Sicilybycar Reviews 127

Absolutely terrible experience — avoid at all costs.

We rented a car from “Sicily by Car” during a recent trip to Malta, and it turned into a complete nightmare. When we returned the vehicle, we were suddenly accused of causing three scratches — scratches that were not visible to us at all and were not documented in any of the original photos.

Despite our attempts to question this, the staff showed zero interest in listening or even having a reasonable discussion. They were dismissive, unhelpful, and clearly uninterested in customer satisfaction.

To make matters worse, we were charged over £1000 for this alleged damage. This feels completely unjustified and frankly like a scam. We barely even drove the car over the four days we had it.

This company lacks transparency, professionalism, and basic customer care. I strongly advise everyone to stay away and choose a more reputable rental provider.

DO NOT USE THEM.

DO NOT RENT FROM THIS COMPANY. Car was cheap but worked fine. Extremely slow process to get the car. Filling out forms with information they already had via digital reservation, printing out forms for wet signatures, wastes of time. Upon return, the attendant spent 20 minutes looking for extremely minor imperfections with a flashlight and rag. The car exterior was dirty since it had been raining the entire week we were here. The guy’s rag rubbing against a dirty car could easily made the minute scratch this company is charging €297 for. When I told him that, he said I should have washed the car before bringing it back. I will have my credit card dispute the charge and highly recommend a different company.

Worst car hire experience ever. Damaged car, bumper hanging off, scratches and dents everywhere. The wipers were so bad I couldn’t see out of the windscreen. Grinding gears and alignment out. The guy that did the inspection of the car said that’s how the cars are and if I’m not happy I should just cancel. Very abrupt and rude. I would not suggest this company ever !!!

I wish I had read the Trustpilot reviews before booking with Sicily By Car Malta. Our experience unfortunately confirms why.

I was looking for a cheaper option for a 3-day trip, but in hindsight I should have paid more for a more reputable company.

We were initially given a poorly maintained, heavily battered car with the service warning light on. Staff told us it “just needed resetting” and did not seem too concerned about the condition of the vehicle. The car drove so badly that we did not even leave the rental car park before returning it because it felt unsafe. We were then given a second car.

Because of the condition of the first vehicle, we carefully filmed and documented the car at pickup to record all existing damage. A member of their team gave the car only a cursory glance before handing over the keys.

Three days later, we returned the car unassisted at approximately 3:30am in the designated Sicily By Car return area due to an early flight. Again, we filmed the vehicle, showing that it was returned in the same condition, with a full tank of petrol and no damage.

The following day we received an email demanding €3,345.30 for alleged damage and asking that the money be transferred directly into their bank account. They also stated that they would not release the blocked payment on our credit card.

We are currently disputing this claim and have clear video evidence from both pickup and drop-off proving the car was returned exactly as it was received. Based on many other Trustpilot reviews, it appears that they may be attempting to take advantage of tourists, particularly when customers are under pressure to catch flights when returning the vehicle.

This matter has been formally raised with the company, Booking.com, and our payment provider. Based on our experience, we strongly recommend that anyone renting from this company document everything carefully.

There is no way they deserve one star but zero doesn't seem an option. If you get this car rental company via an aggregator site, for the sake of all that is good in the world, cancel and rebook. I read negative reviews sometimes and think maybe "some people are hard to please", or "some people love to complain" or "maybe it was a single unfortunate moment or staff member". This is not that. This place is truly world beating in the (occasionally competitive) sport of "terrible rental experiences". They hit it out of the park. You don't need details, but the BEST they did was send me out in a battered van (I had not booked a van) with 3 warning lights for a mechanical failure light + low tire pressure / flat + empty tank (at 11:45 with nearly every station closed). Why would I take that? Previously had been worse, from outright lies to broken seatbelts to "less seats than I have children". (Fwiw I had booked a tidy 5+2 seater to navigate family of 6 through the narrow streets of Malta).

