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Counterwise

No. 18 of 19 at BCN

NIZA Cars

at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Shuttle
Counterwise Score 2.5 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • NIZA Cars at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is ranked No. 18 of 19 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 2.5/10 (Poor).
  • The NIZA Cars desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Barcelona Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–21:59 daily; out-of-hours window 22:01–01:00.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Dozens of recent reviews say debit, virtual, deferred-debit, PIN-less or non-EU credit cards were refused or a higher deposit was demanded at the counter, and the problem went away once the desk's own insurance (roughly 90 to 600 euros) was bought. Reviewers say this was not made clear when booking through brokers..

Based on 282 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 240 usable Google reviews (after excluding 18), mostly from the last four months, travellers report long waits of 1 to 2 hours or more, frequent disputes over card rules, insurance and damage or fuel charges, and slow refunds. Many also praise new cars and friendly staff, and a minority had quick, trouble-free rentals. Web sources are mostly undated or cover the wider brand, but they point the same way.

AI-assisted summary of 282 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 70 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 48 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 85 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 42 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: 1.3 · counts 30%
  • 18 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 6% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (218 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Dozens of recent reviews say debit, virtual, deferred-debit, PIN-less or non-EU credit cards were refused or a higher deposit was demanded at the counter, and the problem went away once the desk's own insurance (roughly 90 to 600 euros) was bought. Reviewers say this was not made clear when booking through brokers.tripadvisor.comtripadvisor.co.uk
  • Many recent reviews say a charge was made for scratches or marks the traveller says were already there, often from 40 to 1,200 euros and sometimes billed after the return. Most of these travellers had not bought the desk's insurance. Several say staff did not record existing damage at pickup, and that photo or video evidence was disputed or ignored.tripadvisor.ieuk.trustpilot.com
  • Very long waits are reported by about 70 recent reviews: commonly 1 to 2 hours at the off-site office, sometimes 3 or more, with only two or three staff on duty. The airport shuttle is often 30 to 50 minutes late or missing, pickup instructions are unclear, and several travellers took taxis costing about 20 to 36 euros.tripadvisor.co.ukuk.trustpilot.com
  • Around 30 recent reviews report extra fees that were unclear at booking: 40 euros for arriving outside opening hours, 80 euros for arriving more than three hours after the booked time (including flight delays), and 30 euros or more for a fuel service. Several also report a car handed over with less than a full tank.
  • Around 28 recent reviews say the phone and email are rarely answered, and that deposits or fuel holds of 150 to 300 euros were still not released after 3 weeks to a month or more, or that claims and lost items were ignored. Some travellers also report bags stolen from the waiting area and a lack of help afterwards.tripadvisor.co.uk

Green flags (4)

  • About 20 recent reviews describe new or nearly new, clean cars, and several report a free upgrade to a larger model.reddit.com
  • Some travellers, often those who booked directly or brought their own cover, report a quick handover of about 5 to 10 minutes and no pressure to buy insurance.
  • Several reviews report deposits released within 2 to 4 days after a clean return, and a staff check at return that found no damage.
  • Many reviews call the counter and shuttle staff friendly, and a number of travellers say prices were competitive, though the extras can bring the total close to other companies.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours07:00–21:59 daily; out-of-hours window 22:01–01:00source
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
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 282 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.)

NIZA Cars at other airports and stations

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

NIZA Cars at Barcelona Airport: questions and answers

Is NIZA Cars at Barcelona Airport any good?

NIZA Cars at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport has a Counterwise Score of 2.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 18 of 19 desks at the airport. Main green flag: About 20 recent reviews describe new or nearly new, clean cars, and several report a free upgrade to a larger model.. Main red flag: Dozens of recent reviews say debit, virtual, deferred-debit, PIN-less or non-EU credit cards were refused or a higher deposit was demanded at the counter, and the problem went away once the desk's own insurance (roughly 90 to 600 euros) was bought. Reviewers say this was not made clear when booking through brokers..

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

Yes. NIZA Cars at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at NIZA Cars at Barcelona Airport?

The deposit amount at NIZA Cars at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar T1 (€0–€950).

Where is the NIZA Cars desk at Barcelona Airport?

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

What are the opening hours of NIZA Cars at Barcelona Airport?

NIZA Cars at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is open 07:00–21:59 daily; out-of-hours window 22:01–01:00. Fuel policy: full to full.

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