No. 16 of 19 at BCN

Hertz

Name: Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Hertz (Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport)
Rating: 3
Author: Counterwise

at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport

In terminalNo credit card needed

Medium consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is ranked No. 16 of 19 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor).
The Hertz desk is inside the terminal at Barcelona Airport.
No credit card is required (debit cards accepted); the typical deposit is €200–€700.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–23:59 daily.
Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews report charges after return that travellers dispute, including damage they say was already on the car, fuel charged despite a full tank, and cleaning fees. Several say refunds were slow or never came and that customer service did not reply..

Based on 274 reviews analysed · Last updated 12 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 274 Google reviews after excluding 26 (roughly 215 with useful text), feedback on this desk is sharply split. Many travellers praise friendly counter staff and new, clean cars. A large and consistent group reports disputed post-rental charges, extra insurance or upgrades added at the counter, unavailable booked categories, card refusals and unreachable customer service. Web sources are mostly undated or from aggregators and broadly point the same way, so check the contract and photograph the car at pickup.

AI-assisted summary of 274 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)

Poor2.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 75 reports · high 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 50 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 55 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor4.5/10

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

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed6.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 35 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.5 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 1.0 · counts 30%
26 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates). How we clean reviews
Pulled 10% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (131 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

Many recent reviews report charges after return that travellers dispute, including damage they say was already on the car, fuel charged despite a full tank, and cleaning fees. Several say refunds were slow or never came and that customer service did not reply.tripadvisor.com trustpilot.com
Numerous reviews say extra insurance, upgrades or extras were added at the desk even though cover was already prepaid through a broker or the booking. Travellers often say they only found out on their card statement afterwards, sometimes at 2 to 3 times the expected price.trustpilot.com tripadvisor.com
Repeated reports that the booked car category was not available, with travellers offered a paid upgrade, a smaller car, or a long wait. Some say they were told the upgrade was free and were then charged.
Several recent reviews describe being refused a car at the counter because of the payment card (neo-bank, debit or non-matching card), despite a confirmed or prepaid booking. Travellers say this was not clear when booking.
The office phone line is described as unanswerable and post-rental email support as slow or silent. This leaves travellers abroad unable to fix flight delays, lost items or billing problems.

Green flags (4)

Many travellers praise friendly, efficient in-person service at the desk, including several who say they declined extra insurance without pressure.qeeq.com
A good number of recent reviews describe new, clean cars that matched or exceeded the booked category, with some free upgrades.
Several reviews report fast pickups with no line and returns completed in minutes, plus final invoices that matched expectations.
Some travellers report that a modest deposit was released within days and that no unexpected charges followed, especially those who documented the car with photos.

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	07:00–23:59 dailysource
Credit card required	No, debit cards accepted (check conditions)source
Typical deposit	€200–€700source
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Dollar

“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 274 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Check the closing time (07:00–23:59 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Hertz at other airports and stations

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

Hertz at Barcelona Airport: questions and answers

Is Hertz at Barcelona Airport any good?

Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 16 of 19 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many travellers praise friendly, efficient in-person service at the desk, including several who say they declined extra insurance without pressure.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews report charges after return that travellers dispute, including damage they say was already on the car, fuel charged despite a full tank, and cleaning fees. Several say refunds were slow or never came and that customer service did not reply..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Hertz at Barcelona Airport?

No. Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport does not require a credit card; debit cards are accepted. Check the conditions when you book.

How much is the deposit at Hertz at Barcelona Airport?

The typical deposit at Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is €200–€700. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar T1 (€0–€950).

Where is the Hertz desk at Barcelona Airport?

The Hertz desk is inside the terminal at Barcelona Airport. It shares the counter with Dollar.

What are the opening hours of Hertz at Barcelona Airport?

Hertz at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is open 07:00–23:59 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Barcelona Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 19 desks side by side