CRL · Report · November 2026
Charleroi Airport car hire report
Key numbers for the 5 car rental desks we rate at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), computed from our published data.
Data updated · reviewed by our editor on · Methodology
- Desks rated
- 5
- 983 reviews analysed
- Average score
- 5.2/10
- median 4.6
- Median starting deposit
- €200
- 3 of 5 deposits known
- No credit card needed
- 40%
- 2 of 5 desks, 1 not confirmed
Key findings
- Counterwise rates 5 car rental desks at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL): 0 Great (8 or more out of 10), 2 Mixed (6 to 7.9) and 3 Poor (below 6). The average Counterwise Score is 5.2/10.
- The best-rated desk at Charleroi Airport is Sixt (7.2/10); the lowest-rated is Hertz (3.3/10).
- Where the deposit is known (3 of 5 desks), the typical starting deposit at Charleroi Airport is €200 (median), from €200 at Avis up to €300 at Europcar.
- 2 of 5 desks at Charleroi Airport (40%) do not require a credit card (debit cards accepted); the card rule is not confirmed yet for 1 desk.
- The most common traveller complaints at Charleroi Airport are damage charges after return (5 of 5 desks), pressure to buy insurance or extras (5 of 5 desks) and fuel charges or fuel policy (5 of 5 desks).
Score distribution
How the 5 desks split across our score bands.
Best and worst desks
Best rated
Lowest rated
- 5. HertzSeveral reviews from the past year describe being unable to collect a prepaid car: the desk was closed on late arrivals (including shortly before the stated 23:00 closing), or a flight or train ticket was demanded. Refunds were reportedly refused or disputed.3.3 · Poor
- 4. BudgetMany recent reviews report damage charges applied only after the car was returned, for example scratches, windscreen chips or bumper marks, often without a joint inspection and with unclear or poor-quality photo evidence; amounts reported range from about 350 to 1,000 euros.4.6 · Poor
Deposits and card rules
Deposits
- Lowest starting deposit
- €200 (Avis)
- Highest amount
- €300 (Europcar)
- Median starting deposit
- €200
- Deposit known
- 3 of 5 desks
Not confirmed yet for 2 desks: left out of these figures.
All deposits, lowest first →Credit card or debit card
- No credit card needed (debit accepted)
- 2 of 5 · 40%
- Credit card required
- 2 of 5 · 40%
- Not confirmed yet
- 1 of 5 · 20%
Debit cards accepted at: Avis, Hertz.
Desks without a credit card →In the terminal or by shuttle
- In the terminal
- 0
- none
- Short walk
- 5
- avg score 5.2
- Shuttle
- 0
- none
Most common traveller complaints
Number of desks whose published red flags mention each problem. A desk counts once per theme; one red flag can touch several themes.
- Damage charges after return5 of 5 · 100%
Charges for scratches, chips or dents that travellers say were already there or tiny. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz.
- Pressure to buy insurance or extras5 of 5 · 100%
Hard selling of the desk’s own cover, upgrades or extras, or cover added without clear consent. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz.
- Fuel charges or fuel policy5 of 5 · 100%
Refuelling fees despite a full tank, part-empty tanks at pickup, or a different fuel policy at the desk. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz.
- Hard-to-reach customer service5 of 5 · 100%
Phone lines, emails or complaints unanswered for weeks after the rental. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz.
- Booking not honoured or price changed4 of 5 · 80%
Booked car not available, a smaller or different car, a higher price at the desk, or fees not clear at booking. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Hertz.
- Closed desk or late-arrival problems4 of 5 · 80%
Desk closed for late arrivals, bookings cancelled after a flight delay, or out-of-hours fees. Desks: Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz.
- Other fees after the rental4 of 5 · 80%
Cleaning, admin, traffic-fine handling or late-return fees charged after the car was returned. Desks: Sixt, Europcar, Avis, Budget.
- Deposit or refund held back2 of 5 · 40%
Deposits, holds or refunds released late, only in part, or not at all. Desks: Sixt, Hertz.
- Car refused over card, licence or flight rules2 of 5 · 40%
Pickups refused or made conditional because of card type, licence or permit, or a missing flight ticket or boarding pass. Desks: Sixt, Europcar.
- Long queues or waits1 of 5 · 20%
Long waits at the desk, for the keys or for the shuttle. Desks: Budget.
The data behind this report
- 983 traveller reviews analysed across 5 desks.
- 1,149 recent reviews read; 166 (14%) excluded by our cleaning step as unreliable (mostly solicited staff praise: 135; about another location: 25; duplicates: 3). How reviews are cleaned
- Data collected on 11 November 2026; scores last updated 11 November 2026.
- Summaries and red flags reviewed by our editor on 12 November 2026.
- Complaint themes are counted with a fixed keyword list applied to each desk’s published red flags (no AI), so the same data always gives the same counts.
- Unknown facts (“Not confirmed yet”) are left out of averages, medians and ranges, never guessed. Full methodology
How to cite this report
You are welcome to quote these figures. Please name Counterwise and link to this page. The numbers update with each data refresh, so mention the date.
Suggested citation
Counterwise (2026). Charleroi Airport car hire report, November 2026. Counterwise. https://counterwise.eu/airports/crl/report (data updated 11 November 2026).
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