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Counterwise

No. 20 of 21 at ALC

Drivalia

at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

Shuttle
Counterwise Score 2.8 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Drivalia at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is ranked No. 20 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 2.8/10 (Poor).
  • The Drivalia desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Alicante Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €1,000–€1,250.
  • Fuel policy: not confirmed yet. Opening hours: 08:00–22:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews (roughly 50 over the last 7 months) report damage charges of about 100-400 EUR for tiny or underside marks that were not on the check-out sheet. Staff reportedly go straight to hard-to-see spots, and several travellers avoided charges only because they had detailed photos or video. Dated Trustpilot pages describe the same pattern..

Based on 291 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 235 usable recent Google reviews after excluding 9, this off-site, shuttle-served desk draws a high share of complaints about damage charges for minor or underside marks, hard insurance selling, bookings refused over card rules, and long queues. Positive reviews mention newer cars, friendly staff, a quick shuttle and smooth returns, especially for customers who took full cover or an all-inclusive broker package. Web sources are mixed and mostly undated or older, so they only partly corroborate the reviews.

AI-assisted summary of 291 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)

Poor2.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 85 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 70 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 70 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 2.8 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 2.5 · counts 30%
  • 9 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other reasons). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (215 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 (roughly 50 over the last 7 months) report damage charges of about 100-400 EUR for tiny or underside marks that were not on the check-out sheet. Staff reportedly go straight to hard-to-see spots, and several travellers avoided charges only because they had detailed photos or video. Dated Trustpilot pages describe the same pattern.ie.trustpilot.comtrustpilot.comuk.trustpilot.com
  • About 35 reviews report customers turned away or only released a car after buying extra cover. Reasons given include a card showing initials or a partial first name, debit or phone-wallet cards for the deposit, documents, or a late flight. Several say these rules were not clear when booking through brokers.
  • Persistent pressure to buy the desk's own full cover is reported in about 55 reviews, including broker or third-party cover being called worthless and warnings of large charges for scratches over 1 cm. Customers say the mood changed after refusing. Older forum posts describe the same practice.tripadvisor.co.ukautoeurope.co.uk
  • Customers frequently report that phone and email contact goes unanswered, including after returns. About a dozen recent reviews describe slow or missing deposit releases (from several days to over a month), unreturned fuel deposits, or charges that were not explained.
  • Long waits are common: about 25 reviews describe an hour or more between landing and getting keys, including shuttle waits, understaffed desks and cars still being cleaned. Several mention an optional paid priority queue.

Green flags (4)

  • Travellers who took the desk's full cover, or an all-inclusive broker package such as Sunny Cars, mostly report a smooth handover and return with no deposit hassle or disputed charges.
  • Many reviews describe newer, clean and well-equipped cars at low prices, with some free upgrades, and fuel-efficient models.
  • The shuttle between the terminal and the depot is described as frequent, clearly branded and quick (about 5-10 minutes) by many reviewers, and returns are often described as fast.
  • Around 20 reviews describe friendly, helpful staff who accepted a refusal of extra insurance without pushing, and some deposits or holds were released within days.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours08:00–22:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit€1,000–€1,250source
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 291 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Drivalia at other airports and stations

Same brand, different counter. We rate each location on its own.

Drivalia at Alicante Airport: questions and answers

Is Drivalia at Alicante Airport any good?

Drivalia at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has a Counterwise Score of 2.8/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 20 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Travellers who took the desk's full cover, or an all-inclusive broker package such as Sunny Cars, mostly report a smooth handover and return with no deposit hassle or disputed charges.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews (roughly 50 over the last 7 months) report damage charges of about 100-400 EUR for tiny or underside marks that were not on the check-out sheet. Staff reportedly go straight to hard-to-see spots, and several travellers avoided charges only because they had detailed photos or video. Dated Trustpilot pages describe the same pattern..

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

Yes. Drivalia at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Drivalia at Alicante Airport?

The typical deposit at Drivalia at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is €1,000–€1,250. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar (€0–€950).

Where is the Drivalia desk at Alicante Airport?

The Drivalia desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Alicante Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).

What are the opening hours of Drivalia at Alicante Airport?

Drivalia at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is open 08:00–22:00 daily. Fuel policy: not confirmed yet.

Other desks at Alicante Airport

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