Green Motion reviews: packages, deposit and pickup tips

Green Motion has grown from a UK rental company into an international brand with branches in more than 80 countries, from London Heathrow and Manchester to Faro, Mallorca, Dubai, Marrakech and Cape Town. Travellers who look it up usually want to know three things: is it a real company, which package should I book, and what happens at pickup. This guide answers all three, with the official rules and the date we checked them, so you can book the package that fits your trip from the start.

The facts table below was checked on 6 October 2026, the other rules on 30 September 2026. Green Motion branches are run by local franchisees, so always read the terms of your own booking: the location and the package you choose decide the details.

Green Motion car rental: key facts from the official terms

Age, card and fuel rules are set per country, so in Greece, Morocco or the UK they can differ from the Portuguese terms above. The terms on your booking confirmation always apply.

Is Green Motion legit?

Yes. Green Motion Limited is based in Woburn, England, and owns the brand; each country or region is operated by a local franchisee under that brand. Green Motion’s own pages mention anywhere from more than 600 to more than 700 locations; on its locations page we counted roughly 540 branches in 82 countries.

The brand is also growing. In September 2022 Green Motion bought U-Save Car and Truck Rental, which gave the group a strong presence in the United States and added a second brand at many airports. Today the two brands often share a desk and much of the same fleet, which gives travellers more choice at the same location.

What travellers value about Green Motion

The things customers mention most often when they are happy with their rental:

• Friendly staff at the desk and on the shuttle.
• Clean, fairly new cars, in line with the brand’s focus on newer and lower-emission vehicles.
• Quick handovers once you are at the branch.
• A low starting price, with the option to upgrade to a package that includes more.

The best rentals have one thing in common: the traveller chose the package that suited them before arriving and knew how the deposit and fuel rules work. The sections below explain exactly that.

The four packages: choose how much cover you want

Green Motion sells the same car in four packages. The official descriptions on greenmotion.com:

• Basic: the lowest price, the highest deposit and fixed booking terms. Basic bookings are non-refundable and cannot be changed or cancelled.
• Plus+: a lower deposit and a lower excess, and you can amend or cancel according to the terms.
• Premium: unlimited mileage, a lower deposit and a lower excess. A credit card is required.
• Premium Plus: no excess, a low deposit, unlimited mileage, free extras such as an additional driver, sat nav or a child seat (subject to availability) and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

The price difference between the packages depends on the airport and the season, so compare them side by side for your own dates. Basic suits a confident driver on a short trip who is happy with a higher excess. Premium Plus is the package for travellers who want the simplest rental: no excess, a low deposit, the extras included and the freedom to cancel.

The deposit: how much, which card, when it comes back

According to Green Motion’s own FAQ:

• The deposit (a pre-authorisation on your card) ranges from about £150 to £1,500, depending on the car, your age, your driving experience and the excess level you chose.
• It is normally released 5 to 14 days after you return the car.
• You need a credit card for the deposit. A debit card can be used to pay for the rental, but not for the deposit. Cash is not accepted.
• If your flight is delayed, the car is held until 2 hours after your scheduled pickup time.

The deposit follows the package: the lower the excess you buy, the lower the block on your card. Check the exact figure in your booking confirmation, because it differs per location and per car group, and make sure the credit card in the main driver’s name has enough room on it.

Excess cover: the simplest option is in the package

The excess is the amount you would pay if the car is damaged. With Green Motion you reduce it by choosing a higher package, and with Premium Plus it goes to zero. That is the most straightforward way to rent without worrying about the excess, because the cover is part of your booking with the rental company itself.

Some travellers prefer a separate excess insurance policy bought at home. If you do, check the policy wording before you travel: policies differ in which rental companies and countries they cover, and it is always best to know that before you decline cover at the desk.

Fuel: “like for like” means same level, not always full

Green Motion’s standard rule is “like for like”: you return the car with the same amount of fuel you received. That is different from the full-to-full rule many travellers expect. Take a clear photo of the fuel gauge and the mileage when you collect the car, and another when you drop it off.

The fuel rule can also change per country and per package. In the Green Motion offers we see on Vrooem, the same level applies to all packages in the UK, Portugal, Montenegro and Turkey; full-to-full applies in Mallorca, Mexico and South Africa; and in countries such as Greece, Morocco, Cyprus and Croatia, Basic and Plus+ use the same level while Premium and Premium Plus use full-to-full. Your booking confirmation shows which rule applies to your car.

