No. 2 of 16 at TFS

Cicar

Name: Cicar at Tenerife South Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Cicar (Tenerife South Airport)
Rating: 7.1
Author: Counterwise

at Tenerife South Airport

In terminal

Medium consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Cicar at Tenerife South Airport is ranked No. 2 of 16 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 7.1/10 (Mixed).
The Cicar desk is inside the terminal at Tenerife South Airport.
The credit card rule is not confirmed yet; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 07:00–02:00 daily.
Main red flag from travellers: Long waits at the arrivals desk are reported repeatedly, often 1 hour or more and up to 2.5 hours at night or in peak season, with only two staff serving. Forum posts from 2024-2025 describe the same pattern..

Based on 293 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on 293 recent Google reviews after exclusions (about 240 with text), this desk is well liked for no card deposit, full cover included, fast handover and fuel deposits that are usually refunded quickly. Recurring complaints are long queues at busy or night-time arrivals, worn or dirty cars with some breakdowns, cars substituted for the one booked, and a handful of fuel deposits reported as never refunded. Web sources agree on both the positives and the queues, but much of the web evidence is old or undated.

AI-assisted summary of 293 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 13 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)

Mixed7.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 45 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Great9.5/10

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)

Mixed6.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 50 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 42 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 75 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 6.8 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 8.5 · counts 30%
7 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (other locations, solicited staff praise, duplicates). How we clean reviews
Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (205 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

Long waits at the arrivals desk are reported repeatedly, often 1 hour or more and up to 2.5 hours at night or in peak season, with only two staff serving. Forum posts from 2024-2025 describe the same pattern.reddit.com tripadvisor.co.uk tripadvisor.com en.tripadvisor.com.hk
Many recent reviews describe cars with high mileage, dirt, existing dents, missing washer fluid, warning lights or faulty A/C, and several report breakdowns that needed a replacement car.
Several recent reviews report receiving a different car than booked, such as a manual instead of an automatic or a smaller category, and a few report no car available at all. Compensation was reportedly refused in some cases, while many other swaps were free upgrades.
Some recent reviewers say the refund of their fuel deposit, roughly 18 to 49 euro, never arrived and that emails to customer service went unanswered. Many others report refunds within a day.
Cars are frequently handed over with an empty or quarter tank under the same-level fuel rule. Reviewers say this forces an early refuel or an imprecise return level and can cost them money.

Green flags (5)

Full-cover insurance with no excess is included, and about 40 reviews report no card deposit, no insurance pressure and prices matching the booking. Web sources repeat this, though they conflict on whether a credit card is needed.knowtenerife.com tripadvisor.com cicar.com
Pick-up and return are described as quick and simple in about 30 reviews, often 5 to 15 minutes, with no damage inspection or dispute at return. The desk is in the arrivals area.cicar.com
The fuel deposit is refunded at return, often within hours or the same day, according to about 23 reviews. The official terms confirm that it is refunded when the car comes back at the same fuel level.cicar.com
Free upgrades to a larger or hybrid car when the booked model is unavailable are reported by about 16 recent reviews.
Some reviewers report quick help with faulty cars, such as a replacement the next morning or within 5 to 25 minutes. Others report much longer waits for a replacement.

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	07:00–02:00 dailysource
Credit card required	Not confirmed yet
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Same to samesource
Shares the desk with	Orlando

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

Before you go

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Check before you travel whether this desk accepts debit cards for the deposit (not confirmed yet).
Check the closing time (07:00–02:00 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.
Same-to-same fuel: photograph the gauge at pickup and at return.

Cicar at other airports and stations

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

Cicar at Tenerife South Airport: questions and answers

Is Cicar at Tenerife South Airport any good?

Cicar at Tenerife South Airport has a Counterwise Score of 7.1/10 (Mixed) and is ranked No. 2 of 16 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Full-cover insurance with no excess is included, and about 40 reviews report no card deposit, no insurance pressure and prices matching the booking. Web sources repeat this, though they conflict on whether a credit card is needed.. Main red flag: Long waits at the arrivals desk are reported repeatedly, often 1 hour or more and up to 2.5 hours at night or in peak season, with only two staff serving. Forum posts from 2024-2025 describe the same pattern..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Cicar at Tenerife South Airport?

Not confirmed yet. We have not yet confirmed whether Cicar at Tenerife South Airport accepts debit cards for the deposit. Check the rental terms when you book.

How much is the deposit at Cicar at Tenerife South Airport?

The deposit amount at Cicar at Tenerife South Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at AutoReisen (€0).

Where is the Cicar desk at Tenerife South Airport?

The Cicar desk is inside the terminal at Tenerife South Airport. It shares the counter with Orlando.

What are the opening hours of Cicar at Tenerife South Airport?

Cicar at Tenerife South Airport is open 07:00–02:00 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

Other desks at Tenerife South Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 16 desks side by side