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Counterwise

No. 19 of 27 at OPO

Budget

at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport

Shuttle 2 min
Counterwise Score 4.7 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Budget at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is ranked No. 19 of 27 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 4.7/10 (Poor).
  • The Budget desk is off-site: the shuttle from Porto Airport takes about 2 minutes.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is €300.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–24:00 daily; after-hours returns available.
  • Main red flag from travellers: 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..

Based on 279 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 205 written Google reviews of this Budget/Avis desk at Porto airport (plus 64 star-only ratings), experiences are polarised. Many travellers report quick service and clean, recent cars. A substantial group report extra insurance or fees added at the desk, disputed fuel and damage charges after return, and hard-to-reach customer service, with complaints continuing through 2026. Web evidence is limited and mostly undated.

AI-assisted summary of 279 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 12 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)

Poor3.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 28 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 38 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed6.5/10

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

Car condition(15% of score)

Great8.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 30 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.4 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 5.4 · counts 30%
  • 4 of 283 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (duplicates, solicited staff praise, broker-only disputes). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 9% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (158 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 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.autolisboa.com
  • Many reviews report extra insurance or assistance added at the counter, sometimes duplicating full cover bought through a broker, plus extra fees that travellers say were not explained and only appeared on the final invoice.autolisboa.com
  • Several recent reviews report fuel charges or prepaid-fuel packages despite returning the car full, or after being told at the desk that the charge would be small.trustpilot.com
  • Repeated reports of slow or missing responses from customer service about deposit refunds, unexplained charges and disputes, with phone and email contact described as hard to get.
  • Several recent reviews describe bookings lost or refused: customers arriving shortly after midnight found the desk closed and the booking cancelled, and others were turned away over card rules (a card in another name or two cards required) not clear at booking.

Green flags (4)

  • Many recent reviews describe fast, friendly pick-up and return, with staff who explain things clearly and no problems at drop-off.
  • Cars are often described as new or nearly new, clean and in good mechanical condition.
  • Several travellers report the deposit hold released within 2 days to about a week, with no extra charges when they documented the car's condition.
  • The shuttle from the terminal to the rental site is described as simple and regular by several recent reviewers.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 2 minsource
Opening hours07:00–24:00 daily; after-hours returns availablesource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit€300source
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withAvis

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

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Budget at Porto Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Porto Airport any good?

Budget at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport has a Counterwise Score of 4.7/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 19 of 27 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many recent reviews describe fast, friendly pick-up and return, with staff who explain things clearly and no problems at drop-off.. Main 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..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Budget at Porto Airport?

Yes. Budget at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Porto Airport?

The typical deposit at Budget at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is €300. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Klass Wagen (from €0).

Where is the Budget desk at Porto Airport?

The Budget desk is off-site: the shuttle from Porto Airport takes about 2 minutes. It shares the counter with Avis.

What are the opening hours of Budget at Porto Airport?

Budget at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is open 07:00–24:00 daily; after-hours returns available. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Porto Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 27 desks side by side