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Counterwise

No. 20 of 21 at FNC

Magic Islands Rent a Car

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

Shuttle
Counterwise Score 3.2 out of 10, rated Poor.Low consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 20 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.2/10 (Poor).
  • The Magic Islands Rent a 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 typical deposit is €1,500.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:30–20:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: The €1,500 security deposit is reported as actually debited from the card rather than held, and refunds frequently run far beyond the promised 14 business days, from several weeks to 3-6 months, even when the return inspection was signed off as damage-free..

Based on 300 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 280 useful recent Google reviews, the dominant complaint is the €1,500 deposit: it is reportedly debited rather than held and often refunded weeks or months late, frequently only after chargebacks or complaints. Cars, upgrades and the shuttle are mostly praised, and customers who chose the no-deposit option generally report no problems, but cleaning fees, strict damage checks and no-show cancellations after flight delays also appear. Web sources (a Trustpilot page, a local news blog and Reddit threads) point the same way.

AI-assisted summary of 300 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)

Poor1.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 200 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Mixed6.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 5 reports · low confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 35 reports · medium confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed6.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 30 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 50 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.4 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 0.0 · counts 30%
  • Pulled 6% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (229 after weighting by age).

Low consensusOur independent signals disagree: read the red and green flags before relying on the score.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • The €1,500 security deposit is reported as actually debited from the card rather than held, and refunds frequently run far beyond the promised 14 business days, from several weeks to 3-6 months, even when the return inspection was signed off as damage-free.trustpilot.commadeiraislandnews.comie.trustpilot.comreddit.com
  • Customers describe unanswered emails, vague promises that the finance department is handling it, and refunds arriving only after a card chargeback, a Livro de Reclamações complaint, a European Consumer Centre case or legal threats.trustpilot.commadeiraislandnews.com
  • About 20 recent reviews report a €25 cleaning fee for minor dirt such as sand on mats, often saying it was not clearly explained at pick-up; a few report higher cleaning or refuelling charges.
  • Several reviews describe a very strict damage inspection at return, with disputed charges for small scratches or marks of roughly €200-€600, and say pre-existing damage was not fully recorded at pick-up; many advise filming the whole car.
  • Around eight reviews from the last few months report bookings cancelled as a no-show after a flight delay or late shuttle (10 minutes to 1 hour), leaving travellers without a car or facing a much higher walk-in price.

Green flags (4)

  • Travellers who booked the no-deposit or low-deposit full-cover option (often via a comparison site) usually report a smooth rental with no deposit disputes.
  • Many reviewers received a newer or upgraded car, often an automatic, which is useful on Madeira's steep roads, and describe the cars as good and clean.
  • The free airport shuttle is often described as quick (about 2-15 minutes) and the handover and return as fast, with friendly counter and shuttle staff.
  • A minority of deposit-paying customers report the deposit back within 1-15 days, so refunds are not universally delayed.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours07:30–20:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical deposit€1,500source
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withUnited Rent a Car

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

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Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport any good?

Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 3.2/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 20 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Travellers who booked the no-deposit or low-deposit full-cover option (often via a comparison site) usually report a smooth rental with no deposit disputes.. Main red flag: The €1,500 security deposit is reported as actually debited from the card rather than held, and refunds frequently run far beyond the promised 14 business days, from several weeks to 3-6 months, even when the return inspection was signed off as damage-free..

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

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Magic Islands Rent a 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 Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport?

The typical deposit at Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is €1,500. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the Magic Islands Rent a Car desk at Madeira Airport?

The Magic Islands Rent a Car desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet). It shares the counter with United Rent a Car.

What are the opening hours of Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport?

Magic Islands Rent a Car at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is open 07:30–20:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Madeira Airport

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