would highly recommend them for your next vehicle hire.
October 29, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Pete,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. We're delighted to hear that you received excellent customer service from our Truro team and that everyone was helpful and friendly throughout your hire. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Lily, who will be pleased to know her assistance made a positive impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Expect false parking charges due to shoddy fines processes.
I used to love using this car hire company over the years but this last experience has really put me off using them again due to their shoddy fines handling processes. I was charged an admin fee and falsely reported twice for illegal parking. The only problem was the incidents occurred BEFORE I picked the car up and AFTER I had dropped the car off, and the location was their OWN car park!!. The admin charge was refunded with an apology, but facing getting two charges, being falsley reported as the driver at the time and the hassle of having to fight to get the charges reversed every time I hire a car is a hard no. Shame, as their local office was superb, with excellent swift service and a good selection of higher end vehicles at competitive price.
October 23, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that this experience has affected your confidence in using our service, particularly after the positive experiences you've had with us in the past. We are sorry to learn about the issues you encountered regarding the handling of parking charges and understand the frustration and inconvenience this caused. It's pleasing to hear that your local office provided excellent service, but we appreciate that this does not outweigh the concerns you've raised. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Your feedback is important to us.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Thrifty customer services should be…
Thrifty customer services should be ashamed of themselves. They do not respond to emails or make promised refunds. Their ‘chat’ service is inadequate, i was told they are a chat service not customer service. Representatives that answer the few telephone numbers will not help, only say to email.
How on earth do I get any satisfaction from this company!
October 7, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Clare,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are the UK franchise of Thrifty, and we only have information for rentals that have taken place or are due to take place in the UK. Unfortunately, this limits us in being able to address the issues which you faced. To ensure your comments reach the correct people you can add your review here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.thrifty.com
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Shocking service at Newcastle a kid all…
Shocking service at Newcastle avoid at all costs. Lie about damage and don't complete inspection with you. Effectivelt scammed my 80 year old farger
October 19, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Ann,
Thank you for your feedback. We're very sorry to hear about your experience. Our intention is always to carry out vehicle inspections fairly and transparently, and we appreciate how upsetting this situation must have been, particularly given the concerns you've expressed regarding your father. We would welcome the opportunity to investigate this matter further. Please contact our Customer Services team at customer.service@switchcarrental.co.uk with your rental details so we can review the circumstances surrounding this case. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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Scammed at Phoenix Airport one week…
Scammed at Phoenix Airport one week ago. Everything was paid by my tour operator but when I picked the car up from the airport I was told there was an under-payment. I queried. They were adamant the car hadn’t been paid for in full. I paid the extra USD115.99. Turns out the extra was for Premium Roadside Assistance which I didn’t ask for, didn’t want & didn’t need! What do you say, Thrifty? Can I have my money back please?
October 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are the UK franchise of Thrifty, and we only have information for rentals that have taken place or are due to take place in the UK. Unfortunately, this limits us in being able to address the issues which you faced. To ensure your comments reach the correct people you can add your review here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.thrifty.com
Best regards,
The Switch Team
We waiting 2hours in the airport just…
We waiting 2hours in the airport just to pick up the keys. Then we had additional charges on top of what was initially paid, the wrong car and the wrong child seat.
More charges then occured when we came home and we are still trying to find out why.
DO NOT USE!
August 23, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Dan,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are the UK franchise of Thrifty, and we only have information for rentals that have taken place or are due to take place in the UK. Unfortunately, this limits us in being able to address the issues which you faced. To ensure your comments reach the correct people you can add your review here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/thrifty.ie
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Thrifty Bournemouth - excellent customer service
I hired a van from Thrifty Bournemouth, dealing with Arfan Mehdi. Not ony were they the cheapest, but the van was a new model in excellent condition, and Arfan was superb. I highly recommend Arfan , I be happy to use him again.
September 30, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for your fantastic feedback. We're delighted to hear that you found the van to be in excellent condition and that our pricing was competitive. It's great to know the service provided by Arfan made such a positive impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another hire in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Professional and friendly delivery
Our rental car was delivered in a friendly and efficient manner by Steve from Thrifty at Leeds Hunslet. The car was clean and tidy and in showroom condition.
September 30, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for your fantastic feedback. We're delighted to hear that Steve provided a friendly and efficient delivery experience and that the vehicle arrived in excellent, showroom condition. We really appreciate your comments and hope to be of service again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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Fantastic service today
Fantastic service today, kind, thoughtful and helpful with car swaps
September 18, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your fantastic feedback. We're delighted to hear you received kind, thoughtful and helpful service during your vehicle swap. We always aim to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, and it's great to know we achieved that for you. We appreciate your support and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Avoid Thrifty Europe at all costs when…
Avoid Thrifty Europe at all costs when taking a deposit they take more than the receipts have just got ripped off for €800 euros and they are not getting back to me. In context I rented 1 car from Limoge airport for one night and returned next day. Complete scam and contrary to their reply to the last person the terms and conditions are really not explained properly especially when you are in a foreign country.
