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Counterwise

No. 17 of 21 at ALC

Centauro

at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

In terminalNo credit card needed
Counterwise Score 3.8 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Centauro at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is ranked No. 17 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.8/10 (Poor).
  • The Centauro desk is inside the terminal at Alicante Airport.
  • No credit card is required (debit cards accepted); the typical deposit is €0–€1,200.
  • Fuel policy: not confirmed yet. Opening hours: 07:00–23:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews, especially from travellers who booked via brokers, say staff pressed them to buy the desk's own insurance, rejected their existing cover, or tied releasing the car to buying it..

Based on 285 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 285 Google reviews after excluding 15 (about 236 with text, mostly from the last 3-4 months), experiences are sharply split: many praise new cars, quick SmartKey pickup and fast fuel-deposit refunds, while a large share report counter pressure to buy insurance, charges added or applied after return, and unanswered complaints. Reports are most negative from customers who booked through brokers and declined the desk's cover. Web evidence is mixed and mostly undated or older.

AI-assisted summary of 285 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)

Poor3.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 78 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 35 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.7 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 3.7 · counts 30%
  • 15 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other locations, duplicates…). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (196 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)

  • Many recent reviews, especially from travellers who booked via brokers, say staff pressed them to buy the desk's own insurance, rejected their existing cover, or tied releasing the car to buying it.reddit.comreddit.com
  • About 14 recent reviews say an extra cover (often around EUR 200-300) was added to the contract via a digital signature pad while staff described the payment as a fuel or excess deposit; customers say they only noticed afterwards.
  • Around 25 recent reviews report damage, cleaning or other charges (roughly EUR 75-1,000) applied after return, often with no joint check at drop-off and no photos or invoice; some say these were reversed after a broker complaint.
  • About 20 recent reviews say emails, tickets and calls about charges or unreturned fuel deposits went unanswered or received only automated replies for weeks or months.
  • Several recent reviews report a EUR 40 out-of-hours fee for arriving a few minutes after 23:00 or after flight delays, sometimes after queueing before closing time.

Green flags (5)

  • Many reviewers say the fuel deposit was refunded within hours to a few days after returning the car full.
  • Many cars are described as new or nearly new, clean and low-mileage, and several reviewers received free upgrades.
  • The SmartKey locker pickup and quick key-drop return are praised for avoiding the counter queue.centauro.netcentauro.net
  • The desk is in the arrivals hall with cars in the car park opposite, so pickup and return are easy to find.myspanishcar.comrental24h.com
  • Customers who booked a premium or full-cover package directly with Centauro generally report a smooth process without extra charges at the desk.reddit.com

Practical facts

LocationDesk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours07:00–23:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredNo, debit cards accepted (check conditions)source
Typical deposit€0–€1,200source
Fuel policyNot confirmed yet
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 285 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

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Centauro at other airports and stations

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Centauro at Alicante Airport: questions and answers

Is Centauro at Alicante Airport any good?

Centauro at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.8/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 17 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many reviewers say the fuel deposit was refunded within hours to a few days after returning the car full.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews, especially from travellers who booked via brokers, say staff pressed them to buy the desk's own insurance, rejected their existing cover, or tied releasing the car to buying it..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Centauro at Alicante Airport?

No. Centauro at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport does not require a credit card; debit cards are accepted. Check the conditions when you book.

How much is the deposit at Centauro at Alicante Airport?

The typical deposit at Centauro at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is €0–€1,200. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar (€0–€950).

Where is the Centauro desk at Alicante Airport?

The Centauro desk is inside the terminal at Alicante Airport.

What are the opening hours of Centauro at Alicante Airport?

Centauro at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is open 07:00–23:00 daily. Fuel policy: not confirmed yet.

Other desks at Alicante Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 21 desks side by side