I-VII 06:00 – 00:00
National operates off-airport, through the Enterprise/Atesa facility near the airport at Faro Airport (FAO), the Algarve gateway. Low-season economy cars start around €10–15/day ($11–17), and since 2025 the A22 motorway is toll-free – so day trips cost only fuel. This guide covers what to expect from National in Faro, the real 2026 prices, the deposit rules, and the local desks that out-rate the chains.
National at Faro – compare it against the top-rated Algarve locals before booking.
Faro Airport (FAO) is a big, competitive Algarve market, so prices stay low outside peak summer. Here is what to expect in 2026:
Average Daily Rates at Faro Airport (FAO) by Season
Booked in advance, EUR (USD approx.)
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €10–15 | €12–18 | €22–35 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €16–26 | €20–32 | €32–48 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €35–55 | €40–60 | €58–90 |
Automatics carry a 40–80% premium and sell out in summer – book early. Most value desks are off-airport via the P4 shuttle.
Faro Airport: Cheapest vs. Most Expensive Months
Average economy car rate, EUR/day, 2025–2026 data
💰 Faro Rental Budget Calculator
Compare live Faro prices →Rate prefilled with the lowest off-season economy rate; change it for your dates. A credit-card deposit (€1,000–2,400) is held, not charged. Pre-booked excess cover (~€4–6/day) beats the counter upsell.
National operates at Faro through the shared Enterprise/Atesa facility rather than its own counter. Its global Trustpilot is 2.9/5 and there are too few Faro-specific Google reviews to judge the local desk – so treat it as a mainstream, business-oriented option and document the car at pickup. Generally a smoother, lower-pressure counter than the cheapest budget brands.
At Faro the local desks out-rate the international chains, so it's worth lining National up against the best-rated options before you book.
At Faro the local desks crush the chains on reviews. Yes Car Hire rates 4.9/5 across ~2,350 Google reviews – an Algarve local with a P4 meet-and-greet, transparent pricing and minimal upsell. The top choice if you want a smooth Faro pickup.
DiscoverCars compares the local heroes and the chains in one search, with all-inclusive pricing and free cancellation on most bookings. Its full-coverage add-on (~€4–6/day) undercuts every counter. Highest-rated rental platform on Trustpilot.
Auto Rent is a well-reviewed Algarve local (4.4/5 across ~1,650 Google reviews) that also fulfils some broker bookings at Faro. A solid, fair-priced alternative if Yes Car Hire is sold out.
InterRent (Europcar group) has no Faro desk – you check in at the Goldcar counter and shuttle from Car Park 4. With a 1.1/5 Trustpilot score it draws the heaviest complaints: insurance/upgrade upsell and damage/cleaning charges. Only book it fully prepaid with zero excess, and document everything.
Goldcar offers rock-bottom Faro rates but one of the lowest Trustpilot scores (1.3–1.5/5): aggressive counter insurance, large deposits and fuel traps. Workable only with pre-bought excess cover and thorough pickup photos.
Centauro is among the cheapest at Faro (Google ~3.5/3,169) but reports cite a P4 shuttle wait and deposit/damage disputes. Careful, well-documented renters do fine; others get caught out.
Faro Rental Reputation: Best vs. Worst
Google Maps (local Faro) + Trustpilot (global), June 2026
The headline rate rarely includes real protection. Know the three options before the counter.
Basic CDW with a high excess of €1,000–2,400, blocked on your credit card at pickup.
Staff push “Super CDW” for €15–35/day – €105–245 on a week, often more than the car.
Buy standalone excess cover before you travel (~€4–6/day). It reimburses any excess the company charges, so you can decline the counter cover.
Insurance Cost Comparison: Faro
7-day rental, 2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Excess Covered? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No (€1,000–2,400) |
| Counter Super CDW | €15–35 | €105–245 | Mostly |
| Third-party excess (pre-booked) | €4–6 | €28–42 | Yes (reclaim) |
Big 2026 win: the A22 Via do Infante, the Algarve's main motorway, has been toll-free since 1 January 2025 and remains free in 2026. Faro, Albufeira, Lagos and Sagres are all reachable with zero tolls. (If you drive north toward Lisbon, the rental's Via Verde device or EASYToll handles the electronic tolls there.)
| Fuel Type | Algarve Price | Approx. USD/Litre |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol (gasolina 95) | €1.88/L | $2.03 |
| Diesel (gasóleo) | €1.78/L | $1.92 |
Most rentals are diesel; a full compact tank (~45 L) is about €80. Supermarket and independent stations undercut the motorway.
At Faro the local heroes (Yes Car Hire, Auto Rent) out-rate the chains and rarely upsell. Compare them first.
November–February is cheapest; July–August is dearest and automatics sell out – book 3–4 weeks ahead.
Pre-book third-party excess cover (~€4–6/day) and turn down the €15–35/day counter policy.
Avoid the prepaid “full-to-empty” deal – you won't get unused fuel back.
Faro is the Algarve's gateway, and with the A22 toll-free the whole region is yours for the price of fuel.
Start with Faro's own walled old town and the Ria Formosa lagoon – boat trips to the barrier-island beaches leave from the marina.
A graceful riverside town of churches and a Roman bridge, with the sandbar beaches of Ilha de Tavira just offshore.
The Algarve's iconic sea cave (boat or kayak tour only since 2024) plus pretty Carvoeiro and the Algar Seco boardwalk.
The most spectacular cliffs and grottoes in the Algarve, golden beaches and a lively old town.
The dramatic “end of Europe” – Sagres fortress and the lighthouse cliffs at the south-western tip of the continent.
A few majors have in-terminal counters, but most value brands (OK, InterRent, Ace, Resolvcar) operate off-airport via a shuttle from Car Park 4 (P4) – allow 15–20 minutes for pickup.
No – the A22 (Via do Infante) has been toll-free since 2025 and remains free in 2026, so driving around the Algarve costs nothing in tolls.
Yes – nearly all Faro desks require a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit/excess hold (~€1,000–2,400); debit cards are often refused.
January and the Nov–Feb low season (economy from ~€10–15/day). July–August is dearest; book early for summer and for automatics.
The local heroes rate highest: Yes Car Hire (4.9), Auto Rent (4.4), plus DiscoverCars (4.6) for comparing. Be cautious with the cheapest chains (InterRent 1.1, Goldcar 1.5) for upsell and damage complaints.
No – choose full-to-full and refuel near the airport. The prepaid full-to-empty option almost always loses you money.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Our company reviews are based on current Trustpilot and Google Maps ratings and traveler feedback. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. Prices, tolls and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
