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Counterwise

No. 19 of 30 at HER

Centauro

at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis"

Shuttle 10 min
Counterwise Score 5.4 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Centauro at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is ranked No. 19 of 30 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.4/10 (Poor).
  • The Centauro desk is off-site: the shuttle from Heraklion Airport takes about 10 minutes.
  • The credit card rule is not confirmed yet; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–23:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many reviews describe staff pushing the desk's own cover, often to renters who already had broker or third-party cover. Reported tactics include warnings that deposits could be held for months and that the booked cover is insufficient. Cover sold at the counter is often reported as costing more than the rental itself..

Based on 287 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 216 text reviews (plus 56 star-only ratings) from 287 kept recent Google reviews after 13 exclusions, this off-airport desk is well liked for new, clean cars and mostly quick fuel-deposit refunds when things run smoothly. Recurring problems are pressure to buy the desk's own cover, long waits of 1 to 3 hours on busy or system-down days, unclear shuttle pickup instructions, and refusals or contested charges, especially for customers with broker cover, debit or foreign cards. Web evidence is mixed and mostly undated, so treat it as supporting rather than decisive.

AI-assisted summary of 287 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 13 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 45 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 33 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 45 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.5/10

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): 4.8 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.5 · counts 30%
  • 13 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other locations). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (203 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 (5)

  • Many reviews describe staff pushing the desk's own cover, often to renters who already had broker or third-party cover. Reported tactics include warnings that deposits could be held for months and that the booked cover is insufficient. Cover sold at the counter is often reported as costing more than the rental itself.reddit.com
  • Long waits to collect the car are reported repeatedly in recent months: about 19 reviews describe 45 minutes to 3 hours, citing system outages, few staff or cars not yet prepared. Waits at return and for the shuttle are also reported.cheapcarrental.com
  • Around 14 reviews report leaving without a car or with a different rental: car not available, booking not found in the system, branch closed after a delayed flight, or card and licence rules applied at the counter. Some say the prepaid amount was not refunded, and recent forum posts also report a closed branch after late arrival.reddit.comreddit.com
  • Several reviews report disputed post-rental charges: fuel deposits not refunded for weeks, €75 cleaning fees (sand or missing mats), €40 out-of-hours or late-shuttle fees, and damage charges that renters say were already on the car. Renters advise photographing the car thoroughly.
  • Roughly 20 reviews say the shuttle pickup point given in booking emails and instructions is wrong or unclear (the shuttle actually waits near the departures area). Some report waiting up to an hour and a €40 charge for missing the shuttle.

Green flags (4)

  • Most reviews that comment on the car describe new, low-mileage, clean vehicles, and free upgrades are mentioned in many reviews when the booked category was unavailable.cheapcarrental.com
  • When there is no system problem, pickup and return are reported as quick (about 5-25 minutes), with a short shuttle ride; a comparison site rates drop-off speed highly.cheapcarrental.com
  • Renters who booked directly with the company's own full cover report no deposit (other than fuel) and little or no sales pressure, in about 10 reviews.
  • Counter staff are described as friendly and helpful in about 25 reviews, including some cases of flexibility for delayed arrivals.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 10 minsource
Opening hours07:00–23:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredNot confirmed yet
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
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 287 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Centauro at other airports and stations

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

Centauro at Heraklion Airport: questions and answers

Is Centauro at Heraklion Airport any good?

Centauro at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" has a Counterwise Score of 5.4/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 19 of 30 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Most reviews that comment on the car describe new, low-mileage, clean vehicles, and free upgrades are mentioned in many reviews when the booked category was unavailable.. Main red flag: Many reviews describe staff pushing the desk's own cover, often to renters who already had broker or third-party cover. Reported tactics include warnings that deposits could be held for months and that the booked cover is insufficient. Cover sold at the counter is often reported as costing more than the rental itself..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Centauro at Heraklion Airport?

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Centauro at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at Centauro at Heraklion Airport?

The deposit amount at Centauro at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Rental Center Crete (€0).

Where is the Centauro desk at Heraklion Airport?

The Centauro desk is off-site: the shuttle from Heraklion Airport takes about 10 minutes.

What are the opening hours of Centauro at Heraklion Airport?

Centauro at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is open 07:00–23:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

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