Americars Rental Cars Reviews 38

I rented a car in Miami for 5 days. The pick up time was set to 8 am. Their staff showed up at 10 am, so I had to wait 2 hours for them. And the nightmare was just starting. They said that the insurance I bought was not valid for my driving license, so I had to purchase another one. Instead of paying $120 which was what I was originally told, they charged more than $300, including this "special" insurance and toll passes for 5 days.

In addition, they charged another $300 as security deposit. This was supposed to be refunded 15 days after returning the car. It's been 40 days so far, and nothing. They stopped answering my emails or calls.

Stay away from Americars, this is a total scam.

The best way to describe Americar/Street Car Rental is like a House of Mirrors; there's a new surprise at each turn. We were attracted to the reasonable rates, $15 per day and we were renting for five days. When we arrived at the Orlando airport, we learned they did not have a shuttle service and after multiple phone calls and finally getting a real person, we learned we needed to shuttle with Routes Rental, and once at their agency, we walked across the parking lot to a small building where our car rental was located. None of this was explained upon making the reservation. Then it gets quite interesting.

Their staff spoke limited English so communicating was difficult. We learned that in order to use our own insurance, we needed to have a policy with one million liabilities. No one carries that much; the standard policy is 100K/300K. So, we had to buy their insurance for $260. We had already pre-paid $100 which was non-refundable, but the contract indicated we pre-paid $81.86. Then we were charged ‘Time Charges” whatever that is for $12.35 per day ($61.75). The next charge was a “Senior Driver Fee” for $20. We also paid $14.99 per day to cover tolls ($74.99). The final charge was a $250 security deposit fee.

Their staff started the car for us and handed over the keys. We travelled about a half mile out when we saw a warning on the dashboard that “Keys Were Not Present.” So, we went back to the car rental and were handed the correct keys for our vehicle. The gas tank was at ¾ full which was also unusual.

When we returned the vehicle five days later on a Tuesday, we were greeted by a Manager, Bernardo, who came in from Miami to assist and determine why there were so many complaints and problems at the Orlando site. He listened to all our concerns; said our insurance policy should have been sufficient and was very apologetic about our experiences. He gave me his phone number and asked me to text him so he could compensate us for the unnecessary charges when he returns to his Miami office the following Monday. He was quick to respond to my initial text messages, but we waited five additional days following that Monday when I texted him again. I mentioned that we had not received our security deposit refund and he responded, "I'm on it." To date, we have not received any compensation as promised, only the $250 security deposit refund which was finally credited to our account two weeks to the day after returning our vehicle. The car itself was good but in closing, this company is all smoke and mirrors.

I got a rental car from Americars. DO NOT use this company. They gave me a quote. When I got the invoice, they charged me for over twice what was quoted. They said I had to pay everything, such as a ONE MILLION dollar insurance on the car, which costs a fortune. Then they make you pay a daily toll activation, regardless of wanting it or not. When I finally got a hold of someone, they said they'd check with management. I never heard back. DO NOT use this company. It is a total scam.

Terrible experience with Willy from Americar/Huxton in Miami airport.

He came 45 mins late then had to wait another 45 mins extra as he helped the guy in front of me.

We ended up paying way more than what was promised.

You have to get the toll pass and you have to get insurance ( unless you have 3 million dollar coverage) which no one has.

I wish I had gone to alamo or thrifty at the time. Learned an expensive lesson

Big Scam: Forced to buy their insurance, rented me a very unsafe car which they came and picked up and have not released my deposit. I am thinking class action lawsuit.

Scam company. Trust me your supposed final e-mail balance is not what it is when you arrive. Be prepared for your additional insurance scam. In the UK we call it the fake -not black an white “small print scam. If you are Americars and reading this. I will be giving you bad reviews on a weekly basis. I hope I cause damage because no one likes being lied to nor scames. Scum bags.

Mandatory insurance charge when you pick up the car. Wanted an additional $500 on top of the $716 they already charged my credit card. SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!

Absolutely shocking Customer Service I booked a seven seater car, in January 2025 for a pick up at Orlando International Airport on the 26th of July 2025, I also paid for the additional insurance for the same period, when we eventually arrived at the pick up point, as we had to wait 50 minutes for a shuttle as the hire car company was off airport which was with Americars we were told by the two members of staff (Man and women) one of them being a manager supposedly, that they don't have any seven seaters and they would only be able to get one the next day, as an alternative they could give me two cars!! The whole purpose of one vehicle IE a seven seater was because only one of us drives, therefore this solution was absolutely useless

