Car Hire Paphos Airport Reviews 2026 — Honest Comparison of All Options

Paphos Airport (IATA: PFO) handles millions of passengers every year, the majority of whom need a hire car. The car hire experience at PFO varies enormously depending on which company you choose — from the polished but expensive in-terminal chains to the personal local operators who meet you at the arrivals door with your car already waiting.

This guide reviews every car hire option available at Paphos Airport based on independent customer reviews, pricing analysis, and direct company data. No company has paid for placement.

Car Hire Companies at Paphos Airport — Overview

In-Terminal Desks (inside the arrivals hall)

SIXT — Score: 7.80/10 Europcar — Score: 7.45/10 Hertz — Score: 7.20/10 Avis — Score: 7.10/10

Off-Airport with Free Shuttle

Elephant Rent A Car — Score: 9.05/10 — 5-minute free shuttle, 24-hour service

Personal Meet & Greet at Arrivals

Simila Car Rentals — Score: 9.10/10 — meets you at arrivals doors personally Leo Opsimos Rentals — Score: 9.75/10 — delivers to airport for 5+ day rentals

WhatsApp-Coordinated Pickup

Camel Car Hire — Score: 8.80/10 PafoRentals — Score: 8.95/10 Paphos Car Rental — Score: 8.70/10

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In-Terminal Car Hire at Paphos Airport — Reviews

SIXT Paphos Airport Review

SIXT is the most prominent chain at PFO with a well-staffed desk in the arrivals hall. The convenience is real — you land, collect luggage, walk to the desk. But the reviews tell a more complex story.

What customers say: Reviewers consistently praise the convenience and vehicle quality. Complaints centre on upselling pressure at the desk — agents systematically offer SuperCDW, tyre protection, windscreen cover, and key replacement to tired arrivals. Many customers report feeling pressured into extras they didn’t want.

Pricing reality: Headline rates look competitive online. Add child seat (€8–€12/day), CDW (€10–€25/day), and second driver (€5–€10/day) and a week’s rental costs €150–€300 more than the equivalent local operator.

Verdict: Use SIXT if you need a last-minute premium vehicle or have a corporate account. For planned family holidays, a local operator will cost less and cause less stress.

Score: 7.80/10 → Full SIXT review

Europcar Paphos Airport Review

Europcar’s key advantage at PFO is hours — they stay open until 23:00, the latest of any airport desk. For very late arrivals this is genuinely useful.

What customers say: Mixed reviews overall. Positive feedback focuses on the late hours and vehicle availability. Negative feedback — which is more frequent — centres on high excess charges, aggressive upselling, and slow deposit refunds.

Pricing reality: Excess of €900–€1,600 without CDW purchase. Child seats charged daily. Total cost for a family week is typically €250–€350 more than local operators.

Verdict: Only recommended for arrivals after 22:00 who haven’t pre-arranged with Elephant or RentGo. For any planned booking, local operators offer dramatically better value.

Score: 7.45/10 → Full Europcar review

Hertz Paphos Airport Review

Hertz has the highest excess liability in our ranking — €1,000–€2,000 without CDW. For leisure visitors, the numbers simply don’t add up compared to local alternatives.

What customers say: Positive reviews come almost exclusively from Hertz Gold loyalty members with corporate rates. Standard-rate leisure customers consistently report total costs significantly higher than anticipated.

Verdict: For Hertz Gold members with negotiated corporate rates only. Leisure visitors should look elsewhere.

Score: 7.20/10 → Full Hertz review

Avis Paphos Airport Review

Avis ranks last in our Paphos comparison. Despite a recognisable brand and airport convenience, the combination of high excess, paid extras, and upselling pressure makes it the least cost-effective option at PFO.

What customers say: Customer satisfaction scores are the lowest of any company in our ranking. The Avis Preferred programme adds some value for frequent renters but doesn’t justify the premium for leisure visitors.

Verdict: Last resort only.

Score: 7.10/10 → Full Avis review

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Off-Airport Car Hire at Paphos Airport — Reviews

Elephant Rent A Car — Paphos Airport Review

Elephant is the gold standard for off-airport car hire at PFO. With 1,400+ verified reviews and a 24-hour free shuttle service, they deliver a professional experience that matches or exceeds the in-terminal chains — at significantly lower cost.

What customers say: Reviewers consistently praise the shuttle service, the courtesy call before arrival to confirm flight details, and the transparent zero-excess policy. The most common complaint is about the deposit — Elephant charges rather than blocks, which catches non-Euro cardholders with FX fees.

The shuttle: Free, runs 24 hours including Sundays. Wait time outside arrivals is typically 5–10 minutes. The office is a 5-minute drive on the airport road.

Pricing: €14–€50/day with zero excess included. First child seat free. No credit card required — but deposit is charged (not blocked) so use a Euro card.

