Centauro is the cheapest big chain at Faro Airport — but the deal lives or dies at the counter. Headline rates start under €10/day for a Fiat 500 in low season; final costs after insurance and add-ons frequently run €25–€45/day. Below is what's really inside the contract, how the shuttle pickup actually works, and the four counter add-ons that decide whether your Centauro rental is a bargain or a mistake.
Centauro Faro at a glance
- Off-airport, shuttle pickup. 5 minutes by green Centauro bus from the FAO terminal.
- Cheapest headline rate in Faro — €5–€10/day for a mini in shoulder season; competitive in summer at €18–€30/day.
- Aggressive counter upsell. Zero-excess insurance, fuel-prepay tariff, and additional driver all pushed hard.
- Credit card mandatory — no debit, no prepaid, no virtual. Deposit €700–€2,500 on hold.
- Best for budget-conscious renters who pre-buy third-party full insurance and decline every counter extra.
Compare Centauro vs other Faro suppliers
The cheapest headline price on the search isn't always the cheapest after add-ons. Compare all suppliers side by side.
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How the Faro pickup actually works
Centauro is one of the off-airport suppliers at Faro Airport (FAO). The flow:
- Land at FAO, clear arrivals.
- Walk out the main exit and turn right toward the shuttle bay (signposted “Rent-a-Car shuttles”).
- Board the green Centauro shuttle bus (every 10–15 min, 07:00–24:00). Free.
- 5-minute ride to the Centauro lot. Counter is inside; vehicles in the adjacent yard.
- Documents check, contract sign, vehicle walk-around, drive away.
Allow 30–45 minutes end-to-end on a quiet day, up to 90 minutes on a busy Saturday changeover in summer. The on-airport suppliers (Sixt, Hertz, Avis) save 20–30 minutes here but charge €4–€8/day more.
Centauro Faro branch facts
| Location | Off-airport, ~3 km from FAO terminal |
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| Shuttle | Free Centauro bus, every 10–15 min, 07:00–24:00 |
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| Hours | Daily 07:00–24:00 (later for late arrivals if booked) |
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| Min driver age | 21 (young-driver fee 21–24, ~€10/day) |
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| Payment | Credit card in driver's name; €700–€2,500 deposit |
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| Fuel policy | Full-to-full standard; counter offers prepay option (decline) |
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| One-way Spain | Permitted; declare at pickup, ~€90 to Seville, €120 Madrid |
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Real Centauro Faro prices in 2026
Rates below checked May 2026 on Centauro's own site and DiscoverCars for 7-day rentals at FAO. Prices exclude airport fee (already added in most online quotes) and any counter add-ons.
| Class | Shoulder | High season | Typical model |
|---|
| Mini | €7–€12/day | €20–€32/day | Fiat 500, Kia Picanto |
| Compact | €10–€16/day | €26–€42/day | VW Polo, Renault Clio |
| Compact automatic | €18–€26/day | €44–€68/day | VW T-Cross AT |
| SUV | €22–€38/day | €55–€110/day | Dacia Duster, Renault Captur |
| People-carrier | €38–€62/day | €95–€160/day | Dacia Jogger, Citroën Berlingo |
USD equivalents at €1 ≈ $1.08: a €15/day compact = roughly $16/day; a €60/day SUV in August = roughly $65/day. These prices assume basic CDW with €1,500 excess; full zero-excess cover at the counter adds €19–€26/day.
The four counter add-ons that decide your final price
- Centauro Premium zero-excess insurance — €19–€26/day. Frequently pushed as “essential”. Cheaper alternative: pre-buy third-party Full Cover online at €4–€7/day.
- Fuel-prepay tariff — sounds convenient, almost always more expensive than refilling near the airport (Galp or BP at Faro–Almancil, 5 min from FAO).
- Additional driver — €5/day per extra driver. Free at Hertz Gold/Sixt Platinum loyalty if those are options for you.
- Sat-nav rental — €5–€8/day. Use Google Maps offline maps for free.
Decline all four and the Centauro rental remains the cheapest option in Faro. Accept all four and you'll pay roughly the same as Sixt, while waiting 30 extra minutes for the shuttle.
Lock the price for your dates
Free cancellation on most Centauro Faro bookings up to 48 hours before pickup — check the live rate first.
Check live Centauro prices →
What the Centauro fleet looks like
Centauro runs younger cars than budget rivals like Goldcar — average age ~2 years in Faro. Typical pickups in 2026:
- Mini: Fiat 500 (1.0 petrol manual), Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10
- Compact: Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, VW Polo, Kia Rio
- Compact automatic: VW T-Cross AT, Peugeot 2008 AT (limited inventory)
- SUV: Dacia Duster, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008
- Family / 7-seat: Dacia Jogger, Citroën Berlingo
Specific models cannot be guaranteed — the contract is for the class, not the make. If you need a specific automatic, book a higher class with the automatic transmission filter set.
When Centauro Faro is the right choice
- You're price-sensitive on a short trip. For 2–4 days the per-day saving over Sixt or Hertz adds up.
- You have a primary credit card with European rental CDW. Lets you decline the €20/day counter insurance.
- You're flexible on car class. Centauro frequently upgrades when the booked class is unavailable.
- You have time at pickup. The shuttle plus paperwork adds 30+ minutes vs on-airport suppliers.
When to avoid Centauro
- Tight onward connection. If your hotel check-in is 90 minutes after landing, the shuttle workflow may stress that.
- You only have a debit card. Centauro will refuse pickup outright — no exceptions in 2026.
- You want a specific automatic. Inventory is thinner than Sixt or Hertz; chances of substitution higher.
- Late-night arrival. Shuttle stops at 24:00; missed flights end up in a Faro hotel for the night.
FAQ — Centauro Faro in 2026
Where exactly is Centauro at Faro Airport?+
Centauro is off-airport — desk and vehicles sit in an external lot about 5 minutes by free shuttle bus from the FAO terminal. After clearing arrivals, walk out to the rental shuttle bay (signposted) and look for the green Centauro bus, which runs every 10–15 minutes between 07:00 and 24:00.
What's the headline price vs the final price at Centauro Faro?+
Headline rates can start at €5–€8/day for a mini car in low season, but the at-counter add-ons (zero-excess insurance, additional driver, airport fee, fuel deposit) easily double the total. Always compare the all-in total at checkout, not the daily rate.
Does Centauro really demand a credit card?+
Yes. A physical, embossed credit card (not debit, not prepaid, not virtual) in the main driver's name is required for the security deposit hold. The hold ranges from €700 for entry classes to €2,500 for SUVs and premium cars.
Is the Centauro insurance upsell worth it?+
The Centauro ‘Premium' zero-excess policy costs €19–€26/day at the counter — high relative to third-party alternatives. Pre-bought Full Cover from DiscoverCars or RentalCover (€4–€7/day) provides similar protection; Centauro will still hold the excess on your card but a third-party insurer refunds claims.
What documents do I need at pickup?+
Driver's license valid for 1+ years, passport or EU ID, and a credit card in the main driver's name. UK driving licences are accepted in 2026 without an IDP. US licences are accepted; some Centauro locations request an IDP but Faro does not enforce it.
Can I drop a Centauro car in Lisbon or Seville?+
Yes, Centauro allows one-way to its other Iberian locations: roughly €60 to Lisbon, €90 to Seville, €120 to Madrid. Cross-border to Spain is permitted when declared at pickup.
