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Counterwise

No. 12 of 21 at AGP

Sicily by Car

at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport

Shuttle 7 min
Counterwise Score 4.7 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Sicily by Car at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is ranked No. 12 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 4.7/10 (Poor).
  • The Sicily by Car desk is off-site: the shuttle from Málaga Airport takes about 7 minutes.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €150–€1,300.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–23:00 daily incl. holidays.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Long waits to collect and return cars are reported repeatedly in recent reviews, often 1 to 3 hours at pickup, with a shared queue for pickups and returns and slow shuttles, which creates a real risk of missing flights..

Based on 87 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on 87 Google reviews from the last three months after excluding 11 staff-praise reviews, this off-site shuttle desk is praised for new cars, low prices and frequent upgrades. Its main problems are very long waits (often 1 to 3 hours) and frequent reports of pressure to buy desk insurance or of deposit and booking changes at the counter. Web evidence is thin and mostly undated or brand-level, so the conclusions rest mainly on reviews.

AI-assisted summary of 87 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 12 November 2026. How we do it

Score breakdown

Each sub-score is out of 10. Higher is always better for you. How the weights work

Deposit & damage disputes(30% of score)

Poor5.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 16 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 18 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 25 reports · medium confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 34 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Great8.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 32 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.7 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 4.3 · counts 30%
  • 11 of 98 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 17% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (72 after weighting by age).

High consensusOur independent signals (AI review analysis, web reports and star ratings) point the same way.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Long waits to collect and return cars are reported repeatedly in recent reviews, often 1 to 3 hours at pickup, with a shared queue for pickups and returns and slow shuttles, which creates a real risk of missing flights.
  • Many recent reviews report pressure to buy the desk's own insurance, including from customers who already had outside cover, or being told that a debit or virtual card is only accepted if the desk's cover is bought (reported prices of roughly 30 euros per day or several hundred euros in total).
  • Several recent reviews describe a car different from the one booked, a higher deposit or changed contract terms at the counter, or outside insurance bought through a broker not being recognised. Some large SUVs were offered as upgrades with extra daily fees.
  • A few recent reviews say that damage was attributed at return that the customer believes was pre-existing, or that proof of refuelling was demanded, and that overcharge refunds were still pending. Reports are a minority but serious, so document the car carefully.
  • The desk is off-site, with a shuttle pickup that several reviewers found hard to locate or slow, and opening hours of 07:00 to 23:00 mean late arrivals and early flights are difficult.sbciberia.comsbciberia.com

Green flags (5)

  • Cars are widely described as new, modern, clean and low-mileage, often hybrid or electric models.
  • Several reviewers received a free upgrade to a larger or automatic car when the booked category was unavailable.
  • Several reviewers report that the card deposit was released immediately or promptly after return and that the return inspection was short and fair.
  • Prices are described as low compared with on-airport competitors, and some customers who declined extras say there was no pressure.
  • Some reviewers report smooth, quick pickups and returns outside busy periods, and a faulty car was swapped without problems in one case.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 7 minsource
Opening hours07:00–23:00 daily incl. holidayssource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit€150–€1,300source
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withNo other brands

“Not confirmed yet” means we have not verified that fact yet. We never guess.

Sources

Web pages behind this rating’s facts and flags, found through search APIs. The review analysis also used 87 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

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Sicily by Car at other airports and stations

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Sicily by Car at Málaga Airport: questions and answers

Is Sicily by Car at Málaga Airport any good?

Sicily by Car at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport has a Counterwise Score of 4.7/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 12 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Cars are widely described as new, modern, clean and low-mileage, often hybrid or electric models.. Main red flag: Long waits to collect and return cars are reported repeatedly in recent reviews, often 1 to 3 hours at pickup, with a shared queue for pickups and returns and slow shuttles, which creates a real risk of missing flights..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Sicily by Car at Málaga Airport?

Yes. Sicily by Car at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Sicily by Car at Málaga Airport?

The typical deposit at Sicily by Car at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is €150–€1,300. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar (€0–€950).

Where is the Sicily by Car desk at Málaga Airport?

The Sicily by Car desk is off-site: the shuttle from Málaga Airport takes about 7 minutes.

What are the opening hours of Sicily by Car at Málaga Airport?

Sicily by Car at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is open 07:00–23:00 daily incl. holidays. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Málaga Airport

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