,the attitude of the two people inside the Americacars office was very nonchalant and almost to the point of being rude, and most definitely with no apparent care in the world, when in fact this was not a very good start to our family vacation, and caused us some amount of distress as we we're at an off airport location, of which we had to wait 50 minutes for a shuttle! As the alternative option was of no use to us, being that there was only one driver in the family, we had to to choose another Car Hire company, So I informed Americars that this was no good and we would not be taking the cars as this is not what we booked, (only 6 months earlier) this caused a major disruption in our holiday plans with my family, 
We managed to find a seven seater car with another company at nearly $4000 which obviously I was and am not happy about at all, I have sent an email
and would want 
A complaints form that I can complete and officially log with the Americars company .
I would like an apology from Americars,
Refund of the insurance for a car which I never got to hire, 
Compensation for the distress caused on the first day of our vacation
, I shall be looking into Florida consumer laws and Car Hire legislation as I truly believe this is despicable
Most Definitely would not use these again, as it made for a very bad start to a holiday with our eight year old grandson and the rest of my family

I had a car for 90 days. I was supposed to pay 2 000 dollars but when I came I had to pay some other things so It made 2 600 dollars.

I cleaned the car. Ok it was not perfect but they charched me 160 dollars. Does all wash cars in Florida cost 160 dollars? I don´t think so.
I tanked the car full of gas 20 miles from the airport. They charched me 21 bucks anyway because I didn´t tank it full. Are you serious?

They told me if I pay 150 bucks I will have all tolls free. I paid then after some time when they convinced me because I said I will put in Google Maps route with no tolls. Now I now I paid for something else they are telling me and I must pay other 300 bucks for tolls.

I rented a car many times and never had troubles.
Never ever with Americars!

We rented a car. Was told to contact them for a shuttle to pick us up. It took them forever to even answer the phone. When they did it took another 40 minutes to pick us up. We got there and they tried to force us to pick up their insurance, which i didn't they went on about making sure we filled the gas tank. Got in the vehicle. No gas in the tank. Huge key scratch along the side of the car. Called let them know took pictures. Came out after only driving the car twice. Ready to go home, luggage in tow.. NO CAR! IT WAS GONE! Had to call the police to find out it WAS RE-POSSESSED! When I called and finally got someone on the phone, they tried to tell me it was MY RESPONSBILITY! afterward, get home, they contact me, to help them figure out who towed their vehicle!! NEVER TRUST THIS PLACE.. WARNING TO ALL!!

Company lures you in with a low daily rate, but won't accept your insurance and will force you to buy their insurance for at least $79 a day.

I have reserved the car online and read their disclosures about Collision Damage Waiver. I had the credit card coverage for the collision part of the insurance and was going to use that, declining their coverage (again, after reading disclosures it looked like there shouldn't be a problem with it).

Reality:
1. This is "Green Motion" car rental (in Tampa), so all the legal stuff comes from them, not AmeriCars (not sure they even exist in Tampa, they may be just selling the leads to Green Motion).
2. Green Motion required my liability insurance as well, not only the collision. Also, my liability had to be of a certain limit (at least $300,000 / $300,000), and since my Geico coverage wasn't they were not going to allow me to use my insurance and were going to force me to take their insurance. Taking their insurance, along with the rate, was bringing the rental cost to the number higher than major brand companies in the TPA that day.

Please be aware of wasting your time and book with company that is honest about its disclosures.

I rented a Kia Sportage for 39 days while I was in Florida. From my first encounter with the Americars team I was impressed with their response time, their courtesy and their willingness to help me and my family. Upon arrival in Florida I was greeted with a complimentary shuttle and had the pleasure to work with their front end team, the process was smooth and quick and I was handed a beautiful clean car which has shuttled me and my family for the past month. I highly recommend Americars.

ZERO Star Review - Run - TOTAL SCAM!
Read every review on Trustpilot. We experienced the same. We rent cars all over the country and this company is a fraudulent train wreck. Our employee showed up to pick up his car and they tried to force him to buy their insurance that was MORE THAN THE COST OF THE RENTAL. We have corporate insurance and he declined the insurance. The would not give him a car. Then they told us they would refund the car when we confronted them about their lack of disclosure and their bait and switch scam. They assured us they would refund us immediately and the refund would take a week. WE ARE 4 MONTHS OUT, 5 emails, 4 phone calls - ALL LIES, assuring us that the refund was in process. We have filed a chargeback with Amex, contacted the Florida Attorney General (they are taking action), the Better Business Bureau and are taking days to publish every review we can across the internet. CLOSE THIS BUSINESS DOWN - DON'T EVER RENT FROM THEM. We have also notified Expedia where the rental was booked.

