An inspection of rent-a-car companies operating at Madeira Airport took place on the morning of the 20th of August.
The operation covered the rental desks inside the terminal’s arrivals area, as well as vehicles and activities outside the building. Inspectors checked documentation relating to the companies, their operations and their vehicles amid tighter regulation and increased public scrutiny of the rent-a-car sector in Madeira.
Madeira Airport currently lists eight companies with rental desks in the arrivals area: Avis-Budget, Europcar, Goldcar, Guerin, Hertz, Madeira Rent, Rodavante and SIXT. All are situated on floor 0, before the security area.
The inspection took place as rent-a-car vehicles continue to play a significant role in mobility across Madeira. During the first quarter of 2026, 11,384 vehicles were registered for hire without a driver in the Region, an increase of 5.5% compared with the same period in 2025. Passenger cars accounted for 96.6% of the total fleet.
The number of rental vehicles and their presence on Madeira’s roads have led to growing calls for tighter regulation in recent years, particularly because of their impact on traffic, parking and the use of public spaces.
In May, for example, rent-a-car vehicles were reportedly found parked on pavements and cycle paths near Forum Madeira.
The Region recently introduced a new legal framework governing the sector. Regional Legislative Decree No. 7/2025/M established additional requirements for accessing and operating within the industry, including the obligation to maintain a permanent establishment where customers can be assisted and sufficient space in which to park the company’s fleet.
The legislation also provides for inspections and fines when companies fail to comply with these obligations.
Under the same regulations, a user fee of €2 per rented vehicle per day was introduced, payable for a maximum of 10 days. The revenue is intended, among other purposes, to help finance the regulation and supervision of land transport and traffic planning.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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