Goldcar Portugal Reviews 2,230

DO NOT book with Goldcar. Heavy sell on additional insurance which if you refuse to take they then request hefty deposit.
ALWAYS take photos of car on pick up if you have booked. 1 month after returning car and back to UK I was emailed with photos of 'damage' I had caused and a bill for nearly £300. I was able to send my photos back and show this damage was pre-existing. They came back within an hour and claimed 'email had been sent in error'. Nonsense! If I hadn't taken the photos and been able to prove it wasn't be, I think they would have pursued the claim. SCAMMERS.

Service may look good and cheap at first, but it WILL end up expensive. Look for any other alternative, even if it's more expensive. You can’t trust them, and you won't be able to get a decent reply when you need.
I got a car completely scratched on the right side, the attendant showed me it was all marked already on that side and the check wouldn’t be rigorous, and after returning the car, they want to charge me more than 100 euros for a small scratch that I didn’t do, and they couldn’t even prove it was from the car I rented - they just send a generic photo of a scratch. If you are thinking of renting a car with them, don’t do it!
To make things even worse, talking to them on the phone, you can only contact a generic phone asking for me to prove the scratch was already there before (from a side that was all scratched already). By email is no different. It’s a scam place that will get your money in any way!

A terrible car rental company. Please do yourself a favour and avoid at all costs (there are so many other rental options in Faro, do your homework and pick the more trustworthy ones, even if they cost a bit more).

The reason for this low scoring review is mainly due to them trying to give us a smaller car than we booked. We booked a Nissan Qashqai or Similar, as we needed a vehicle that would fit 3 adults and a small child, plus luggage. The 'similar' car we got was an Opel Mokka, which is smaller than a Nissan Qashqai. We couldn't even fit two suitcases in the boot.

I went back in to ask for a different car. The person serving me was relatively decent, but she said she could not help me with another car, but said if we wanted a bigger boot, we would need to upgrade. We saw a Qashqai in the car park, and she said that we needed to upgrade for that! This left us no choice but to splash out an extra £93 we had not budgeted for on an upgrade to a Ford Kuga (apparently the Qashqai was even more expensive!!)....

Truly disappointed that we were subjected to this, and I have been in touch with Expedia, the site we booked through, and they have been useless to us as well and neither party are accepting responsibly. So we, the customer, have to take the sting.

I also need to add that the staff here were VERY rude to a customer being served to my right. I don't know the full details of what was wrong with his booking, but to have the staff berating him like a child was unbelievable. This company does not deserve business from anyone.

Having used Goldcar on many occasions without any problems my good run has come to an end.

I picked up the car a white Toyota Corolla with 79k kms on the clock and 35 crosses where they agreed existing damage.
I joked the only panel without damage was the roof!

Dissapointingly they charged me for Toll transponder, please be aware the A22 is toll free at present.

On returning the car the young girl checked the car off against her sheet and then advised me there was new damage to the rear bumper lower reflector, digging out my original paperwork I showed her the area was clearly marked with an X which in my eyes showed areas of pre existing damage!
No amount of discussion would presuade her it was existing damage, the manager refused to get off her ample backside and kept calling the damage a broken headlight.
With a flight to catch my time is more important than the 104 euro charge, moving forward.

Lesson learnt

We hired a group DD car (Picasso/C-Max, which was meant to be the key n go service (which is just as well it wasn't given what they did), and gave us the key to a group B car (Skoda Fabia). We tried to complain and explain that this was not correct , and we wouldn't have even been able to get our luggage in, but the rude member of staff shrugged and alluded to not speaking very good English. We unfortunately had to get a little louder to make ourselves heard until a other member of staff stepped in, and because I had an actual print out of the car reservation, she saw the group car we had PAID for. Only for the fact we were eventually heard did I give a 2 star rating instead of 1. The difference in price is over £13 per day between the 2 groups.

The car was dirty, it smelled inside and immediately had a check oil warning light on. The airport at this point was jammed, and we just wanted to get out of there.

Not the best impression for the start of an eagerly anticipated holiday, and had this been our first time to Majorca, we'd seriously consider whether we would go back.

I would recommend giving Gold Car a wide berth and go with Hertz instead.

