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Counterwise

No. 8 of 21 at FNC

International Car

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

Shuttle
Counterwise Score 5.3 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • International Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 8 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor).
  • The International Car desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).
  • The credit card rule is not confirmed yet; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews report problems at pickup with payment card rules: debit or deferred-debit cards, or a card not in the main driver's name, were refused or only accepted after paying roughly 100-200 EUR extra or taking extra cover, in some cases leaving the traveller without the car they had prepaid..

Based on 257 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 156 Google reviews with text (plus about 100 star-only ratings) after excluding 11 staff-praise reviews, this off-site shuttle desk is mixed: most reviewers are happy with staff, price and cars. A sizeable minority report shuttle waits, refusals or surcharges tied to card rules, tyre or fuel problems, and disputed damage charges. Web search returned nothing specific to this desk, so the picture rests on reviews alone.

AI-assisted summary of 257 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)

Poor5.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 22 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 14 reports · medium 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 35 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 35 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 35 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.7 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.7 · counts 30%
  • 11 of 268 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 17% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (76 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Many recent reviews report problems at pickup with payment card rules: debit or deferred-debit cards, or a card not in the main driver's name, were refused or only accepted after paying roughly 100-200 EUR extra or taking extra cover, in some cases leaving the traveller without the car they had prepaid.
  • Repeated reports of long or failed airport shuttle pickups (40 minutes to over an hour, sometimes no shuttle at all or no room for the whole group), with phone lines described as hard to reach.
  • Several recent reviews report cars with worn tyres, dents, a tank less than full, an underpowered or unsuitable vehicle, or mechanical faults such as clutch failure.
  • A few recent reviewers dispute damage or repair charges made at return, including scratches they say were already on the car and clutch repair charges of around 1,400 EUR.
  • Some recent reviewers say they were offered paid extras at the counter, such as extra insurance or a more powerful car, which they felt raised the bill beyond the booked price.

Green flags (5)

  • Many recent reviews describe friendly, helpful staff and quick, simple handover and return.
  • When a car had a fault or did not fit, several reviewers say it was swapped promptly or the problem was handled helpfully, including rental extensions.
  • Several reviewers describe the airport transfer as quick and reliable in both directions, including late-night arrivals and delayed flights.
  • Prices are described as low and matching the booked amount by customers who arrived with a suitable credit card.
  • Some recent reviewers say car damage was documented jointly at pickup and no insurance was pushed on them.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours08:00–20:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withSurprice, Drive4Move

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

Before you go

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International Car at other airports and stations

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

International Car at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is International Car at Madeira Airport any good?

International Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 8 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many recent reviews describe friendly, helpful staff and quick, simple handover and return.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews report problems at pickup with payment card rules: debit or deferred-debit cards, or a card not in the main driver's name, were refused or only accepted after paying roughly 100-200 EUR extra or taking extra cover, in some cases leaving the traveller without the car they had prepaid..

Do I need a credit card to rent from International Car at Madeira Airport?

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether International Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at International Car at Madeira Airport?

The deposit amount at International Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the International Car desk at Madeira Airport?

The International Car desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet). It shares the counter with Surprice and Drive4Move.

What are the opening hours of International Car at Madeira Airport?

International Car 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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