Centauro Rent a Car Anmeldelser 

Booked quite a few times times without major issues, minor costs that are not always clear. Cars are decent for the price you pay but this obsession with only accepting credit cards left me stranded in a late night hour, with no alternative and way to leave the place since the offices are far from any town. The bank was declining the transaction so I was shown the door because they can't accept a debit card for 75€!
Deleted my account and I will pay more somewhere else so at least I am not left stranded from now on. They better find out what the customers want/can do before forcing policies. Unacceptable.

Ho scritto almeno 20 volte nel format predisposto da Centauro, senza nemmeno una risposta. Da 2 giorni è come se non potessi nemmeno inoltrare reclamo.
PESSIMI.

Havde naivt forestillet mig at der blev fulgt op på en negativ anmeldelse … Centauro svarede og beklagede og sendte et link (som ikke var aktiv) men copy paste virker måske ….. jeg skrev til dem og bar om ACTION …. Men fortsat intet sket her 18 dage efter jeg ville afhente den lejede og betalte bil i Athen lufthavn!!!
Jeg mangler ord for en aldeles uforskammet dårlig service og respons.
I dag kom der en mail fra firmaet …. Yes tænkte jeg nu svarer de da og refunderer min leje !!!! Men nej tænk de bad om feedback så de kunne “improve” !!!!
Kom NU Centauro …. Det her kan I simpelthen ikke være bekendt.
Venlig hilsen
Claus Elsborg
Denmark 🇩🇰

2 ème avis, on ne peut pas laisser une telle société s'en tirer à si bon compte en volant les gens, l agence d'Athènes je précise, car l'agence d'Alicante au top. Réservé une voiture fin juin pour la journée, ils m'ont débité 105.75 euros d avance pour le plein, à rembourser une fois la voiture de retour avec le plein ce que j'ai fait, à ce jour aucun remboursement !!! J'ai envoyé des mails au moins 10, via leur formulaire en ligne, aucune réponse à ce jour !! J'ai porté plainte auprès de visa ainsi qu au CEC, à alicante j'avais été remboursé en 24h!sur cet avis ils vont répondre veuillez passer par leur formulaire en ligne !!! Merci le robot !! , cette agence est à éviter, je ne laisserai pas.tomber mes 105 euros même si ça me coûte plus cher en avocat, ils ne peuvent pas voler les clients impunément !

שכרנו מהם בסניף אתונה, המתנו מעל 30 דק בחוץ בשמש הקופחת עד שהגיע השאטל, גם שהגיע לא היה לו לכולנו מקום ונאלצנו להידחס כולנו יחד מעל כמות האנשים המותרת. בחזור שוב נאלצנו לחכות עד שהשאטל יקח אותנו לשדה. כל אחד יעשה את החשבון שלו האם חיסכון של כמה שקלים שווים זאת. אנחנו בטוח לא נחזור!

Η εμπειρία μου με τη Centauro στο αεροδρόμιο της Αθήνας ήταν εξαιρετικά απογοητευτική.

Είχα προπληρώσει την κράτησή μου 3 μηνες πριν και περίμενα σχεδόν δύο ώρες στην ουρά. Μπροστά μου υπήρχαν πολλοί ακόμη πελάτες που αντιμετώπιζαν το ίδιο πρόβλημα.

Όταν έφτασε η σειρά μου, με ενημέρωσαν ότι δεν μπορούσα να παραλάβω το αυτοκίνητο επειδή δεν είχα πιστωτική κάρτα. Προσφέρθηκα να πληρώσω ολόκληρη την εγγύηση καυσίμων και να κρατήσουν τα χρήματα, όμως δεν μου δόθηκε καμία εναλλακτική λύση και η κράτησή μου ακυρώθηκε.

Πέρσι είχα νοικιάσει αυτοκίνητο από τη Centauro στην Ιταλία και είχα εξαιρετική εμπειρία. Δυστυχώς, η εμπειρία μου στην Ελλάδα ήταν εντελώς διαφορετική.

Χάσαμε πολύτιμο χρόνο από τις διακοπές μας, αναγκαστήκαμε να βρούμε άλλη εταιρεία την τελευταία στιγμή και υποστήκαμε μεγάλη ταλαιπωρία και άγχος.

Ελπίζω η εταιρεία να ενημερώνει με μεγαλύτερη σαφήνεια τους πελάτες για τις απαιτήσεις πληρωμής και να αντιμετωπίζει τους πελάτες με περισσότερο σεβασμό και επαγγελματισμό.

