OPO · Porto, Portugal
Every car hire desk ranked by Counterwise Score
The rental counters of the big brands are in the arrivals hall, to the right as you leave baggage reclaim. At most of them you then take a free shuttle of about two minutes to the rent-a-car station where the cars are parked. Off-airport firms collect customers outside arrivals and drive them a few minutes to depots in Maia and Perafita. Every rental car carries an electronic toll device with a daily fee.
Based on 6,408 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Showing all 27 desks
Red flag: Several recent reviews mention an extra fee of roughly 100 to 120 euros for taking the car into Spain; one traveller said it made the rental cost more than double what they expected after also buying the desk's cover.
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Red flag: Tyre-related problems appear in several recent reviews: worn tyres leading to a car swap, a wrongly mounted tyre, and a flat with no working spare kit where a repair claim was refused despite full cover.
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Red flag: Three independent reviews from the past year report toll charges or extra admin fees billed weeks after the car was returned, in some cases without a breakdown or after tolls were already settled at return.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews say extra fees and taxes (an airport service charge of about 14 percent plus VAT, add-on insurance and cross-border fees) were added at the counter and were not visible in the online price or terms, raising the total by up to about 20 percent.
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Red flag: Several reviews over the past 13 months describe disputes or unexpected charges after the rental: scratch or wing damage claims that customers say were already on the car, and a small card charge months after return. Some customers had the charge dropped after showing photos or video taken at pick-up.
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Red flag: Many reviews report charges of several hundred to over 2,000 euros for damage the customers say was already on the car or was minor, most often windshield chips. They describe a quick pickup inspection, a contract signed on a tablet without the damage sheet, and a much stricter inspection at return.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say that without a credit card in the main driver's name (debit, prepaid or a different cardholder), the only way to get the car was to buy the desk's own cover costing roughly 190-500 EUR, often several times the booked rental price; some customers left without a car.
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Red flag: Around 17 recent reviews describe disputed post-rental charges: damage said to be pre-existing, fuel accusations, toll or one-way fees, an extra rental day, or a deposit not yet returned. Amounts mentioned range from about €60 to €500. These are customer allegations, and similar complaints appear in a late-2025 forum thread.
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Red flag: Many reviews (roughly 25 in the last 6 months) report unexpected post-rental charges: toll or transponder fees charged for every rental day, late-return fees, fuel top-ups or unexplained card debits. Others report deposit refunds that took weeks or had not arrived. Customer-service reviews on a consumer site and a comparison site report similar patterns.
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Red flag: About 21 recent reviews report strong pressure at the counter to buy the desk's own insurance, often after the traveller had already bought full cover through a broker or airline, sometimes with warnings of large charges for minor scratches. Several web sources describe the same pattern.
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Red flag: Repeated reports of damage charges (roughly 100-430 EUR) for small rim, scratch or tyre marks that travellers say were already on the car; at least three such reports fall within the last 12 months, with similar older ones.
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Red flag: About 20 kept reviews, many from the last 3 months, report that debit cards or the card used at booking were rejected for the deposit, with the customer then either leaving without a car or buying the desk's top insurance. The desk's own help page says only credit cards are accepted for the deposit.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 34 of roughly 145 kept text reviews) report charges of roughly 100-800 EUR for scratches, rims, windscreen chips or cleaning that customers dispute as pre-existing or minor. Several say the check-in report omitted existing marks, and some say the damage was only dropped after they produced photos or video.
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Red flag: About a dozen recent reviews describe disputes over damage charges, often scratches or wheel scuffs that travellers say were already on the car or not on the damage sheet. Amounts mentioned range from about 80 to 840 euros, and some say charges were taken without an explanation or itemised bill.
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Red flag: Dozens of recent reviews (about 1 in 5 with text) report persistent counter pressure to buy the desk's own premium cover or upgrades, including reports of cover added to the contract or invoice after the customer said no, or of external cover being discouraged.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 19, concentrated in Sept to Nov 2026) report the car being refused, or only released after buying costly extra cover, because the desk treated the main driver's card as debit rather than credit. Several say this was not clear at booking and had been prepaid, and travellers ended up renting elsewhere at higher prices.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say the car was not handed over, or only after a long dispute, because of card rules: two credit cards for some categories, or debit or non-credit cards refused. Several say the rule was hard to find at booking, and some report no refund of money already paid.
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Red flag: Around a dozen recent reviews report charges for scratches or other damage that travellers say were already on the car or were not shown to them, often with no walk-round at return and invoices arriving days later.
