My credit card was not accepted for the €1300 security deposit, despite the fact it's a REAL credit card. I had to pay an extra €283 for insurance to take the reserved car ! I then was asked to ma... See more
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Review summary
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What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Most of the experience was good, but at car return there was a "Light Scratch" to the rim, which a charge of 255 euros was attached. A charge for which there will be nothing done to the rim of the ve... See more
Company replied
Collecting the car was a bit hap hazard, it seemed we weren’t important customers. It took a hour to go through the process as the car wasn’t ready at the arranged time and there were issues for anot... See more
Company replied
Getting the car and returning were fast and easy. I got a brand new car which was great. Location is a little bit far to the center, you should take a bus or a taxi to get there. And better to rent t... See more
Company replied
Company details
Written by the company
A Funchal Drive é uma empresa de aluguer de viaturas dedicada a oferecer um serviço simples, transparente e de confiança. Com uma frota moderna e diversificada, preparada para responder a diferentes necessidades e orçamentos, destaca-se pelo atendimento personalizado, pela qualidade do serviço e pela proximidade com cada cliente. Se procura conforto, segurança e uma experiência de aluguer sem complicações, a Funchal Drive é uma opção prática, eficiente e confiável. ✅🌍
Contact info
Rua Quinta do Leme 102, 9020-223, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
- +351 965 322 722
- info@funchaldrive.com
- funchaldrive.com
3.1
Average
660 reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 88% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
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Van service
We rented a Volkswagen, and the car itself was great, no problems at all. What disappointed us was the airport pickup to get the car and check in. The company only has one van, and they didn't count the number of people waiting. We had to split up; only the main driver went to get the car while the rest of us waited at the airport (they were already more than an hour late). When the van returned, they wouldn't let us in. Our driver had to come to the airport with the rental car to pick us up. It took about two hours to get the car.
August 2, 2026
Unprompted review
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Great team
Great team, a large selection of vehicules, it's seems quite small (the office) but they have around 400 cars, the contract is well done no surprise, the team speaks really weel english (I'm French). I booked via booking. I recommand !
August 8, 2026
Unprompted review
We got a Ford Puma
We got a Ford Puma, good car there, but their was already damage to the rear right, and i ordered navigation in the booking but they brought first enough another car without that, after about 50 min they brought the Puna with nav and automatic gear, which performed allright in the hills.
They said i should take photos before and after the rental, so i did, but i was feeling not so happy about that damage. But after the rent no problems.
July 14, 2026
Unprompted review
I would strongly advise people to think…
I would strongly advise people to think twice before using Funchal Drive.
We had the car for just six days when the clutch failed. We reported the problem immediately, stopped driving the vehicle and followed the instructions Funchal Drive gave us.
Despite this, we were charged nearly £900 for the clutch repair. We disputed the charge because the vehicle had failed after only six days in our possession and we had acted responsibly by reporting the problem immediately and not continuing to drive it.
We repeatedly asked Funchal Drive to provide us with a mechanical report showing what had caused the clutch failure and evidence that we were responsible for the damage. Instead of providing this evidence, we were repeatedly threatened with legal action and told that they would pursue the matter. No mechanical report was ever provided to us, and no lawsuit was ever brought against us.
We then took the matter to the ombudsman in an attempt to resolve the dispute fairly. Funchal Drive subsequently took a further £400 from us as a “dispute fee”, leaving us around £1,300 out of pocket.
The whole experience was incredibly stressful. We genuinely tried to resolve the matter reasonably and asked for evidence to support the charge, but felt that we were met with threats rather than transparency.
Having had the vehicle for only six days, reported the fault immediately, stopped driving and followed their instructions, we feel the way this situation was handled was completely unacceptable.
We would never use Funchal Drive again and would strongly recommend others carefully consider their experience before booking with this company.
April 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Nice Car, But Serious Safety Concerns
The car itself was nice, but unfortunately the condition of the vehicle was unacceptable. The tires were extremely worn/bald, and the rear brakes were essentially gone, which made us very uncomfortable driving it, especially given the weather conditions.
We raised our concerns right away, but the only option offered was to continue driving the vehicle and bring it back to be repaired at a later time that did not work with our schedule. I asked if we could simply return the vehicle because we did not feel it was safe to drive, but no reasonable alternative was provided.
Regardless of how nice a rental car may be, basic safety items like tires and brakes should be properly inspected before a vehicle is given to a customer. We should never have been put in the position of having to decide whether to continue driving a vehicle we had already expressed serious safety concerns about.
