Drivalia Portugal Reviews 

331
•
TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.1

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 65 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Travelers frequently mention that the staff members are extremely welcoming, professional, and helpful during the vehicle collection process. People also appreciate finding clean cars ready for their trips alongside competitive pricing structures and clear upfront terms. However, some customers also noted frustrating delays, including long waiting times at the reception desk during busy periods. A few other people also felt that communication with customer service was severely lacking when attempting to resolve unexpected vehicle problems. Additionally, some reviewers reported unexpected extra charges related to deposits or tolls after returning the rented automobile.

What people talk about most

Service

Users describe ambiguous interactions with service, as some reviewers praise the fast, friendly pickup and... See more

Staff

Customers had ambiguous experiences with staff, while many reviewers praised exceptionally friendly and... See more

Product

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with product, as while some reviewers praised the nice... See more

Customer service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of customer service, with many consumers reporting severe frustration... See more

Price

Consumers find price to be ambiguous, with reviewers expressing deep frustration over unexpected high charges... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I used the Downtown Porto location and had a very good experience. They were upfront about pricing and deposits, but it DID take 3 weeks for them to finalize the toll charges and return my $100 deposi... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our experience on Madeira was wonderful! Everyone was lovely, and when we had some car trouble (break discs were done) they immediately exchanged it for a similar car without any trouble and very fast... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We were met at Faro airport by the Drivalia rep and he brought to the depot. We picked the car up and 4 days later dropped it off at Lisbon airport. The airport drop off is, unfortunately about 7-8km... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic service,quick pick up from airport, For me this the best rental company in the algarve, Rosana Nesterenko was so professional and very curtious Thanks


Company details

  1. Car Rental Agency

Written by the company

Planet Mobility. Rent. Lease. Subscribe. Share. A Drivalia, marca de mobilidade dedicada ao setor automóvel, oferece uma ampla gama de serviços com soluções inovadoras. Desde o aluguer que cobre todas as durações de utilização de viaturas até aos serviços de subscrição e passando ainda pela partilha de viaturas, dirigindo-se a particulares e empresas de todos os tipos. A Drivalia opera em 13 países europeus, Itália, França, Espanha, Reino Unido, Portugal, Dinamarca, Grecia Noruega, Finlandia Países Baixos, Bélgica, Irlanda e Republica Checa, com mais de 725 Lojas de mobilidade na Europa, 1600 postos próprios de carregamento de veículos elétricos e uma frota global de 165.000 viaturas.


Contact info

3.1

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

331 reviews

5-star
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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

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Replied to 96% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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3.1

All reviews

(331)

137 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

AVOID AVOID - damaged car

This is the worst rental company I have ever used. I have been renting cars worldwide for in excess of 25yrs.
At Faro airport the transfer bus never turned up and after waiting for over an hour another hire car transfer bus driver felt sorry for us and offered a lift to Drivalia depot. He even stated that he had phoned them to advise we were waiting for pickup. (Transfer driver was washing his mini bus when we arrived at Drivalia)
When I eventually got the car I was told if was a virtually new car with zero damage recorded. On examining the car (a complete must do with this company) I noted extensive damage to the front bumper. When I went back in to report this to staff she was rude and made me out to be a liar. What I had to do to try and get them record the damage prior to me driving was unbelievable, this must be a tactic to get money off customers. Spoke with a fellow customer on arrival and who had just returned his car advised me to take the complete insurance package as they inspect the car looking for something to charge you for on return. He had just been charged for a small mark on a plastic panel which he is certain he never caused.
Finally the car was neither clean inside or outside and there was rubbish still in the car from a previous customer.

28 September 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Client

I am very sorry to hear of the experience you had in one of our branches.

Please could you send an email across to customer.support@drivalia.com, with your reference number or reservation number, so that we can look into this further for you.

With our kind regards,

Jose

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Rude staff and unclear charges

Very rude customer service at the office location. 3 separate employees advised 3 different things in regards to the A22 toll payment. Upon returning the car we were informed of an outstanding toll payment which was not flagged up when adding the toll with the second member of staff who ensured us that €20 was all we needed to pay for the full month. When challenging the fact that we were misinformed, not an apology was given and we were instead told that “if you refuse to pay, we will take it off your deposit anyway” (we were not refusing to pay by the way). Very rude and unhelpful staff indeed. Be careful when dealing with them as they will try and charge you more than they let on.

1 October 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Client,
We are sorry for all the confusion our members of staff committed with the explanation of the toll service provided by Drivalia.
The cost per day is 2,00 Euros up to a maximum of 20 Euros per rental but is only the service; tolls are not included. At the end of the rental we collect all the available information regarding the tolls, but due to the delayed information from the highway authorities, some tolls can arrive later than the close of the rental, and in that case we need to charge it on the pre-authorization made at the time the client accepted the service. This pre-authorization in the credit card can stay active for at least 20 days after the contract has ended.
This should have been the information provided at the counter by the time the service was proposed or explained. For this missed information we kindly ask you to accept our apologies.
Please feel free to contact us at customer,support@drivalia.com in case you need further information or explanation.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Wont be using them again

