Argus Car Hire32 reviews
This score is based on 32 genuine reviews submitted via BritainReviews since 2019.
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Find companies you have experience with and write reviews about them! Your reviews contribute to a more transparent market and improve the reliability of companies.Hesitant but pleasantly surprised
I wasn't sure at all before booking. I'd had dodgy runs with other rental firms, so when the guy at Marble Arch told me to buy Hertz's full insurance I hesitated. I had already bought Damage Refund Insurance online (ref G001CYPGB952948930) but he insisted it was safer. Fine, I bought it. He didn't mention congestion charges though, and when I got an email about a Congestion Charge fine I braced myself. To my surprise Hertz's customer care handled it pretty smoothly after I complained. They explained the charge, sorted the payment and, crucially, waived the £42 admin fee once I pointed out I'd been misinformed. Not perfect, but I left feeling relieved rather than furious. Staff could be clearer, but overall much better than I expected — I'll hire from them again, just ask more questions next time.
Half a bargain
read everything. If you can, spend a bit more with a company you trust. I’d rather pay extra than go through that stress again. Avoid unless you like surprises.
Nearly lost it at the airport
I was in the terminal, suitcase in hand, when my flight got cancelled and I had to switch to a different airport — proper pain. I messaged Argus through their booking system (they didn't pick up the phone) and they then tacked on £187.75 for a 'rebook'. I argued I hadn't cancelled, just changed pick‑up. The hire company in Cyprus blinked and said that sounded wrong. The car itself was fine — I used it daily to nip to beaches and small villages — so the holiday wasn't ruined; the car was great and I actually ended up pleased with the trip, even if I won't forget that extra charge.
£250 surprise at the desk
I rocked up on a damp Monday, thinking it’d be quick — pick up the car and off I go. Instead the chap at the counter tells me I have to pay a mandatory £250 insurance fee before they’ll give me the keys, otherwise they cancel the booking and I lose what I’d already paid. I asked Argus right there at the desk and they basically said “tough luck”. Oddly, the car itself was lovely — clean, felt newer than expected and drove really well, which was a small bright spot. Still, being forced into that choice felt rubbish and a bit stressful.
Middleman, not worth it
they charged an "amendment" fee that was almost the cost of the original hire — honestly felt like I'd been charged twice. If I'd booked direct with Sixt I could've used their flexible option for a couple of quid a day, but Argus's fee wiped that out. The site did the job and booking was easy, but changing it was a pain and it felt like there wasn’t much help available. Bit gutted — won't be using them again.
Young-driver fee trap
if you’re a younger driver, call and get it in writing.
Young drivers — watch this
not worth it if you’re under 25. A mate told me about Argus Car Hire and I found a Sixt booking through their site, seemed fine at first — booked online, all looks normal. Then at the desk they hit us with a young-driver surcharge of about £100 a day, something that wasn’t in the contract or on the listing. They said we should’ve phoned to check, which felt like passing the buck. We simply couldn’t cover the extra roughly £1,500 total, so we asked for a refund. They refused because it was supposedly 4 minutes past pick-up, even though we’d been there half an hour early and stuck in a queue. It worked out okay for the company; not for us. I’d say it’s usable if you’re older and don’t get surprised, but for younger drivers I’d be very careful.
Unexpected lifeline
calm, patient, proper people who actually listened. Communication was quick and clear, mostly over WhatsApp and email, and they kept me updated at every twist. Frankly I didn’t expect a full miracle, but within about three days most of the money had been traced and returned to our wallet. The delivery of the result — speed and the way they handled the whole process — was the biggest surprise. If you ever find yourself scammed, don’t delay: reach out and be persistent. My only wish is that I’d found them sooner.
Avoid Goldcar (and brokers that send you there)
don't use Goldcar, or any broker that funnels you to them — you'll regret it. I hired with them on a recent holiday to Spain and at first glance everything seemed fine, but problems started straight away. I had filled in arrival times and flight details, yet the car wasn't ready and I ended up walking to two separate collection points to sort it out. The big issue was the insurance and deposit spiel — Argus suggested a cheap policy, but Goldcar insisted we either paid their €130 insurance on the spot or leave a whopping €1,100 deposit on a credit card (we don't have one). We ended up reluctantly paying their fee and then another charge for returning the tank not completely full. So a cheap hire quickly ballooned in cost and hassle. On the plus side, once we finally had the car it was clean and drove fine — that was a small surprise — but overall the extra fees and the awkward collection process left a bad taste.
Overpacked but relieved
Standing at the Dollar desk with too many bags and that sinking feeling — I’d booked through Argus for a larger SUV and wasn’t sure if it would actually turn up. I was a bit wary beforehand (you hear stories, and I’ve had one or two awkward experiences with other brokers), so yeah, I was bracing for hassle. At the desk they first said my reservation was for a standard SUV, which made my stomach drop — but after a bit of back-and-forth and me phoning Argus, things did get sorted. It wasn’t instant, and I did feel like I had to chase them a little (I even paid extra for “premium” support which felt a bit odd), yet in the end a suitable car turned up and all our luggage fit comfortably. So the doubts I had beforehand? Mostly faded once the right vehicle arrived. Could communication have been clearer? Definitely. Am I glad it worked out? Absolutely — relieved and grateful, really. Won’t call it perfect, but for the price and the final result I’m happy I stuck with it.
