PMO · Palermo, Italy
Every car hire desk ranked by Counterwise Score
The main airport for western Sicily, at Punta Raisi about 30 km west of Palermo. The international brands and several Sicilian firms have desks in the arrivals hall, with their cars in a rental car park across the road. Many smaller local firms are based along the SS113 in Cinisi and Carini and collect customers by shuttle, usually from the departures level. Palermo's city centre has camera-controlled limited-traffic zones (ZTL).
Based on 7,354 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Showing all 31 desks
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Red flag: About ten reviews from the last 12 months say the phone, hotline or WhatsApp went unanswered when they had a problem (breakdown, return paperwork, damage query), and several had to arrange and pay for help themselves.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report that the booked car was not available, was a different category from the one booked, or cost more at the counter than expected. Some describe a booking treated as forfeited after the pick-up time passed, or a replacement car that carried extra charges.
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Red flag: Several reviews report the fuel level stated at pick-up not matching the gauge, followed by extra fuel charges or a withheld fuel deposit at return, in amounts from about 7 to 165 euros. Some customers say their complaints went unanswered.
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Red flag: Several travellers in the last year say card rules were enforced at the counter in ways they did not expect: debit or third-party cards refused, or a card problem that was only solved by buying extra cover costing roughly 300 to 400 EUR. One recent source says the standard offers need a credit card.
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Red flag: The standard rate requires a credit card, with a hold of roughly 700-900 EUR according to a recent comparison site; several reviews say debit-card users had to buy the desk's own full cover, so check card rules before booking.
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Red flag: Around a dozen recent reviews report charges of roughly 50 to 360 euros for scratches, wheel or tyre damage that travellers say were pre-existing or absent at return. Several say nobody inspected the car with them and that their photos got no reply.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (mostly debit, prepaid, virtual or non-matching cards, often booked via brokers) report being refused the car or having to pay roughly 150-400 EUR extra for cover, with a larger deposit and sometimes a smaller car. Travel sites confirm that a physical credit card in the driver's name is required on the standard rate.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report being refused the car at the desk over card rules (card not physically shown, name not matching or not embossed, debit, prepaid or Amex cards not accepted), and several say the prepaid amount was kept or a new, pricier booking was needed.
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Red flag: Many reviews (about 28 in total, with several in 2026) describe charges of roughly €180-600 for very small scratches or dents found at return, often for travellers who had external or full cover; some say photos showed the marks already existed and one charge was withdrawn after complaint.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report being refused the pre-booked car at the counter because of the payment card (debit, online-bank, prepaid, digital or some Visa/Mastercard credit cards). Several say this was not clear at booking and no alternative was offered, and some lost prepaid money or had to rebook elsewhere.
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Red flag: Pickup queues of 30 to 60 minutes or more are reported repeatedly in recent reviews, often with the Preferred or self-service kiosk not working and the desk shared with another brand; web sources also describe a very long wait at this desk.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report being refused the car, or being made to pay roughly 150-600 euros extra, because of card rules. These include cards from online or digital banks, cards expiring within six months, and debit cards. Travellers say the rules were not clear when they booked, and some lost money they had prepaid.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report bookings cancelled when the traveller arrived about 30-50 minutes late, or cars refused because of card rules (credit card in the booker's name, debit or Amex cards, raised numbers), with a replacement offered at about three times the price or with mandatory desk insurance.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 20) report charges after return for very small scratches, dirt, ash or an added driver, typically 60-490 EUR, and some describe slow or partial deposit refunds. Several say they filmed the car and still faced a claim.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report damage charges of roughly €250-€1,000, typically for small wheel or bumper marks, which travellers say were already there or could not be seen; several only had the charge reversed after producing dated photos or video, and cars are often returned with no staff member present.
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Red flag: Waits of one to three hours are frequently reported, split between the airport shuttle pick-up and the crowded desk, with queues at both pick-up and return; the pattern is strongest in recent months.
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Red flag: Disputed damage and post-rental charges are the most frequent complaint over the last two to three years: about 19 reviews describe charges for damage travellers say was already on the car, with photo evidence, often arriving after they had left. A few reports from the last 12 months show it has not stopped, though most date from 2024 to mid-2025. A 2025 forum thread also advises photographing the car before and after rental.
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Red flag: Very many recent reviews, about 40 in the last 12 months, say the card rules applied at the counter blocked or repriced a prepaid booking. They describe credit cards rejected as debit, prepaid or digital cards, names not matching, or too little card validity left. Travellers say they paid roughly €150 to €900 extra or lost the booking.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report prepaid bookings refused or re-priced at the desk over document or card rules: passport instead of an Italian ID card, digital or foreign licences, credit versus debit cards, or a different main driver. A new quote at two to three times the original price is often reported.