Collection takes along time 1-2 hours, they hard sell you various extras, some staff were incredibly rude and abrupt. I won't be using this company again and will definitely stick to the in terminal companies next time. Only open 8am-8pm so if you need to drop off/collect the vehicle out of hours you'll either need to drop it early and make your own way to the airport, park it in the car park they suggest at 35euros, or collect at another time. Over the phone they said someone would meet us on arrival out of hours we called at least 4 times to confirm this was happening and no one turned up to meet us, leaving us stranded late at night. No one answered any of the contact numbers even other rental companies tried to help but with no response. Had to collect the following day with no apology they brushed it off. Seriously a nightmare company

21 August 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Drivalia Portugal should be avoided

Drivalia Portugal should be avoided. In my 40 years of renting cars, I had the worst experience ever. I had booked a car for one month, collecting in Porto. Booking was made five months in advance. When I contacted them 3 days before rental start, to confirm, they cancelled the booking. I only received half of the deposit back and a third of the refund went on bank fees, because they chose to refund through international banking. Never use this company.

I have a long email chain of proof for this story, including the email from Drivalia that cancelled my booking. I communicated with Jose in customer service frequently. He has stopped answering my emails.

1 May 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Client, This situation that has nothing to do with service nor behavior. As mentioned in the reservation details when the confirmation was sent, there were a few rules to follow in order to maintain the reservation. The reasons to the cancelation have nothing to do with an attitude from our company, but to an expressed desire from the client to cancel the reservation, in a written manner. Refund was made according to the rules of the reservation, and using the possible ways, one of those was a bank transfer. We are keen to discuss this matter, at your earliest convenience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst Car hire

Very very bad service as we speak. We at the airport waiting for a shuttle bus to take us to the offices. The phone was not going through. We got here around 20:00hrs and now it’s 21:50hrs. We are going cancel our hire now. I would never recommend any one. Save your self problems avoid

27 June 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Client, as we do not have an office at the airports, clients are requested to contact our office (Lisbon, Oporto or Faro) in order for the Shuttle to collect from the Airport. This service is running normally until 20:00, that is the closing hours. In order for us to track the existed problem, we kindly request you to contact us at customer.support@drivalia.com with some important details such as City and reservation number. We will be looking forward to your contact.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Bad quality attendant

service at the reception desk very unfriendly and with illogical rules. poor quality and badly prepared cars. they do not deliver with a full fuel tank and ask that to be returned as it was received. how do we guess the amount to replace in the tank of an unknown car? it doesn't even have logic

6 May 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Customer, we regret to know that your experience with Drivalia was not the best. We are committed to deliver the best service possible, but we also realize that some problems may arise. Our goal is to always learning with our error and your information will be crucial for the growing of the company. I hope that your next rental with Drivalia will be mutch better than this last experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

A very positive experience with Drivalia

We rented a car for 11/2 months in February. We were very impressed with the quality of the almost brand new Ford Focus that we got. The service was prompt and friendly. We would recommend Drivalia at the Lisbon Airport.
The office is in a well equipped facility and is about 10 minutes from the airport. The shuttle is prompt.

11 April 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Customer,
We thank you for your comments.
We are focusing in providing the best experience in car rental, at avery customer.
We are looking forward to see you again in our rental locations, at your earliest convenience

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I rented a BMW online and received an…

I rented a BMW online and received an American car when I arrived there in Lisbon. Upon my return of the vehicle they found a couple of very small scratches on one of the wheel hubs and said that it was my fault and charged me 75 Euros and told me to fight it out with my insurance company. I'm certain that the small scratches were not done by me yet they charged me and when I received the car I wasn't looking for scratches on any of the wheel hubs but instead was looking for damage on the body of vehicle itself. I would never recommend this company or will I ever use them again.

23 March 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Dear Duarte Gouveia,

Your evaluation deserved our best attention.

Was verified that you made the reservation through an international distributor.
It should be noted that in the car rental activity, vehicles are offered by type i.e. by car groups with more or less analogous characteristics and not by specific brands or models. A car model is presented as an example and 'or similar' is added. It is a worldwide standard. In other words, vehicles are not rented based on the nationality of the manufacturer.
It should also be mentioned that when inspecting the vehicle in your pick up (due registered) there is no mention of damage to the rim. However, when the car was returned, it showed a difference in its condition, namely in the rim that is an integral part of the vehicle. And according to terms and conditions, usual in rent a car, this damage was naturally charged.
We are sorry for your review - we strive every day to provide the best customer experiences - however there are usual operating rules that must be complied with.

Within the norms, our cars are available and you are welcome!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience

I've come across Drivalia recently on one of my business trips to Lisbon and I was really pleased with the whole experience. The pool of options is not the biggest but nevertheless, it covers pretty much anyone's needs. Simple process, with no hustle of extra insurance that you get with other rentals.. overall great experience.

9 January 2023
Unprompted review
Drivalia Portugal logo

Reply from Drivalia Portugal

Hi André Gois!

The satisfaction of our customers is our greatest reward. At Drivalia, we work daily to improve the customer experience and continue to earn their trust.

We appreciate your rating and review.

Looking forward to see you again! :-)

Thank you!

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