Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK Reviews 

1,241
TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3.6

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 127 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Consumers frequently praise the staff for being exceptionally friendly, helpful, and professional throughout the entire rental process. People also appreciate finding clean vehicles ready for use alongside straightforward and efficient service at the various local branches. Many visitors mention that booking online is simple and provides great value. However, some customers also noted unexpected extra charges and surprisingly high fees added to their final bills. Some reviewers were not happy with difficult booking experiences, vehicle availability issues, and unhelpful phone communication when trying to reach support. A few other people also felt that certain branch managers were rude and difficult to deal with when problems arose.

What people talk about most

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff, highlighting their helpful, polite, and professional... See more

Service

Consumers find service to be ambiguous, with highly mixed experiences reported across different branches.... See more

Customer service

People report ambiguous experiences with customer service. Reviewers frequently express frustration regarding... See more

Price

Customers consistently note negative experiences with price, highlighting unexpected extra charges and... See more

Booking process

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of booking_process, with varied experiences reported online. Many... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I work for a garage in West Bromwich and Neil who drops off rental cars for our customers is always super friendly and chatty. He’s clear when handing us over information, which is important for us as... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Welcoming friendly service and very efficient. Car was lovely and nice to get a cheeky upgrade which was not expected! Thank you to Richard at the Oxford branch on the front desk a true star with impe... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Car Rental Agency

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

3.6

Average

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

1K reviews

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No recent history of asking for reviews

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Replied to 100% of negative reviews

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3.6

All reviews

(1,241)

125 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5 stars

5 stars – Reliable and professional service at Brighton branch
Over the past few months, I have rented multiple vehicles (vans and cars) from Thrifty Car and Van Rental at the Brighton Trafalgar Street branch for various business and personal needs. The service has been consistently excellent.
Vehicles are always provided clean, on time, and in good condition. The process is straightforward, with transparent pricing and no unexpected fees.
Particular thanks go to the manager, Seven, who has been especially accommodating, professional, and friendly on every occasion. He listens attentively to requirements, offers practical advice without pressure, and efficiently handles any adjustments or queries.
I will continue to use this branch for future rentals and highly recommend their service. 5/5.

February 19, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Mr Townsend,

Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you were impressed with our efficient and high-quality service. We truly appreciate your loyalty and are so grateful to have you as a long-time customer. Your feedback always means a lot to us, and we’re thrilled to know that we continue to meet your expectations.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Seamless experience

Seamless experience, really helpful staff who know how to treat customers. Highly recommended. Thanks to Abir and Yasir

February 16, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Az,

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 Abir and Yasir directly so please let us know which location your rental was from.


Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Insurance scammers

Insurance scammers. You can’t take the standard insurance if you don’t have a credit card (which many people don’t) so they just give you the premium without advising how much it will be. £130 taken from my account without any agreement for a days car hire. Absolute joke - they will be delighted that they are £130 up, but I’ll never book car hire with them ever again and I’ve told at least 10 people about the experience.

February 13, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Darren,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m sorry to hear how frustrating this situation has been for you. We understand unexpected charges are never something you want to see at the end of a rental. We would like to look at this in more detail for you, please get in touch at customer.service@switchcarrental.co.uk

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Steve was amazing

Steve was amazing, very friendly!

February 10, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Izzy,

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 Steve directly so please let us know which location your rental was from.

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Adnan in Stirchley has been very…

Adnan in Stirchley has been very helpful, polite and efficient

February 11, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Suzanne,

We truly appreciate your kind feedback! It’s always a pleasure to hear when our customers enjoy their experience. . The team works hard to ensure every customer feels valued, and we’re thrilled that you noticed their dedication and care. We look forward to delivering another excellent experience to you next time you visit us.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really lovely experience with Abir

Really lovely experience with Abir. Friendly, helpful and swift!

February 10, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Rachel,

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We're glad to hear you had a great experience and found our team helpful. Your feedback is appreciated, and we hope to be of help again soon!

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Van Rental - Bristol North

Big shout to Noel, Tamas and Harry. Friendly customer service backed up by a no fuss rental - just what you need during a house move. Definitely recommend this team and their extended team on the forecourt.

February 4, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Nelly,

Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience at our Bristol North branch. Our team works hard to ensure every guest feels welcomed and well taken care of, and we’re glad it shows. We look forward to your next visit and can’t wait to continue serving you!

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Allan was extremely helpful

Allan was extremely helpful, explained everything and was very efficient

February 7, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Teresa,

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 Allan directly so please let us know which location your rental was from.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Dealt with Abir Hussain who had Great…

Dealt with Abir Hussain who had Great communication and great service very easy to deal with.

February 6, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Zee,

We truly appreciate your kind feedback! It’s always a pleasure to hear when our customers enjoy their experience. Your positive words mean a lot to our team, who works hard to provide the best possible service. We look forward to your next visit and can’t wait to continue serving you!

