Drivalia UK - BRISTOL AIRPORT Reviews 

App: Unreliable for check in. Kept bugging
Bristol airport pickup : shuttle service not available. Long walk outside airport on unsuitable paths for roller-case. Unhelpful staff at check in. Big deposit required and kept for 4 weeks. Obscure information about damage to car and list not provided before leaving. “just take a video” they advise. Different car from that chosen at booking and no explanation.
Gatwick drop off: chaotic. No one to take keys. Office overwhelmed by line of people checking in. Eventually found someone, who said all was ok but did not receive drop off confirmation for over a week and deposit held unnecessarily for 4 weeks so I couldn’t use my credit card.
I rent a car several times a year and won’t use Drivalia again

This was my first time using Drivalia, and I am totally disappointed with their customer service and staff attitude. I booked to return my car at 5:30 AM for a 7 AM flight, but no one was there, and calls went unanswered. After waiting over an hour, I learned from another customer that there was a code to open a door and drop off the keys—something I was never informed about. I missed my flight, rebooked, and later returned to complain, only to be met with dismissive, unhelpful staff. Absolutely terrible service. I would never recommend Drivalia to anyone.

I booked a VW Arteon for a very good price. Low and behold and as my expectations of, too good to be true, unfolded. No Arteon, they said it was in the workshop! Instead we we offered a massive 4x4 V6 pick up which wasn't an option as we needed to be able to park the car in the city. Our only other option was a smaller car which in itself was OK but not what we wanted. The staff were friendly and one said I would be getting a refund which never arrived. Many emails later and two months and still no refund and no answer to any of my mails. It was a scam all along as I don't believe they ever had this car.

I recently booked a car to collect from Bristol airport and return to Birmingham airport. I had such a positive experience and want to thank both locations. I needed to call the two offices and both picked up the phone and were super helpful. All very easy from start to finish and at a competitive price. Thanks all, I’ll definitely use your service again.

Excellent service from the guys at Bristol Airport. Very friendly and helpful. Easy to deal with and efficient. Good value car hire, will use again no issue. Thank you

Long term hire with the guys up at Bristol Airport - Amir and the team did a great job communication was good everything explained clearly and pick up and drop off quick and easy.

Very helpful, can do enough for you and professional

As an over 70 customer, I was delighted to get such a competitive quote. Fully comprehensive. The staff at Drivalia Bristol depot provided me with a sat nav equipped basic car and took time to explain how to set it up. The whole experience was very easy, unlike some previous hires. I will return again!

After booking and paying online (with rentalcars), I arrive to find out that there is more to pay, not once, but twice. First, the extra payment for dropping off in a different place (this was not mentioned when paying, only in the email after paying) and also, since I didn't have a "credit card", only a "debit card" I had to pay the extra insurance provided by Drivalia, which came to twice the cost of the actual rental! No mention of this when paying (eg - "only credit cards accepted - not debit cards) or any sign that the overall costs would triple if I didn't have one. All this was painful, but the unpleasantness and lack of clarity or helpfulness of one of the guys (Simon) in Bristol was exceptional. Drop off in London was however very smooth - thanks guys!

The branch is not on the airport and certainly not a 10 min walk from the terminal as claimed. It's a good 15 - 20 min walk before you even consider luggage. They claim.to be on airport and do not offer transportation

Very friendly and co-operative staff at the Bristol branch. Amir was very helpful and courteous. However the excess is very high if you go for the cheapest option

Total scammers. I seriously would not use this company as they will charge you extra when you return the car- despite its appearance. They charged me 100 to re- fill the car but it wasn’t empty in fact it was 85% full. This was justified with 30 for fuel and the rest admin fee. Disgusting behavior and his last words were that next time I should get insurance. So maybe if I had paid their excess they wouldn’t have made up other reasons for me to pay. Totally unprofessional service and basically cowboys (no offense meant to cowboys). These guys are the worst.

Got a better car than expected!
Drove it without a problem, well served and all questions answered.
Thank you.

Great car. The guy In the bristol office is really friendly and had great customer service skills. Thanks for the great service everything went smoothly

I recently rented a car from Discover Cars for a pick-up at Drivalia at Bristol Airport Dec 28th 2024. The Drivalia IT system was down. They couldn't give me a car (booked, paid for and checked in on-line in a very tortuous, shaky online process). The IT system seemed to have impacted many branches in the UK including the head office? It took me 4hrs before I sorted out my own alternative and picked it up. I understand that IT glitches can occur - but having no backup process, no idea of timescale for the problem and no ability to help was incredibly frustrating. I have to say that I have no beef with the guys in the office as they were stuck with a poor process to follow. But the customer experience was very poor.
I am also very concerned about the safety of very confidential documents required for the online check-in.

Edit: I have now seen the reply from Drivalia. I had raised this issue several days earlier on their portal - and even now - still have heard nothing.

Found the lubricant oil and repair indicators on the second day of renting from Drivalia Heathrow Airport, went to Drivalia Bristol Airport, they refilled the lubricant oil and relieved my worry straight away for free, staff are friendly and helpful, very good customer experience 👍

Due to our plane arriving late,we contacted Amir,who volunteered to stay to help us,above and beyond the call of duty,on a rainy friday evening,so helpful with booking and got us going in a fiat,which was a clean good driveing car,with all mod cons,and on return dropped us back to airport,it is people like Amir that make a good company even better and should be well praised for his dedacation to his job,we will be recommending you company,to people needing a car in Bristol and esp Amir,
Thank you

Those guys were just great! I had hired a mini van to be picked up at Bristol airport. However when I landed I got a call saying the van was not available (broken). The situation could have been really unpleasant with me having to ask a refund to the hiring broker and find another van last minute. However when I suggested I could get a state car, with similar space in the back, instead they were open to it and found me one as substitute. It served me as well as the van and some more. When delivering the car back I was a little passed the allocated time (due to circumstances beyond my control) and again, another, two guys in the office were super accommodating and kind. Overall a great experience, thank you.

My flight was due to arrive after their office closed so I was concerned about the pick up, but it all went exactly as they described it would (quite a relief as it was 2am!) The car was much bigger than I'd asked for which was a nice surprise. When I returned it, the check process was friendly and brief and I didn't even get charged for doing extra miles (which I thought I had). This is the second time this year I've used Drivalia at Bristol airport and I will definitely continue to use them. Thank you especially Simon, for being so friendly and quick.