FAO · Faro, Portugal
Every car hire desk ranked by Counterwise Score
The Algarve's airport. The big international brands have desks in the arrivals hall, with cars parked next to the terminal. Most local firms meet customers at car park P4, a few minutes' walk from arrivals (or at Kiss & Fly), and drive them by shuttle to offices along the airport road. The Algarve motorway (A22) has been toll-free since 2025, but rental cars carry a toll device with a daily fee.
Based on 4,179 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Showing all 17 desks
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Red flag: About a dozen reviews since April 2026 report charges (roughly €100 to €874) for very small scratches or dents that customers say were barely visible or already there, sometimes even with zero-excess cover booked via a broker. Several reviewers advise photographing the car in detail at pickup and return.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews report pressure at the desk to buy the desk's own insurance, including being told broker or third-party cover was not valid, in one case with the traveller leaving without a car.
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Red flag: Disputed charges after the rental recur: reviewers report damage claims (rim, windscreen, boot cords, a missing tyre compressor), unexplained extra card debits and toll penalties. Three such reports fall in the last 12 months, including two damage claims since June 2026, and several reviewers say staff did no damage check at pickup. Reviewers advise photographing the car thoroughly at both pickup and return.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report pressure to buy the desk's own insurance, doubts about third-party, broker or card cover, or high deposits and extra charges without it.
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Red flag: At least 14 reviews, many from the last six months, report fuel/toll or main deposits released weeks late or not at all, with emails and phone calls going unanswered; the company's own page says refunds can take up to 30 working days.
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Red flag: About 30 kept reviews, concentrated in August to October 2026, report waits of 45 minutes to over 3 hours to collect the car. They mention few desks open, priority tickets and a single shuttle bus; returns are usually quick.
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Red flag: Toll and fuel deposit refunds are frequently reported as delayed by weeks or months, or only partly returned, even when the car came back full and no tolls were used; many say emails and the contact form go unanswered.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (around two dozen) report charges for damage, often small scratches or rim marks, that travellers say were already on the car or are unproven. Several say their photos or videos were ignored and refunds only came after long disputes. Recent Trustpilot and Tripadvisor posts describe the same pattern.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say the desk would not accept debit or 'debit-type' cards, or even some credit cards, for the deposit, and that the problem went away once the customer bought the desk's premium cover (typically about €230-460). This is a repeated pattern from 2025 to late 2026.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say charges were made for scratches, wheel marks, stains or missing parts that they believe were already on the car, often after the desk could not log all damage on its digital check-in. Several say their own photos were not accepted. A recent Trustpilot page and a recent Reddit thread report similar damage claims at this desk.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say extra insurance, protection packages or services were added to the contract despite being declined, often discovered only when the card was charged after the rental; several report refund requests being rejected because a tablet signature was given.
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Red flag: Around 20 kept reviews, many from the last 6 months, report charges for scratches, wheel marks or other damage that travellers say were pre-existing or shown as absent in their own photos or video. Several describe charges taken without detail or photos and unanswered disputes afterwards. A recent Trustpilot page describes a similar pattern.
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Red flag: A 50 EUR out-of-hours fee applies to pick-up or return before 08:00 or after 20:00. About 30 recent reviews mention it, many saying it was unclear when booking or that the desk opens later than expected. The fee is stated in the operator's current terms.
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Red flag: Many reviews (about 24 in the last 12 months, roughly 40 overall) say small marks or chips found at return were charged at about €130-500, often under time pressure before a flight, even when the traveller says the marks were already on the car or documented. Forum threads dated 2025-2026 describe the same pattern.
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Red flag: About 50 recent reviews report that a debit, combined debit/credit, name-mismatch or 'short validity' card was refused for the deposit. Travellers then had to buy the desk's own top cover (typically several hundred euros, non-refundable) or leave without a car, often when they had prepaid through a broker.
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Red flag: A large share of recent reviews say optional insurance, roadside assistance, toll device or location fees were added to the contract signed on a tablet (often Portuguese-only) even though customers say they declined them. Extra charges ranged from about 50 to over 500 EUR and were seen after the rental. Reviewers say customer service refused refunds because the contract was signed.
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Ranking is by Counterwise Score only. Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. Facts marked “Not confirmed yet” have not been verified yet: we never guess them.
