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Faro car rental recommendations Portugal

  • 10-04-2024 9:32am
    #1
    Esho
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭


    Does anyone have a recommendation for car rental in or around Faro?

    My cousin had a horror story last year. He Rented a car and when he went to return it, an inspection mirror was produced and damage under the car was "found", which cost him.

    I'd like to avoid this if possible!



Comments

  • #2
    piaget
    Registered Users Posts: 223 ✭✭piaget


    Used Luzcar in 2021, no problems and comes with full insurance no excess. Pickup in the carpark and do all the paperwork there.

    Had a Seat Arona auto which felt a bit small for 4 but that was car in that bracket.

    https://www.luzcar.com/



  • #3
    Sheedy234
    Registered Users Posts: 124 ✭✭Sheedy234


    I use zest car rental and take out there zero excess insurance . I have had no issues



  • #4
    alanc2003
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭alanc2003


    I used centauro a couple of weeks ago. Its a shuttle bus from the carpark 4 to their base, about a 5 min or so drive. They do full excess insurance and free extra driver when i booked and very reasonably priced. We actually ended up booking two cars as it was cheaper then renting a 7 seater



  • #5
    pale rider
    Registered Users Posts: 269 ✭✭pale rider


    used Hertz in February, car was 6 months old with various marks, all were highlighted on their form, it’s essential you take your time and video the complete car closely including the inside, same upon return.

    Had no issues and rebooked with them for June this year, some very poor reviews of providers so do follow those reviews to minimize issues. If it’s too cheap to hire versus rivals then I expect these cheaper providers will try it on if they can.

    Don’t go cheap and do have excess insurance.



  • #6
    peter4918
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 343 ✭✭peter4918


    +1 for Luzcar



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  • #7
    Esho
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭Esho


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122009633#Comment_122009633

    Great advice thank you



  • #8
    Esho
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭Esho


    Thanks folks. I'll check these out



  • #9
    Rows Grower
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,234 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    We have used Hertz in Portugal as well with zero issues, very good company to deal with.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



  • #10
    happyoutscan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,069 ✭✭✭happyoutscan


    Don't go near the big companies!

    As mentioned, Zest is great. Used it on 6 or 7 occasions and top notch. I've used a couple of different companies on it but I like Luzcar, as they have a 'No deposit' option as well. Plus, baby seats/boosters are free. They are located in Car Park 4, come out of the terminal and go left. You'll see a couple of white pre-fabs which the smaller companies use (Luzcar, TravelRent etc).

    Fair fuel policy as well.

    Also, the car may have a few miles on it and a scratch or bump but nothing to worry about. They aren't in the business of screwing people.



  • #11
    Esho
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭Esho


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122031741#Comment_122031741

    Great thanks. It's the being screwed bit I'd like to avoid!



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  • #12
    Summitatem
    Registered Users Posts: 225 ✭✭Summitatem


    Sixt are decent in Faro. Small chips and dings aren't considered damage.....they do a full walk around the car with you when you collect it also which is a nice touch imo.

    Currently in a Sixt VW polo that was €80 for 5 days.

    I've a annual excess insurance policy that's €50 which I claimed off once a few years ago. I'd recommend that to everyone renting .....great value if you rent a few times a year. I typically rent a car 4 times at least per annum so it's €12.50 per trip.

    The rental companies own insurance with no excess is prohibitively expensive IMO

    The claim was €1600 and it was just filling in a form. Had the money before my credit card bill was due.

    Most horror stories are largely bullsh1t imo insofar as folk have actually damaged the car.



  • #13
    XsApollo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,486 ✭✭✭XsApollo


    I was there a few weeks ago, I rented off thrifty , which use the hertz office and staff.

    I had a ford focus for under 70 euro for 6days, no issues and the car was perfect.



  • #14
    boarjosh
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭boarjosh


    I'm planning a trip to Portugal next year, and while I initially considered driving myself, my research highlighted the efficiency of the public transport system and the high fuel prices, making renting a vehicle less appealing. Although I haven't visited Portugal yet to confirm this firsthand, I'm intrigued by the convenience of the public transportation options. For example, the Lisboa Card https://www.lisbonportugaltourism.com/lisboa-card.html offers unlimited rides on public transport in Lisbon and trains to Cascais and Sintra, saving both money and time. Additionally, I came across this comprehensive article https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-portugal-statistics-2023-the-ultimate-guide-5600 that covers essential information for exploring Portugal, providing a well-rounded guide for my upcoming journey.



