I-VII 06:00 – 00:00
Guerin is Portugal's largest national car-rental chain and its Faro Airport (FAO) desk is one of the busiest at FAO. Daily rates start at €15 / $16 off-season and rise to €45-55 / $49-60 in peak July-August. Google rating sits at 4.0 / 5 across 1,100+ reviews in May 2026 — fair, but with the same pattern as most big chains: aggressive Plus-cover pitches and post-rental damage disputes. Worth using if you book with standalone insurance, decline upsells firmly and document the car with a walk-around video.
Desk inside the FAO arrivals hall on the right after baggage claim. No shuttle needed — the lot is a 2-minute walk through the underground tunnel. Open 07:00-23:00 daily, out-of-hours by request (€30 / $33 fee).
Branch near Faro train station. Useful if you arrive by train from Lisbon and want a car for Algarve excursions. Smaller fleet than FAO.
| Class | Models | Low season | Peak Jul-Aug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | Fiat 500, Hyundai i10 | €15 / $16 | €42 / $46 |
| Compact | Peugeot 208, Renault Clio | €19 / $21 | €48 / $52 |
| Mid-size | Hyundai i30, VW Golf | €26 / $28 | €55 / $60 |
| SUV | Dacia Duster, Peugeot 2008 | €34 / $37 | €72 / $78 |
| 7-seater | Citroën Berlingo, Ford Tourneo | €48 / $52 | €95 / $103 |
FAO Airport — review scores comparison
Trustpilot + Google May 2026
Arrive at FAO, baggage claim, follow signs for “Rent a Car” — Guerin is in the row of desks on the right. Show passport, licence and the credit card used to book. Sign the contract (5-10 minutes), walk to the lot through the tunnel (2 minutes), do the walk-around (5 minutes), drive off. Total: 15-25 minutes outside peak landing slots.
Base CDW has a €1,000-1,800 / $1,090-1,960 excess. “Cobertura Total” (€0 excess) costs €13-17 / $14-18 per day. Standalone third-party (RentalCover, iCarhireinsurance) is €4-6 / $4-7 per day — same protection, half the cost.
Portuguese motorways use electronic tolls (Via Verde). Most Guerin rentals include a transponder at €1.50-2 / $1.65-2.20 per rental day plus actual toll cost.
| Route | Distance | Drive time | Approx. toll |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAO → Albufeira | 40 km | 30 min | €2.50 / $2.70 |
| FAO → Vilamoura / Quarteira | 22-26 km | 20-25 min | €2 / $2.20 |
| FAO → Lagos | 85 km | 55 min | €5 / $5.50 |
| FAO → Tavira | 40 km | 30 min | €2.50 / $2.70 |
| FAO → Seville (Spain) | 200 km | 2h15 | €11 / $12 |
Walk-in is 30-45 % more expensive.
Local Algarve operators often undercut Guerin by 15-25 % for the same car class.
Saves €91-119 / $99-130 on a week.
Refuel at the BP on Av. Aeroporto before drop-off.
Guerin's debit acceptance is one of the best in Portugal — useful if you don't want a credit-card hold.
Refuse dynamic currency conversion.
Top picks: Benagil sea-cave loop via Carvoeiro (1h west), the Spanish border at Ayamonte and on to Seville (2h15 east), the historic inland Silves castle (45 min), Cape St Vincent at Europe's south-western tip (1h30 west), and the eastern Algarve fishing village of Olhão (15 min east).
Yes, reasonably. Portugal's largest national chain with 4.0 / 5 on Google across 1,100+ reviews at FAO. The main complaint pattern is counter Plus-cover pressure, not the cars themselves.
15-25 minutes outside peak hours. The Guerin desk is inside FAO arrivals and the car lot is a 2-minute tunnel walk — one of the fastest pickups at the airport.
Yes on selected plans — among the most flexible big chains in Portugal. Deposit is €1,800 / $1,960 on debit vs €1,000 / $1,090 on credit.
Yes — Spain is included by default. Other EU countries usually need written authorisation and a small cross-border fee.
21 with a young-driver surcharge of €8-12 / $9-13 per day up to age 25. SUV and 7-seater classes require 23+.
Sometimes — Guerin typically sits between local Algarve operators (cheapest) and the international chains. Always compare all-in (including insurance) before deciding.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program at no extra cost to you. Information verified 19 May 2026 against Guerin's official site and current Google Maps reviews.
