I-VII 08:00 – 00:00
Rent-a-Star is one of the best-value car rental companies at Faro Airport – consistently rated around 9/10 by travellers, with economy cars from roughly €10–15/day ($11–$16) in low season and a fast meet-and-greet pickup. It is not a terminal-desk brand, so knowing how the off-airport collection works saves confusion on arrival. This guide covers Rent-a-Star in Faro specifically, the real Algarve prices, how it compares to the other companies at FAO, and the local traps – especially the electronic tolls – that catch first-time visitors.
Faro is the Algarve's gateway and one of the most competitive rental markets in Portugal, with around 37 companies fighting for business. That keeps headline prices low – but the cheapest rate is rarely the cheapest rental once extras are added.
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 |
Value operators like Rent-a-Star usually sit at or below the market average for the same car class.
Rent-a-Star positions itself at the budget-friendly end and is repeatedly described as cheaper than average for Faro, with a quick desk turnaround (an average wait of around 6 minutes).
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 is prefilled with the lowest off-season Faro economy price – change it for your dates and class.
The single most important thing to know: Rent-a-Star does not have a desk inside the Faro terminal. It runs a meet-and-greet service instead.
After you land at Faro (Gago Coutinho) and collect your luggage, a Rent-a-Star representative meets you and guides you to the car pickup point, which is just off the airport near the Holiday Inn Express – a very short transfer. If you do not see the rep immediately, call the local number (+351 913 012 485) rather than waiting at the terminal desks. Knowing this in advance avoids the confusion that some first-timers report.
Rent-a-Star ranks at or near the top of the 37 companies at Faro on review aggregators, with scores around 9/10. Cars are usually in very good condition and staff are rated highly for friendliness. The main grumbles are occasional confusion over the off-airport pickup and the odd disputed cleaning fee (around €25) – both easily avoided by confirming the pickup point and returning the car clean.
Faro has the full spread – excellent value local operators and a few notorious budget traps. Here is how the main names compare.
The subject of this guide and a standout for value. Around 9/10 across review platforms, clean and well-maintained cars, friendly staff and a fast turnaround. No terminal desk – a rep meets you and walks you to the car near the airport. Confirm the pickup point and return the car clean and you will have a smooth, cheap rental.
A well-rated local operator that consistently earns praise for honest pricing and no surprise charges. A reliable alternative to the big chains if Rent-a-Star is sold out.
If you prefer a global brand with a terminal desk, Sixt is the strongest pick at Faro – a newer fleet and a predictable process. Pricier than the local value operators, and watch the counter upsell.
A dependable major with a broad fleet and good automatic availability. Mid-range pricing and transparent terms make it a safe fallback at Faro.
Goldcar's Faro operation draws the same complaints as everywhere: aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.
Low headline prices but repeated complaints over deposit holds, fuel policy and add-on pressure. Read the terms line by line before booking.
Cheap online but notorious for strict fuel rules, toll handling fees and excess disputes at return that can wipe out the savings.
Insurance is where the real money is made. The counter is the worst place to buy it.
Every rental includes basic CDW with an excess of €1,000–€1,800 for economy/compact cars, blocked on your credit card. Tyres, glass and the underbody are usually excluded.
Staff push Super CDW to zero the excess for €15–25/day – €105–175 on a week, often more than the car.
Standalone excess insurance from RentalCover or iCarhireinsurance costs €4–7/day, covers the excluded items and refunds any excess charged. Buy it before you travel and decline the counter upsell.
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 |
Third-party excess insurance is roughly a third of the counter price and covers more.
The Algarve's main motorway, the A22 (Via do Infante), has been toll-free since 1 January 2025. There are no toll booths and no electronic charges – the whole Algarve motorway is now free to drive.
This is a recent change – before 2025 the A22 used electronic tolls and you needed a transponder, but that is no longer the case. You don't pay anything to use the A22 today.
| Typical Algarve Route | Road | Approx. Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Faro → Lagos | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Faro → Tavira | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Faro → Spanish border (Ayamonte) | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Coastal N125 (toll-free) | N125 | €0 (slower, scenic) |
Faro fills up in summer. Prices climb and automatics disappear as the date nears.
See the whole market on a comparison site, then check value operators like Rent-a-Star directly.
Manuals are far cheaper and more available than automatics.
Buy third-party excess cover before you travel and decline Super CDW.
The Algarve motorway is toll-free, so there's nothing to set up or pay.
Refuel before drop-off and give the interior a quick tidy to avoid cleaning fees.
What a 7-Day Faro Rental Actually Costs
Compact car, shoulder season, booked 5 weeks early
| Cost Item | Smart Booking | Typical Tourist |
|---|---|---|
| Base rental (7 days) | €140 (€20/day, value operator) | €266 (€38/day, auto, chain) |
| Insurance | €35 (third-party excess) | €140 (counter Super CDW) |
| A22 tolls | €0 (free since 2025) | €0 |
| Fuel | €50 | €65 (rental refuel fee) |
| Cleaning fee | €0 (returned clean) | €25 |
| Total | €243 (~$267) | €526 (~$578) |
The smart approach saves nearly €285 on a single week.
A car turns the Algarve from a single beach into a whole coastline of them.
The Algarve's most photogenic cliffs and grottoes, with golden beaches like Praia Dona Ana. Take the A22 west, or the scenic N125.
The famous sea cave with a hole in its roof, near Carvoeiro. Reachable by boat, kayak or SUP from nearby beaches – park at Praia de Benagil.
The wild, windswept south-western tip of Europe, with dramatic cliffs and Europe's most powerful lighthouse. Raw and uncrowded.
A lagoon nature park of islands and salt pans east of Faro, plus the elegant old town of Tavira. Easy day trips on the A22 or N125.
A feasible cross-border day trip east on the A22 – confirm your insurance and toll cover crosses into Spain first.
Yes – Rent-a-Star is one of the top-rated companies at Faro, scoring around 9/10 across review platforms, with clean cars, friendly staff, fast turnaround and below-average prices. The main thing to know is that it uses an off-airport meet-and-greet pickup rather than a terminal desk.
Rent-a-Star has no terminal desk. A representative meets you after you collect your luggage and guides you to the car pickup point just off the airport, near the Holiday Inn Express. If you don't see the rep, call the local number (+351 913 012 485).
Low-season manual economy cars start at €8–15/day ($9–$16). Shoulder season runs €16–28/day and peak summer €30–50/day, with automatics considerably more. Value operators like Rent-a-Star sit at or below the market average.
No – the A22 (Via do Infante) has been toll-free since 1 January 2025. There are no booths, no electronic tolls and no transponder needed. The parallel N125 coastal road is free too.
It's cheaper to buy standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) before you travel than the counter Super CDW (€15–25/day). Third-party cover also includes tyres, glass and the underbody, which counter policies often exclude.
Return the car reasonably clean inside and out. A small number of reviews mention a ~€25 cleaning charge; a quick tidy and a walk-around video at drop-off avoid disputes.
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.
