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Counterwise

No. 18 of 21 at FNC

Funchal Drive

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

Shuttle
Counterwise Score 3.5 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 18 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.5/10 (Poor).
  • The Funchal Drive desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is from €0.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews say a credit card (often from an online bank, sometimes a card that was accepted for the booking payment) was refused for the deposit, and the traveller was then offered the desk's own insurance for about €150-€550 or lost the prepaid booking. Several say this was not clear when booking..

Based on 297 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 215 relevant recent Google reviews (after excluding 3) plus mostly consumer-site web sources, opinions of this off-site desk are sharply split: many travellers report a smooth, cheap rental, but a large minority report problems. The recurring complaints are credit cards refused for the deposit followed by costly insurance offers, shuttle and desk waits of an hour or more, extra fees, and disputed damage or clutch charges. Web sources point the same way but are partly undated and not independent of the Google reviews.

AI-assisted summary of 297 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)

Poor3.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 33 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 46 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 70 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 52 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 80 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 2.9 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 4.6 · counts 30%
  • 3 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (other locations, solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (212 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 a credit card (often from an online bank, sometimes a card that was accepted for the booking payment) was refused for the deposit, and the traveller was then offered the desk's own insurance for about €150-€550 or lost the prepaid booking. Several say this was not clear when booking.discovercars.comtripadvisor.com
  • Waits of 45 minutes to over 2 hours for the airport shuttle are reported repeatedly. Several reviewers say phone and WhatsApp calls went unanswered, followed by a further long wait at the off-site desk.trustpilot.comwanderlog.com
  • Reviewers report extra charges they say were not clear at booking, especially via brokers: about €12.50 cleaning, a 'tourist' fee, €35 for arrivals after 8 pm or returns before opening, and €40 to reactivate a booking after a late arrival.trustpilot.comtrustpilot.com
  • Reviewers say they were charged for damage they dispute (small scratches, chips, interior marks, clutch repairs of roughly €1,200-€1,400), mostly those without the desk's own full cover. The operator's FAQ says deductible renters pay for any damage regardless of fault.funchaldrive.comtripadvisor.com
  • Recurring reports of cars handed over with warning lights, worn brakes or tyres or low power, and of breakdowns with slow or no phone response; reviewers say staff sometimes played the problem down before the car was swapped.

Green flags (5)

  • A large share of recent text reviews, roughly 80, describe a smooth, quick rental with friendly staff and a clean, suitable car at a low price.
  • Travellers who took the desk's own full-cover option report no deposit hold and, in some cases, debit cards accepted, with no further charges even after minor scrapes.
  • The return shuttle to the airport and the car return are often described as fast and trouble-free, and some reviewers got an easy pick-up with only a short wait.
  • When a fault was reported, several reviewers say the car was exchanged quickly, sometimes the same or next day and occasionally with an upgrade.
  • Several reviewers received the booked category or a higher one at no extra cost.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours08:00–20:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositfrom €0source
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 297 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Funchal Drive at other airports and stations

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

Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport any good?

Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 3.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 18 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: A large share of recent text reviews, roughly 80, describe a smooth, quick rental with friendly staff and a clean, suitable car at a low price.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews say a credit card (often from an online bank, sometimes a card that was accepted for the booking payment) was refused for the deposit, and the traveller was then offered the desk's own insurance for about €150-€550 or lost the prepaid booking. Several say this was not clear when booking..

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

Yes. Funchal Drive 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 Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport?

The typical deposit at Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is from €0. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the Funchal Drive desk at Madeira Airport?

The Funchal Drive desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).

What are the opening hours of Funchal Drive at Madeira Airport?

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

Other desks at Madeira Airport

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