Now, three months after my car rental, I still haven't received my deposit back. It is becoming a legal issue as Goldcar stonewalls requests. Fingers crossed it will work out, but this headache and 1000+ euros in jeopardy is just not worth it to rent here again.

If I could give zero stars I would. Avoid this car rental company. We were told we could only add an additional driver if we also purchased extra full cover insurance - costing hundreds of euros. We’ve never encountered that rule anywhere else. Seems like a scam to take more money when you’re stuck. We ended up walking away from our prepaid booking and using a different company altogether, as that was cheaper than what they were trying to make us pay! Definitely preying on tired travellers with made up rules and costs that don’t make sense or exist with any other company. The bad reviews are true. Avoid avoid avoid!

I had to pay up front for a full tank of fuel and toll charges. Okay, I can understand that but 4 weeks after returning the car full of fuel and without using a toll road I am yet to receive a refund. When I returned the car I was told everything was okay by the young man who served me and was told I would receive the refund within 5 days. I emailed customer service with no reply.

2nd time using Goldcar in Portugal. Travelling in the Algarve over 20 years. Last year we left the car back and there was minor damage under the car (specifically the tyre) I thought strange, as we did not review under the car and tyres when collecting. It wasn't a massive cost so I let it go, although was sceptical that we made the damage. I can see from other reviews here, that this seems to be common practise - advise damage to an obscure part of the car that you would not think of checking, then charge extortionate rates.

I was quoted a decent price this year and thought I will give them another try. We collected the car at night, the person reviewing the car spent no more than 8 minutes on the car but we were confident we had highlighted the damage. The car was nice but it was badly damaged. I will admit I didn't review the sheet he gave us with a fine tooth comb (something I regret now!)

My husband took ill when there, so we barely drove the car. On leaving the car back, we were advised that a fog light had been smashed and there was damage to the rear bumper. We did not see this damage when we had it, we felt very strange, it would have taken quite a bit of force to cause this damage and we know we did not have any accident etc. Car was parked in a safe garage. They charged me £126.00 but I did not receive an invoice, I had to email them.

This is when I got quite angry, on the invoice it stated the damage and charge to the fog light but also added damage that was not noted on THEIR return sheet! They had also charged us for damage to a luggage rack - which we did not have, over €300 might I add and another €200 for damage to part of the car where it was not stated we had damaged on return. I highlighted this and strangely I am yet to hear from them. Total scam, will not use them again, I hired via carrental.co.uk I will also be informing them of this dreadful service and all I can describe as fraud! Do not use, the are ripping innocent people off. I have insurance as I took 'worry free' but this might not be the case for others. I think it is shameful, we know we did not cause the damage and the fact they have sent me an invoice for damage that wasn't even noted on their sheet on return says it all really...

Watch out for these scammer!
When you prove them you are in the right, they end your call everytime again.
Also, whenever you want all the legal information, you need to call every day for 2 weeks straight to finally have someone who follows the law.

Scam company, be warned, don’t rent here.

If you’re thinking of renting from this company take a note of the reviews. I’ve been going to the Algarve for over 23 years and in my opinion these are by far the worst car hire company at Faro. Upon renting the car we identified 20 plus scratches dents etc. Gold Car initially said there were 13. I didn’t take there extortionate insurance but luckily for me I had arranged cover in advance in the uk.
There was no-one around to check my car in upon my return so I was encouraged to leave the keys in a drop box. Then a month later I’ve now been informed there was a scratch on a wheel, that wasn’t there when I collected it which will cost me £200.

Clearly despite taking loads of pictures on collection I cannot prove or disprove when this damage occurred and agree with others that this company is just looking to entice customers with low prices and then use sharp practice to charge you more after your return.

Luckily I have insurance but I will never use them again and must warn others to avoid them. There are lots of other companies at Faro and one would use them.