My experience with Centauro at Athens Airport was extremely disappointing.
I had already paid for my reservation in advance (3 months ago) and waited for almost two hours in line. There were many other customers in front of me facing the same issue.
When it was finally my turn, I was informed that I could not collect the car because I did not have a credit card, even though I offered to pay the fuel deposit in full and leave the required amount with them. No alternative solution was offered, and my booking was cancelled.
Last year I rented from Centauro in Italy and had an excellent experience, which is why I chose the company again. Unfortunately, my experience in Greece was completely different.
The result was that my family and I lost valuable holiday time, had to find another rental company at the last minute, and suffered unnecessary stress.
I hope the company improves its communication regarding payment requirements and treats customers with more flexibility and respect.

The "No-Embossing" Extortion Scheme: How Centauro Rent a Car Systematically Scams Tourists
The business model of Centauro Rent a Car (specifically at Thessaloniki Airport) relies on systematic, mafia-like extortion tactics designed to exploit vulnerable international travelers arriving with their families.
1. The Trap at the Counter
The scam always follows the exact same script: The customer arrives with a fully pre-paid booking. When it time comes to block the contractually agreed security deposit (e.g., €1,400), the employee invents a fraudulent technical excuse. The most common lie is claiming that the customer’s valid Visa or Mastercard cannot be accepted because it is flat and lacks "high embossing" (raised lettering). This directly violates Visa core merchant acceptance rules and contradicts Centauro's own written terms, which explicitly state that the card numbers merely need to be printed. 
2. Psychological Coercion and Intimidation
Once the deposit is rejected, the staff completely changes their demeanor. They become highly aggressive, hostile, and actively intimidate the customer. They create a high-pressure, artificial emergency: "Either you buy our local Smart Cover insurance immediately, or we cancel your booking right now, keep all your pre-paid money, and leave you stranded at the airport without a car." Faced with the distress of their family and having no immediate alternative transport, the customer is coerced into signing.
3. The Ultimate Proof of Fraud
The criminal nature of this operation is proven by a glaring contradiction: Minutes after claiming the "unembossed" card is completely incompatible with their payment system for the deposit, the exact same employee uses the exact same card on the exact same POS terminal to successfully process the payment for their expensive local insurance.
This proves beyond any doubt that the card was perfectly functional the entire time. The refusal of the deposit is nothing but a calculated lie to hold tourists hostage at the counter and extort hundreds of euros under duress. This is not standard car rental practice—it is organized commercial fraud.

Absolute stupid and waste of time forgot my credit card but had credit card on Apple Pay wouldn’t let it accept it and any other company’s you go to they accept Apple Pay outdated system and then guy saying we can’t take the car unless we pay certain amount which was 3x more then what we have paid online.

Η εμπειρία που είχα από την εταιρεία ήταν η χειρότερη έως τώρα , έχω νοικιάσει πολλές φορές αυτοκίνητο από πολλεσ Εταιρείες αλλά αυτή τη φορά ήταν απαράδεκτη η συμπεριφορά των υπαλλήλων στο κατάστημα στο αεροδρόμιο ελευθέριος βενιζελοσ Της Αθήνας απέναντι μας , αρχικά μας χρέωσαν για μία γρατζουνιά που προϋπήρχε στο τάση 110 € χωρίς να μπορούν όμως να μας αποδείξουν ότι δεν υπήρχε από πριν αλλά με αναιδέστατο τρόπο μας επέβαλαν αποζημίωση , κατά την παράδοση δεν τράβηξαν αυτοί καμία φωτογραφία ή βίντεο του αυτοκινήτου ώστε να μας επισημαίνουν τα σημεία τα οποία έχει πρόβλημα το αυτοκίνητο αλλά εγώ απο μονοσ Μου τράβηξα ένα γρήγορο βίντεο στο οποίο φαινόταν κάποιες γρατζουνιές για τις οποίες τελικά και με χρέωσαν στο τάσι της ρόδας πραγματικά δεν το κάνω για τα 110 ευρώ όσο για το ότι με έκαναν να αισθάνομαι ότι αδικούμε

One of the best cars rental companies in Greece, however, you have to be very careful when you get your car, record by video and photos every scratch, even one mm, as they will be very prepared and aggressive to screw you when you will return it by taking your security deposit. Furthermore , if you didn't book the car directly through their website, you will get the worst condition car .
The lady she cheated me out today was not professional at all and very rude.
Anyway, and to be fair, it's a general attitude in Greece for car rental companies

