LPA · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Every car hire desk ranked by Counterwise Score
Gran Canaria Airport, at Gando on the island's east coast about 18 km south of Las Palmas, handled 15.83 million passengers in 2025. The main brands, including the local firms Cicar and TopCar, have counters in both the national and international arrivals halls, with their cars in the airport's rental car parks next to the terminal. Off-airport firms collect customers by shuttle, most from a meeting point by the SPAR shop in international arrivals.
Based on 4,130 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Showing all 17 desks
Red flag: Pickup is off-airport, and about a dozen recent reviews describe a hard-to-find meeting point, shuttle waits of 30 minutes or more, or unclear return instructions, which makes the process slower than the brand advertises.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews dispute fuel-level charges applied after return, with customers saying they refilled just before drop-off and sometimes receiving no proof of the reading; one charge was reversed after a complaint.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews report long waits, sometimes 30 to 90 minutes, for the airport shuttle pick-up, the return transfer or service at the office. The shuttle runs on request and rides can be delayed by motorway traffic, so allow extra time before flights.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report damage charges of roughly €60-340 for scratches, rim marks or small marks that the renter says were already there, minor or not documented at pickup.
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Red flag: Around 11 written reviews, mostly from the last six months, report damage charges of roughly 100 to 800 EUR for scratches that customers say they did not cause or that were already on the car. Several say their photos were not accepted or that complaints went unanswered.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews report that part of the roughly 350 EUR deposit was kept without explanation, or that a refund or repair charge was disputed and emails went unanswered. A consumer-review site also carries similar complaints.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report charges for scratches (often under the bumper or underside) that travellers say were already there or invisible; amounts of about €290-1000 were taken from the deposit, and others avoided charges only thanks to their own photos or videos.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say the card used at booking (debit, online-bank or virtual card) was refused at the desk. Travellers were then left to buy the desk's own cover (reported around 120-400 EUR) or lose the car, and some reported being refused a car or not getting a refund after cancelling.
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Red flag: Very long waits at pick-up: dozens of recent reviews describe 1 to 3 hours, split between a terminal desk queue and a second queue in the underground car park, even with advance bookings. A recent forum thread also describes the car park handover as chaotic.
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Red flag: Roughly 1 in 7 recent reviews say travellers were pushed into buying the desk's own cover (about 150-500 EUR) at pick-up, often because their card was not accepted for the deposit hold, even when they had broker or prepaid cover. Some report being unable to rent or leaving without a car.
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Red flag: About a dozen kept reviews, mostly from the last 5 months, say the desk refused a virtual, online-bank or debit card at the counter. Travellers then had to pay roughly 120-280 EUR extra for desk insurance, or lost the booking and, in several cases, say they did not get their money back. Many say this card rule was not made clear at booking.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 28) report damage charges, mostly for scratches, mirrors or wheels, that travellers say were already on the car or did not happen. These were sometimes billed weeks after return and in spite of the traveller's own photos or videos. A Tripadvisor thread from 2025 describes a similar after-hours return dispute.
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Red flag: Many reviews, about 9 of them from the last 12 months and continuing into August 2026, report charges of roughly 50 to 275 euros for small scratches that travellers say were already on the car, usually found at the return inspection in the dark garage. Several others say they avoided the charge only because they had their own photos.
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Red flag: Around 30 reviews in the last six months say damage was charged at drop-off that they believe was already on the car, typically a scratch under the front bumper, with charges of roughly 140 to 575 EUR. Many say the damage was not recorded at pick-up and that complaints by email went unanswered.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report damage charges or fuel/admin fees applied after the rental, often for marks travellers say were already on the car or were not checked in front of them at return. Slow or unanswered deposit and fuel-deposit refunds are also reported, and several charges were dropped only after customers sent photo or video proof.
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Red flag: Very long waits to collect the car are reported in about 70 recent reviews, commonly 1 to 3 hours and occasionally more, usually with only one or two agents at the shared Avis/Budget counter. Quick Pass and Preferred lanes often did not shorten the wait.
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Red flag: Very long pickup queues are reported repeatedly: about 30 recent reviews describe waits of 1 to 2.5 hours, often with online check-in or prepaid bookings, with one or two agents on duty and neighbouring desks said to be quicker.
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Ranking is by Counterwise Score only. Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. Facts marked “Not confirmed yet” have not been verified yet: we never guess them.
