I have been looking at the cost of car hire from Faro in September. I have seen all the good things said about ECH so I tried them.
Their quote including zero excess is the lowest by a long way, even better than some without zero excess (which I consider essential).
My only problem is if it's too good to be true it usually is. How do they do it?
Can anyone please assuage this doubting Thomas?

We hired a car with them in April this year on our first visit to Portugal.
Initially we were a bit confused trying to find them as they don't have a proper office, but once we got our bearings we quickly got to their desk. We normally hire from one of the major car rental firms and were a bit apprehensive when we saw that the operation was literally from a desk/lean-to in the middle of the car park.
The car that we had for the week was well used and had some scrapes, dents and a broken glass cover on one of the rear lights, the tyres were OK though. I'm sure we could have changed it if we wanted but all of the damage was listed on the forms . The car ran OK with no problems at all.
My OH was a little worried about the security of our credit card details as they used the old fashioned credit card reader and a copy of the card was pinned to their forms and then placed in a pile on the desk for all to see. But everything was OK and we haven't had any problems.
We had flown in to Faro from Germany and were the only people at the desk so we were dealt with quickly and were soon driving away from the airport. If flying in from the UK I'm not sure how quickly you would get to pick up your vehicle if a lot of people were wanting cars. There was only one person on duty but I expect there would be more if they were expecting larger numbers of renters.
Would I hire from them again ? Yes, it's a bit of a strange set-up but it worked out well and their prices are really competetive.

We hired our 5th car from them in June this year. There wasn't a lean-to as such it was like a small office (think it's on 4?). You then go over to their 'bay' ie area of the car park where they have their cars, and see the bloke usually in a people carrier type car with an awning on. They then give you the keys & point in a general direction for where your car is. You have to use the registration number on the keys to find it.

Our car was fine (we checked it over) bit dusty outside but inside was clean. (A lot dustier when we took it back )

Return of car is straight forward just go to the area where you picked it up, quick check of fuel, hand the keys in and that's it.

I guess they have streamlined their service since April. We were handed our keys at the desk when we signed the paperwork. They obviously can't run a one man operation in high season.
As I stated in my post I would hire from them again, everything ran smoothly.
Thankyou HT as I used this company on recommendations received here.

Judith.

I think it helps that the company is UK based as well Judith. Well it certainly made me feel easier.

The only thing I have against ECH now is that on their website you cannot choose your car company unless you have rented from them before and log in with your name & password. New customers may have been recommended a certain company but ther is no way they can choose. I think this is a bit naughty since they used to show every company on their website to both old & new customers, maybe the popular recommended ones where getting all the business, so that's why they changed it.

Just back from Lagos and another car hire from zitautos for us (4th hire over last few years for me) and once again it was hassle free - rep was sitting in airport cafe, paperwork done in a couple of mins and off to car park 4 where we picked car up.
Very reasonable price and no deposit or credit card imprint required, I paid the full amount in cash to rep in the cafe. The cars tend to be slightly older than some of the other car hire companies but I had no problems with it, I was told to return it with same amount of petrol in at end of hire and the same as other times there was no detailed examination of the car on return looking for ways to sting the customer, all it was was a quick walk round the car and check of the fuel gauge

Did notice on the receipt that the company also seems to be calling iteself "firstcar" as well now

On the 17th of May 2010,I booked a car through Suncar.co.uk,-at 472 euro for a holiday duration, -to be collected at the Hertz carhire desk at Faro Airport.In August,Hertz charged 1246.97 euro to my Mastercard for this carhire.I am still trying to get this overcharge back from Hertz.
-Hertz hurts

hi all
iam looking to hire a car for a couple of days when i go to albufeira at the end of sep
does any one know of a cheap place to hire one local ie in albufeira

thanks

Hi

I have just booked a car through Argus car hire. The total price is £306.96. I had to pay £44.98 deposit and the rest when picking the car up. I have just received an email from Cartrawler thanking me for my booking and telling me I have booked through "travel rent" and my balance is £306 to pay on collection. I have e-mailed them and am waiting for a reply but no-where does iot say I have to pay anyone else. Has anybody else come accross this, seems like a scam to get more money.

Hi, just wondered if anyone had any further information on the new tolls on the A22 which are supposedly coming into effect on 15 April? I've been reading lots on a couple of other forums (BritishExpats & TripAdvisor). It would appear that there will be no manned toll booths, so electronic detection boxes loaded with prepayment or linked to a bank account have to be purchased/loaned. To date all the car hire companies/operators I've spoken with have advised "they don't know how this will work" - which doesn't inspire confidence.

That is indeed the position. The whole process is turning into an utter shambles. With three weeks to go, the tags are not available down here.

The trip Advisor item is comprehensive and up to date, not much I can add.

You can link a Portuguese bank account to your toll account. You are supposed to able to make one-off payments using any credit card at an ATM (if you know the relevant numbers to punch in of course) or in cash at a post office or service area facility. The latter two options will of course involve hours of queueing.

What happens elsewhere in Portugal where they have electronic tolls is that the car hire firms make sure the tag is topped up before you leave. You are billed for any tolls incurred when you return the car. You may have to do another the top up if it runs out before you return the car, but that is highly unlikely unless you spend all day driving along the A22..

This does of course give the rental companies a superb opportunity to overcharge you as (a) how will you know for certain what amount was on the tag when you set off, (b) what tolls you have paid and (c) what, if anything, is left on the tag when you return your car?

Have a nice day.

How many and if possible the names of the car hire firms that operate out of the "Shed" in the car park Faro airport

Drive4Fun
TravelRent
ZitAuto
AirAuto

There are a few more but I can't recall them.

was at the "shed " a week ago and they are doing major excavations at car park 4 ; total chaos no where to park cars or able to get in or out without lengthy delays , so please allow extra time to collect and return cars.

coming out again in 1 week, any updates on car park situation ?.

Any updates on the car park position and which companies are still there.

Was at Faro airport in May, to get to Car Park 4 now, if you leave the airport terminal, turning right immediately after the pharmacy which is pretty much at the far end of the airport nearest the arrivals in fact, you then follow the pedestrian crossing, which takes you over the road, and through the drop off/pick up points, this puts you on the a pavement which you follow up towards the roundabout and car park 4 is on the right hand side. Essentially you are as near as damn it to the roundabout with the people sculptures on it. The staff in May did say they were still waiting to find out if they were going to be moved back to their original position after the ground works were complete, but this was still up in the air.

TBH I believe it to be a similar distance to their original position, just not well signposted and was in May, hidden behind building hoardings so you couldn't see where you were heading to, if you see what I mean.

I know for sure Drive4Fun are there along with TravelRent, AirAuto and I think ZitAuto.

Many thanks for the update Scoya