Car Rental Paphos Airport: The Complete 2026 Guide

Paphos International Airport (IATA: PFO) is the main entry point for visitors to the Pafos district of Cyprus. Whether you land at 09:00 on a Tuesday or 23:30 on a Sunday, the car rental situation at PFO is manageable — if you know what to expect.

This guide covers everything: which companies operate from the terminal, which use shuttle buses, pricing differences, and the mistakes first-time visitors consistently make.

Which car rental companies are at Paphos Airport?

Inside the terminal (arrivals hall):

SIXT
Europcar
Hertz (counter, limited hours)

Off-airport with shuttle (5–15 minute drive):

Elephant Rent A Car — free shuttle both ways, 24-hour service
AERCAR — free 24-hour shuttle from PFO

Delivery to airport / no shuttle:

Leo Opsimos Rentals — delivers to airport for rentals of 5+ days (PFO) or 10+ days (LCA)
Simila Car Rentals — Simon meets you personally at arrivals
Camel Car Hire — 24-hour out-of-hours line
RentGo Paphos — full WhatsApp coordination for pickup

In-terminal vs local company: the real cost difference

The in-terminal convenience of SIXT or Europcar comes at a significant price. Here’s what you typically pay extra for with the international chains:

Extra	Local company	International chain
Child seat (per day)	Free	€8–€12
Excess insurance	Included	€10–€25/day
Second driver	Free	€5–€10/day
Deposit	None	€800–€1,500 block
GPS/SatNav	Free (some)	€8–€12/day

On a 10-day family rental with one child seat and a second driver, the international chain could cost €200–€400 more than a local operator — even if the advertised daily rate looks similar.

Sunday arrivals: your options

Paphos Airport handles significant Sunday traffic, but several local companies are closed. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Open Sunday:

SIXT (terminal, 08:00–21:00)
Europcar (terminal, 07:00–23:00)
Elephant Rent A Car (24-hour service)
Paphos Car Rental .com (open Sunday)
RentGo Paphos (WhatsApp 24/7)

Closed Sunday:

Leo Opsimos Rentals — contact in advance for arrangements
PafoRentals
Thrasos Cars
Kamelia’s Car Rentals

If you’re arriving on a Sunday and want a local company, Elephant Rent A Car is the best choice. Their shuttle runs around the clock and the zero-excess policy matches what Leo Opsimos offers (with one caveat — see below).

Late night arrivals (after 22:00)

Europcar operates until 23:00. Elephant and RentGo are available 24/7. If your flight lands after 23:00, your practical options are:

RentGo Paphos — WhatsApp them your flight details in advance; they coordinate late pickup seamlessly
Camel Car Hire — confirmed 24-hour line in multiple reviews
Elephant Rent A Car — 24-hour shuttle confirmed

The deposit warning for Paphos Airport pickups

This catches more visitors at Paphos Airport than anywhere else. When you queue at a chain desk after a long flight, the agent will run your credit card for the deposit. Two things happen that most people don’t anticipate:

Elephant and AERCAR have been reported to actually charge the deposit (not just block it). If your card is GBP or USD, you’ll pay foreign exchange fees on the charge and again on the refund.
International chain agents are trained to upsell SuperCDW, tyre protection, windscreen cover, and key replacement. A tired arrival is statistically more likely to say yes to all of it.

The solution is simple: book a local company in advance, confirm everything by WhatsApp before you fly, and walk straight past the queue.

Step-by-step: the best airport pickup experience

Before you fly: WhatsApp your chosen local company with your flight number and estimated arrival time
On arrival: collect luggage, clear customs
Elephant/shuttle companies: look for the shuttle outside arrivals — usually a 5-minute wait
Leo/Simila/RentGo: your contact meets you in arrivals or coordinates a delivery point
Take photos: before driving away, photograph every panel, wheel, and the interior
Fuel level: confirm the fuel level in writing (WhatsApp message with a photo is fine)

Our recommendation by arrival time

Arrival time	Best choice
Mon–Sat, daytime	Leo Opsimos Rentals (#1 overall)
Sunday, any time	Elephant Rent A Car
After 22:00 any day	RentGo Paphos or Elephant
Want automatic car	Paphos Car Rental .com
Travelling with young children	Leo Opsimos or Camel Car Hire

See the full comparison table →