Our experience was with Goldcar in Porto. We had to pay extra charges once arrived there. We got a car that was not fully tanked. I told a guy about it (it was easy to see on the car dashboard). He replied that the car had a problem and was not marking the fuel level properly and that we should only tale a picture of it and we should be fine. Of course, it was a lie, because we brought the car back FULLY tanked. We preferred to do it this way, so they wouldn’t charge us more. But they found something else…17 days after having returned the car, they sent me an email that they found a damage on the car and they would charge me 300EUR. They had already freed the 2.000EUR they had blocked on my card, but still had access to it… They sent me a picture where there was absolutely no damaged to be seen. I complained because after 17 days, many people could have driven the car. I blocked my credit card because I didn’t feel confident about the story. Two days ago (the story started mid-August) they tried to take the 300EUR, but it has failed as my card is still blocked. How on Earth do they still have access to my credit card when they pretend they’ve unblocked everything? It’s a shame to behave like this.

The car got a flat tyre a few days into the9 day hire and when I went to change it I discovered there was no spare tyre. 

I eventually managed to phone the Gold Car desk who had to arrange and cab for myself and my wife back to the airport car hire desk, and a pick up truck to collet the car. 

This is crazy, all this time and effort because the do not have spare tyres, but that wasn't all, then came the extra charges!!! 

I was then told that I would have to pay for 2 (yes two) new tyres as the desk clerk said it is illegal to not change both tyres in Portugal, which I have since found out to be untrue! This cost me 128 euro.

Then after I returned the car and flew home I found I was charged a further 160 euros, for which I have had no email or receipt to say what that covers. I'm assuming it is the taxi and pick up truck, but no receipt or email. 

All because they didn't have a spare tyre. 

Classic scam: Goldcar offers you a cheap rental, but if you refuse their insurance, they’ll find ‘damage’ you can barely see—like a tiny mark under the sill you’d never spot. The guy checking it over is oddly thorough (so I thought ‘here we go’. He was running his hands everywhere, and then suddenly there it is: €250 ‘damage’ charge for something invisible. Sharp prices, sharp practices—watch out.

Rented a good car from Valencia airport. Goldcar were supposed to block a deposit on my credit card but instead they actually put 1600 euros through to my card. This also incurred a further £35 currency exchange cost. Furthermore I filled the car full at junction 435 on the A3 which is 4 Km from the airport and yet Goldcar charged a 50 Euro re-fill and a 10 Euro pterol charge but the petrol was spurting out of the filler nozzle at the petrol station!!. I have rented with Golcar many tens of times in the past but this is a disgusting new low. Very angry.

I rent it a car from Gold Car in Faro Airport Portugal for 3 weeks.
After 4 days the car broke down. Took the all day to get it sorted. Had to get a car picked up and also by taxi had to go back to Faro from Lagos which took a long time.

This wasn't the main issue as this things happend. The main issue was with my second car.

The car received was brand new and Perfect. ( or so I thought).

I returned the car early in the morning, so no one around.

When I got back to UK. I received the paper work to say the driver key lock was damaged... and had to pay 177 EUR.

This is a lie and a way to get more money. This car doesn't need a key to open the car. IT's done by button on the keys... this is a scam to get more money as they know most people dont check this or have evidence by photo.

I feel they did this to get money back from my original car I had which broke down.

THIS IS A SCAM AND ROBBERY... I have read in many places how this things happen.

