Split, Croatia
Decent vehicle, but the wait at the counter was excessive
I rented from Goldcar at Split Airport for a quick business trip. While the car itself—a Fiat 500—was clean and did the job for getting to my meetings, the pickup process really tested my patience. After a long flight, the last thing I wanted was to stand in a queue for nearly 45 minutes. There seemed to be only two agents working the desk, which caused a massive bottleneck. The staff member who finally helped me was professional enough and clearly trying to work through the backlog, but the lack of staffing was frustrating. I also had to go through the usual hard sell on their 'Super Relax' insurance, which I declined. It wasn't a terrible experience, but the delay meant I arrived at my first appointment much later than planned. If you're in a rush, be warned that efficiency isn't their strong point here.
Split AirportKos, Greece
Good for island driving
Rented a Fiat 500 from Goldcar for a week on Kos. Tiny but perfect for the narrow streets. Cheap too. Pick up and drop off were both simple with no issues.
Kos AirportLisbon, Portugal
Lisbon city centre pickup — friendly and unhurried
Goldcar's city branch near Marquês de Pombal was a pleasant surprise. Staff were patient, car was a zippy Citroën C3. Great for Sintra day trips.
LisbonSplit, Croatia
Decent car but pushy on insurance
The car was fine and the price was good but they really push their own insurance hard at the counter. I had cover through my credit card so I declined but it felt uncomfortable.
Split AirportMarrakech, Morocco
Marrakech Goldcar is exactly the deal hunters fear
A long wait, hard-sell insurance script and a deposit hold that swallowed most of the card limit made the cheap headline rate feel almost comically incomplete.
Marrakech AirportSplit, Croatia
Solid choice for our Croatian honeymoon road trip
We booked with Goldcar for our honeymoon trip along the Dalmatian coast and found them to be a solid choice overall. We arrived at the Split airport desk around 9 AM and, luckily, the queue wasn't too long. The staff member was professional, though she did give us the usual hard sell on their 'Super Relax' insurance. We stood our ground since we had separate coverage, and it wasn't too much of a hassle. We were given a fairly new VW Polo, which was perfect for the coastal roads. Drop-off was surprisingly straightforward, which was a relief after hearing horror stories about other companies. They checked the car quickly, and we got our deposit back within five days. If you're on a budget but still want a reliable car, I'd recommend them—just be prepared to decline the extra coverage firmly.
Split AirportLisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Goldcar turns a cheap quote into hard work
A 50-minute queue, a €1,600 hold, and a surprise push toward prepaid fuel made this one feel like a low-cost fare with every hidden fee switched on.
Lisbon AirportMalaga, Spain
Malaga Goldcar: classic Costa del Sol stress test
The queue stretched past the barrier, staff pushed €15/day wheel cover repeatedly, and a tiny fuel discrepancy at return sparked a debate not helped by a very full afternoon lot.
Malaga AirportBarcelona, Spain
Barcelona Goldcar: bargain rate, bruising pickup
The base price looked terrific until a 45-minute queue, a €1,500 deposit hold and repeated prepaid-fuel pressure turned pickup into a patience test before we even reached the A-2.
Barcelona AirportMadrid, Spain
Madrid Airport Goldcar — budget for Toledo trips
Long queue but the rate was unbeatable. Documented every scratch and the car ran fine for day trips. Patience required.
Madrid AirportRome, Italy
Solid choice for business travel at Rome Fiumicino
I rented from Goldcar at Rome Fiumicino for a quick two-day business trip. I was initially worried about the queue, as I arrived around 9 AM on a Tuesday, but the line moved faster than expected. It took about 20 minutes to reach the counter. The staff member was efficient and, unlike some other budget agencies, didn't aggressively push the extra insurance once I showed I had my own coverage. I was given a Fiat 500—perfect for navigating the tight Roman streets—and the car was clean and relatively new. Drop-off was seamless, and I had my deposit refunded within three days. If you need a reliable car for work without the premium price tag, this is a solid option.
Rome AirportBarcelona, Spain
Good value for our Barcelona honeymoon road trip
We booked with Goldcar for our honeymoon road trip starting in Barcelona, and honestly, it went better than I expected after reading some mixed reviews online. We arrived at the desk around 10:00 AM and there was a bit of a queue, but it moved relatively quickly. The staff member did ask about extra insurance coverage, which I know is standard practice, but once we declined and showed our own policy, he didn't push it any further. We were given a Fiat 500 which was perfect for zipping around the Costa Brava and parking in tight spots. It wasn't brand new, but it was clean and reliable. The return process at the airport was seamless, and we got our deposit back without any issues. For the price, it was a solid experience.
Barcelona AirportRome, Italy
No-nonsense rental at Fiumicino for a quick business trip
I was a bit wary given Goldcar's reputation, but my experience at Rome Fiumicino was surprisingly smooth. I arrived at the desk around 9 AM and the queue was short, which was a relief since I had a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. The agent did ask about extra insurance coverage, but a polite 'no' was enough to move on—they weren't aggressive about the upsell at all. I received a Fiat 500 that was clean and ran well for my city driving. The only minor hiccup was the deposit hold taking a few days to clear, but that's standard practice. For the price, it was a solid choice.
Rome AirportDO
Daniel O'Brien
10 Oct 2025
Kos, Greece
Kos Goldcar — bargain beach-car rates, classic small-print traps
It's hard to beat the headline pricing on Kos, but this is exactly the sort of desk where fuel policy, deposit size and panel photos need your full attention.
Kos AirportMB
Marco Bianchi
16 Sept 2025
Rome, Italy
Rome Fiumicino Goldcar — Italian chaos, predictable fees
Long queue, thorough damage check, and a deposit that maxed our credit card. But the Fiat 500 was perfect for Rome parking and we got it back without dispute.
Fiumicino AirportGW
Grace Williams
14 Sept 2025
Kos Town, Greece
Kos Town GoldCar — small branch, same big-brand rules
Convenient town location saved us an airport run. Staff were calmer than at the terminal. Same deposit and insurance upsells, but a more relaxed atmosphere.
Kos TownSplit, Croatia
Best value in Split if you decline the panic extras
Goldcar's headline rate was excellent and the hatchback was clean, but staff leaned hard on tyre-and-glass cover and the fuel rules needed double-checking.
Split AirportKos Town, Greece
Kos Town GoldCar — town pickup convenience
Avoided the airport queue by picking up in town. Same deposit requirements but calmer atmosphere. Perfect for island stays.
Kos TownDubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik Goldcar — cheap headline price, expensive stress
The base fare looks irresistible, but long queues, aggressive upsell tactics and strict scratch checks make this one better for seasoned renters than first-timers.
Dubrovnik AirportBarcelona, Spain
Scratched car caused major headaches at return
Hired a car from Goldcar at Barcelona Airport for a road trip with friends. We arrived at the desk around 9 AM and the queue was already massive. The staff spent ages trying to upsell us their extra insurance, even though we already had full coverage. When we finally got the keys for a Fiat 500, we noticed a scratch on the rear bumper. The agent marked it, but the paperwork was confusing. When we returned the car, they claimed the scratch was fresh damage and tried to charge us for it. We ended up arguing for an hour and they threatened to keep our deposit. It really put a damper on the trip. Not worth the small savings.
Barcelona AirportKos, Greece
Kos Airport Goldcar — cheap but bring your patience
The rate was irresistible, the queue was not. Expect 45+ minutes at peak times and a thorough damage check. Car ran fine but this isn't for impatient travellers.
Kos Airport