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Counterwise

No. 37 of 37 at CTA

Surprice

at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport

Short walk
Counterwise Score 1.8 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Surprice at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport is ranked No. 37 of 37 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 1.8/10 (Poor).
  • The Surprice desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Catania Airport (walking 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: 09:00–17:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews say prepaid customers were refused the car at the counter because their card was judged not a valid credit card (debit, online-bank, near expiry, not embossed), then offered the car only if they bought the desk's own cover for roughly 170-830 euros..

Based on 287 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 287 Google reviews kept after removing 13 unreliable ones (about 245 with usable detail, covering Aug 2024 to Oct 2026), this desk is rated very poorly. Travellers repeatedly report being refused prepaid cars over card or lateness rules, pressure to buy the desk's own cover, long waits and disputed damage charges. A small minority report smooth rentals and quick deposit release. Web sources are mostly undated aggregator pages that point the same way, and some Sept-Oct 2026 reviews say the office was closed, which we could not verify.

AI-assisted summary of 287 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 45 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor1.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 120 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor0.8/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 150 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 50 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 2.2 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 0.0 · counts 30%
  • 13 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other reasons, other locations…). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 10% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (136 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Many recent reviews say prepaid customers were refused the car at the counter because their card was judged not a valid credit card (debit, online-bank, near expiry, not embossed), then offered the car only if they bought the desk's own cover for roughly 170-830 euros.trustpilot.comautoeurope.co.ukdiscovercars.com
  • Dozens of reviews report prepaid bookings not honoured: booking treated as cancelled after a delay of 1-2 hours although some vouchers state a 4-hour window, no car available, or the office closed before its advertised hours.reddit.comreddit.com
  • About 20 reviews describe charges of several hundred euros for small or disputed scratches, or cleaning fees, often despite pickup photos or video; some say the charge was taken from the deposit without documentation.
  • Around 10 recent reviews report unsafe or poorly maintained cars, such as very worn or blown tyres, low oil, warning lights or a defective airbag.
  • Many reviews say the phone numbers on vouchers were unreachable, and refunds after a failed pickup or an unreturned deposit were slow or refused; the broker often refers customers back to the desk.autoeurope.co.uk

Green flags (3)

  • A minority of travellers report the deposit hold released within 2-7 days with no disputed charges, including some recent reviews.qeeq.com
  • Some recent reviewers report an as-booked, clean or new car, a quick handover and no pressure to buy extra cover, with low base prices.
  • A few reviewers describe friendly handover and return staff and a simple return inspection.

Practical facts

LocationNearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours09:00–17:00 dailysource
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 287 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Surprice at other airports and stations

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

Surprice at Catania Airport: questions and answers

Is Surprice at Catania Airport any good?

Surprice at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport has a Counterwise Score of 1.8/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 37 of 37 desks at the airport. Main green flag: A minority of travellers report the deposit hold released within 2-7 days with no disputed charges, including some recent reviews.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews say prepaid customers were refused the car at the counter because their card was judged not a valid credit card (debit, online-bank, near expiry, not embossed), then offered the car only if they bought the desk's own cover for roughly 170-830 euros..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Surprice at Catania Airport?

Yes. Surprice at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Surprice at Catania Airport?

The deposit amount at Surprice at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at B-Rent (from €90).

Where is the Surprice desk at Catania Airport?

The Surprice desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Catania Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).

What are the opening hours of Surprice at Catania Airport?

Surprice at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport is open 09:00–17:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Catania Airport

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