This was the worst experience we have ever had at a Car Rentral Agency.
First off, I checked my State Farm Insurance that nothing had changed in the rental business so i would not have this kind of problem. They assured me that I had plenty of insurance to cover any rental agency.
I went with a company called Discovercars.com.
They third partied me to Americars.com
They were wrong about AMERICARS, though.
I paid Americars upfront, a down payment, and I need them to pick us up at 12:15 AM as that was when our flight came in to Orlando. Paid an extra $80 for this!
I called them 3 days prior to make sure someone would pick us up and shuttle us to their office building at 12;15 in the morning for us to pick up our car, They assured us they would. Asked them how much I owed at pickup and they said $575.
The pickup was fine, the shuttle dropped us off in a parking lot with hundreds of cars that were shared with other agency, approximately 4.5 miles from airport.
When walked to their office in a wooden shed, their was a wife with two children sitting on their luggage outside, while their husband and dad was inside arguing with the agent about not paying any extra money not known about before he arrived.
I spoke with the other agent waiting for us and he was in a bad mood cause he had to wait for us to arrive and trold me that. Said he worked all day and had to wait for us to arrive.
They he told me I need to have $1,000,000.00 of insurance so I had to purchase additional from them for an extra $25 a day. I needed car for 25 days.($625)
I told them no, and they would not give up a car to us. This is now 1AM in the morning, in a parking lot in a wooden shed, 5 miles from the airport. I showed them my insurance, and they said they can lower the price to $15 a day. I saw I was not getting the car without paying anything, so I figured I will just pay the extra $400 and fight it out later.
Then they wanted money for gas and tolls. I explained I had just purchased a New I Pass and was told to put Rental Car Plate in and this will work for us. Agent said this will not work, and wanted another $250 to cover this. I told them they still have my credit card in their handl so go ahead and get me out of here.
Meanwhile the gentleman next to me arguing with his agent, agreed to an additional price and then his agent upped him again. He said no way, and his agent ripped up his contract in front of all of us, slammed his laptop closed, and left the shed and went home. This caused our agent to get on his cell phone and yell in Spanish to someone for 5 minutes about what happeded.
Then this gentleman said he will wait til I am done so he can use our agent. I told him I am not doing any better over here. (And, by the way, this was only a two person shed so their was no one left if our agent left.
Then they pulled up this 3 year old piece of crap Nissan, with dents on all four sides, missing a hubcap, filthy inside, smoked scuzzed windows, and my wife said she will not ride in this. I took car and left for my first destination.
Called the next day and explained this car was totally trashed and demanded another different vehicle.
The next vehicle I received was better, and finished our trip.
So, they did get an extra $650 from us and I tried to recoup when I got home, but to no avail.
Total ripoff company, extorting money when they have you there unknown many, stay away, beware of Americars.

Horrible experience, no one there for pickup or return, had to wait, forced insurance when I had proof of rental car insurance in the US exceeding car value, tried to take charges for gas, tolls without my consent, ++ problems never use this company. The customer service people are polite but cant do anything its not on them, but the company should be ashamed.

Beware – This Place Is a Total Scam!

Please stay away! They lure you in with a low advertised rate, but once you arrive, you're stuck and taken advantage of. I reserved my car and paid for the rental nearly three weeks in advance. Yet, when I arrived to pick it up, the SUV I reserved had already been given to someone else.

The only option they offered was a damaged car—along with over $500 in extra charges for their own insurance and tolls. On top of that, the two staff members (a man and a woman) were extremely unprofessional.

It’s absolutely worth spending a bit more with a reputable company to ensure you actually get your car and receive proper service.

Scam 100%.

Do not go near this place.

Terrible.

Thieves.

Illegal business practices.
Forced insurance purchase.
Manipulation.

Stay away.

Never Renting from AmeriCARS Again
I rented from AmeriCARS in October for a 4-day trip (10/17 – 10/21 – Reservation # AMEORL-16816) because their rates were cheaper by about $100. Unfortunately, during the trip, another car hit us in a parking lot while reversing. After a police report and an investigation by Geico (the other party's insurance), they agreed to cover the damages.
When I signed my rental agreement, AmeriCARS blocked a $2500 security deposit, which I understood at the time. Since November, I've been trying to get a detailed repair invoice for the damages, which Geico has requested in order to process the claim and reimburse me for the repairs.
As of today, 3/5/25, AmeriCARS has deducted the $2500 from my credit card and has refused to provide a proper invoice for Geico to process. I've emailed, called, and even Geico has tried reaching out to AmeriCARS multiple times without success.
This is my last resort, and I hope sharing my experience helps others. I’m not willing to let my hard-earned $2500 go, so AmeriCARS management, please address this issue and resolve it as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Sanket
Thank you,
Sanket Reddy

Scam artists. Told me I didn’t have enough coverage to rent a 10 yr old Jetta. I do. Told me in addition to the $12 a day for the car, I had to pay $180 for insurance. Then charged me the $48 plus an additional $65 for the cancellation. I’m contacting the Better Business Bureau.