Green Motion is a budget car rental company with locations across Europe and beyond
Green Motion is a car rental operator that focuses on lower daily rates and a simplified booking process. The company operates rental desks at airports and city centers in over 40 countries, with the heaviest presence in Europe. You book directly through their website or through third-party aggregators like Kayak or Rentalcars.com, and you pick up your vehicle at the location you choose during your reservation window.
Green Motion competes on price rather than brand prestige or premium service tiers. Their fleet consists mainly of economy and compact cars from manufacturers like Peugeot, Renault, and Fiat — the kinds of vehicles that cost less to maintain and insure, which is why they can undercut the major chains. If you are renting for a week in a European city and want the cheapest quoted rate, Green Motion often appears near the top of comparison results.
Key Takeaways
- Green Motion quotes are typically lower than Hertz, Avis, or Enterprise because their fleet is smaller and their overhead is lower, but the final price depends heavily on insurance and fuel options you select at checkout.
- You must hold a valid driver's license from your home country plus an International Driving Permit if your license is not in Latin characters, and you typically need to be at least 21 years old with a credit card in your own name.
- Damage waivers and theft protection are optional add-ons that significantly raise the daily rate; if you decline them, you are liable for the full repair or replacement cost of the vehicle.
- Fuel options at checkout include prepay (you pay for a full tank upfront), pay-as-you-go (you return it empty and pay per liter), or return-full (you refill it yourself before returning); prepay is rarely the best deal unless you drive very little.
- Cancellation policies vary by rate type, so confirm the terms before you book — some rates are non-refundable, while others allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.
How Green Motion pricing works and what drives the final cost
The headline daily rate you see in search results is the base rental charge only. The actual amount you pay at checkout or on your credit card statement includes several line items that can double or triple that base figure. Understanding each one before you commit prevents surprises at the counter.
The base rate covers the vehicle and the rental period. Green Motion's rates are genuinely competitive here — often 20 to 40 percent lower than Hertz or Avis for the same car and dates in the same city. However, that rate assumes you decline all optional protection products. Once you add a damage waiver (which covers collision and theft), a young driver fee (if you are under 25), fuel prepayment, and airport surcharges, the total can exceed what you would pay with a major chain that bundles some of these into the headline price.
Fuel is the second major variable. Green Motion offers three fuel options: prepay (you pay for a full tank upfront at their pump price, which is usually higher than street pumps), pay-as-you-go (you return the car empty and pay per liter at their rate), or return-full (you refill it yourself at a regular gas station before returning the car). Return-full is almost always cheapest if you have time to refuel near the rental location. Prepay is only worth it if you drive fewer than 50 kilometers and use almost no fuel.
Insurance, damage waivers, and what happens if you decline protection
Green Motion's rental agreement holds you liable for any damage to the vehicle, theft, or loss, regardless of fault. If you decline their damage waiver product, you are responsible for the full repair bill — which for a rental car can easily reach €3,000 to €8,000 for collision damage or €15,000 to €25,000 for total loss. This is not a theoretical risk; it happens regularly to renters who assume their personal auto insurance or credit card covers rental cars.
Your personal auto insurance may or may not cover rental cars, and the coverage limits may be lower than the replacement cost. Your credit card may offer rental car protection, but only if you charged the entire rental to that card, and the coverage often excludes certain countries or damage types. Before you decline Green Motion's damage waiver, contact your insurer and your credit card issuer to confirm what they actually cover for a rental in the specific country where you are renting.
If you do purchase Green Motion's damage waiver, read the exclusions carefully. Most waivers exclude damage from off-road driving, driving under the influence, speeding violations, or driving outside the permitted geographic area. Some exclude damage to the windshield, tires, or undercarriage. The waiver also typically includes a deductible — often €500 to €1,000 — meaning you still pay that amount out of pocket if damage occurs.
Driver requirements and age restrictions
To rent from Green Motion, you must hold a valid driver's license from your home country. If your license is not in Latin characters (for example, if it is in Cyrillic, Arabic, or Chinese), you must also carry an International Driving Permit, which you obtain from your local motor vehicle authority before you travel. Green Motion will not rent to you without both documents if your home license is not in Latin script.
The minimum age to rent is typically 21, though some locations require 23 or 25. If you are under 25, Green Motion charges a young driver fee, usually €15 to €25 per day, which is added to your total. This fee is mandatory and non-negotiable; it reflects the higher insurance cost for younger drivers. You must present your license at pickup, and the name on the license must match the name on the credit card you use to pay.
