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Counterwise

No. 15 of 21 at FNC

Drive on Holidays

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

Shuttle 3 min
Counterwise Score 4.1 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 15 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 4.1/10 (Poor).
  • The Drive on Holidays desk is off-site: the shuttle from Madeira Airport takes about 3 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.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews say the desk would not take debit, virtual or non-main-driver cards for the deposit and then offered its own cover as the only option. The surcharge was often close to or above the rental price, even when cover had been bought through a broker..

Based on 298 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 250 usable recent Google reviews (2 excluded, 36 star-only ratings not analysed), this desk is sharply polarised. Web evidence is mixed and mostly undated, so confidence is moderate.

AI-assisted summary of 298 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 14 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)

Poor5.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 70 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.0 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 4.1 · counts 30%
  • 2 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, broker-only disputes). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (199 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)

  • Many recent reviews say the desk would not take debit, virtual or non-main-driver cards for the deposit and then offered its own cover as the only option. The surcharge was often close to or above the rental price, even when cover had been bought through a broker.trustpilot.com
  • Long waits are reported repeatedly: a single shuttle van at the airport, no clear meeting point, and counter queues. Total times from landing to keys of 45 minutes to over 2 hours are mentioned, and night arrivals sometimes had no shuttle.
  • A sizeable share of reviews report mechanical faults on the rental car (worn brakes, weak or failing clutch, flat or worn tyres, warning lights), often costing half a day to swap the car.
  • Several recent reviews describe post-rental charges they dispute: fuel fees on cars that broke down, and clutch or damage charges they say stemmed from pre-existing faults.
  • Some travellers say their booked car was unavailable, given to someone else after a flight delay, or replaced by a smaller model, and a number left without a car. Fees for late or early out-of-hours service (about 33 EUR) were also called unclear.

Green flags (3)

  • Deposit holds are most often reported as released within 24 hours to a few days after return, and return checks are described as quick.
  • When a car had a fault, many travellers say it was swapped quickly without extra cost, sometimes with towing or a taxi arranged. Staff are often described as friendly and patient.
  • Free airport shuttle and fast returns are praised by many reviewers, and a recent forum post from August 2026 also reports a good experience.reddit.com

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 3 minsource
Opening hours08:00–20:00 dailysource
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 298 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 Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport any good?

Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 4.1/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 15 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Deposit holds are most often reported as released within 24 hours to a few days after return, and return checks are described as quick.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews say the desk would not take debit, virtual or non-main-driver cards for the deposit and then offered its own cover as the only option. The surcharge was often close to or above the rental price, even when cover had been bought through a broker..

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

Yes. Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo 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 Madeira Airport?

The typical deposit at Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is €100–€350. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the Drive on Holidays desk at Madeira Airport?

The Drive on Holidays desk is off-site: the shuttle from Madeira Airport takes about 3 minutes. It shares the counter with Movida.

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

Drive on Holidays at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is open 08:00–20:00 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

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