  • #15
    coupons1987
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭coupons1987


    Used Luzcar a couple of years ago and found them honest and decent value.



  • #16
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,843 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    We used hertz via a broker (and I can't remember the name!) and one of the primary reasons was that the time we were landing put us in danger of possibly missing the closing time of any of the cheaper places situated outside the airport. I think we were due to land at a time that many were already closed and others would close within an hour, so the opening hours of the business may be a factor.



  • #17
    Sheedy234
    Registered Users Posts: 124 ✭✭Sheedy234


    In Algarve at the moment. Used zest car rentals as always and rent auto is the company. Hassle free I always pay for the extra insurance . 5 days car hire full insurance and toll transponder for 150 euro can't complain with that.



  • #18
    tskk
    Registered Users Posts: 196 ✭✭tskk


    We used Zitauto a few times. No problems. Very reasonable and always new cars.



  • #19
    spaceboy353
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭spaceboy353


    I also used Centauro. A shuttle bus picks you up from Carpark 4, and it is about a 5-minute drive to their base. All their cars come with excess free insurance and include one extra driver. One minor detail to note is that during check-in, they asked for an additional €116 deposit to cover fuel (the cost of a full tank I guess) and another €100 to cover any toll fees. When we returned the car with a full tank, we got our fuel deposit back the same day. The toll deposit was refunded 7 days later, minus any toll charges we incurred. However, that extra €216 deposit was not mentioned anywhere when we booked online. Other than that it was positive experience overall.



  • #20
    loyatemu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,032 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    our experience from Faro last month. Rented via Zest, the car was supplied by Drive4Fun.

    Pick up the keys from a hut in the carpark opposite the terminal. Guy from the hut came over with us to the car to do a quick inspection, but it was in excellent condition, just a couple of barely visible scuffs on the paintwork.

    The only extras were €40 to allow us to drive into Spain and €18 for the toll tag (I have excess insurance so didn't take theirs).

    Fuel policy was to return it with at least the same amount - we ended up returning it with more so that was a small extra cost I guess.

    Returning the car, they had a quick look around it, commented on the huge amount of birdshit on it (we were parked under a tree most of the time) and that was it.

    Ultimately, happy with the experience - they were cheap, the process was straightforward, the staff were friendly.

    As an aside - we drove to Seville for a few days, the motorway from Portugal to Seville (on the Spanish side of the border) has the worst surface of any motorway I've ever driven on. They even have temporary speed limits on sections of it because it's so bad.



  • #21
    Esho
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭Esho


    Used Luzcar- completely hassle free and quiet. Best car rental experience ever



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  • #22
    stargazer 68
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,141 ✭✭✭stargazer 68


    Only got back last week and used Zest. No issues at all.



  • #23
    Marcusm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,379 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    just to say that after maybe 10 frustrating rentals with the majors (Avis/Budget, Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty, Guerin/Enterprise), I took a chance on YesCar/YorCar twice in the last six weeks(and a third one to come in 12 days). Very pleasant, new Ibizas, easy pick up and drop off allowing car check and paper work), plus cheap €125 for 7 days then €165 for 7 days the next time.


    they are on rentalcars.com and also their own site. The desk is in the rental car cabin in P4 car park so actually closer than the permanent offices of the majors. Absolutely simple each time.


    my frustration with the majors at Faro generally resolves around their processes. Must sign up before checking car. Most recent occasion, there were large dings in rear passenger door not apparent on the photos on their system. Raised it with them and told I had to accept it as they only took photos from 4 angles which did not capture the damage so it would not be a problem for me. These were 2-3cm dings apparently to anyone in real life but was expected to accept that as the photos were only taken from specified angles that there would be no issue. Compete jobsworth approach, these were so apparent in real life. Buying a pig in a poke was their approach.



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