No. 17 of 17 at FAO

Europcar

Name: Europcar at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Europcar (Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport)
Rating: 3
Author: Counterwise

at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport

In terminal

High consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Europcar at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is ranked No. 17 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor).
The Europcar desk is inside the terminal at Faro Airport.
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €100–€300.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 06:00–23:59 daily.
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..

Based on 286 reviews analysed · Last updated 12 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on 287 recent Google reviews (Aug-Nov 2026) after removing 13, about 190 of which contain substantive text, this desk is polarised. Many travellers praise friendly staff, clean newer cars and quick handovers. A large share of the written reviews, however, report unwanted insurance, assistance or fee add-ons in the signed contract, charges for small damage, and waits of an hour or more at peak times. Web sources are mostly old or undated and point the same way; read the contract line by line before signing.

AI-assisted summary of 286 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 100 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 50 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 40 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.1 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 2.3 · counts 30%
14 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations…). How we clean reviews
Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (203 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 (5)

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.trustpilot.com
About a dozen recent reviews report charges of roughly 115-400 EUR for small marks (wheel rims, rubber trim, mirror, tyre) that customers say were already present or not recorded at pickup. Several advise photographing every wheel and detail.
Roughly 15 recent reviews report waits of 60-120 minutes at pickup, or 30-45 minutes at return, mostly during busy periods and with few staff on duty.
Several travellers without a physical credit card (debit card only) say they were refused a car or had to buy the desk's own cover for about 190-600 EUR, even when their booking already included insurance.
Several reviewers report deposits or deposit portions not returned weeks after the rental, with slow or no replies from customer service.

Green flags (4)

Many reviewers report quick pickups and returns, some within 10-20 minutes, with smooth handovers even at busy times.
Many reviewers describe the staff as friendly and helpful, and a handful say extras were easily declined or removed from the contract when they checked it.
A number of recent reviewers received new or very clean cars, sometimes a free larger model or a fully charged EV.
Some travellers report an on-the-spot return inspection, a final invoice without surprises, and the deposit returned without problems.

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	06:00–23:59 dailysource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	€100–€300source
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Keddy by Europcar

“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 286 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.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with at least €300 available for the deposit.
Check the closing time (06:00–23:59 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Europcar at other airports and stations

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

Europcar at Faro Airport: questions and answers

Is Europcar at Faro Airport any good?

Europcar at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 17 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many reviewers report quick pickups and returns, some within 10-20 minutes, with smooth handovers even at busy times.. Main 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..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Europcar at Faro Airport?

Yes. Europcar 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 Europcar at Faro Airport?

The typical deposit at Europcar at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is €100–€300. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Record Go (from €0).

Where is the Europcar desk at Faro Airport?

The Europcar desk is inside the terminal at Faro Airport. It shares the counter with Keddy by Europcar.

What are the opening hours of Europcar at Faro Airport?

Europcar at Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport is open 06:00–23:59 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Faro Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 17 desks side by side