Best for: Sunday arrivals, late-night flights, large groups, anyone who wants 24-hour availability without paying chain prices.

Score: 9.05/10 → Full Elephant review

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Personal Meet & Greet Car Hire at Paphos Airport — Reviews

Simila Car Rentals — Paphos Airport Review

Simila offers something none of the other operators provide: a team member meets you personally at the arrivals doors — not a shuttle bus stop, not an off-airport desk. Your car is there when you walk out.

What customers say: Tripadvisor and Trustpilot reviews consistently describe the airport experience as exceptional. Simon or a team member greets customers by name, helps with luggage, and has the car ready at the kerb. Reviews mention courtesy calls before the flight, WhatsApp updates during travel, and proactive communication about delays.

Pricing: €15–€100/day depending on vehicle. Zero deposit. No credit card required. Free child seats. Minimum 5-day rental for PFO collection; 7 days for LCA.

Best for: First-time visitors to Paphos, families who want a personal greeting, Larnaca Airport arrivals.

Score: 9.10/10 → Full Simila review

Leo Opsimos Rentals — Paphos Airport Review

Leo Opsimos delivers cars directly to Paphos Airport for rentals of 5+ days. Multiple reviews describe Leo or a family member driving to the airport personally and handing over the car in the arrivals area.

What customers say: Over 500 verified reviews across platforms. Words that appear repeatedly: “honest”, “personal”, “no surprises”, “best decision we made”. Leo’s WhatsApp response time is described as “within minutes” in dozens of reviews.

Pricing: €12–€45/day. Zero deposit. Zero excess. Free child seats, baby seats, booster seats. Free delivery. Airport pickup requires 5+ day rental for PFO, 10+ days for LCA.

Best for: The majority of visitors arriving Monday–Saturday daytime who want the best combination of price, service, and peace of mind.

Score: 9.75/10 → Full Leo Opsimos review

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Car Hire Paphos Airport — No Deposit Options

Searching for no deposit car hire at Paphos Airport specifically? Your best options:

Company	Deposit	Collection method	Min days
Leo Opsimos	None	Airport delivery	5 (PFO)
Simila	None	Personal meet & greet	5 (PFO)
Camel Car Hire	None	WhatsApp coordination	None stated
PafoRentals	None	Airport delivery	None stated
Paphos Car Rental	None	Airport delivery	None stated
Elephant	Charged	Free shuttle	None

For the full no-deposit guide, see: Car Rental Paphos No Deposit →

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Car Hire Paphos Airport — Sunday Arrivals

Sunday is one of the busiest arrival days at PFO. Your options:

24-hour Sunday service: Elephant Rent A Car (free shuttle), Paphos Car Rental, RentGo Paphos

Sunday with advance arrangement: Leo Opsimos, Simila Car Rentals, Camel Car Hire

In-terminal Sunday: SIXT (08:00–21:00), Europcar (07:00–23:00)

For Sunday arrivals without prior arrangement, Elephant Rent A Car is the most reliable choice.

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Car Hire Paphos Airport — Late Night Arrivals (after 22:00)

After 22:00, your options narrow significantly:

• Europcar — open until 23:00 (terminal)
• Elephant Rent A Car — 24-hour shuttle
• Paphos Car Rental — late-night available
• RentGo Paphos — WhatsApp 24/7

For arrivals after 23:00, pre-arrange with Elephant or contact RentGo via WhatsApp with your flight details.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best car hire company at Paphos Airport? For most visitors, Simila Car Rentals (personal meet & greet, zero deposit, 9.10/10) or Leo Opsimos (airport delivery, zero deposit, 9.75/10) offer the best combination of service and value. For guaranteed 24-hour availability including Sundays, Elephant Rent A Car is the most reliable.

Is it cheaper to hire a car at Paphos Airport or pre-book online? Pre-booking with a local operator via WhatsApp is always cheaper than walking up to an airport desk. In-terminal chains charge premium rates for walk-up bookings. Even Elephant’s rates are lower when pre-booked.

Can I hire a car at Paphos Airport without a credit card? Yes — Leo Opsimos, Simila, Camel, PafoRentals, and Paphos Car Rental all accept cash or debit card with zero deposit. The in-terminal chains (SIXT, Europcar, Hertz, Avis) require credit cards.

How long does car hire collection take at Paphos Airport? With a personal meet & greet operator like Simila, collection takes 5–10 minutes. With Elephant’s shuttle, allow 20–30 minutes (shuttle wait plus office processing). In-terminal chains can take 30–60 minutes during peak arrival times due to queuing.

Which car hire companies are inside Paphos Airport terminal? SIXT, Europcar, Hertz, and Avis have desks inside the Paphos Airport arrivals hall. All other operators are off-airport — either with shuttle services or delivery/meet & greet arrangements.

Compare all 10 car hire companies in Paphos →