No. 6 of 17 at MLA

Avis

Name: Avis at Malta International Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Avis (Malta International Airport)
Rating: 5.9
Author: Counterwise

at Malta International Airport

Walk 3 min

Low consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Avis at Malta International Airport is ranked No. 6 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.9/10 (Poor).
The Avis desk is in a nearby car park or building, about 3 minutes on foot from the terminal at Malta Airport.
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €1,800–€3,000.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: Daily 07:30–02:00; 24-hour drop-off.
Main red flag from travellers: Several reviews since September report deposits of about €1,500 to €2,000 held for weeks or not returned, or extra amounts deducted without explanation, with emails said to go unanswered; a recent Trustpilot post describes the same pattern..

Based on 281 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 281 Google reviews after removing 19 (124 are star-only, 157 have text), most feedback praises friendly staff, easy pick-up and return, and good value, and several earlier reviews report quick deposit refunds. Since September, however, a cluster of recent reviews reports €1,500 to €2,000 deposits held for weeks or unexplained deductions, alongside insurance-selling disputes, scratch charges, long pick-up waits and worn cars. Web evidence is mostly undated forum and review-site material and is more negative than the Google reviews.

AI-assisted summary of 281 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)

Poor4.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 22 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 9 reports · medium confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 16 reports · medium confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed6.0/10

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

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 31 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 5.0 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 8.4 · counts 30%
19 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates). How we clean reviews
Pulled 11% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (127 after weighting by age).

Low consensusOur independent signals disagree: read the red and green flags before relying on the score.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

Several reviews since September report deposits of about €1,500 to €2,000 held for weeks or not returned, or extra amounts deducted without explanation, with emails said to go unanswered; a recent Trustpilot post describes the same pattern.trustpilot.com
Three reviews from the last five months report charges for scratches the renters believe were already on the car, and another reports an unexplained deduction after a clean return.
Several recent reviews say they were told cover was cheap or already included, then paid considerably more at the counter, or were pressed into the desk's full cover.
Slow pick-ups are reported repeatedly: three reviews describe waits of an hour or more, and several others mention long queues with too few agents, sometimes ending with the booked car unavailable or the booking cancelled.
Several reviews describe cars with many dents, dirty or smelly interiors, or safety-relevant faults such as broken windows or wipers.

Green flags (5)

Most text reviews praise friendly, helpful staff and a smooth, quick pick-up and return, including late-night handovers.
Several reviews from earlier this year report deposits refunded within a day or a few days.
Several reviewers say existing damage was walked through carefully at pick-up and the return check was quick and fair.
Reviewers frequently describe prices as good value for small cars.
A few reviewers were offered an upgrade or a swapped car when the booked one was unavailable or had a fault.

Practical facts

Location	Nearby car park or building, about 3 min on foot from the terminalsource
Opening hours	Daily 07:30–02:00; 24-hour drop-offsource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	€1,800–€3,000source
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Budget

“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

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with at least €3,000 available for the deposit.
Allow walking time: the desk is about 3 min on foot from the terminal, longer with luggage.
Check the closing time (Daily 07:30–02:00; 24-hour drop-off). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Avis at other airports and stations

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

Avis at Malta Airport: questions and answers

Is Avis at Malta Airport any good?

Avis at Malta International Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.9/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 6 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Most text reviews praise friendly, helpful staff and a smooth, quick pick-up and return, including late-night handovers.. Main red flag: Several reviews since September report deposits of about €1,500 to €2,000 held for weeks or not returned, or extra amounts deducted without explanation, with emails said to go unanswered; a recent Trustpilot post describes the same pattern..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Avis at Malta Airport?

Yes. Avis at Malta International Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Avis at Malta Airport?

The typical deposit at Avis at Malta International Airport is €1,800–€3,000. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at JS Car Hire (from €150).

Where is the Avis desk at Malta Airport?

The Avis desk is in a nearby car park or building, about 3 minutes on foot from the terminal at Malta Airport. It shares the counter with Budget.

What are the opening hours of Avis at Malta Airport?

Avis at Malta International Airport is open Daily 07:30–02:00; 24-hour drop-off. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Malta Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 17 desks side by side