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Brand new car

Brand new car, no fuss paperwork nice guy serving me good value
Abir stirchley looked after me, Good guy

February 6, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We're so glad to hear that you were satisfied with our rental. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality service, and your feedback is a great encouragement to us. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

⚠️⚠️THRIFTY CAR RENTAL DUBLIN⚠️⚠️

Firstly I booked the car to be picked up in Terminal.
I was told I had to get on a bus and go to the car compound after waiting nearly forty minutes the bus arrived and we got to the compound.

After we returned the car I explained there were no issues and that I had fueld the car up to full.
In the pouring rain I was handed a receipt for my hire which I put in my pocket.
Only whilst waiting over thirty minutes on the bus I checked the receipt which I noticed the extra charges.
10 euros for petrol
16:18 euros extra days hir
8:37 fuel service charge
Plus vat totaling 40:24.
All these charges are fraudulent and I am dealing with this through the credit card company.
I have proof I filled the car to full and also have proof that I was not late picking the vehicle up or dropping it off.
Also when I went back to complain he was saying the same thing to an American couple who also said that they had filled it up.
I believe this is a common practice by this company at dublin Airport.
My advice to anyone thinking of using this disgraceful company is don't!!!!!
But if you do keep proof of everything!!!!!
Also what they know is that we are in a time sensitive predicament my plane was leaving in less than two hours.
⚠️⚠️ ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED⚠️⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

February 5, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

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.ie

Kind Regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great customer service from the Truro branch.

Just returned a hire car to the Truro branch. Excellent customer service from all the staff. The car was ready, clean and fuelled when I picked it up and a fast and professional service when I returned the vehicle. Great service thank you.
I would highly recommend Thrifty Car hire for your next rental.

February 2, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Pete,

Thank you for sharing your positive experience at our Truro branch. It’s always a pleasure to hear when our customers enjoy their experience. Your positive words mean a lot to our team, who works hard to provide the best possible service. We look forward to your next visit and can’t wait to continue serving you!

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thrifty Gloucester

Bev dropped my car off and went above and beyond with her kindness and helpfulness. What a lovely lady—there should be more people like her- Gloucester

January 29, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Jasmin,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review about our Gloucester branch. Our team works hard to ensure every guest feels welcomed and well taken care of, and we’re glad it shows. We’re looking forward to your next visit and to continuing to provide you with great service.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks Yasir

Thanks Yasir
Very easy to deal with, I had all my documents except my passport but he over looked it and allowed my to obtain the rental. Very quick in and out would recommend this site to everyone

January 24, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Tobias,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5-star review. We will share your feedback with the team, and we hope to see you again soon.

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Upon entering building we were greeted…

Upon entering building we were greeted by Abir.He was very polite and welcoming and he dealt with the rental swiftly and efficiently.

January 22, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Haroon,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. It's always great to hear when our team have made a great impression. We put a lot of effort into making our customers feel valued and we’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience. Thanks again for your support, and we hope to see you again soon!

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Rescued by a Thrifty employee

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 beyond to resolve my situation. Calm, reassuring and determined to provide a solution. Her professional approach ensured that i had a replacement vehicle to continue my work and get home the following day. Thank you Paula ... so sorry i didn't get your surname

January 6, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. We look forward to delivering another excellent experience to you next time.

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Coventry branch are the best!!

Maz and here team at Coventry are amazing! They couldn't do enough to help me and my family yesterday.
Thank you!!

January 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Trevor,

Thank you for sharing your amazing experience at our Coventry branch! We’re so happy to know you enjoyed your visit. Our team at this location takes pride in providing excellent customer service, and it’s great to see that reflected in your review.

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

On commission assistants add hidden costs to rental agreements

I used Thrifty for a car rental in Spain. I explained to the assistant clearly that I didn't want any extras adding to the rental agreement. 14 days later Thrifty charged me £100 for premium roadside assistance, which I hadn't agreed to. The assistant had slipped the additional charge into the agreement to earn themself commission. I was never refunded the £100.

December 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi,

We are a UK franchise of Thrifty, and we only have information for rentals that have taken place or due to take in the UK. In this case, we are unable to help you find a suitable resolution for your review.
We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.

Best regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

dealt with the sheffield branch

dealt with the sheffield branch, specifically a lady called Jade, absolutely 11/10 service, what started as an absolute nightmare situation was swiftly sorted by Jade and i could not be anymore grateful, especially as it was just days before christmas! thank you and hope you had the best time over Christmas and new year, i hope they gave you a promotion as well as a christmas bonus 🫣🎉

December 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Chloe,

Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime.

Warm regards,

The Switch Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great customer experience from team

Great customer experience from team
Nile and Paul:
Friendly and efficient

December 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK logo

Reply from Thrifty Car and Van Rental UK

Hi Paul,
We appreciate such a kind review and your feedback. It's always great to know our hard work is paying off!
Kind regards,
The Switch Team

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