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Counterwise

No. 14 of 17 at MLA

Hertz

at Malta International Airport

Walk 3 min
Counterwise Score 3.7 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Hertz at Malta International Airport is ranked No. 14 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.7/10 (Poor).
  • The Hertz 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 €200–€3,000.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: Daily 08:00–01:00 (out-of-hours fee for 00:00–07:59, flight number compulsory).
  • Main red flag from travellers: Around 50 kept reviews describe charges for minor damage, often low underside or bumper scratches that travellers say were pre-existing or not visible on their pickup photos; amounts range from about €100 to €1,250, and several say their video evidence was not accepted..

Based on 288 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 228 usable Google reviews after excluding 12 (staff-praise bursts, duplicates and one review with no experience of the desk), the desk is sharply split. Many travellers report quick pickups and friendly staff, but a large share, mostly since April 2026, describe damage charges of roughly €100-1,250 for minor or underside marks, pressure to buy cover (especially with debit cards), and higher prices at the counter; recent Tripadvisor and Trustpilot posts show a similar pattern. Counter waits can exceed an hour when one agent covers several brands, so photograph the whole car at pickup, including underneath, and bring a credit card.

AI-assisted summary of 288 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)

Poor2.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 85 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 50 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 55 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 48 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 62 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.5 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 3.7 · counts 30%
  • 12 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other reasons). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 8% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (162 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)

  • Around 50 kept reviews describe charges for minor damage, often low underside or bumper scratches that travellers say were pre-existing or not visible on their pickup photos; amounts range from about €100 to €1,250, and several say their video evidence was not accepted.tripadvisor.co.ukca.trustpilot.com
  • Several travellers who returned cars out of hours (paying a fee) report damage claims issued hours or days later, with no joint inspection at return and evidence taken at night disputed.tripadvisor.co.ukca.trustpilot.comimages.hertz.com
  • About 35 reviews report pressure to buy the desk's own cover, including debit-card holders told they must buy it or leave a hold of about €1,400, and desk cover costing several times the rental price.
  • Around 25 reviews describe a price at the counter well above the booked price (for example from about €100 to €300-430) or a booking refused or cancelled over card type or flight delay; a roughly €10 city-toll fee and out-of-hours fees also surprised several travellers.
  • About 8 recent reviews report worn or flat tyres, dead batteries or a transmission failure, with the breakdown phone lines reportedly unanswered or replacement slow.

Green flags (5)

  • Roughly 50 reviews describe quick, smooth pickup and return with friendly, efficient staff, some with handovers in under 5 minutes.
  • About 25 reviews describe new or clean cars delivered in the booked category.
  • Several reviews report deposits released within minutes to about a week, and returns closed with no charges.
  • About 8 reviews, mostly from earlier in 2026, say staff offered extra cover once and did not press when declined.
  • Several travellers say pickup photos sent to the desk were accepted and resolved a damage query at return, which supports documenting the car thoroughly at pickup.

Practical facts

LocationNearby car park or building, about 3 min on foot from the terminalsource
Opening hoursDaily 08:00–01:00 (out-of-hours fee for 00:00–07:59, flight number compulsory)source
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit€200–€3,000source
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withThrifty, Dollar, Firefly

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

Before you go

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Hertz at other airports and stations

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

Hertz at Malta Airport: questions and answers

Is Hertz at Malta Airport any good?

Hertz at Malta International Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.7/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 14 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Roughly 50 reviews describe quick, smooth pickup and return with friendly, efficient staff, some with handovers in under 5 minutes.. Main red flag: Around 50 kept reviews describe charges for minor damage, often low underside or bumper scratches that travellers say were pre-existing or not visible on their pickup photos; amounts range from about €100 to €1,250, and several say their video evidence was not accepted..

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

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

How much is the deposit at Hertz at Malta Airport?

The typical deposit at Hertz at Malta International Airport is €200–€3,000. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at JS Car Hire (from €150).

Where is the Hertz desk at Malta Airport?

The Hertz 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 Thrifty, Dollar and Firefly.

What are the opening hours of Hertz at Malta Airport?

Hertz at Malta International Airport is open Daily 08:00–01:00 (out-of-hours fee for 00:00–07:59, flight number compulsory). Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Malta Airport

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