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Red flag: Around 30 recent reviews report that fuel and toll holds were only partly refunded, refunded after weeks, or not refunded, often with no response to emails or complaint forms and an automated customer-service channel.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say the desk refused or questioned cards it classed as debit, digital-bank or fintech cards, even physical credit cards. Travellers then lost the booking or paid for the desk's own cover to be accepted. Several say this was not clear at booking.
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Red flag: Many reviews, including three from the last 12 months, report that debit cards were refused for the deposit or accepted only after buying the desk's own cover or paying a surcharge. Others report a mandatory toll device added at the counter. Reviewers say this raised the price well above the booked rate, and one traveller left without a car.
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Red flag: About two dozen reviews from recent months say travellers without a physical credit card in the driver's name (or with a card close to expiry) were pushed into buying the desk's own cover at several times the rental price, or were refused the car.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say a credit or debit/credit card (often a foreign or online-bank one) was refused for the deposit. Travellers were then asked to pay roughly 100 to 500 EUR for the desk's cover or lost the car, even where a booking site had already sold cover. The operator's own blog states that a credit card is needed for the deposit hold.
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Red flag: About two dozen reviews report charges for small scratches, marks or cleaning at return (typically €70-€600), often with a threat to keep the card hold, and several say pickup photos were missing or incomplete. A 2026 travel guide also names post-return damage claims at this operator as a recurring issue.
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Red flag: Pickup problems are widely reported: waits of 40-90 minutes, no shuttle at the airport, and the desk being closed or unstaffed at the confirmed time. Four reviews in the last 12 months describe this, and many older ones do too.
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Red flag: Dozens of recent reviews report the desk refusing a credit card (only a first-name initial, 'online bank', or debit/credit card) when travellers declined its insurance, leaving them to pay roughly €230-700 extra or lose the booking; a Tripadvisor post and a DiscoverCars page describe similar problems.
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Ranking is by Counterwise Score only. Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. “Limited data” desks have fewer recent reviews, so their score leans more on the airport average. 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.Autounion | 8.9Great | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 2.Carfast Rent A Car | 8.1Great | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 06:00–22:30 daily; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan |
| 3.OPO Rent | 7.5Mixed | Shuttle, 5 min | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | 09:00–19:00 daily |
| 4.Hertz | 7.1Mixed | Shuttle, 2 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 06:00–23:59 daily |
| 5.GoDrive | 6.8Mixed | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours service available |
| 6.PRO RENT | 6.2Mixed | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours 20:00–22:30 and before 08:00 on request |
| 7.CAEL | 5.7Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 06:30–19:59 daily |
| 8.OK Mobility | 5.7Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 06:00–23:00 daily (06:00–07:00 and 22:00–23:00 only for confirmed bookings); 24 and 31 Dec until 19:00 |
| 9.Guerin | 5.6Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Required | €300–€600 | Full to full | 06:00–23:00 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026); no after-hours pick-up; after-hours returns via drop box at no charge |
| 10.Record Go | 5.4Poor | Shuttle, 5 min | Not required | €0–€1,100 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily; 24h key mailbox |
| 11.Klass Wagen | 5.4Poor | Shuttle | Required | from €0 | Same to same | Not confirmed yet |
| 12.International Car | 5.3Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 13.Tangerine Rent A Car | 5.1Poor | Shuttle | Required | €1,100–€5,500 | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours service on request |
| 14.Goldcar | 5.0Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Not required | €0–€1,400 | Same to same | 06:59–23:01 daily |
| 15.Avis | 4.9Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Not required | €200 | Full to full | 07:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off |
| 16.Europcar | 4.9Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Required | €100–€300 | Full to full | 06:30–23:59 daily |
| 17.Sixt | 4.9Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:59 daily |
| 18.Drive on Holidays | 4.9Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Required | €100–€350 | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily (representative at arrivals 08:00–20:30) |
| 19.Budget | 4.7Poor | Shuttle, 2 min | Required | €300 | Full to full | 07:00–24:00 daily; after-hours returns available |
| 20.Centauro | 4.5Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Required | €100–€2,100 | Same to same | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 21.Sicily by Car | 4.4Poor | Shuttle, 5 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily including holidays; out-of-hours supplement |
| 22.Drive4Move | 4.3Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 23.Green Motion | 4.2Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 07:00–21:00 daily |
| 24.Drivalia | 4.1Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 25.Surprice | 4.0Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 26.Bravacar | 4.0Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily (DiscoverCars: 08:01–19:59); out-of-hours on request |
| 27.Freerent | 1.7Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:00–23:30 daily |
Autounion is the best-rated car rental desk at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 8.9/10 (Great). It is followed by Carfast Rent A Car (8.1) and OPO Rent (7.5). Scores are based on 6,408 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 12 November 2026.