This was by far the worst car rental experience we have ever had.
We suffered a financial loss of €2,500 due to what we consider dishonest and abusive practices.

We picked up the car around 1:00 AM. The vehicle inspection was done in a poorly lit parking lot, making it almost impossible to see anything clearly. Fortunately, we recorded a video at pickup.

When we returned the car, it was strategically placed under strong neon lights, with an employee using a handheld lamp just a few centimeters from the bodywork. They then claimed to see “damage” on the car — marks that only they could see.
Even when we recorded another video on the spot, nothing was visible.

For additional context, we have rented cars hundreds of times with rental companies all over the world, and this has never happened to us before.
Moreover, the car was professionally cleaned, both inside and outside, before being returned, which makes these claims even more difficult to understand.

With our flight departing in one hour and a €2,100 deposit already blocked, we were left with no real choice but to comply.

We deeply regret not having read the reviews beforehand.
My advice: if you have no other option, take a taxi — but do NOT rent from this company.

scam, scam scam

Good priced rental. Close to brand new car. Terrible service in particular with the organisation of paperwork and the negligence of the personel where they were more interesed in their facebook feed then sorting the paper work required half way through. A few marks on the bottom side under the front bump was made up into a meal with excess dent box ticking to which it rediculous. Be careful and look at the car properly before driving away.

Avoid. Scam. Charging you for every little scratch that car previously had

⭐ 1-Star Review — Avoid This Company at All Costs

Our experience with this rental company in Malta was absolutely unacceptable. We arrived on time to collect our car, only to be left waiting for nearly two hours, with no proper communication or assistance. When the office was finally closing, the staff suddenly claimed that our card was not working.

This was simply untrue — we tested the card immediately afterwards at a vending machine outside and it worked perfectly. We returned the next morning with our passport and full booking confirmation, yet they refused to release the car unless we paid additional charges that were never part of the original agreement.

Their behaviour was unprofessional, dismissive, and felt deliberately obstructive. Our entire evening and night were ruined — we ended up waiting until 3am to resolve something that should have been straightforward.

This company displayed very poor conduct, and the whole experience felt like a scam designed to extract extra money from tired travellers.
Avoid them completely.

Scam!!! I was charged over €1000 for an almost invisible scratch that was already on the car.

They billed me more than €1,000 for a tiny, barely noticeable mark that was already on the vehicle at pickup. When I tried to show them my photos, they refused to look or even talk about it. The whole situation feels like a scheme to overcharge renters. Make sure you record every detail before and after your rental. I would strongly advise avoiding this company.

I’m only giving 1 star because I can’t give 0

Before I say how terrible they were, I have to say they were right when they said no one reads Trustpilot, because if we did, we wouldn’t all be here!

Like everyone else giving reviews, we found when we returned an undamaged car, we were shown minute scuffs, told they were scratches and given a 1,250€ bill.

Even though I had full insurance so it would cost me nothing, I felt aggrieved that they were scamming me.

They accused me of being too old to see the alleged marks whilst holding two lights over what I believe to be watermarks after having the car valeted.

As I had to catch my plane and was insured anyway, I paid, saying I’m going to lodge a complaint and give them a terrible review on Trustpilot. They just laughed and said no one reads them!

I’m glad I paid the extra cover, if not I’d now be 1,250€ in the hole. To be fair, the car I had was new, but just about every car we saw, had dents and scratches.

Their cars are rubbish, unreliable and you will be hit for extras. So if you can’t find a car anywhere else, by all means go ahead, but get full insurance.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Never ever use them again ,
I was charge over 900£ for a scratch which you can’t even seen unless you come with the special light to check up, he pick up a light and went on that scratch straight away and also being racist with me saying “ how do you call this in your country”

scammers.scammers. scammers.scammers.

Scam , they make you pay with force for something you didnt do .dONT RENT

Scammers. Very rude staff. Charge 1000€ for invisible scratches that were already on the car. SCAM ALERT!!