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Counterwise

No. 13 of 21 at FNC

Sixt

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

In terminal
Counterwise Score 4.5 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Sixt at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 13 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 4.5/10 (Poor).
  • The Sixt desk is inside the terminal at Madeira Airport.
  • The credit card rule is not confirmed yet; the typical deposit is up to €1,300.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–23:59 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: About 17 reviews, most from the last four months, say the desk refused a credit card (often from an online-only bank, or one without printed digits) or a debit card at pick-up. Travellers then lost the booking or paid for extra cover or an extra-driver fee, and some say these rules were not shown at booking..

Based on 280 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 280 Google reviews after removing 19 unreliable ones (roughly 170 with written text), this in-terminal Sixt desk gets plenty of praise for friendly, fast service and clean, often newer cars. There is also a clear and recent pattern of complaints about card refusals at the counter, pressure to upgrade or buy cover, and charges disputed after return, along with some serious breakdown reports. Web evidence is mixed and mostly from 2026 Reddit and Trustpilot posts, so travellers should check card rules before booking and photograph the car at pick-up and return.

AI-assisted summary of 280 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 32 reports · high 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 37 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 45 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 28 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.8 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.0 · counts 30%
  • 20 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other locations). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 8% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (181 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • About 17 reviews, most from the last four months, say the desk refused a credit card (often from an online-only bank, or one without printed digits) or a debit card at pick-up. Travellers then lost the booking or paid for extra cover or an extra-driver fee, and some say these rules were not shown at booking.
  • Many recent reviews report charges disputed after the rental ended: damage claims travellers say were already on the car, double or unexplained charges, and fuel or admin fees. Several describe slow or no replies from customer service. A dated Reddit thread from March 2026 describes a similar damage charge.reddit.com
  • Repeated reports of pressure to upgrade to a bigger or automatic car, or to buy own-brand cover or prepaid fuel, sometimes with claims about price that travellers later disputed. A 2026 Trustpilot review describes a similar prepaid-fuel pitch.uk.trustpilot.com
  • About 11 reviews, mostly from the last three months, report mechanical or safety faults (brakes, engine, oil level, dashboard failures). Travellers had to return for replacements, sometimes with long waits for assistance or extra charges on the replacement contract.
  • Several summer 2026 reviews report waits from about 40 minutes to nearly 3 hours at the desk, with only one or two agents on duty and a ticket system that sometimes failed.

Green flags (5)

  • A large share of text reviews (about 40) describe friendly, quick and straightforward pick-up and return, with no queue on many days.
  • Several reviewers report the card hold released within hours to two days of return, and a return report e-mailed soon after drop-off.
  • About 15 reviews describe clean, recent or nearly new cars, often an upgrade to an automatic that suited the island's steep roads.
  • Around 9 reviewers say insurance and extras were explained without pressure and declining them was accepted straight away.
  • The desk is inside the arrivals area and cars are in a car park next to the terminal, so no shuttle is needed; reviewers mention short walking distances.madeiraairport.pt

Practical facts

LocationDesk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours08:00–23:59 dailysource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical depositup to €1,300source
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 280 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Sixt at other airports and stations

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

Sixt at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Sixt at Madeira Airport any good?

Sixt at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 4.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 13 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: A large share of text reviews (about 40) describe friendly, quick and straightforward pick-up and return, with no queue on many days.. Main red flag: About 17 reviews, most from the last four months, say the desk refused a credit card (often from an online-only bank, or one without printed digits) or a debit card at pick-up. Travellers then lost the booking or paid for extra cover or an extra-driver fee, and some say these rules were not shown at booking..

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

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Sixt 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 Sixt at Madeira Airport?

The typical deposit at Sixt at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is up to €1,300. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at RentX (from €0).

Where is the Sixt desk at Madeira Airport?

The Sixt desk is inside the terminal at Madeira Airport.

What are the opening hours of Sixt at Madeira Airport?

Sixt at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is open 08:00–23:59 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Madeira Airport

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