I-VII 08:00 – 00:00
Rodavante is a Madeira local at Funchal Airport with a high DiscoverCars score of 9/10 and an 8.1/10 customer rating across ~94 reviews – but its public reputation is genuinely mixed. Many renters praise the friendly, efficient service and quick handling of problems (one had a gearbox failure resolved with a fast replacement). Others report the opposite: older or dented cars, a €250 charge for a light that should cost ~€80, and a €1,000 deposit still showing as held four weeks after it was supposedly released. On an island where the best operators include full insurance with zero excess, that deposit-and-damage risk is worth weighing.
Average daily rates at Funchal Airport (FNC) by season
Booked ~4–6 weeks ahead, EUR
| Season | Manual economy | Manual compact | Automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €10–16 | €12–20 | €20–35 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €18–30 | €22–38 | €35–55 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep, Christmas) | €30–45 | €35–60 | €55–90 |
Rodavante operates at Funchal Airport (FNC) with airport pickup; confirm whether it is a desk or a short meet-and-greet when you book. Inspect the car carefully and film a full walk-around at pickup – vehicle-condition and damage-charge complaints are the main risk here.
DiscoverCars 9/10 and 8.1/10 from ~94 reviews, with friendly service in the positives. The negatives – dented cars, a disputed €250 light charge, a slow €1,000 deposit release – mean you should document everything and confirm the deposit-release timeline.
Madeira’s highest-rated locals (Madpoint ~4.9★, Autorentacar ~4.8★) typically include full insurance with zero excess and a no-deposit option, plus airport meet-and-greet – the strongest way to avoid deposit and damage disputes on the island.
Trustpilot ~1.6/5 with upsell and damage complaints – the riskiest pick on the island.
Madeira scores (2026)
DiscoverCars /10 and Google/Trustpilot /5
Rodavante blocks an excess deposit on your card. Given the complaints, either pre-book stand-alone excess insurance (€4–7/day, covering tyres/glass/undercarriage useful on mountain roads) or consider a local that includes full zero-excess cover. Film the car, note every existing mark, and keep the deposit-release confirmation.
Madeira has zero toll roads – the VR1 expressway, every tunnel and every mountain pass are free, and you need no Via Verde device. Fuel is government-regulated and identical at every station: about €1.82/L petrol and €1.95/L diesel in 2026, around €0.10/L cheaper than the mainland. The catch is the terrain: gradients up to 20%, hairpins and 100+ tunnels. If you are not fully confident with steep hill starts, book an automatic – clutch damage on a manual can cost €500–1,400, far more than the €5–30/day automatic premium.
On Madeira, all-inclusive locals often beat a mixed-reputation operator once cover and deposit risk are counted.
The clutch-damage risk on Madeira’s gradients is real and expensive.
Pico do Arieiro above the clouds, the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, the dramatic north coast to Porto Moniz, and the Paul da Serra plateau are all reachable in a day – toll-free, but on steep mountain roads where an automatic and full cover pay off.
It is mixed. DiscoverCars rates it 9/10 and customers 8.1/10 (~94 reviews), with friendly, efficient service in the positives. But there are real complaints about car condition, a disputed €250 damage charge and a slow €1,000 deposit release – so document everything.
Film a full walk-around at pickup, note every existing mark, keep the contract, and get the deposit-release timeline confirmed in writing. One renter reported the €1,000 hold still showing four weeks later.
Recommended unless you are fully confident with steep hill starts – gradients reach 20% and clutch damage can cost €500–1,400. The €5–30/day automatic premium is cheaper insurance.
No – Madeira has zero toll roads. The VR1, all tunnels and mountain passes are free and you need no Via Verde device.
Madeira’s top locals (Madpoint ~4.9★, Autorentacar ~4.8★) often include full zero-excess insurance and a no-deposit option – the surest way to avoid deposit and damage disputes.
Government-regulated and identical everywhere: about €1.82/L petrol and €1.95/L diesel in 2026, around €0.10/L cheaper than the mainland.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Reviews are based on Trustpilot, Google Maps, traveller forums and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: May 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
