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Counterwise

No. 19 of 21 at FNC

Surprice

at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport)

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

At a glance

  • Surprice at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is ranked No. 19 of 21 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.2/10 (Poor).
  • The Surprice desk is off-site, reached by shuttle from Madeira Airport (ride time not confirmed yet).
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Dozens of recent reviews say the credit-card rules applied at the counter (physical card, no debit, card in the main driver's name, no relief or virtual cards) ended with the traveller buying the desk's own cover, often costing 2-3x the rental price, with the car otherwise refused. Several say this was not clear when booking through a broker. The desk's own terms require a credit card..

Based on 249 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 195 informative Google reviews of this off-site shuttle desk after excluding 51 (mostly staff-praise posts), feedback is strongly mixed and skews negative on the topics that matter most. Recent reports repeatedly describe credit-card rules that lead to buying the desk's own cover, delayed or missing shuttles, bookings cancelled as no-shows after flight delays, and ageing cars with brake or clutch problems. Positive reviews exist: smooth rentals, quick deposit releases and newer cars, mostly from travellers with a proper credit card. Web evidence is mostly undated or old, so treat it as supporting only.

AI-assisted summary of 249 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)

Poor4.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 80 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 85 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.3 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 2.2 · counts 30%
  • 51 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 9% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (155 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Dozens of recent reviews say the credit-card rules applied at the counter (physical card, no debit, card in the main driver's name, no relief or virtual cards) ended with the traveller buying the desk's own cover, often costing 2-3x the rental price, with the car otherwise refused. Several say this was not clear when booking through a broker. The desk's own terms require a credit card.surpricecarhire.comeasyterra.comrental24.co.uk
  • About two dozen reviews describe prepaid bookings cancelled as a no-show after a flight delay, a shuttle that never came, or an office closed in the evening. Travellers say phones went unanswered, no refund was given and a new rental was offered at a much higher price.
  • Many reviews report shuttle waits of 30-60+ minutes at pickup or return (some nearly missed flights), with phone lines not answered. Other reviewers and rental-comparison pages also describe waits of 20-45 minutes.discovercars.comautoeurope.co.uk
  • Repeated reports of worn brakes, warning lights, weak engines on Madeira's slopes and clutch or gearbox failures. Several travellers say they were charged roughly €700-€1,500 for mechanical faults and that help lines were hard to reach. A recent consumer-site review set mentions metal-on-metal brakes.trustpilot.comautoeurope.co.uk
  • Several recent reviews report disputed return charges: pre-existing scratches or rim damage recorded at check-in, a fuel-level dispute despite instructions, and a roughly €40 extra for early or out-of-hours return or pickup. Some travellers say photos or video of the car saved them.

Green flags (4)

  • About a dozen reviews report deposits released quickly after return, from the same day to about 4 days, in several cases with no extra charges.
  • Several travellers with a proper credit card and either full desk cover or a clear understanding of the terms report smooth pickups and returns, with the shuttle arriving in about 5-20 minutes.
  • When a car broke down, had noisy brakes or was unsuitable for the hills, some travellers say it was swapped quickly and without argument.
  • A good share of positive reviews describe newer, clean cars and fair prices, and some say the desk did not push extra insurance on them.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, by shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours08:00–20:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withDrive4Move, International 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 249 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Surprice at other airports and stations

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

Surprice at Madeira Airport: questions and answers

Is Surprice at Madeira Airport any good?

Surprice at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) has a Counterwise Score of 3.2/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 19 of 21 desks at the airport. Main green flag: About a dozen reviews report deposits released quickly after return, from the same day to about 4 days, in several cases with no extra charges.. Main red flag: Dozens of recent reviews say the credit-card rules applied at the counter (physical card, no debit, card in the main driver's name, no relief or virtual cards) ended with the traveller buying the desk's own cover, often costing 2-3x the rental price, with the car otherwise refused. Several say this was not clear when booking through a broker. The desk's own terms require a credit card..

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

Yes. Surprice 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 Surprice at Madeira Airport?

The deposit amount at Surprice 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 Surprice desk at Madeira Airport?

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

What are the opening hours of Surprice at Madeira Airport?

Surprice at Madeira Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) is open 08:00–20:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Madeira Airport

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