On-airport pickup in T1 keeps your Avis loyalty points running
Avis runs its desk in the arrivals hall of Terminal T1 at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, so you collect keys right after baggage claim without a shuttle. The rental car park sits a short walk from the terminal exit, marked with clear "Rent-a-Car" signs and floor arrows. If you credit to Avis Preferred, you can add your loyalty number on the reservation and keep earning status while driving Madeira’s coastal and mountain roads.
Opening hours usually track the flight schedule at FNC, with counters staffed for early-morning arrivals around 07:00 and closing around the last evening flights near 23:00, but check your exact day if you land after 22:00. The desk shares space with several other big-name brands, so lines can form after banked arrivals from Lisbon, Porto, and major European hubs. Pre-loading your license and card details in the Avis app often cuts the handover at the counter to under 10 minutes.
Car categories at this location typically start with small manuals similar to a Fiat 500 or Renault Clio and run up to compact SUVs that handle the climbs above Funchal more calmly. Automatics cost more and sell out first in peak months like July and August, so booking at least 2–3 weeks ahead helps if you absolutely want two pedals. Expect higher prices than mainland Portugal; a basic compact can easily sit in the €40–€70 per day range in summer, plus local airport surcharges.
Fuel policy at Avis FNC is usually full-to-full, with a station about 1 km from the terminal on the VR1 road, handy for topping off before you return. Most rentals here include a basic mileage allowance that easily covers drives from the airport to Funchal (about 20 km) plus day trips to Cabo Girão, Santana, and Porto Moniz. Many cars come with built-in navigation, but downloading offline maps for Madeira on your phone saves time if the unit language defaults to Portuguese.
For pickup, you exit T1 arrivals, turn right following the "Rent-a-Car" boards, and reach the multilevel car park in roughly 3–5 minutes on foot. Staff walk you around the car and mark existing damage on a paper or tablet form before you leave the airport loop. Returning the vehicle follows the same route in reverse: signs for "Rent-a-Car / Devoluções" guide you into a dedicated lane on level-specific parking zones before you walk back into departures for check-in.
Practical tip: Madeira’s roads are steep and often narrow; if you plan to tackle mountain passes or stay in villages above 400–500 m elevation, spending a bit more on an automatic compact SUV at Avis FNC can save you from burning the clutch in week-long stop‑start climbs.