You also need a credit card in your own name to complete the rental. Green Motion places a hold on the card (typically €500 to €1,500) as a security deposit. This hold is released after you return the car and the rental company confirms there is no damage. Debit cards are not accepted for the security deposit, though some locations may accept them for payment if you also provide a credit card for the hold.
Booking directly versus using a third-party aggregator
You can book Green Motion through their own website (greenmotion.com) or through aggregator sites like Kayak, Rentalcars.com, Booking.com, or Costco Travel (if you are a member). The quoted rate is usually the same across all channels, but the cancellation policy and the terms of the booking may differ depending on which site you use.
Booking directly through Green Motion's website gives you the most control over the terms and the easiest path to contact them if something goes wrong. You can log in to your account, view your reservation, and make changes directly. If you book through an aggregator, you are technically booking through that aggregator's terms, and you may need to contact the aggregator's customer service rather than Green Motion's if you have a question or need to cancel.
Aggregators sometimes offer lower rates than the Green Motion website because they negotiate volume discounts. Check both before you book. If the aggregator rate is significantly lower, book there — but read the cancellation policy carefully, because aggregator bookings sometimes have stricter terms than direct bookings.
Cancellation, changes, and what to do if plans change
Green Motion offers different cancellation terms depending on the rate type you select at booking. Some rates are fully refundable up to 48 hours before pickup; others are non-refundable. The rate type is clearly labeled at checkout, so confirm it before you pay. If you book a non-refundable rate and cancel, you lose the entire amount.
If you need to change your pickup date, time, or location after booking, you can usually do so through your account on the Green Motion website or by calling their customer service line. Changes made more than 48 hours before your original pickup date are usually free if the new rate is the same or lower; if the new rate is higher, you pay the difference. Changes made within 48 hours of pickup may incur a fee or may not be allowed at all, depending on the location and the rate type.
If you need to extend the rental after you have already picked up the car, call the rental location directly or use the Green Motion app to request an extension. Extensions are subject to availability and may be charged at a higher daily rate than your original booking. It is always cheaper to extend before you pick up the car than to extend after pickup.
What to expect at pickup and return
Arrive at your pickup location at least 15 minutes before your reserved time. Bring your driver's license, your International Driving Permit (if required), your credit card, and your booking confirmation. The rental agent will ask you to review the vehicle's condition, take photos or video of any existing damage, and sign the rental agreement. This inspection is your chance to document any scratches, dents, or interior damage that existed before you drove it. If you skip this step or sign without reviewing, you may be charged for damage you did not cause.
At return, you must bring the car back to the same location at the time specified in your agreement, with the fuel level you selected (full, empty, or prepaid). If you return it late, you will be charged for additional days at the daily rate, sometimes at a higher rate for late returns. If you return it with less fuel than required, you will be charged for the missing fuel at Green Motion's per-liter rate, which is higher than street prices.
Keep your rental agreement and any photos you took at pickup until at least 30 days after return. If Green Motion later claims damage and charges your credit card, you will need this documentation to dispute the charge with your credit card company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Green Motion cheaper than Hertz or Avis?
The base daily rate is usually lower, often by 20 to 40 percent. However, once you add insurance, fuel, and airport surcharges, the total price depends on what you select. Compare the full quoted price, not just the headline rate, across all three companies for your specific dates and location before you decide.
What happens if I return the car with damage I did not cause?
Document the damage at pickup with photos or video, and point it out to the rental agent before you sign. If you did not report it at pickup and Green Motion later claims you caused it, you will have a difficult time disputing the charge. Always do the inspection and keep your signed agreement.
Can I rent a Green Motion car if I have an International Driving Permit but no home country license?
No. An International Driving Permit is valid only as a supplement to your home country license. You must carry both documents. If you do not have a valid home country license, you cannot rent from Green Motion or any other rental company.
What is the young driver fee and can I avoid it?
If you are under 25, Green Motion charges a daily fee (typically €15 to €25 per day) to cover higher insurance costs for younger drivers. This fee is mandatory and cannot be waived. It is added to your total rental cost at checkout.
If I book through Kayak or Rentalcars.com, who do I contact if something goes wrong?
Contact the aggregator site first, since you booked through them. They handle customer service for aggregator bookings. If the aggregator cannot resolve the issue, they will escalate it to Green Motion. Booking directly through Green Motion's website gives you a faster path to their customer service.