EN MÁLAGA AEROPUERTO: Tengo una multa del Ayto. de Málaga por circular por no respetar señal de prohibición de circulación. El coche alquilado tiene etiqueta ¨C¨ lo que yo me tomé la molestia de averiguar pues en el parabrisas había pegada ninguna etiqueta. En Málaga hay calles prohibidas en zona ZBE (ZONA DE BAJAS EMISIONES) , pero automóviles que con etiqueta ¨C¨, EMPADRONADOS EN MÁLAGA SÍ ESTÁN AUTORIZADOS a circular por las zonas ZBE, pero no los foráneos. Al alquilar el coche en Málaga y entregármelo, nadie me avisó de que no podría circular por esas calles prohibidas , pues los coches de CENTAURO CAR en Málaga están empadronados en ALICANTE. Por lo siguiente, NINGÚN DE COCHE DE CENTAURO podrá de CIRCULAR POR LAS ZONAS ZBE DE MÁLAGA.
Se lo he comunicado por correo a CENTAURO MALAGA AEROPUERTO ya que lo que a mí me ha ocurrido les va a ocurrir a los siguientes clientes que se les ocurra circular por la zona restringida a Málaga Capital, pensando lo mismo que yo, que el coche de Málaga podría circular por ZBE. La multa que me van a pasar el Ayuntamiento no tiene recurso por mi parte pues tiene razón, pero CENTAURO tiene mucha culpa de ésta multa, pues no avisó de ello. Además, para más INRI, CENTAURO me cobra 40 Euros por trámites según contrato del aviso de que la multa me la va pasar al Ayto. Todo esto está comunicado a CENTAURO AEROPUERTO MÁLAGA por correo y solicitándoles que por éstas razones no me cobraran los 40Euros y me contestaran, pero ... CRI, CRI, CRI, Me los han cobrado. Aviso resumiendo: LOS AUTOMOVILES DE CENTAURO ESTÁN EMPADRONADOS EN ALICANTE, Y NO EN MÁLAGA. OJO A LAS ZBE. No hace falta que Centauro que me dé las gracias por el aviso.

Bucht nicht hier! Vorsicht bei Mietwagenbuchungen über Centauro: Die Zahlung des Mietpreises ist mit einer Visa Card zwar möglich, vor Ort wird diese jedoch häufig nicht für die Kaution akzeptiert. Ohne akzeptierte Kreditkarte bleibt meistens nur noch der Abschluss einer teuren Zusatzversicherung, um das Fahrzeug doch noch zu erhalten! Letztlich eine Touristenfalle, dringende Empfehlung hier nicht zu buchen!

Centauro Faro,Rude personnel at desk trying to sell insurance saying I would loose full €1200 deposit if there was a scratch on the car,Charged €185 for tiny scratch on Hub cap that was already there,No photo because it was to dark on collection,When I pointed this out to the Rep he said THIS IS HOW WE MAKE MONEY. Absolute disgrace,Will never use them again

We were advised that a representative from Centauro would be waiting outside the building at arrivals. We waited 90 minutes, called five times, sent text messages and also emails, all ignored. In the searing heat we decided to walk to the pick-up office. The taxis wanted 18 euros for a two minute drive. Once we arrived we waited over an hour just to get to the front desk. When I advised that we had waited so long to be picked up the agent simply shrugged her shoulders and muttered something in Greek. I asked three separate members of staff if they could assist and each one replied their shift was over. Seems the prepared stock answer. When we got to an agent she took a call immediately and was on the phone for around five minutes. Later on in the booking process she took another phone call and I asked if she could focus on our pick-up.
Once complete we were advised about damage to the front and rear bumper so we could ignore that. I videoed all around the car. However, when we dropped off the car they highlighted damage to the rear bumper, which was already there. Unfortunately, if was the underside of the bumper, which I did not catch on video but I know I did not damage this car in anyway. The bumper was already severely damaged and I was advised to ignore it. They charged me 300 euros and I felt completely scammed. I am convinced they have charged many people the same. The bumper was an absolute mess when I picked the car and they charged for a tiny scratch you could only faintly see when you zoomed right in.
On the way back to the airport the driver sat in the mini-bus while we loaded our luggage and pulled down the rear door. He was on his phone the whole time, with only one hand on the steering wheel and shouting aggressively. When we arrived at the airport, he offered no assistance and continued his phone call.
This company is a scam and their service must be the worst I have ever encountered. Please, please, please, avoid these scammers. You will save yourself time, money and stress. They are absolutely atrocious!!!

We had booked a car with Centauro in Olbia, Sardinia — a VW Tiguan for a week in October at around 100 euros, which seemed like an amazing deal.
When we arrived at the airport late at night, we were told the car “hadn’t turned up due to problems.” No replacement car, no alternatives, no help at all — just a suggestion to “try another rental company.”
We were left completely stranded and had to book elsewhere at five times the price. Absolutely unacceptable service.