July 28, 2026
Unprompted review
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Everything ran smoothly
Everything ran smoothly, including the very quick and easy shuttle service from and to the airport terminal
August 7, 2026
Unprompted review
Positive Experience
The service was great and the vehicle was reliable and gas went a long way! Just on the smaller side for our needs but overall on excellent experience and highly recommend them!
August 5, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Frank,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We are delighted to hear that you found our service great and that the vehicle was reliable and efficient during your rental. We also appreciate your comment regarding the vehicle size and will take your feedback into consideration.
It is wonderful to know that, overall, you had an excellent experience and that you would recommend our services. Your kind words are a great motivation for our team to continue providing a high-quality service to our customers.
Thank you for choosing us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Most of the experience was good
Most of the experience was good, but at car return there was a "Light Scratch" to the rim, which a charge of 255 euros was attached. A charge for which there will be nothing done to the rim of the vehicle anyways to justify that charge. I understand a charge for damage but that is in excess for what is classified as a light scratch under their rental agreement. Did deter from the experience we had.
August 4, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear George,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are sorry to hear that this situation affected your overall experience with our service.
We would like to clarify that whenever a new damage is identified during the vehicle inspection after the rental period, we proceed according to the terms and conditions accepted at the time of the rental agreement. Our vehicles are carefully inspected before and after each rental, and any new damage found is documented and handled in accordance with the agreed procedures.
We understand that any additional charge can be disappointing, and we appreciate your comments regarding the classification of the damage. Please be assured that our aim is always to apply the rental conditions in a transparent and consistent manner for all customers.
Should you require any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com
Thank you again for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your trust and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Very easy and good car
Very easy and good car. The team responded very well to al questions and are sympathetic. Everything was clear for the instruction and the state of the care was perfectly noted. Thank you we had a good trip
August 4, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Ines,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are delighted to hear that you found the rental process easy and that our team was helpful, responsive, and attentive to your questions. We are also pleased to know that the instructions provided and the vehicle condition documentation made the process clear and convenient for you.
Your kind words are greatly appreciated and motivate our team to continue providing a transparent and customer-focused service.
Thank you for choosing Funchal Drive. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
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Renting car was easy and staff was…
Renting car was easy and staff was really nice, although after almost a week after returning the car I still haven’t received my deposit back , and no one seems to want to help with that.
July 29, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Adrian,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are pleased to hear that you found the rental process easy and that our staff was friendly and helpful. Your kind comments are greatly appreciated.
Regarding the security deposit, we would like to clarify that the amount is automatically released after the vehicle has been returned and the rental agreement has been completed. After the release, it may take between 10 and 20 working days for the funds to appear in your bank account, as this depends on international banking procedures and processing times.
We have checked your rental agreement and can confirm that the deposit has already been released and that everything is in order on our side.
Should you require any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com
Thank you again for choosing our services. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Poor communication
I picked up the car at the airport office at Rua do Cano 42A - Santa Cruz. The staff there were incredibly friendly, and I barely had to wait. The car itself was also flawless; everything went perfectly. However, when I went to return the car and the key to the Funchal office at Rua Quinta do Leme 102, I had agreed in the contract to return it by 7:00 PM, knowing that the office closed at 8:00 PM. Well, when I arrived, there was no one there. After waiting 25 minutes for someone to arrive, I emailed them to explain the situation. After a while, they told me I had to leave the car unlocked with the key inside, something no one had mentioned beforehand. I ended up doing that, but I had wasted almost an hour waiting for someone to come or for them to reply. It would have been much appreciated if they had told me this from the beginning to avoid wasting time waiting.
July 29, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Nekane,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are pleased to hear that your pick-up experience went smoothly and that our team at the airport office was friendly and helpful. We are also glad to know that the vehicle met your expectations and that everything went well during your rental.
Regarding the vehicle return, we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and the additional waiting time you experienced. Our team is often required to move between locations in order to provide customer assistance and carry out operational services, which unfortunately can occasionally result in delays at our office.
We understand that waiting without prior information can be frustrating, and we appreciate your feedback. We will take your comments into consideration in order to improve our communication and ensure that customers are better informed in similar situations.
Thank you again for your understanding and for sharing your experience with us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in Madeira and providing you with an even better service.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Rental worth the price
Everything went smoothly, since our arrival to the departure, all members of the staff were helpful.
July 17, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Jakub,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are delighted to hear that everything went smoothly from your arrival to your departure and that our team was helpful throughout your experience.