Late-night hire left a sour taste
We touched down quite late, kids half asleep, and were just trying to get the holiday started — simple, right? The car itself was fine to drive, handled the winding roads and packed beaches without fuss, so that part of it worked. The problem was the insurance we'd bought beforehand. Online chat had made it sound like decent cover, so for peace of mind we went for the premium option. At the desk they practically shrugged and said it didn’t cover what we thought it did (roof, underside — bits you’d expect it to include). That left us standing there with three tired children and a bill to sort, so we ended up paying extra on the spot to get a car out of the lot. I tried to get someone from the insurer to sort a refund or at least explain — webchat cut off, calls went unanswered, and asking for a manager didn’t help. Annoying, because the hire itself was useful for everything from supermarket runs to a couple of day trips, but the admin and the surprise cost really spoiled the start of the trip. It’s not all bad — the car was sound — but the handling of the insurance and the lack of proper support were poor. Would have appreciated honest, clear info up front and someone who actually follows up.
Flight change, missed pick-up time, and unhelpful customer service
I had to change my flight which meant I needed to delay picking up my rental car by a day. But when I tried to let the company know about the change, I couldn't get through to them by phone or online because of technical problems. When I finally managed to reach them, it was past the pick-up time, so they ended up cancelling my booking and wouldn't give me a refund.
Smooth car rental process
I had an amazing time with a car rental company not long ago. Everything went smoothly, from booking to getting the car. It was in excellent condition and had hardly been driven, so I really enjoyed using it on my trip. It was really fuel efficient and the white colour outside kept it cool inside, which was great in the hot weather. The price was fair too, so I'll definitely be using this rental company again for my future trips.
Quick booking process
I had a really good experience with the car hire I booked online. The car was in great condition and the price was fair. But, it was a bit tricky to find the office and the car because the signage and directions were not very clear. Also, I think it would have been helpful to have more information about the fuel policy.
Car hire, extra insurance, car was okay.
I rented a car and also got some extra insurance from the car hire service. But when I went to pick it up, the local hire company was trying to make me get their insurance instead of the one I already had. It wasn't very nice. But, in the end, the car was fine and it did what I needed it to do.
Car hire in Portugal
My time with the car hire company in Portugal was absolutely wonderful. It was all very straightforward, and I managed to pick up a really nice car for my travels. The chap, Gerson Silva, who picked us up from the airport was extremely welcoming and talkative, which really added to the enjoyment of the whole thing. He even drove me back to the airport in the hire car, so I didn't have to wait around for a shuttle. All in all, I had a fantastic and reasonably-priced time with this company, and the staff were just lovely.
Delayed car pickup
My experience with this car rental company was really disappointing. I had to wait a long time for them to bring me the car, which ended up making them think that I wasn't going to show up at all. When I tried to sort things out with customer service, they were not helpful at all and couldn't solve the problem. So, all in all, I wouldn't suggest this company to anyone.
Airport car pick-up, hidden charges
My time at Toulouse-Blagnac airport wasn't great because the signs telling me where to pick up my car were confusing. I'm getting on a bit now, so having to walk quite a way to get to the car pick-up was a bit of a struggle, especially without a shuttle service.
Car hire booking
I booked a car hire recently, but had a bit of a nightmare with the rental company. When I went to collect the car, they told me they couldn't take my credit card for the deposit because it needed a signature and not a PIN. They suggested I buy extra insurance to avoid the deposit, which I know is a dodgy move. I even showed them that my card had a PIN, but they wouldn't listen. I tried to sort it out with both the rental company and Argus Car Hire, but they were not much help. It seemed like Argus didn't want to help me and just took the rental company's side, which was really frustrating. I trusted them for a smooth car hire, but was let down.
Budget-friendly car hire
I booked a cheap car rental for my trip on a website, and it was super easy. I had a lot of choices to pick from, which was great. When I got the car from Green Motion, I was really happy because it was in top condition and had hardly been driven. All in all, the car hire was a good experience for me.
About Argus Car Hire
Argus Car Hire is a car hire comparison service founded in 1959 in Ireland. The company specialises in providing customers with access to a wide array of rental car options through partnerships with international car hire companies. By aggregating offers, Argus Car Hire enables users to compare prices and availability, ensuring they secure competitive rates and suitable vehicles for their needs. The company's platform serves both leisure and business travellers, facilitating car rental bookings across various global locations.
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Car services | Car Rental Reviews & Experiences
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Last update: April 2026
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Professionals
I appreciate your cooperation and team support. Also a trusted company from where finest car can be hired. Your cars are being regularly hired by our company marketier , so I... Read onBy: Tabea