Mileage is worth a glance too. Premium and Premium Plus include unlimited mileage, while Basic can come with a daily limit at some locations, for example at several Greek airports.

Pickup: most airports use a shuttle

Green Motion desks are often just outside the terminal, with a shuttle to take you there. Three examples from the official location pages:

• London Heathrow: the desk is in the Holiday Inn M4 J4 at 239 Sipson Road, West Drayton. You get there with the hotel bus.
• Faro: call the branch after landing, leave the arrivals hall and wait for the Green Motion shuttle at the Kiss and Fly car park. Faro moved to a new location with an electric shuttle in July 2026.
• Mallorca: call the branch after collecting your luggage, take the lift to floor 2 and look for the shuttle under the bridge, next to the jet2holidays stand.

Plan a little extra time for the shuttle, especially with children or a late flight, and keep the branch phone number from your voucher at hand.

Pickup and return checklist

A few habits make every rental smoother, with Green Motion or any other company:

1. Before you fly, check that the credit card in the main driver’s name has room for the deposit of your package, and save the branch phone number from your voucher so you can call for the shuttle.
2. Walk around the car with the agent and check that every scratch, dent and chip is on the vehicle report before you sign.
3. Take photos or a short video of all sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the fuel gauge.
4. If you notice something that is not on the report after you have driven off, Green Motion allows you to report it until 10:00 the next morning. Do it in writing.
5. At return, ask for the car to be checked with you, keep a copy of the final report and take the same photos again.

Green Motion and U-Save: one group, two brands

Since the 2022 takeover, Green Motion and U-Save belong to the same group. At many airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Faro, Lisbon, Larnaca, Cape Town, Marrakech and Tangier, both brands operate from the same address with largely the same cars. Each brand has its own packages and prices, so when you weigh two offers, look at the package and the excess side by side as well as the daily rate. Our Green Motion vs U-Save guide sets the two brands’ terms next to each other, country by country.

Where you can book Green Motion on Vrooem

In our searches on 30 September 2026, Green Motion was available on Vrooem at airports and cities in 18 countries, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Turkey, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Mexico and the United States. When you book, Vrooem shows all four Green Motion packages, from Basic to Premium Plus, so you choose your excess level before you pay rather than at the counter. Every rental booked on Vrooem also comes with a free travel eSIM, so you have mobile data on arrival to call the shuttle or open your booking. On 6 October 2026 we checked Faro again: Green Motion was there next to U-Save, Surprice and Record Go, which our guides to Surprice and Record Go in Portugal cover.

Our airport and destination guides show where to find Green Motion at Faro and Lisbon in Portugal, Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Cyprus, Malta, Antalya, Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir, Tirana, Montenegro and Bari.

Our verdict

Green Motion is a fast-growing international rental brand with a clear choice of packages, newer cars and a presence at many of the busiest holiday airports. Choose the package that matches how you like to travel, bring a credit card for the deposit, check the fuel rule on your confirmation and do the short vehicle check at pickup, and you have everything in place for an easy rental.

Green Motion FAQ

Is Green Motion a good rental company? Green Motion is an established international brand with branches in more than 80 countries. Travellers often mention friendly staff and clean, fairly new cars. Choosing the right package before you travel is the key to a smooth rental.

Does Green Motion accept debit cards? Only for paying the rental. The deposit needs a credit card, and cash is not accepted.

How long does Green Motion take to return the deposit? Green Motion says the pre-authorisation is normally released 5 to 14 days after you return the car.

What is Green Motion Premium Plus? The package with no excess, a low deposit, unlimited mileage, free extras such as an additional driver (subject to availability) and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

What is the Green Motion fuel policy? The standard rule is “like for like”: return the same fuel level you received. Depending on the country and package it can be full-to-full instead, so check your confirmation and photograph the gauge.

Can I cancel a Green Motion Basic booking? No. Basic bookings are non-refundable and cannot be changed or cancelled. Premium Plus includes free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

Is Green Motion the same company as U-Save? They are two brands in the same group since Green Motion bought U-Save in September 2022, and they often share a desk and fleet at the same airport.

Sources

Checked on 6 October 2026 for the facts table: Green Motion Faro, Green Motion Faro location data, Green Motion Heathrow, collecting your Green Motion car, Green Motion FAQ and Green Motion terms for Portugal.

Checked on 30 September 2026: Green Motion rental packages, Green Motion FAQ, collecting your Green Motion car, Green Motion Heathrow, Green Motion Faro, Green Motion Mallorca, Green Motion locations and Auto Rental News on the U-Save takeover.