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Counterwise

No. 3 of 17 at VLC

Centauro

at Valencia Airport

Shuttle 7 minNo credit card needed
Counterwise Score 5.8 out of 10, rated Poor.High consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Centauro at Valencia Airport is ranked No. 3 of 17 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.8/10 (Poor).
  • The Centauro desk is off-site: the shuttle from Valencia Airport takes about 7 minutes.
  • No credit card is required (debit cards accepted); the typical deposit is €0–€1,200.
  • Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 07:00–22:59 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: About 17 recent reviews say the fuel deposit was not refunded, was only partly refunded, or was followed by an extra fuel charge, even when the tank was reported full and photos were kept. Some say complaints waited weeks..

Based on 292 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on 222 kept Google reviews with text (292 kept in total, June-November 2026), most travellers report fast pickups, newer cars and quick fuel-deposit refunds. A sizeable minority report fuel-deposit disputes, pressure to buy the desk's cover after using broker or app insurance, car substitutions and hard-to-reach customer service. Web evidence is mostly forum posts and undated listings and is broadly positive but thin and partly old.

AI-assisted summary of 292 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)

Poor5.0/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 46 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor4.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 28 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 52 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed7.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed7.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 55 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: 6.7 · counts 30%
  • 8 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, other locations). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 7% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (193 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)

  • About 17 recent reviews say the fuel deposit was not refunded, was only partly refunded, or was followed by an extra fuel charge, even when the tank was reported full and photos were kept. Some say complaints waited weeks.
  • Around 17 recent reviews report pressure to buy the desk's own cover or being told to pay extra. Typical cases are insurance bought through a broker or app being rejected at the desk, or a card being declined for the hold. Travellers then faced a deposit of around 1,200-2,000 EUR or a daily extra fee.
  • About a dozen recent reviews report not getting the booked car or category, or being refused at the desk over card rules or licence age. Several say these requirements were not made clear when booking.
  • Roughly 14 reviews say customer service was hard to reach after a problem. They report unanswered phone lines, claim forms closed as resolved without explanation, and emails left without reply for weeks.
  • About 7 recent reviews report breakdowns, flat tyres or warning lights within hours or days of pickup, some with slow roadside help or disputed charges afterwards.

Green flags (5)

  • Around 40 recent reviews describe pickup and return taking only a few minutes, including key lockers or smart-key pickup that skip the desk queue.
  • About 17 recent reviews report the fuel deposit coming back within a few days after returning the car full, often within 24-48 hours.
  • Around 35 reviews describe new or nearly new, clean cars, and several mention free upgrades or a quick swap when a car had a problem.
  • About a dozen reviews say booking directly with the full-cover rate meant no large hold on the card and no pressure at the desk. A recent forum thread also advises buying the cover directly from the company rather than via a third party.reddit.com
  • The free shuttle ride to the off-site office is reported as short (about 5-7 minutes), and several reviews say buses run frequently.reddit.com

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 7 minsource
Opening hours07:00–22:59 dailysource
Credit card requiredNo, debit cards accepted (check conditions)source
Typical deposit€0–€1,200source
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 292 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

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Centauro at other airports and stations

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

Centauro at Valencia Airport: questions and answers

Is Centauro at Valencia Airport any good?

Centauro at Valencia Airport has a Counterwise Score of 5.8/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 3 of 17 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Around 40 recent reviews describe pickup and return taking only a few minutes, including key lockers or smart-key pickup that skip the desk queue.. Main red flag: About 17 recent reviews say the fuel deposit was not refunded, was only partly refunded, or was followed by an extra fuel charge, even when the tank was reported full and photos were kept. Some say complaints waited weeks..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Centauro at Valencia Airport?

No. Centauro at Valencia Airport does not require a credit card; debit cards are accepted. Check the conditions when you book.

How much is the deposit at Centauro at Valencia Airport?

The typical deposit at Centauro at Valencia Airport is €0–€1,200. The lowest starting deposit at this airport is at Wiber (from €0).

Where is the Centauro desk at Valencia Airport?

The Centauro desk is off-site: the shuttle from Valencia Airport takes about 7 minutes.

What are the opening hours of Centauro at Valencia Airport?

Centauro at Valencia Airport is open 07:00–22:59 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

Other desks at Valencia Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 17 desks side by side