Supplier reviews
GoldCar has one of the most polarising reputations in European car hire, and not by accident. The brand often wins on headline price, especially in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and other holiday-heavy markets, but it also attracts a disproportionate share of complaints about deposit holds, insurance pressure, and stressful desk interactions. That does not mean every GoldCar rental is a disaster. It does mean travellers should book with eyes open and read the terms properly. Our verdict is blunt: GoldCar can be fine when you know exactly how the game works, but it is rarely the best choice for first-time renters, late-night arrivals, or anyone who hates friction. Use the reviews below to judge whether the savings are worth the likely trade-offs at your airport.
2.8
Poor
29 reviews
Emma van der Berg
2 Apr 2026
Cheap headline price and then absolute pain at the counter. Hard sell on cover, huge deposit, and the car looked battered before we even left the lot. Felt stressful from start to finish honestly.
Jacob Morris
6 Mar 2026
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.
Daniel Moore
1 Mar 2026
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.
Lars Bergman
27 Feb 2026
I know Goldcar has a rep and yep, fair enough. Whole counter interaction felt like a sales funnel. By the end of it I couldn't even tell what we'd agreed to without reading the paperwork twice.
Lars Bergman
27 Feb 2026
I know Goldcar has a rep and yep, fair enough. Whole counter interaction felt like a sales funnel. By the end of it I couldn't even tell what we'd agreed to without reading the paperwork twice.
Jack Morrison
25 Feb 2026
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.
Finn Walsh
8 Feb 2026
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.
Mark A.
26 Jan 2026
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.
Emma van der Berg
18 Jan 2026
Cheap headline price and then absolute pain at the counter. Hard sell on cover, huge deposit, and the car looked battered before we even left the lot. Felt stressful from start to finish honestly.
Sienna Cox
30 Dec 2025
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.
Tom Wilkinson
25 Dec 2025
Base price looked great online, then the usual insurance speech started. Took way too long and the car had a warning light on when we first got in. They swapped it, but by then we'd lost nearly an hour.
Elena Volkov
30 Nov 2025
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.
Jake T.
25 Nov 2025
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.
Tom Wilkinson
8 Nov 2025
Base price looked great online, then the usual insurance speech started. Took way too long and the car had a warning light on when we first got in. They swapped it, but by then we'd lost nearly an hour.
Priya Sharma
2 Nov 2025
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.
Pedro T.
28 Oct 2025
Long queue but the rate was unbeatable. Documented every scratch and the car ran fine for day trips. Patience required.
Evie Clarke
26 Oct 2025
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.
Nikos Papadopoulos
24 Oct 2025
Three flights landed at once and the place just fell apart. We waited ages in a hot little room and then got the usual pressure about extra insurance. Car was okay but the start killed the mood.
Nikos Papadopoulos
23 Oct 2025
Three flights landed at once and the place just fell apart. We waited ages in a hot little room and then got the usual pressure about extra insurance. Car was okay but the start killed the mood.
George Dean
20 Oct 2025
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.
Thomas Hill
17 Oct 2025
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.
Daniel O'Brien
10 Oct 2025
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.
Marco Bianchi
16 Sept 2025
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.
Grace Williams
14 Sept 2025
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.
Tom A.
13 Aug 2025
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.
Kos I.
12 Aug 2025
Avoided the airport queue by picking up in town. Same deposit requirements but calmer atmosphere. Perfect for island stays.
Ryan S.
9 Aug 2025
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.
Lucy Hart
28 Jul 2025
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.
Luca Rossi
25 Jul 2025
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.