FNC · In-terminal vs shuttle
In-terminal vs shuttle car hire at Madeira Airport
At Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport), 8 of the 21 car rental desks we rate are inside the terminal and 13 are off-site, reached by shuttle bus.
The desks inside the terminal average 4.8/10 and the shuttle desks 5.1/10, so the difference is small: choose by desk, not by location. The best-rated desk inside the terminal is Madeira Rent, at 6.3/10 (Mixed); the best-rated shuttle desk is RentX, at 8.4/10 (Great).
Known shuttle rides take 3 to 5 minutes, plus the wait for the bus. Ride time is not confirmed yet for Cassiano's Rent a Car, International Car, Centauro, OK Mobility, Drive4Move, Way2Madeira, Funchal Drive, Surprice and Magic Islands Rent a Car. Recent traveller red flags mention the shuttle at Driving Madeira, Cassiano's Rent a Car, International Car, Drive on Holidays, Drive4Move, Way2Madeira, Funchal Drive, Surprice and Magic Islands Rent a Car: allow extra time, especially for the return.
Last updated · reviewed by our editor on · How scores work · All 21 desks at Madeira Airport
In the terminal vs shuttle at Madeira Airport: side by side
| Measure | In the terminal | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Desks rated | 8 | 13 |
| Average score | 4.8Poor | 5.1Poor |
| Best-rated | Madeira Rent (6.3) | RentX (8.4) |
| Median starting deposit | €300 (5 of 8 known) | €100 (5 of 13 known) |
| No credit card needed | 0 of 8 | 0 of 13 |
| Getting there | Desk in the terminal | Shuttle ride 3 to 5 minutes |
Desks inside the terminal
Ranked by Counterwise Score.
| Desk | Score | Location | Deposit | Credit card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Madeira Rent | 6.3Mixed | In terminal | from €300 | Required |
| 2.Hertz | 5.9Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 3.Europcar | 5.5Poor | In terminal | €100–€300 | Required |
| 4.Guerin | 5.1Poor | In terminal | €300–€600 | Required |
| 5.Avis | 4.5Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 6.Sixt | 4.5Poor | In terminal | up to €1,300 | Not confirmed yet |
| 7.Budget | 4.1Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 8.Goldcar | 2.2Poor | In terminal | €0–€1,400 | Required |
Shuttle desks (off-site)
Ranked by Counterwise Score. Ride times exclude the wait for the bus.
| Desk | Score | Shuttle ride | Deposit | Credit card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.RentX | 8.4Great | Shuttle 5 min | from €0 | Not confirmed yet |
| 2.Atlantic Rent a Car | 8.2Great | Shuttle 3 min | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 3.Driving Madeira | 7.5Mixed | Shuttle 3 min | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 4.Cassiano's Rent a Car | 5.7Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 5.International Car | 5.3Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 6.Centauro | 5.2Poor | Shuttle | €100–€2,100 | Required |
| 7.OK Mobility | 4.7Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 8.Drive on Holidays | 4.1Poor | Shuttle 3 min | €100–€350 | Required |
| 9.Drive4Move | 3.9Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 10.Way2Madeira | 3.6Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 11.Funchal Drive | 3.5Poor | Shuttle | from €0 | Required |
| 12.Surprice | 3.2Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 13.Magic Islands Rent a Car | 3.2Poor | Shuttle | €1,500 | Not confirmed yet |
In-terminal vs shuttle at Madeira Airport: questions and answers
Are in-terminal or shuttle car hire desks better at Madeira Airport?
At Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport), the 8 desks inside the terminal average 4.8/10 and the 13 shuttle desks 5.1/10, so the difference is small: choose by desk, not by location. Scores vary a lot within each group, so compare the desks themselves.
Which car hire desks are in the terminal at Madeira Airport?
8 desks are inside the terminal: Madeira Rent (6.3/10), Hertz (5.9/10), Europcar (5.5/10), Guerin (5.1/10), Avis (4.5/10), Sixt (4.5/10), Budget (4.1/10) and Goldcar (2.2/10).
How long is the shuttle to the off-site car hire desks at Madeira Airport?
The shuttle ride takes 3 to 5 minutes, plus the wait for the bus: RentX about 5 min, Atlantic Rent a Car about 3 min, Driving Madeira about 3 min and Drive on Holidays about 3 min. Ride time not confirmed yet for Cassiano's Rent a Car, International Car, Centauro, OK Mobility, Drive4Move, Way2Madeira, Funchal Drive, Surprice and Magic Islands Rent a Car.
What is the best-rated shuttle car hire desk at Madeira Airport?
RentX is the best-rated off-site desk at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport), with a Counterwise Score of 8.4/10 (Great). It is followed by Atlantic Rent a Car (8.2/10) and Driving Madeira (7.5/10).
What is the best-rated car hire desk in the terminal at Madeira Airport?
Madeira Rent is the best-rated desk inside the terminal at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport), with a Counterwise Score of 6.3/10 (Mixed). It is followed by Hertz (5.9/10) and Europcar (5.5/10).
More about car hire at Madeira Airport
Ranking is by Counterwise Score only (or by deposit where stated). Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. Facts marked “Not confirmed yet” have not been verified: we never guess them.