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Red flag: At least 16 reviews from the last 12 months report charges of roughly 125-540 EUR for small scratches or marks (often on the underside, bumper or hubcaps) that travellers say they could not verify from the handover photos. Several describe a very detailed return inspection while a flight is waiting.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 8 since March 2026) say counter staff pushed extra insurance or made the car conditional on buying it, including customers who had already bought cover elsewhere.
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Red flag: Very many recent reviews report that the booked price rose sharply at the desk (often by 250-800 euros, sometimes tripling) because of the card used: debit, virtual, bank-issued or differently named cards. Travellers who refused say they were left to pay for the shuttle back to the airport, and some lost their booking or prepayment.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report pressure at the desk to buy the desk's own full cover, including when broker or third-party cover had already been bought, sometimes with incorrect claims that outside cover is not valid.
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Red flag: Dozens of recent reviews describe damage charges for small scratches, wheel-rim marks or dents that travellers say were already there or invisible, usually with an extra administrative fee and often followed by slow or no replies to disputes. The company's own damage policy confirms an automatic €80 administrative fee on every damage claim.
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Red flag: Many reviews, about 25 over the past year, say a debit or 'virtual' card was refused and the traveller could only rent after buying the desk's own costly full cover, sometimes costing as much as or more than the rental. The card rules appear to be set out only in the terms sent after booking.
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Red flag: About 20 recent reviews report that debit-card holders were refused the car or had to buy the desk's own cover at the counter, typically about €240-580 on top of an already-paid booking; many say this was not clear at booking, and some report no refund when they cancelled.
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Red flag: About 30 reviews, mostly from the last five months, report that a card treated as debit, or one showing only initials or a shortened first name, was refused as the deposit card. The only way to get the car was then desk cover costing roughly 250-870 EUR, often several times the prepaid price, and sometimes a 300 EUR hold was still placed on the same card. The operator's own site lists Visa and Mastercard credit cards, and its FAQ says a credit card must be shown even when cover is prepaid.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report being refused the car, or having to pay a costly extra cover package (roughly €60-80 per day, several hundred euros in total), because the card was not a physical, embossed credit card in the driver's name. Several say this was unclear when booking through brokers, and refunds were often refused.
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Red flag: Around 10 reviews from the last 12 months report extra payments of roughly 100-400 EUR, or a refused rental, at pick-up because of the card: debit or combined debit/credit cards, a card with less than about three months' validity, or a card not in the driver's name. Several say this was not clear at booking. The operator's own pages state that a credit card is required for the deposit.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report charges or deposit deductions of roughly 100-700 EUR for scratches on wheels, bumpers or body that travellers say were already on the car or were barely visible; photo and video evidence at pick-up appears to be what settles disputes. Recent consumer-site reports describe similar contested charges.
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Ranking is by Counterwise Score only. Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. 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.Masicar | 8.2Great | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00; Sun closed |
| 2.Locauto | 7.7Mixed | In terminal | Not required | €100–€500 | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 3.Sixt | 7.4Mixed | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:30 daily |
| 4.Centauro | 7.1Mixed | Shuttle | Not required | €900–€2,300 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 5.Automania | 7.0Mixed | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 6.L'Automax | 6.6Mixed | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily (out of hours 22:01–23:59) |
| 7.SRC Rent Car | 6.4Mixed | In terminal | Not required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 07:30–22:59 daily (extended 23:00–23:29) |
| 8.Sicily by Car | 5.8Poor | In terminal | Required | up to €200 | Full to full | 07:30–23:29 daily |
| 9.Goldcar | 5.7Poor | In terminal | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–19:59 daily |
| 10.Brid | 5.5Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 11.GaldieriRent | 5.3Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–18:00 daily |
| 12.Avis | 5.1Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | €200 | Full to full | 08:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off (key box in front of the office) |
| 13.Differental | 5.0Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30; Sun 08:00–23:00 |
| 14.Wheego | 5.0Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 15.ECH - Noleggio Auto | 4.9Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–21:30 daily |
| 16.Italy Car Rent | 4.8Poor | In terminal | Required | €900 | Same to same | 08:00–23:00 daily |
| 17.Record go | 4.6Poor | Shuttle | Not required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–21:30 daily |
| 18.Hertz | 4.5Poor | In terminal | Not required | €200–€700 | Full to full | 07:30–24:00 daily |
| 19.U-Save | 4.4Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 20.Europcar | 4.3Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 21.Car Motion Italy | 4.3Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily (out of hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:00) |
| 22.Maggiore | 4.1Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 23.Eurorentcar | 4.1Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–21:59 daily |
| 24.Budget | 3.9Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | €200 | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 25.Noleggiare | 3.9Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:30 daily |
| 26.Viaggiare | 3.9Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30 (Sunday not listed) |
| 27.Felirent | 3.8Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily (extended 20:01–21:00) |
| 28.Target Rent | 3.8Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 29.Drivalia | 3.6Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:00 daily |
| 30.RentSmart24 | 3.5Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 00:00–23:59 daily |
| 31.Rental Plus | 3.0Poor | Shuttle | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
Masicar is the best-rated car rental desk at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 8.2/10 (Great). It is followed by Locauto (7.7) and Sixt (7.4). Scores are based on 7,354 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 12 November 2026.