Ranked by Counterwise Score. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Desk | Score | Location | Credit card | Deposit | Fuel policy | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.AutoReisen | 8.5Great | In terminal | Not required | €0 | Same to same | Not confirmed yet |
| 2.TopCar | 7.4Mixed | In terminal | Not required | €0–€4,000 | Same to same | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 3.Orlando Rent a Car | 7.2Mixed | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–21:59 daily |
| 4.GoByCar | 7.1Mixed | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–21:00 daily |
| 5.Sixt | 6.6Mixed | In terminal | Required | €300 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 6.Turisprime | 5.8Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–21:00 daily |
| 7.Click&Rent | 5.4Poor | Shuttle | Required | €200–€1,000 | Full to full | 08:00–21:00 daily |
| 8.Funchal Drive | 5.1Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 9.Cicar | 5.0Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | €0 | Same to same | 07:00–01:00 daily |
| 10.OK Mobility | 5.0Poor | In terminal | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–22:00 daily |
| 11.Autounion | 4.9Poor | Shuttle, 5 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 12.Europcar | 4.7Poor | In terminal | Not required | €100–€500 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 13.Hertz | 4.7Poor | In terminal | Required | €200–€700 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 14.Record Go | 4.6Poor | Shuttle | Not required | €0–€1,100 | Full to full | 07:00–22:00 daily |
| 15.Goldcar | 3.9Poor | In terminal | Required | €0–€950 | Same to same | 07:00–22:59 daily |
| 16.Avis | 3.6Poor | In terminal | Not required | €200 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 17.Budget | 2.9Poor | In terminal | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
AutoReisen is the best-rated car rental desk at Gran Canaria Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 8.5/10 (Great). It is followed by TopCar (7.4) and Orlando Rent a Car (7.2). Scores are based on 4,130 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 13 November 2026.
10 of the 17 desks at Gran Canaria Airport are inside the terminal: AutoReisen, TopCar, Sixt, Cicar, OK Mobility, Europcar, Hertz, Goldcar, Avis and Budget. Turisprime is in a nearby car park or building. Autounion, Orlando Rent a Car, GoByCar, Click&Rent, Funchal Drive and Record Go are off-site and reached by shuttle.
Yes. 5 of the 17 desks at Gran Canaria Airport do not require a credit card: AutoReisen (8.5/10), TopCar (7.4/10), Europcar (4.7/10), Record Go (4.6/10) and Avis (3.6/10). Orlando Rent a Car, GoByCar, Sixt, Turisprime, Click&Rent, OK Mobility, Autounion, Hertz, Goldcar and Budget need a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The card rule is not confirmed yet for Funchal Drive and Cicar. Check the debit card conditions when you book.
AutoReisen has the lowest starting deposit at Gran Canaria Airport: €0. The highest is at TopCar, up to €4,000. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned. Deposit amounts are not confirmed yet for Orlando Rent a Car, GoByCar, Turisprime, Funchal Drive, OK Mobility, Autounion and Budget.
Turisprime is a short walk from the terminal at Gran Canaria Airport; the walking time is not confirmed yet. Allow extra time with luggage.
The shuttle ride to the off-site desks at Gran Canaria Airport takes about 5 minutes, plus waiting time: Autounion about 5 min. Ride time not confirmed yet for Orlando Rent a Car, GoByCar, Click&Rent, Funchal Drive and Record Go.
Opening hours at Gran Canaria Airport: AutoReisen, not confirmed yet; TopCar, 07:00–23:00 daily; Orlando Rent a Car, 08:00–21:59 daily; GoByCar, 07:00–21:00 daily; Sixt, 07:00–23:00 daily; Turisprime, 08:00–21:00 daily; Click&Rent, 08:00–21:00 daily; Funchal Drive, 08:00–20:00 daily; Cicar, 07:00–01:00 daily; OK Mobility, 07:00–22:00 daily; Autounion, 08:00–20:00 daily; Europcar, 07:00–23:00 daily; Hertz, 07:00–23:00 daily; Record Go, 07:00–22:00 daily; Goldcar, 07:00–22:59 daily; Avis, 07:00–23:00 daily; Budget, 07:00–23:00 daily. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Most desks at Gran Canaria Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: AutoReisen (same to same), TopCar (same to same), Orlando Rent a Car (same to same), Cicar (same to same), Autounion (same to same) and Goldcar (same to same).
Budget has the lowest Counterwise Score at Gran Canaria Airport: 2.9/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: Very long pickup queues are reported repeatedly: about 30 recent reviews describe waits of 1 to 2.5 hours, often with online check-in or prepaid bookings, with one or two agents on duty and neighbouring desks said to be quicker..
The Counterwise Score (0 to 10) blends two things. 70% is an AI analysis of recent traveller reviews of that specific desk and of web reports, scored on five weighted sub-scores: deposit & damage disputes (30%), counter upselling (20%), booking honoured (20%), queue time (15%) and car condition (15%). 30% is the desk's star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate. Recent reviews count more than old ones, and desks with few reviews are pulled toward the average of their airport or station. Rankings are independent: affiliate commissions never change a score or a position.