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Counterwise

No. 20 of 30 at HER

Europcar

at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis"

Shuttle 2 min
Counterwise Score 5.3 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Europcar at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is ranked No. 20 of 30 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor).
  • The Europcar desk is off-site: the shuttle from Heraklion Airport takes about 2 minutes.
  • 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: 06:00–23:30 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews say a debit card (including Visa/Mastercard debit) was refused for the deposit, and that the desk then required much more expensive cover (roughly EUR 65-300 extra) or refused the rental, even where full cover was already booked or prepaid via a broker..

Based on 281 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 280 recent Google reviews of this off-airport desk (18 excluded as staff-praise, duplicate or empty), most travellers report friendly staff and quick handover and return, with mixed car condition. Recurring problems are an unsigned, hard-to-find shuttle stop, debit-card deposits tied to costly extra cover, and disputed small damage charges or slow deposit refunds. Web evidence is mostly undated or from aggregator guides and is mixed, so it adds little certainty.

AI-assisted summary of 281 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 32 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 36 reports · high 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 36 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 55 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed6.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.9 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.0 · counts 30%
  • 19 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other reasons). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (196 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 recent reviews say a debit card (including Visa/Mastercard debit) was refused for the deposit, and that the desk then required much more expensive cover (roughly EUR 65-300 extra) or refused the rental, even where full cover was already booked or prepaid via a broker.
  • The shuttle pick-up point is repeatedly described as unsigned and hard to find, with waits of 30 minutes to 1.5 hours or travellers giving up and walking about 1 km with luggage; the desk is off-airport.qeeq.comtrustpilot.com
  • Several recent reviews report charges of roughly EUR 30-260 for small scratches or marks that customers say were already there or negligible, plus deposits or refunds taking several weeks or not arriving, and extra fuel or admin fees.trustpilot.com
  • Fees of EUR 25-60 for pick-ups after about 23:00-23:30 or around midnight were reported by several travellers, some of whom were delayed by the hard-to-find shuttle and say the fee was not made clear at booking.
  • A noticeable share of reviews report cars with dirty interiors, worn wipers, empty washer fluid, tyre-pressure or air-conditioning faults, or an oil warning light, so fleet condition is uneven.

Green flags (5)

  • Large share of recent reviews describe friendly staff and a quick, smooth handover and return, often in a few minutes, with digital paperwork sent by email.
  • About a dozen reviewers say no insurance upselling happened and that a polite refusal of extras was accepted.
  • Photo-based damage reports are emailed at pickup and return in several reviews, and some report the deposit released within a few days to a week.
  • The free shuttle back to the airport is described as ready on return, and the station handles very early or late returns; sources list 07:00-23:00 opening hours.greeceautorental.com
  • Staff swapped faulty cars within about 10-15 minutes and handled a damaged car quickly in several reviews.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 2 minsource
Opening hours06:00–23:30 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withKeddy

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

Before you go

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Europcar at other airports and stations

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Europcar at Heraklion Airport: questions and answers

Is Europcar at Heraklion Airport any good?

Europcar at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" has a Counterwise Score of 5.3/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 20 of 30 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Large share of recent reviews describe friendly staff and a quick, smooth handover and return, often in a few minutes, with digital paperwork sent by email.. Main red flag: Many recent reviews say a debit card (including Visa/Mastercard debit) was refused for the deposit, and that the desk then required much more expensive cover (roughly EUR 65-300 extra) or refused the rental, even where full cover was already booked or prepaid via a broker..

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

Yes. Europcar at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Europcar at Heraklion Airport?

The deposit amount at Europcar 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 Europcar desk at Heraklion Airport?

The Europcar desk is off-site: the shuttle from Heraklion Airport takes about 2 minutes. It shares the counter with Keddy.

What are the opening hours of Europcar at Heraklion Airport?

Europcar at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is open 06:00–23:30 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

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