I-VII 06:00 – 00:00
Firefly is a budget brand at Faro Airport – part of the Hertz family – with eye-catching low headline prices, but a mixed reputation for deposit holds, fuel policy and add-on pressure (Trustpilot around 2.0/5). It can work out cheap if you read the terms carefully, but the Algarve's top-rated value operators often beat it for less hassle. Economy cars at Faro start around €8–15/day ($9–$16), and – good news since 2025 – the A22 motorway is now toll-free. This guide covers Firefly in Faro honestly, the real prices, the better alternatives, and the traps to avoid.
Firefly is the budget arm of the Hertz family at Faro – cheap headline prices, but read the terms.
Faro is one of the most competitive rental markets in Portugal – around 37 companies – which keeps headline prices low. But with budget brands like Firefly, the cheapest rate rarely survives the counter once extras are added. Expect roughly:
Average Daily Rates at Faro Airport by Season
Booked 4–6 weeks in advance, prices in EUR
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €8–15 | €12–20 | €22–38 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €16–28 | €20–34 | €34–52 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €30–50 | €36–58 | €55–85 |
Firefly's headline rate is among the lowest – but factor in deposit, insurance and fuel policy before booking.
Estimated rental cost by trip length
from €8/day
Illustrative — daily rate × days at the lowest 2026 starting price; real prices vary by season & demand.
Faro Rental Budget Calculator
Rate prefilled with the lowest realistic low-season Faro daily rate; change it for your dates.
Firefly is the budget arm of the Hertz family (alongside Dollar and Thrifty), so it shares the group's reservation system and is handled through the Hertz operation at Faro Airport.
Firefly's Trustpilot score sits around 2.0/5, with recurring complaints about large deposit holds, strict fuel policy (often “full-to-empty” prepay), and pressure to buy extras at the counter. None of that is unusual for a budget brand – but it means the cheap online price can balloon. If you book Firefly, read the fuel and deposit terms line by line, decline cover you don't want, and document the car carefully.
One of the best-rated companies at Faro (~9/10), with clean cars, below-average prices and a fast meet-and-greet pickup. The value benchmark – and far less hassle than the budget chains.
A well-rated local operator praised for honest pricing and no surprise charges – everything the budget brands aren't.
The strongest international brand at Faro for a newer fleet and a predictable process. Pricier, but a real terminal desk and far better reviews than the budget arms.
A dependable major with a broad fleet and clearer terms than the budget brands – a safe fallback at Faro.
The subject of this guide. Low rates but a 2.0/5 Trustpilot average, with recurring deposit, fuel-policy and upsell complaints. Viable only if you read every term and decline extras.
Aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry (1.6/5).
Cheap online but notorious for strict fuel rules and excess disputes at return that can wipe out the savings.
Basic CDW with an excess of €1,000–€1,800, blocked on your credit card – budget brands like Firefly often block higher deposits. Tyres, glass and underbody usually excluded.
Super CDW to zero the excess is €15–25/day – €105–175 a week, and budget-brand counters push it hard.
Standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) bought before you travel covers the excluded items and refunds any excess charged – especially worthwhile with a budget brand whose own cover can be thin.
Insurance Cost Comparison: 7-Day Faro Rental
2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Covers Tyres/Glass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No |
| Counter Super CDW | €15–25 | €105–175 | Sometimes |
| Third-party excess cover | €4–7 | €28–49 | Yes |
The A22 (Via do Infante) across the Algarve has been toll-free since 1 January 2025 – no booths, no electronic tolls, no transponder. The coastal N125 is free too. One genuine cost you no longer have to worry about, whichever company you book.
With budget brands, add deposit, fuel and insurance before deciding – the “cheapest” can end up dearest.
See the market, then check value operators like Rent-a-Star and CAEL.
Avoid Firefly's prepay-a-tank policy if a full-to-full option exists.
Decline the counter upsell.
No transponder or toll fees since 2025.
Refuel before drop-off and document the car.
The Algarve's most photogenic cliffs and golden beaches, west on the now-free A22.
The famous sea cave near Carvoeiro, reachable by boat, kayak or SUP.
A lagoon nature park and the elegant old town of Tavira, east of Faro.
The wild south-western tip of Europe, with dramatic cliffs and a powerful lighthouse.
A feasible cross-border day trip – confirm your cover crosses into Spain first.
It's a cheap budget brand (part of the Hertz family) but with a low ~2.0/5 Trustpilot average and recurring deposit, fuel-policy and upsell complaints. It can work if you read every term and decline extras, but the top-rated value operators (Rent-a-Star, CAEL) are usually less hassle for a similar price.
Firefly is handled through the Hertz family operation at Faro Airport, so you collect at or near the Hertz desk. Check your voucher for exact instructions.
It's positioned as a budget brand with low headline rates, but it tends to make margin on deposits, fuel policy (often prepay-a-tank) and counter add-ons. Always compare the all-in price, not the headline.
No longer – the A22 (Via do Infante) has been toll-free since 1 January 2025, with no booths, electronic tolls or transponder needed. The coastal N125 is free too.
Choose a full-to-full fuel option, buy third-party excess insurance before you travel and decline the counter Super CDW, confirm the deposit amount, and film a walk-around video at pickup and return.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €8–15/day ($9–$16). Shoulder season is €16–28/day and peak summer €30–50/day, with automatics more – but always check Firefly's all-in price.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Our company reviews are based on Trustpilot scores, Google Maps reviews, traveler-forum feedback and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
