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Counterwise

No. 7 of 27 at OPO

CAEL

at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport

Short walk
Counterwise Score 5.7 out of 10, rated Poor.Medium consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • CAEL at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is ranked No. 7 of 27 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.7/10 (Poor).
  • The CAEL desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Porto Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 06:30–19:59 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: 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..

Based on 249 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 249 usable Google reviews (158 with text) after removing 14 unreliable ones, this desk is praised for its walkable location, quick service and clean, newer cars. A recurring minority of reviews, including several in the last year, report disputed damage charges (often windshield chips) and being pushed into the desk's own insurance when a debit-type card could not be used for the deposit. Travellers should bring a true credit card with enough limit, and photograph and film the car thoroughly at pickup and return.

AI-assisted summary of 249 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)

Poor3.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 25 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 33 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 25 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Great8.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 20 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Great8.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 25 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 4.8 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 7.7 · counts 30%
  • 14 of 263 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other reasons). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 15% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (85 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (2)

  • 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.trustpilot.comdiscovercars.com
  • Repeated reports that a debit or deferred-debit card was not accepted for the roughly 1,800-2,000 euro deposit, so travellers paid 70 to 300 euros extra for the desk's own cover to get the car. Third-party sites also note a high deposit and a large gap between the excess and the full-cover price at the counter.cheapcarrental.comauto-jardim.comcaelrentalcar.comtrustpilot.com

Green flags (5)

  • Desk is a short walk from the arrivals exit (reviewers say 3 to 5 minutes, a few say up to 10 with luggage), so no shuttle wait is needed.caelrentalcar.comauto-jardim.com
  • Pickup and return are described as quick and smooth in many recent and older reviews, with little or no waiting at the desk.
  • Cars are frequently described as new, clean and in good condition, with only a few reports of smell or older vehicles.
  • A number of reviews say staff were friendly and did not push extra insurance, and some report full deposit refunds or fair handling at return.
  • Comparison and review sites rate the brand well overall (about 9/10 on DiscoverCars, a 4-star Trustpilot average, positive comparison-site review), although with some complaints about deposit and charges.cheapcarrental.comdiscovercars.comtrustpilot.com

Practical facts

LocationNearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours06:30–19:59 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policySame to samesource
Shares the desk withNo 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 249 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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CAEL at other airports and stations

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

CAEL at Porto Airport: questions and answers

Is CAEL at Porto Airport any good?

CAEL at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.7/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 7 of 27 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Desk is a short walk from the arrivals exit (reviewers say 3 to 5 minutes, a few say up to 10 with luggage), so no shuttle wait is needed.. Main 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..

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

Yes. CAEL 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 CAEL at Porto Airport?

The deposit amount at CAEL at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Klass Wagen (from €0).

Where is the CAEL desk at Porto Airport?

The CAEL desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Porto Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).

What are the opening hours of CAEL at Porto Airport?

CAEL at Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is open 06:30–19:59 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

Other desks at Porto Airport

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