Your kind words are greatly appreciated and will be shared with our staff, who are always committed to providing a friendly and efficient service to our customers.
Thank you for choosing our services. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in another oportunity.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Highly unprofessional – choose another rental company.
We booked a car through CHECK24 with Funchal Drive (AutoUnion). The booked vehicle category was unavailable, and we received a much smaller car.
Despite presenting a valid physical Comdirect credit card in the main driver’s name—previously used for many deposits—it was rejected because the bank has no physical branches. We were then told the only alternative was to buy additional insurance for €162 for four days, although we were already insured through CHECK24. The original rental price was only around €202.
Customers before and after us had similar credit-card or deposit issues. This strongly suggests that customers are pressured into purchasing expensive additional insurance.
Strong recommendation: Choose another rental company.
July 29, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Sven,
We are sorry that our services did not meet your expectations.
When choosing a basic rate, it is necessary to present a valid credit card in the main driver’s name in order to block the excess amount. Alternatively, we accept debit cards for payment when purchasing our optional coverage packages.
All relevant information is available for review at the time of booking.
For your next car rental, we recommend choosing a rate without excess, as this may better suit your needs.
Should you require any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
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Service and price correspond
The staff was friendly and competent, our car was a bit run down and battered, but it worked. And it's important to know that the car rental office is not at the airport directly, but 7 minutes with a shuttle service away from the airport, which however worked well.
August 2, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Natascha,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are pleased to hear that you found our staff friendly and competent, and that our shuttle service between the airport and our facilities worked well for you.
We appreciate your comments regarding the condition of the vehicle, as customer feedback is very important to us and helps us continuously improve our services.
We would also like to thank you for highlighting the location of our rental office. As indicated during the booking process, our facilities are located a few minutes from the airport and we provide a complimentary shuttle service to ensure a convenient transfer for our customers.
Thank you again for choosing our services. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in Madeira in the future.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
The car was full of scratches on…
The car was full of scratches on bumpers rear and front. I did not add any during my rental but I was charged 390€ for two scratches which were supposedly noticed when I returned it. I did not make pictures when I took the car but neither did the rental company. There is just a drawing with plenty of scratches. When there are so many it is just impossible to prove you are right. I know what I did and where I parked the car. These charges are false and totally abusive.
August 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Sebastien,
We are sorry that our services did not meet your expectations.
We would like to clarify that all existing damages on our vehicles are recorded in our system. At the time of vehicle pick-up, our team takes photographs of the vehicle from several angles, and these images are sent to the customer together with the rental agreement documentation.
We always recommend that our customers also take their own photos or videos at the moment of pick-up, in order to have a personal record of the vehicle’s condition and help avoid any misunderstandings or unpleasant situations.
Upon return, all vehicles are carefully inspected, and the condition of the vehicle is compared with the damages already registered in our system. If a new damage is identified, the procedure is carried out according to the rental agreement and the applicable conditions.
We understand your concerns; however, the assessment of any additional damage is based on the comparison between the vehicle’s condition at pick-up and at return, supported by the available records.
If you require any further clarification, please contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com.
Kind regards,
FunchalDrive Team
Extremely long check in and out
The car was almost new so it was ok BUT: 1) offices are 10-min ride from the airport, 2) you have to wait for a van with room for 10 people and is it's full, you must wait for 20 min for the next one plus 10 min drive, 3) the offices are small, old and at least 45 min the process to pickup the car, 4) another 45-50 min to turn the car back. Extremely long, uncomfortable with a high risk of losing your flight if you don't add at least 1-1.5 hour to the turning back home travel. 5) there's a hidden fee of 12.5 euros fro xleaning the car (25€ if you don't want to pay it during the renting period and they consider the car is dirty when you turn it back. Conclusion: never ever!
August 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Alejandra,
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
We would like to clarify that our office is located only approximately 3 minutes from the airport by shuttle. Our shuttle service operates regularly to provide transportation between the airport and our facilities. During busier periods, waiting times may vary depending on the number of customers arriving at the same time. We always recommend that customers follow the pick-up instructions provided.
Regarding the vehicle return process, we recommend that customers plan their return with enough time before their flight. As a general suggestion, we advise returning the vehicle approximately 2 hours before the scheduled flight departure to allow for the inspection, completion of the documents, and shuttle transfer to the airport without unnecessary stress.