NEVER AGAIN WILL RENT FROM GOLD CAR. Scammers

This review is for GoldCar Faro, Portugal. We booked a flight for 9 nights with jet 2 to Faro, Portugal and as jet 2 are a professional company, I booked the car via their links. It was with Gold Car. Oh, how I wish I had read the dreadful reviews on Which and Trip Advisor etc., on the non-existent customer service at Faro airport before I paid for this car. We arrived midday. It took around 15 minutes for the Gold Car representative to mark off the damage marks on the car sheet and the situation was made worse as the car looked like it had been polished or washed with GRIT in the cloth, small scratches all over it. The car was an SUV and advertised to take 4 suitcases, but we struggled getting them in the boot so removed the parcel shelf. Unfortunately, we left the parcel shelf propped up against the fence behind us in the Gold Car compound. We realised this when we were about an hour and a half's drive away from Faro airport, so we went online and emailed them, advising them of the bay number where we left the parcel shelf. We were not too concerned at this stage as this bay number was just behind their office and there were many gold car staff milling around (being midday), so it was quite busy. We were confident that a member of staff would notice it, as it was easily spottable. I also phoned them and was told I would hear from them within 48 hours. We heard nothing. This email address on their website is incorrect: “Your message wasn't delivered to faro goldcar.com because the address couldn't be found or is unable to receive email.” After 8 emails and 4 phone calls, 2 to them and 2 to the contact on the Jet 2 paperwork, (02083468 5883) we still heard nothing. Our daughter in London also was contacting them on our behalf but she received no replies either. The Jet2 contact gave me the wrong email address. On a 9 night holiday, we were approaching the end and had still not heard back from Gold Car. On day 7 of our 9 night holiday we finally got a reply: “Good afternoon, we have no information regarding anything found in our park. best regards. Goldcar Faro Airport”. When we checked the car in on departure, they had no information on our booking of all the emails and phone calls, and it felt like they just wanted to charge us for the parcel shelf. We insisted that they go and check. Thankfully it had been found but the attitude of the woman at the desk was completely disinterested in what I had to say about the emails and the phone calls. No apology for the lack of contact. I was really shocked and disappointed, especially as I had booked the car via the Jet 2 Link. The stress of this really affected our holiday, as we did not want to be charged for an expensive parcel shelf left on their property, that we had advised them about almost immediately. Jet2 should have more control over the car hire companies they allow their customers to book with.

Have used Goldcar from Faro Airport many times a year for several years without incident and found the staff there helpful and professional.
A reoccuring issue is whilst the Portuguese Authorities have introduced compulsory charging in advance by car hire companies for potential use of toll roads. If those roads are not used Goldcar is supposed to refund the customer. It does not operate a policy of automatically doing this and so the onus is on the customer to write to customer services to receive reimbursement. No doubt many will have forgotten they had paid an advance toll charge. Writing to customer services and requesting the refund does result in repayment, but a system of automaticslly refunding customers what us due to them would demonstrate good customer service and PR for Goldcar.
Unfortunately on 2 recent bookings have 2 separate problems and the customer services team have not demonstrated a reasonable level of ......customer service.
Following a late evening pick-up when there was no requirement for air conditioning, the a/c in the hire car was found not to be working the following day with temperatures hitting 40°. The battery in the car key fob also ran out. Despite repeated e-mails to customer services about this, from someone who has given them 30 plus bookings in recent years the reporting of this and my only other incident are being ignored.
On another booking shortly before the one above a €40 late pick up charge was imposed when car wasn't picked up at alloted time. Fair enough if I was late, but had actually arrived in time but was faced with a 45 minute queue at the Goldcar office due to a number of flights arriving at the same time. On this occasion the staff at the pick up office couldnt cope large number of customers due to circumstances outside their control, and when I was told they would need to levy a charge as I reached the front desk 30 minutes late (having queued for 45 mins) I assumed the reimbursement would follow contacting customer services Iin the same way as reimbursement of toll road advance payments.
The good work of the Faro Airport office team has been undermined by the Customer Services Team when standards have fallen short. Coupled with there being no automatic reimbursement of advance toll road charges unless customers chase these result in this 1 star rating. Prior to the late pick up charge and the faulty car incidents, despite the toll issue, 4 stars would have applied.

As other people have said, the advertised price is simply not achievable, ours increased by 40% due to various charges. We declined the exorbitant insurance so they placed a 2,000 Euro block on our credit card plus 123 euro for fuel (the car was a Renault Clio which costs 54 Euro to fill). And now they are saying it will take weeks for the block to be dealt with blaming the banks. Which is a total lie.
Much better to go with Sixt or the mainstream companies at least you know the price

They post incredibly low prices to lure people into booking a rental car with them, they take the fee which is agreed but when we arrived to get our car we were told that in the tiny fine print we should have noticed that there is no insurance and we were basically scared into paying several premiums. What was initially a 25 euro rental per day turned into a 250 euro rental per day. By that time we were tired after a very long flight, late for our meetings and had no real other choice than to accept (or leave a 7 thousand euro deposit). Additionally, they took a 250 euro deposit and they still haven't returned the deposit, two weeks later. When we called them they said that the deposits can take up to a month to return.