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Counterwise

No. 7 of 17 at FAO

Drive on Holidays

at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport

Shuttle 5 min
Counterwise Score 5.5 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Drive on Holidays at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is ranked No. 7 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.5/10 (Poor).
  • The Drive on Holidays desk is off-site: the shuttle from Faro Airport takes about 5 minutes.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €100–€350.
  • Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 daily; EUR 33 per pickup/return 20:00–08:00.
  • Main red flag from travellers: 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..

Based on 295 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 222 recent Google reviews with text, plus 70 star-only ratings, this off-site Faro desk (shared with Movida, reached by a roughly 5-minute shuttle) gets many praising new cars, fast returns and no hard sell. A sizeable minority report long pickup queues (especially Aug-Oct 2026), credit-card-only rules that led to €150-450 in extra cover or no car, surprise €30-33 out-of-hours fees and slow refunds of tolls or holds.

AI-assisted summary of 295 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)

Mixed6.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 34 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor4.5/10

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)

Poor3.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 70 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Great8.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 5.2 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.3 · counts 30%
  • 5 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (other locations, solicited staff praise, duplicates). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (210 after weighting by age).

High consensusOur independent signals (AI review analysis, web reports and star ratings) point the same way.

What travellers flag

Red flags (4)

  • 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.trustpilot.com
  • Around 18 reviews describe pressure or confusing explanations about buying the desk's own excess cover, sometimes with a larger hold as the alternative, even when travellers say they had already bought full cover through a broker.
  • About 9 recent reviews say toll, fuel or deposit refunds promised within days or weeks had not arrived after several weeks, and that emails went unanswered. One reviewer says a delayed refund was eventually paid after a couple of months.
  • About 10 reviews describe a €30-33 charge for early or late drop-off or pickup (roughly before 08:00 or after 20:00-21:00) that they say was unexpected, although several other travellers accepted the fee as stated and found it fair.

Green flags (5)

  • About 40 reviews describe new or very clean cars in good condition, and several mention free upgrades.
  • About 25 reviews say no hard sell for insurance or extras at the counter, and many mention friendly staff. This often applies to travellers who arrived with an accepted credit card.
  • About 16 reviews report the deposit being released the same day or within hours of return, and returns typically take around 5 minutes.
  • The shuttle from the P4 car park to the depot (about 5 minutes) is described as quick and frequent by about 20 reviewers, and forum posters also recommend the desk. Others say the shuttle is hard to find or has limited capacity.discovercars.comreddit.com
  • Disputed damage charges are rare in recent reviews: only one reports a disputed tyre charge, while about five say return inspections were light and fair.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 5 minsource
Opening hours08:00–20:00 daily; EUR 33 per pickup/return 20:00–08:00source
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit€100–€350source
Fuel policySame to samesource
Shares the desk withMovida

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

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Drive on Holidays at other airports and stations

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Drive on Holidays at Faro Airport: questions and answers

Is Drive on Holidays at Faro Airport any good?

Drive on Holidays at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 7 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: About 40 reviews describe new or very clean cars in good condition, and several mention free upgrades.. Main 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..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Drive on Holidays at Faro Airport?

Yes. Drive on Holidays at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Drive on Holidays at Faro Airport?

The typical deposit at Drive on Holidays at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is €100–€350. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Record Go (from €0).

Where is the Drive on Holidays desk at Faro Airport?

The Drive on Holidays desk is off-site: the shuttle from Faro Airport takes about 5 minutes. It shares the counter with Movida.

What are the opening hours of Drive on Holidays at Faro Airport?

Drive on Holidays at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is open 08:00–20:00 daily; EUR 33 per pickup/return 20:00–08:00. Fuel policy: same to same.

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