No. 10 of 17 at MLA

Cargini

Name: Cargini at Malta International Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Cargini (Malta International Airport)
Rating: 5.1
Author: Counterwise

at Malta International Airport

Walk 3 min

High consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Cargini at Malta International Airport is ranked No. 10 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.1/10 (Poor).
The Cargini 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 deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: Daily 08:00–20:00.
Main red flag from travellers: Several reviews from the last 12 months report post-rental deductions or deposits not returned: fuel and cleaning fees, admin fees on traffic fines far above the fines themselves, unexplained charges, and a refund that took well beyond the stated 30 working days..

Based on 45 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 41 useful Google reviews after removing 17 (mostly staff-praise reviews), most describe quick pickups and returns and decent cars. However, disputed damage, fuel and admin charges and slow or missing deposit refunds are reported fairly often, including in the past few months. Reports of insurance pressure are mixed, and the web evidence is mostly undated and mixed, so photograph the car thoroughly and keep records of the deposit.

AI-assisted summary of 45 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)

Poor2.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 17 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Mixed6.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 10 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 9 reports · medium confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 7 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 10 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: 5.2 · counts 30%
17 of 62 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other reasons). How we clean reviews
Pulled 33% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (31 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 (2)

Several reviews from the last 12 months report post-rental deductions or deposits not returned: fuel and cleaning fees, admin fees on traffic fines far above the fines themselves, unexplained charges, and a refund that took well beyond the stated 30 working days.cargini.rent
Several recent reviewers dispute scratch or panel damage charges of hundreds of euros, saying the marks were already on the car or that staff pointed out marks at return that they did not cause.

Green flags (4)

Quick, smooth pickup and return reported in several recent reviews, with some cars handed over within about 15 minutes and returns in about 5 minutes.
Several reviewers say they were not pressured into the desk's extra insurance when they already had third-party or card cover.
Cars are mostly described as clean, modern and as booked, and faulty cars were swapped at pickup without extra fees.
Some reviewers report deposit holds released within one day to two weeks of return.

Practical facts

Location	Nearby car park or building, about 3 min on foot from the terminalsource
Opening hours	Daily 08:00–20:00source
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	No 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 45 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 enough available credit for the deposit (amount not confirmed yet).
Allow walking time: the desk is about 3 min on foot from the terminal, longer with luggage.
Check the closing time (Daily 08:00–20:00). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Cargini at Malta Airport: questions and answers

Is Cargini at Malta Airport any good?

Cargini at Malta International Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.1/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 10 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Quick, smooth pickup and return reported in several recent reviews, with some cars handed over within about 15 minutes and returns in about 5 minutes.. Main red flag: Several reviews from the last 12 months report post-rental deductions or deposits not returned: fuel and cleaning fees, admin fees on traffic fines far above the fines themselves, unexplained charges, and a refund that took well beyond the stated 30 working days..

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

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

How much is the deposit at Cargini at Malta Airport?

The deposit amount at Cargini at Malta International Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at JS Car Hire (from €150).

Where is the Cargini desk at Malta Airport?

The Cargini desk is in a nearby car park or building, about 3 minutes on foot from the terminal at Malta Airport.

What are the opening hours of Cargini at Malta Airport?

Cargini at Malta International Airport is open Daily 08:00–20:00. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Malta Airport

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