Ranked by Counterwise Score. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Desk | Score | Location | Credit card | Deposit | Fuel policy | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Best Deal | 8.8Great | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily; extra charge outside these hours |
| 2.Autorent | 8.0Great | Shuttle, 5 min | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours fee 20:00–08:00 (amount not published) |
| 3.Sicily by Car | 7.8Mixed | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily incl. public holidays; out-of-hours supplement |
| 4.Enterprise | 7.0Mixed | In terminal | Required | €300–€600 | Full to full | 06:00–23:00 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026); after-hours returns only |
| 5.Hertz | 5.7Poor | In terminal | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 06:00–24:00 daily (DiscoverCars: 06:00–23:59) |
| 6.Record Go | 5.7Poor | Shuttle | Not required | from €0 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 7.Drive on Holidays | 5.5Poor | Shuttle, 5 min | Required | €100–€350 | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily; EUR 33 per pickup/return 20:00–08:00 |
| 8.Centauro | 5.4Poor | Shuttle | Required | €100–€2,100 | Same to same | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 9.Goldcar | 5.0Poor | In terminal | Required | up to €1,200 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 10.OK Mobility | 5.0Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | High season 07:00–22:00, low season 08:00–20:00; closes 19:00 on 24 and 31 Dec |
| 11.Avis | 4.9Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | €200 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily; 24h key drop |
| 12.Sixt | 4.8Poor | In terminal | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:59 daily |
| 13.Budget | 4.7Poor | In terminal | Required | €300 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily; reduced hours on some holidays |
| 14.AirAuto | 4.6Poor | Shuttle | Required | up to €1,500 | Same to same | 08:00–20:00; EUR 50 per service 20:00–08:00 |
| 15.Surprice | 4.2Poor | Shuttle, 4 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours on request for a fee |
| 16.Green Motion | 3.7Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–21:00 daily |
| 17.Europcar | 3.0Poor | In terminal | Required | €100–€300 | Full to full | 06:00–23:59 daily |
Best Deal is the best-rated car rental desk at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 8.8/10 (Great). It is followed by Autorent (8.0) and Sicily by Car (7.8). Scores are based on 4,179 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 12 November 2026.
7 of the 17 desks at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport are inside the terminal: Enterprise, Hertz, Goldcar, Avis, Sixt, Budget and Europcar. Surprice, Autorent, Drive on Holidays, Best Deal, Sicily by Car, Record Go, Centauro, OK Mobility, AirAuto and Green Motion are off-site and reached by shuttle.
Yes. 1 of the 17 desks at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport does not require a credit card: Record Go (5.7/10). Best Deal, Enterprise, Hertz, Drive on Holidays, Centauro, Goldcar, OK Mobility, Sixt, Budget, AirAuto, Surprice and Europcar need a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The card rule is not confirmed yet for Autorent, Sicily by Car, Avis and Green Motion. Check the debit card conditions when you book.
Record Go has the lowest starting deposit at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport: from €0. The highest is at Centauro, up to €2,100. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned. Deposit amounts are not confirmed yet for Best Deal, Autorent, Sicily by Car, Hertz, OK Mobility, Sixt, Surprice and Green Motion.
The shuttle ride to the off-site desks at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport takes between 4 and 5 minutes, plus waiting time: Surprice about 4 min, Autorent about 5 min and Drive on Holidays about 5 min. Ride time not confirmed yet for Best Deal, Sicily by Car, Record Go, Centauro, OK Mobility, AirAuto and Green Motion.
Opening hours at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport: Best Deal, 08:00–20:00 daily; extra charge outside these hours; Autorent, 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours fee 20:00–08:00 (amount not published); Sicily by Car, 07:00–23:00 daily incl. public holidays; out-of-hours supplement; Enterprise, 06:00–23:00 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026); after-hours returns only; Hertz, 06:00–24:00 daily (DiscoverCars: 06:00–23:59); Record Go, 07:00–23:00 daily; Drive on Holidays, 08:00–20:00 daily; EUR 33 per pickup/return 20:00–08:00; Centauro, 07:00–23:00 daily; Goldcar, 07:00–23:00 daily; OK Mobility, High season 07:00–22:00, low season 08:00–20:00; closes 19:00 on 24 and 31 Dec; Avis, 07:00–23:00 daily; 24h key drop; Sixt, 07:00–23:59 daily; Budget, 07:00–23:00 daily; reduced hours on some holidays; AirAuto, 08:00–20:00; EUR 50 per service 20:00–08:00; Surprice, 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours on request for a fee; Green Motion, 08:00–21:00 daily; Europcar, 06:00–23:59 daily. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Most desks at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: Best Deal (same to same), Autorent (same to same), Drive on Holidays (same to same), Centauro (same to same), AirAuto (same to same) and Green Motion (same to same).
Europcar has the lowest Counterwise Score at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport: 3.0/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: A large share of recent reviews say optional insurance, roadside assistance, toll device or location fees were added to the contract signed on a tablet (often Portuguese-only) even though customers say they declined them. Extra charges ranged from about 50 to over 500 EUR and were seen after the rental. Reviewers say customer service refused refunds because the contract was signed..
The Counterwise Score (0 to 10) blends two things. 70% is an AI analysis of recent traveller reviews of that specific desk and of web reports, scored on five weighted sub-scores: deposit & damage disputes (30%), counter upselling (20%), booking honoured (20%), queue time (15%) and car condition (15%). 30% is the desk's star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate. Recent reviews count more than old ones, and desks with few reviews are pulled toward the average of their airport or station. Rankings are independent: affiliate commissions never change a score or a position.