No. 4 of 21 at FNC

Madeira Rent

Name: Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport): Counterwise rating
Item: Madeira Rent (Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport))
Rating: 6.3
Author: Counterwise

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

In terminal

High consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 4 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 6.3/10 (Mixed).
The Madeira Rent desk is inside the terminal at Madeira Airport.
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is from €300.
Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 07:00–24:00 daily.
Main red flag from travellers: About two dozen kept reviews describe pressure at the counter to buy a more expensive car or the desk's own insurance, frequently with the claim that the booked car cannot handle Madeira's hills; several travellers who declined say the car coped fine..

Based on 294 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 290 recent Google reviews after exclusions (roughly 180 with text, most of them positive), this airport desk is generally praised for quick handling, friendly staff and new, clean cars. However, many recent reviews report pressure to upgrade or buy the desk's own cover, and since August a cluster of travellers with debit cards describe unexpected extra costs or cash deposits that were not clear at booking. Web evidence is mostly undated and similarly mixed.

AI-assisted summary of 294 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)

Mixed7.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 17 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor3.5/10

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

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 28 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed7.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 22 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Great8.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 42 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 6.1 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 7.5 · counts 30%
6 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations). How we clean reviews
Pulled 13% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (103 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 (4)

About two dozen kept reviews describe pressure at the counter to buy a more expensive car or the desk's own insurance, frequently with the claim that the booked car cannot handle Madeira's hills; several travellers who declined say the car coped fine.discovercars.com discovercars.com
Many recent reviews (mostly since August) say debit cards are refused for the roughly €1,600-€2,100 deposit. Travellers then paid €130-€250 or more for the desk's cover plus a cash deposit, or abandoned the rental, saying this was not clear when booking.discovercars.com
Several recent reviews say the car handed over was a smaller or lower-class model than booked, sometimes after an upgrade pitch, with no compensation.
A few reviews report slow collection when few staff were on the desk, and a crowded, chaotic return car park at busy times or after flight delays.

Green flags (4)

Many reviews describe quick, easy pick-up and return at the airport, with processing sometimes taking only a few minutes.
Cars are most often described as new, clean and in good condition, with low mileage mentioned in several reports.discovercars.com
Several travellers report deposits released quickly (sometimes within an hour or a few days), no hidden post-rental charges, and zero-excess cover that worked as promised after an incident.discovercars.com
Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful and clear in explaining the procedures.

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	07:00–24:00 dailysource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	from €300source
Fuel policy	Same to samesource
Shares the desk with	WheeGo

“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 294 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 enough available credit for the deposit (amount not confirmed yet).
Check the closing time (07:00–24:00 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.
Same-to-same fuel: photograph the gauge at pickup and at return.

Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport any good?

Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 6.3/10 (Mixed) and is ranked No. 4 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many reviews describe quick, easy pick-up and return at the airport, with processing sometimes taking only a few minutes.. Main red flag: About two dozen kept reviews describe pressure at the counter to buy a more expensive car or the desk's own insurance, frequently with the claim that the booked car cannot handle Madeira's hills; several travellers who declined say the car coped fine..

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

Yes. Madeira Rent 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 Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport?

The typical deposit at Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is from €300. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the Madeira Rent desk at Madeira Airport?

The Madeira Rent desk is inside the terminal at Madeira Airport. It shares the counter with WheeGo.

What are the opening hours of Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport?

Madeira Rent at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is open 07:00–24:00 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

Other desks at Madeira Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 21 desks side by side