Using the rent a car service quite often for business trips, I have experienced the worst rent a car service in my life at the Centauro Thessaloniki airport on October 7-12, 2025.
First, the personnel doesn’t show you the car when you check in and never say you where are the problem spots so you should discover it yourself if you are quite observative, of course.
The contract has never been given to us. We were told that it will be sent by email as soon as we checked in but they never did it. We got it by email only when we brought the car back - the time and date we have got it from Centauro is proven by their email date and time.
While examining the car at the check out, the employee asked us if we took pictures of the car at the check in and since we took the photos only for the problem zones, we were surprised to find out that they detect slight lines at the plastic cover for the mirror. Nothing have been noticed at the check in by us and no damage we would observe even now to our criteria
( I have the clear pictures), but the Centauro personnel insisted that we should pay 190 Euro.
I asked the lady who made us check in and demanded on paying 190 euro for the «damage» to tell us her name but she refused.
We even don’t know whom we were talking to, why we were treated this way and we never got the answer why they didn’t send us the contract with notices.
Now we have the answer - to be charged money and been cheated for the ghost «damage».
The only true experience we have really got from the Centauro team at the Thessaloniki airport - stay far away!

So sad that renting a car in Spain has become an experience of extortion. I have rented cars with satisfaction all over the world, but only in Spain the car rental companies act like organized crime. This is the second time I rent a car in Spain and being cheated. If the last time in Malaga seven years ago they “only” reaped me off for 100 Euros, faking a damage that never happened, this time in Alicante airport the Centauro agent acted like an outright Mafioso.
It always has to do with the insurance. My travel insurance includes coverage of damage to rental cars, so I always select only the basic, mandatory insurance package from the car rental company. That car rental agents try to sell me unnecessary insurance is a normal thing; but this time the agent at the Centauro desk in Alicante airport was directly threatening. He would block a deposit of 1,400 Euros on my credit card (which is OK and normal), but told me that unless I buy an additional insurance for 189 Euros – I will not get my deposit back. In a slick, polite and a-matter-of-fact manner he said that unless I buy the additional insurance, they will find a tiny scratch of a few centimeters on the car after I return it, and they will hold back my entire deposit of 1,400 Euros. I asked “All of it?” and he said “Yes!” Then I asked if I could check the car for damages before I take it, and if there was enough light at their car garage, so I could see and inspect the car. He said – “I don’t know if there is light – you should have brought a flashlight with you.” Then I asked if there will be people from Centauro to check the car when I return it, so they could confirm that the car was in the same condition that I took it; to this he replied: “Maybe there will be people, maybe not. I cannot promise you that they will have time to check your car and confirm that it is without damage.”
Long story short: unless I paid him 189 Euros (which was much more than the actual rental fee), he would block 1,400 Euros on my credit card, as a deposit which I will never see again. I was there with a family, and we came to enjoy, not to fight. Of course I ended up paying him that extortion money.
When upon returning the car (without a scratch!) I was met by an angry and impatient agent, I was neither surprised nor upset. By that time, my expectations from any car rental office in Spain was zero. What a shame, because Spain and its people are so lovely.

At Heraklion Airport there was no sign of our pick up by Centauro Cars who have said ”Once you have collected your luggage, come out of the arrivals hall, exit the building and a Centauro staff member will be waiting to escort you to the shuttle bus.”. Not true. After several phone calls we are sent to the nearby road looking out for a bright yellow mini bus which takes us 5 minutes down the road to the office.

We queue an hour; two stressed staff are trying to manage a hopeless system, two or three phones between them, an accident by a customer and a queue of increasingly fractious people waiting in line. Our rep is actually shaking when we get to the counter. Have to write out driver's details on a scrap of paper; car, a Peugeot, is grubby and has a dent in passenger door. We take a lot of photos of the car.

The staff were working really hard but the systems and processes are clearly non existent.

21 day hire to travel italy, very poor quality of car. we arrived to pickup our moden SUV and was told it was not available due to mechanical problems and only had different group car,smaller and older car. we could take this car or cancel our order and go somewhere else! not a choice as we had bookings for hotels and tours to do. the car we received had nearly 100,000km and was last serviced at 60,000km , no water in windscreen washer tank, warning light brake fluid very low, we add 1 litres of oil, cruise control didn't work, tyres nearly un road worthy.
No way to contact Centauro to complain as their app or website doesn't offer you chance to speak to anyone.

Don't use they miss-sell you insurance despite having full coverage already claiming it's a deposit payment. Will be raising to the DGSFP if no response