No. 14 of 16 at TFS

Thrifty

Name: Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Thrifty (Tenerife South Airport)
Rating: 2.9
Author: Counterwise

at Tenerife South Airport

In terminal

Low consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport is ranked No. 14 of 16 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 2.9/10 (Poor).
The Thrifty desk is inside the terminal at Tenerife South Airport.
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–23:00 daily.
Main red flag from travellers: Many reviews, including roughly 9 from the last 12 months, report charges for scratches or damage that customers say were already on the car or were trivial. Several also report deposits not refunded or unexplained post-rental charges, and some customers avoided charges only by showing their own photos or video..

Based on 125 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on 113 usable Google reviews of this desk (after removing 4 duplicate or staff-praise reviews and ignoring star-only and contentless ones), the picture is mostly negative. Recurring problems are very long queues at the shared Hertz/Thrifty counter, disputed damage charges, extra cover required for debit-card holders, and insurance pressure. Some travellers, especially those booking via brokers, report quick and smooth pick-ups and refunds, and web sources are mostly undated aggregator pages, so they add little independent confirmation.

AI-assisted summary of 125 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)

Poor2.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 50 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 32 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 26 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor1.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 38 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

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

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 2.9 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 1.0 · counts 30%
4 of 129 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (duplicates, solicited staff praise). How we clean reviews
Pulled 25% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (45 after weighting by age).

Low consensusOur independent signals disagree: read the red and green flags before relying on the score.

What travellers flag

Red flags (3)

Many reviews, including roughly 9 from the last 12 months, report charges for scratches or damage that customers say were already on the car or were trivial. Several also report deposits not refunded or unexplained post-rental charges, and some customers avoided charges only by showing their own photos or video.
Long queues at the shared Hertz/Thrifty counter are reported repeatedly, typically 1 to 3 hours and often with one agent on duty. This pattern continues in reviews from the past few weeks.
Several reviews, including recent ones, say extra insurance was added or pushed even though the customer had declined it or already held broker cover. Some also describe third-party cover being dismissed at the desk.

Green flags (3)

A number of reviewers, often booking through brokers or fast-lane options, report pick-up and drop-off completed in about 5 minutes, with quick returns on the car park.
Several reviewers report the deposit refunded within about an hour or even 10 minutes, though these reports are 17 to 20 months old.
A few reviewers received the car they booked or a free upgrade in a clean, low-mileage vehicle.

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	07:00–23:00 dailysource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Hertz, Dollar

“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 125 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.
Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with enough available credit for the deposit (amount not confirmed yet).
Check the closing time (07:00–23:00 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Thrifty at other airports and stations

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

Valencia Airport2.3 · Poor

Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport: questions and answers

Is Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport any good?

Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport has a Counterwise Score of 2.9/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 14 of 16 desks at the airport. Main green flag: A number of reviewers, often booking through brokers or fast-lane options, report pick-up and drop-off completed in about 5 minutes, with quick returns on the car park.. Main red flag: Many reviews, including roughly 9 from the last 12 months, report charges for scratches or damage that customers say were already on the car or were trivial. Several also report deposits not refunded or unexplained post-rental charges, and some customers avoided charges only by showing their own photos or video..

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

Yes. Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

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

The deposit amount at Thrifty 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 Thrifty desk at Tenerife South Airport?

The Thrifty desk is inside the terminal at Tenerife South Airport. It shares the counter with Hertz and Dollar.

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

Thrifty at Tenerife South Airport is open 07:00–23:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Tenerife South Airport

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