None of the 27 desks we rate at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is inside the terminal. CAEL is in a nearby car park or building. Hertz, Guerin, Goldcar, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, International Car, Drive on Holidays, Centauro, Drive4Move, Surprice, OPO Rent, Record Go, Sicily by Car, Autounion, Carfast Rent A Car, GoDrive, PRO RENT, OK Mobility, Klass Wagen, Tangerine Rent A Car, Green Motion, Drivalia, Bravacar and Freerent are off-site and reached by shuttle.
Yes. 3 of the 27 desks at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport do not require a credit card: Record Go (5.4/10), Goldcar (5.0/10) and Avis (4.9/10). Carfast Rent A Car, Hertz, CAEL, OK Mobility, Guerin, Klass Wagen, International Car, Tangerine Rent A Car, Europcar, Sixt, Drive on Holidays, Budget, Centauro, Sicily by Car, Drive4Move, Green Motion, Drivalia and Surprice need a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The card rule is not confirmed yet for Autounion, OPO Rent, GoDrive, PRO RENT, Bravacar and Freerent. Check the debit card conditions when you book.
Klass Wagen has the lowest starting deposit at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport: from €0. The highest is at Tangerine Rent A Car, up to €5,500. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned. Deposit amounts are not confirmed yet for Autounion, Carfast Rent A Car, OPO Rent, Hertz, GoDrive, PRO RENT, CAEL, OK Mobility, International Car, Sixt, Sicily by Car, Drive4Move, Green Motion, Drivalia, Surprice, Bravacar and Freerent.
CAEL is a short walk from the terminal at Porto Airport; the walking time is not confirmed yet. Allow extra time with luggage.
The shuttle ride to the off-site desks at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport takes between 2 and 5 minutes, plus waiting time: Hertz about 2 min, Guerin about 2 min, Goldcar about 2 min, Avis about 2 min, Europcar about 2 min, Sixt about 2 min, Budget about 2 min, International Car about 3 min, Drive on Holidays about 3 min, Centauro about 3 min, Drive4Move about 3 min, Surprice about 3 min, OPO Rent about 5 min, Record Go about 5 min and Sicily by Car about 5 min. Ride time not confirmed yet for Autounion, Carfast Rent A Car, GoDrive, PRO RENT, OK Mobility, Klass Wagen, Tangerine Rent A Car, Green Motion, Drivalia, Bravacar and Freerent.
Opening hours at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport: Autounion, 08:00–20:00 daily; Carfast Rent A Car, 06:00–22:30 daily; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan; OPO Rent, 09:00–19:00 daily; Hertz, 06:00–23:59 daily; GoDrive, 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours service available; PRO RENT, 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours 20:00–22:30 and before 08:00 on request; CAEL, 06:30–19:59 daily; OK Mobility, 06:00–23:00 daily (06:00–07:00 and 22:00–23:00 only for confirmed bookings); 24 and 31 Dec until 19:00; Guerin, 06:00–23:00 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026); no after-hours pick-up; after-hours returns via drop box at no charge; Record Go, 07:00–23:00 daily; 24h key mailbox; Klass Wagen, not confirmed yet; International Car, 08:00–20:00 daily; Tangerine Rent A Car, 08:00–20:00 daily; out-of-hours service on request; Goldcar, 06:59–23:01 daily; Avis, 07:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off; Europcar, 06:30–23:59 daily; Sixt, 07:00–23:59 daily; Drive on Holidays, 08:00–20:00 daily (representative at arrivals 08:00–20:30); Budget, 07:00–24:00 daily; after-hours returns available; Centauro, 07:00–23:00 daily; Sicily by Car, 07:00–23:00 daily including holidays; out-of-hours supplement; Drive4Move, 08:00–20:00 daily; Green Motion, 07:00–21:00 daily; Drivalia, 08:00–20:00 daily; Surprice, 08:00–20:00 daily; Bravacar, 08:00–20:00 daily (DiscoverCars: 08:01–19:59); out-of-hours on request; Freerent, 07:00–23:30 daily. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Most desks at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: Autounion (same to same), CAEL (same to same), Klass Wagen (same to same), Tangerine Rent A Car (same to same), Goldcar (same to same), Drive on Holidays (same to same), Centauro (same to same), Drive4Move (same to same), Green Motion (same to same), Drivalia (same to same) and Bravacar (same to same). The fuel policy is not confirmed yet for OPO Rent.
Freerent has the lowest Counterwise Score at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport: 1.7/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: Dozens of recent reviews report the desk refusing a credit card (only a first-name initial, 'online bank', or debit/credit card) when travellers declined its insurance, leaving them to pay roughly €230-700 extra or lose the booking; a Tripadvisor post and a DiscoverCars page describe similar problems..
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.