Concerning the cleaning fee, we would like to clarify that this is not a hidden charge. Our vehicles are delivered clean and should be returned in the same condition. We offer an optional cleaning service for customers who prefer not to worry about cleaning the vehicle before return. If the vehicle is returned in a condition that requires additional cleaning, a charge may apply according to the rental conditions.
We appreciate your positive comment regarding the condition of the vehicle. Your feedback about the service process has been noted and will be reviewed by our team, as we are continuously working to improve our customers’ experience.
If you require any additional information, please contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com.
Kind regards,
FunchalDrive Team
Good Car but unexpected small fee
The car was good and the pickup and transport back to the airport with the shuttle was okay. (Took about 10 minutes each way)
You have to pay an extra 12.50€ for cleaning before getting the car or 25€ after you delivered it when it isn’t clean. So if it is just a bit cheaper than the closest competitor you might want to choose the other one.
July 31, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Kai,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are pleased to hear that you were satisfied with the condition of the car and that our shuttle service provided a convenient transfer to and from the airport.
Regarding the cleaning service, our vehicles are delivered clean and are expected to be returned in the same condition. We offer an optional cleaning service for customers who prefer not to worry about cleaning the vehicle before return, especially considering the conditions of island locations where sand and other elements can easily affect the vehicle’s cleanliness.
We truly appreciate your comments, as they help us continue improving our service. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future and provide you with an even better experience.
Kind regards,
FunchalDrive Team
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Wash your car or pay extra
one can tell that they are relatively new in this market:
The staff is very friendly and the cars are all new
BUT:
-when I rented I was confirmed that there is a shuttle running every 20min - after 40 min in the sun I called just to find out, that there is no regular shuttle but they pick up according to the time of your reservation. I was very a car would be available so I was there about 1h early, just to wait in the sun
also the pickup was different from what I was communicated - they are the only one who do not pick up where all others do
-then rental conditions said tank full / full .. it wasnt.. I hate this because you always pay "too much". Plus there was an issue with the electronics, even it was "almost full" it didnt show!
-then they charge you 12.50 EUR if you dont clean the car yourself and you have to tell them beforehand. I never had to "wash my rental car" and clean it inside before returning (I understand if it is very dirty inside you pay extra)
So the rental didnt start nicely (I have about 3-4 rentals per months so I can compare)
but as I said at the beginning, the staff is very friendly so this is a nice aspect
July 31, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Rudi,
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
Regarding our shuttle service, we would like to clarify that our shuttle operates around the airport every 20 minutes. We kindly suggest that customers remain at the designated meeting point and, in case of an earlier or later arrival than the scheduled reservation time, inform our team so we can provide the necessary assistance.
Concerning the fuel level, as indicated in our rental conditions, the fuel level is checked and recorded in the rental agreement at the time of pick-up. Upon return, the vehicle should be delivered with the same fuel level as received.
Regarding the cleaning service, all our vehicles are delivered clean and should be returned in the same condition. We understand that each customer’s needs are different, which is why we offer an optional cleaning service for those who prefer not to worry about cleaning the vehicle before return. This can be especially convenient in island locations, where sand from beaches can easily accumulate inside the car.
We appreciate your positive comments regarding our team, and we will continue working to provide a better experience for all our customers.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com.
Kind regards,
FunchalDrive Team
Trap for foreigners
Ask to pay twice the price because I have a "Virtul Bank". Like Fortuneo for exemple.
Ok, it's in the contract but
1) I have never seen that before
2) the guy do not wan to take the credit card of my wife because it's not the same first name of the driver...? What the problem...?
It's look like the big bonus for them.
Ok, it is on the contrat but seriously it's a trap.
Beside that, no pb with the car
July 26, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Customer,
We are sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations.
When choosing a Basic Rate, a valid credit card in the name of the main driver is required for the pre-authorisation of the security deposit. Alternatively, we accept a debit card for payment when purchasing our optional coverage packages.
All information regarding the rental conditions is available for review at the time of booking and before confirmation.
For a future vehicle rental, we recommend choosing a rate without excess, which may better suit your needs and allows payment with a debit card.
If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@funchaldrive.com.
Kind regards,
Funchal Drive Team
Excellent service
Excellent service, very good car; we didn't experience any problems.
July 25, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Funchal Drive
Dear Brayan,
Thank you very much for your excellent review!
We are delighted to hear that you were satisfied with our service and that the car met your expectations. It’s great to know that everything went smoothly and that you had a worry-free experience with us.
Your feedback is very much appreciated, and we hope to have the pleasure of assisting you again in the future.
Kind Regards,
Funchal Drive Team
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