Car Hire Faro - any tips?

[sticks090460]

Looking to hire a standard car at Faro airport in May. Any firms recommended/ anyone to avoid? There seems to be a huge differential on prices between the “known” operators like Avis and some of the others. Is it a case of “you get what you pay for”, or is it just a brand tax?

[blue_haddock]

Drive4Fun @ faro airport came well regardng on tripadvisor as a decent and fair firm with no stupid fuel policy or expensive insurance etc.

i used them a few years ago and they were just fine to deal with.

[witko999]

Masterkings gets my vote. Right outside at the airport and never had any problem with them.

[river_rat]

Zit Auto were my preferred choice but haven't been to Portugal for a few years now.

They had no excess at the time and didn't seem to care if you paid motorway tolls or not.

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

Have a look at Zest Car Hire for comparisons for Faro airport. I've used them for my past 7 trips to Portugal, currently sitting in shorts and t shirt on the western Algarve. I've used Drive4Fun, MasterKings and Travel Rent at Faro airport through Zest.

They're all based in car park 4 of Faro airport, all local companies but never had any bother with them unlike my one and only time using one of the big Europe wide names at Faro, utter cowboys trying all sorts of shenanigans to screw the unwary.

[Register1]

www.enjoycarhire.com
Luze Ocean Drive

https://www.luzoceandrive.com/index.php/en/




Total cost of Rental: £18.37 (excluding any LOCAL extras)
Deposit paid on confirmation of hire: £1.28
Remainder to pay on arrival: £ 17.09 € 20.08
Our Partner: Luz Ocean Drive
Pick-up at: Faro Airport in Portugal
Drop-off at: Faro Airport
Selected car class: A (Chevrolet Spark or similar)
Pick-up date/time: 21 Apr 2017 15:30
Drop-off date/time: 25 Apr 2017 08:00
Extras Requested: N/A

[valiant]

We use Auto Jardim when we visit the Algarve. Decent enough outfit and they’re based just outside the terminal. Never had a problem.

Some bandit companies operate out of the car park who’ll fleece you on return so if you choose a cheap rental compared to the rest then check the car over with a fine tooth comb and deffo get excess insurance beforehand.

[Phil.]

Goldcar are just outside arrivals. Their customer service was surprisingly excellent. Easy to pick up and drop off. Low fees for full/full. I’d use them again.

[sticks090460]

Thanks all, plenty of food for thought. 👍🏻

[K50 DEL]

Phil. said:

Goldcar are just outside arrivals. Their customer service was surprisingly excellent. Easy to pick up and drop off. Low fees for full/full. I’d use them again.

Used them in November and was very pleasantly surprised.
I'd actively seek to use them next time.

[andyA700]

The only tip I can offer is to take out full insurance which covers everything. We flew to Faro and picked up a hire car from the airport, took out full insurance as advised. Two days before the end of the holiday, we parked in a public carpark in Portimao whilst we had lunch, came back and looked in horror at the front passenger wing and door caved in. No ther cars nearby, plenty of people just gawping at the car but noone offering any help. The car was driveable and when we returned it, the guy checked the insurance and told us not to worry. We didn't have to pay a thing.

[RammyMP]

witko999 said:

Masterkings gets my vote. Right outside at the airport and never had any problem with them.

I always try and book Masterkings through a broker like Holiday Autos. Never had a problem and we’ve bagged a bigger car than we’ve booked a few times.

Used Zit a few times as well but as mentioned they don’t have toll road transponders so if you use the motorway and then go to a post office to pay you’ll get charged for everyone who’s had the car before you as well. It’s fine if you’re not using the toll roads.

[originals]

Luz Cars.

They are who the vast majority of ex pat's tell their visitors to use.

We've been using them for 15 years.

[river_rat]

RammyMP said:

I always try and book Masterkings through a broker like Holiday Autos. Never had a problem and we’ve bagged a bigger car than we’ve booked a few times.

Used Zit a few times as well but as mentioned they don’t have toll road transponders so if you use the motorway and then go to a post office to pay you’ll get charged for everyone who’s had the car before you as well. It’s fine if you’re not using the toll roads.

It's fine if you use the Toll roads too - you just don't pay and Zit have never chased me....

[andy43]

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

Have a look at Zest Car Hire for comparisons for Faro airport. I've used them for my past 7 trips to Portugal, currently sitting in shorts and t shirt on the western Algarve. I've used Drive4Fun, MasterKings and Travel Rent at Faro airport through Zest.

They're all based in car park 4 of Faro airport, all local companies but never had any bother with them unlike my one and only time using one of the big Europe wide names at Faro, utter cowboys trying all sorts of shenanigans to screw the unwary.

100% this. Used Zest and the listed companies above for years.
Never used Zit or Luz but they’re supposed to be good.
Goldcar get a bad rep but I’ve never used them. Their trip advisor thread is scary reading, and that’s all I need to know. Centauro are part of the same company, again I’ve never used them but their reviews are variable. I wouldn’t use a shuttle bus service, we always collect from car park 4 - dead easy.
Zest provide better insurance than booking direct afaik. Due to covid a lot of companies defleeted so the chances of getting a worn out car with the smaller companies are reduced now. Got a VW Up with only 80 km on it last time from Masterkings.

[hellorent]

Where have the posts gone about Goldcar

[andrebar]

I’ve used Goldcar in Lisbon several times. Other than a whopping queue & one very rude employee I’ve always been pleasantly surprised

[andy43]

As previous I use TA forums - always useful to weigh up likely service in a particular location. I think it probably does vary a lot between airports, but this is a search for Faro - make your own minds up
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/SearchForums?ff=1083...

[Phil.]

hellorent said:

Where have the posts gone about Goldcar

Looks like mine was deleted. It was positive too. What are the mods up to?

[apotek]

Another vote for Goldcar easy pick up, virtually in the terminal ,friendly staff , I`ve used them a few times always decent cars.
Prices seem to have gone up considerably but it is worth a few quid to pick up at airport.
Oh for the days £96 for manchester/faro easyjet including an Astra for a week, only four years ago