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Counterwise

No. 8 of 31 at PMO

Sicily by Car

at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport

In terminal
Counterwise Score 5.8 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Sicily by Car at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport is ranked No. 8 of 31 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.8/10 (Poor).
  • The Sicily by Car desk is inside the terminal at Palermo Airport.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the typical deposit is up to €200.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:30–23:29 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: 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..

Based on 299 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 200 recent Google reviews with text (plus roughly 100 star-only ratings) from the last 3.5 months, most travellers report quick, friendly handovers, clean newish cars, frequent free upgrades and fast deposit refunds. A recurring cluster of reviews, mostly from debit, virtual or non-matching card holders and broker bookings, describes being refused a car or paying roughly 150-400 EUR extra, plus peak-time queues of an hour or more and some fuel or damage charge disputes. Web evidence is mixed and partly old or undated, so travellers should bring a physical credit card in the driver's name and photograph the car at pick-up.

AI-assisted summary of 299 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)

Mixed6.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 22 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 20 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 40 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 30 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 60 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 5.5 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 6.8 · counts 30%
  • 1 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (duplicates). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (199 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)

  • 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.vrooem.comautorentwiz.com
  • At least 9 recent reviews describe being left without a car at the airport (reservation cancelled, no car available, late arrival, desk closed or card problem). Several of these travellers say refunds were partial or refused, often with a broker involved, and the staff were described as unhelpful.
  • Several recent reviews report waits of about an hour or more at the arrivals desk, with up to two hours in one case. Reports mention few staff at the desk and queue numbers not being called.
  • A handful of recent reviews report post-rental charges: fuel penalties after refuelling shortly before return, and damage charges for small scratches taken from the deposit or insurance excess. Two reviews also report deposit refunds or billing queries left unanswered for weeks.
  • Several recent reviews report breakdowns or faults (flat battery, key problems, warning lights, electric car charging) followed by difficulty reaching the company by phone or email.

Green flags (5)

  • Many recent reviews describe quick pick-up and return, with deposits released within hours to a few days. Some travellers using the online pre-check-in or queue-number system report a 5-10 minute pick-up.
  • Frequent reports of free upgrades or nearly new cars when the booked model was unavailable, often with low mileage and clean interiors.
  • The desk is inside the arrivals hall and the cars are in the airport car park, so no shuttle is needed.vrooem.compalermoairport.comsicilybycar.it
  • Travellers who had a matching credit card and followed the card conditions report no pressure to buy the desk's extras and no fuss at return.
  • Travel sites report a relatively low standard deposit of 200 EUR, and some reviewers say the deposit is lower still with the desk's full cover.autorentwiz.comautorentwiz.com

Practical facts

LocationDesk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours07:30–23:29 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositup to €200source
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
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 299 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Sicily by Car at other airports and stations

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Sicily by Car at Palermo Airport: questions and answers

Is Sicily by Car at Palermo Airport any good?

Sicily by Car at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.8/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 8 of 31 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many recent reviews describe quick pick-up and return, with deposits released within hours to a few days. Some travellers using the online pre-check-in or queue-number system report a 5-10 minute pick-up.. Main 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..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Sicily by Car at Palermo Airport?

Yes. Sicily by Car at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Sicily by Car at Palermo Airport?

The typical deposit at Sicily by Car at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport is up to €200. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Locauto (€100–€500).

Where is the Sicily by Car desk at Palermo Airport?

The Sicily by Car desk is inside the terminal at Palermo Airport.

What are the opening hours of Sicily by Car at Palermo Airport?

Sicily by Car at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport is open 07:30–23:29 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

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