September 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are the UK franchise of Thrifty, and we only have information for rentals that have taken place or are due to take place in the UK. Unfortunately, this limits us in being able to address the issues which you faced. To ensure your comments reach the correct people you can add your review here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/thrifty.fr
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Appalling underhand charging of…
Appalling underhand charging of additional insurance - cannot be trusted
July 3, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Julia,
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you feel this way. Any optional protection products are explained at the time of rental and can only be added with the customer's agreement. We are committed to being transparent about all charges and take any concerns regarding this very seriously. Your comments will be taken on board as we continue to review and improve our customer experience.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
The staff Mia and Alex were so helpful…
The staff Mia and Alex were so helpful the van we hired was presented in excellent condition and Mia and Alex explained everything thoroughly
August 27, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your fantastic review. We're delighted to hear that Mia and Alex were so helpful and that the van was presented in excellent condition. It's great to know they took the time to explain everything thoroughly and made your hire experience a positive one. We'll be sure to pass on your kind feedback to them. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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Just had a delightful call with lisa…
Just had a delightful call with lisa from the dudley branch. Everything was very straightforward clear and precise. Very friendly.
August 28, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Drew,
Thank you for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that Lisa from our Dudley branch provided such a friendly and positive experience. It's great to know that everything was explained clearly and the process was straightforward. We'll be sure to pass on your kind feedback to Lisa. Thank you for choosing us and for taking the time to share your experience!
Best regards,
The Switch Team
I came to rent/hire out a car did an…
I came to rent/hire out a car did an amazing job
I had a few calls with Brian and he also processed all my information on the desk made the process very simple and easy
The car I got was top notch and the service I received was quick, helpful and efficient
Much praise for Brian and the store
August 21, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Shofik,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're delighted to hear that Brian made the rental process simple and straightforward, and that you were pleased with both the vehicle and the service you received. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Brian and the team. We truly appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Superb, very impressed
Northampton, Moulton branch, Exceptionally polite and helpful. Didn't take too long to pick van up, explained how it all worked. Returned back to them, deposit returned quickly. Was apprehensive about using them based on reading reviews, Thrifty were superb
August 10, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Bal,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're delighted to hear that our Northampton team made the process smooth and stress-free for you. It's great to know the vehicle handover was clearly explained, the collection and return were efficient, and your deposit was refunded promptly. We appreciate you giving us a chance despite your initial apprehensions, and we're thrilled that our team exceeded your expectations. We look forward to helping you again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Fantastic service from the Oxford team
We arrived at the botley thrifty store with an issue involving the AA the team we dealt with today were absolutely fantastic and went above and beyond and eventually resolved our issue for us so a big thank you to the team who were on duty today at around 11:30 sorry can’t remember their names
August 17, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your wonderful review. We're delighted to hear that our Oxford team were able to assist you and help resolve the issue. It's especially rewarding to know that they went above and beyond to support you during what must have been a stressful situation. We'll be sure to share your kind feedback with the team. Thank you for taking the time to recognise their efforts, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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Who would expect to be asked to pay a…
Who would expect to be asked to pay a £750 deposit, not on a credit card, but transfer when wanting to rent a van? As a company we have used Thrifty over the years and had an account, but not recently. They were very good. Something must have changed. Their loss . Went to Enterprise, they were cheaper and with a friendly service and no deposit required.
August 17, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi J,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry to hear that your recent experience did not meet your expectations. Our rental requirements, including any deposit and payment verification processes, are in place to protect both our customers and our business, though we understand these may not suit everyone's circumstances. We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that we were unable to meet your needs on this occasion. Your comments will be taken on board as we continue to review and improve our customer experience.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
Excellent staff very helpful and great…
Excellent staff very helpful and great prices
August 17, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you found our staff helpful and our prices great. We really appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
I can not thanks these people enough…
I can not thanks these people enough for there help.I was extremly anxious and stressed having to get my car to to dealership for repairs after having it 7 days.No one was telling me anything but when i spoke these guys they were amazing.then i was told by my car company i had to return the hire car.Again freaked out called thrifty and they said no i had it until 17th so another 10 days compared to what dealership was saying.Very honest,very calming,very helpful,took me through everything with a fine tooth comb.Thank you jez and luke you were amazing
August 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It's always great to hear when our team have made a great impression. We would love to pass this feedback onto Jez and Luke directly so please let us know which location your rental was from.
Best regards,
The Switch Team
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