13 of the 31 desks at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport are inside the terminal: Locauto, Sixt, SRC Rent Car, Sicily by Car, Goldcar, Avis, Italy Car Rent, Hertz, Europcar, Maggiore, Budget, Noleggiare and Drivalia. Masicar, Centauro, Automania, L'Automax, Brid, GaldieriRent, Differental, Wheego, ECH - Noleggio Auto, Record go, U-Save, Car Motion Italy, Eurorentcar, Viaggiare, Felirent, Target Rent, RentSmart24 and Rental Plus are off-site and reached by shuttle.
Yes. 5 of the 31 desks at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport do not require a credit card: Locauto (7.7/10), Centauro (7.1/10), SRC Rent Car (6.4/10), Record go (4.6/10) and Hertz (4.5/10). Masicar, Automania, L'Automax, Sicily by Car, Goldcar, ECH - Noleggio Auto, Italy Car Rent, Car Motion Italy, RentSmart24 and Rental Plus need a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The card rule is not confirmed yet for Sixt, Brid, GaldieriRent, Avis, Differental, Wheego, U-Save, Europcar, Maggiore, Eurorentcar, Budget, Noleggiare, Viaggiare, Felirent, Target Rent and Drivalia. Check the debit card conditions when you book.
Locauto has the lowest starting deposit at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport: €100–€500. The highest is at Centauro, up to €2,300. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned. Deposit amounts are not confirmed yet for Masicar, Sixt, Automania, L'Automax, SRC Rent Car, Goldcar, Brid, GaldieriRent, Differental, Wheego, ECH - Noleggio Auto, Record go, U-Save, Europcar, Car Motion Italy, Maggiore, Eurorentcar, Noleggiare, Viaggiare, Felirent, Target Rent, Drivalia, RentSmart24 and Rental Plus.
Shuttle ride times to the off-site desks at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport are not confirmed yet. Allow extra time for the ride and the wait.
Opening hours at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport: Masicar, Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00; Sun closed; Locauto, 08:00–23:59 daily; Sixt, 08:00–23:30 daily; Centauro, 07:00–23:00 daily; Automania, 08:00–22:00 daily; L'Automax, 08:00–22:00 daily (out of hours 22:01–23:59); SRC Rent Car, 07:30–22:59 daily (extended 23:00–23:29); Sicily by Car, 07:30–23:29 daily; Goldcar, 08:00–19:59 daily; Brid, 08:00–20:00 daily; GaldieriRent, 08:00–18:00 daily; Avis, 08:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off (key box in front of the office); Differental, Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30; Sun 08:00–23:00; Wheego, 08:00–22:00 daily; ECH - Noleggio Auto, 08:00–21:30 daily; Italy Car Rent, 08:00–23:00 daily; Record go, 08:00–21:30 daily; Hertz, 07:30–24:00 daily; U-Save, 08:00–20:00 daily; Europcar, 08:00–23:59 daily; Car Motion Italy, 08:00–22:00 daily (out of hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:00); Maggiore, 08:00–23:59 daily; Eurorentcar, 08:00–21:59 daily; Budget, 08:00–23:59 daily; Noleggiare, 08:00–22:30 daily; Viaggiare, Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30 (Sunday not listed); Felirent, 08:00–20:00 daily (extended 20:01–21:00); Target Rent, 08:00–20:00 daily; Drivalia, 08:00–23:00 daily; RentSmart24, 00:00–23:59 daily; Rental Plus, 08:00–20:00 daily. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Most desks at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: Differental (same to same), Wheego (same to same), ECH - Noleggio Auto (same to same), Italy Car Rent (same to same), U-Save (same to same), Eurorentcar (same to same), Noleggiare (same to same), Viaggiare (same to same), Target Rent (same to same), RentSmart24 (same to same) and Rental Plus (same to same).
Rental Plus has the lowest Counterwise Score at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport: 3.0/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews report charges or deposit deductions of roughly 100-700 EUR for scratches on wheels, bumpers or body that travellers say were already on the car or were barely visible; photo and video evidence at pick-up appears to be what settles disputes. Recent consumer-site reports describe similar contested charges..
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.