Renting a car in Portugal: Everything you need to know

Renting a car in Portugal is worth it if you plan on visiting multiple cities. If you only plan on staying in Porto and Lisbon during your trip, you will not need a car as public transport is more than enough to get you around. In fact, if you will be staying in the larger cities, having a car can become more of a hassle than a pleasure because parking is not always easy.

If you will be traveling through the country and you like the idea of exploring places off the beaten path, then renting a car for your Portugal trip is absolutely worth it.

No, it is not hard to rent a car in Portugal – almost anyone can do it. All you will need to do is provide your driver’s license, a valid ID with a photo, and a payment method (normally a credit card). We also recommend having an International Driving Permit (IDP), if you don’t hold a European driving license, even though it is not required by Portuguese laws but we have found that it makes things smoother.

Once you have the documents right, just book the car using a reliable platform (we always use Discover Cars) and you are good to go.

Yes, renting a car in Portugal is very safe. Make sure you will be renting from a reliable company and read the contract details so you know what you are agreeing to. In our experience, the best thing to do is stick to internationally renowned providers such as Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Avis…

Most car rental companies will also provide insurance coverage so you can have peace of mind. You will be covered in case of an accident or other incident.

Here are some of the rules for renting a car in Portugal:

– You must be at least 18 years old to drive, but some companies might not rent you a car if you’re not 21 years old and have held your driver’s license for less than one year.
– Renters younger than 25 may face additional age-related surcharges, so make sure you check the terms and conditions of each company carefully before making a decision.
– You must have a valid ID with a photo.
– You may be required to have an International Driving’s Permit along with your driving license (depending on the nationality)

Only the people listed on the rental agreement can drive the rental car. While most companies limit this to one person only, it is possible to add an additional driver but know that this may cost you an extra fee. 

You should always make sure that any other driver is listed on your rental agreement before allowing them to get behind the wheel as this is the only way to ensure the insurance will be valid.

Yes, Americans can rent cars in Lisbon. For any US citizen to rent a car in Portugal, they should present: an official driver’s license, a passport, and payment information.

Note that the car rental company may not ask to see all your documents, but as an American, you should have it with you at all times. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure he/she is complying with the local regulations.

Yes, American citizens can rent a car in Portugal. Renting a car in Portugal should be as easy as in any other European country. All you have to do is provide the required documents.

It depends on where your origins license is from. The general rule is:

– Drivers with EU licenses do not need an International Driving Permit for renting a car in Portugal
– Drivers with UK licenses do not need an International Driving Permit for renting a car in Portugal
– Drivers with American licenses do not need an International Driving Permit for renting a car in Portugal if staying less than 6 months
– For other nationalities, please check for each specific case.

Yes, it is possible to hire a car in Portugal with a paper driving license. However, we recommend making sure that your license is not expired, was not issued more than 15 years ago, and still has a valid photo. 

Having an international driver’s license as well can be quite helpful, just to be on the safe side.

Yes, you can rent a car in Portugal at 19 years old. However, some companies may require drivers to be 21 or over and have held their driver’s license for at least one year. Make sure you check the terms and conditions imposed by the rental company before booking anything.

Yes, a 20-year-old can rent a car in Portugal because the minimum driving age is 18.

That being said, make sure to check the age limit imposed by the car rental company. Some providers may require the drivers to be at least 21.

Yes, you can rent a car in Portugal under 25, but you may have to pay an additional fee called “young driver”. The young driver fee usually costs around € 10-20 per day on top of the rental price. Not every company charges it so pay close attention to the rental policy before signing anything.

The age requirement for renting a car in Portugal depends on each company. Generally, drivers must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and passport, however, some rental companies might demand the drivers to be at least 21 years old.

There is no official maximum age limit to be able to rent a car in Portugal. However, many companies will charge an additional fee for drivers above the age of 70.

The cost of renting a car in Portugal varies by company and location. Prices can range from €10 per day to over €100 depending on the type of car, rental duration, and other factors.

The price of renting a car is usually cheaper if done for longer periods of time, so if you have enough time on your itinerary, it makes more sense to rent the car for a few days in a row instead of a one-off time.

The cost of renting a car for a single day is proportionally the most expensive. In Portugal, the daily rate is on average € 30.

It is important to look around and compare prices between different companies before making your final decision. What we usually do is check the prices at Discover Cars, and select the option that suits us best.

The cheapest place to rent a car in Portugal is online as it allows you to book with anticipation. By using comparison websites such as Discover Cars, you are able to compare the offers of several providers, compare the quotes in different locations and benefit from better deals when booking ahead.

Most times, when you decide to rent the car on the go, directly at the agency, you will get much higher prices.

Car rentals in Portugal can be quite expensive, especially during the summer, because of the high season. During July and August, the demand is very high and the rental companies raise their prices.

The best way to beat the high prices for car rental in Portugal is to book your vehicle in advance. You can usually find very good deals if you book the car a couple of months before the trip. Get a quote with Discover Cars if you are looking for options for your trip.

You can rent a car in Portugal at any major city or airport, as well as in many smaller towns. We usually recommend renting a car at the airport if you will be arriving from abroad as this is the most practical solution – you can leave the airport driving and not have to worry about transfer to the hotel, etc.

There are a couple of well-renowned rental car companies operating in Portugal, such as Europcar, Alamor, Hertz, and Sixt. We recommend booking with such international providers to avoid any unwanted headaches. 

However, there are also some good-rated local companies like Amoita car rental and Lucars rent a car operating in Portugal. 

What we usually do is check the offers on Discover Cars, select the one that suits us the best, and research the company itself to see if it has good ratings and reputation.

Yes, it is possible to rent a car without a credit card in Portugal, but it is not that easy to find companies that accept other forms of deposit. There are a couple of companies, mostly local, that will allow you to rent a car without having a credit card. However, it can be more expensive, as there is a quite limited offering. 

When looking for a car on Discover Cars, you can select the “Debit card” option from the menu on the left, and it will filter out your options.

Yes, renting a car in Portugal is highly recommended if you want to visit multiple sites during a single trip. Renting a car provides the most flexibility when traveling around the country, allowing you to explore more places than would be possible by relying on public transport or taxis.

Read about some of our favorite road trips:
Road trip through the Algarve region
Day trip to Evora from Lisbon
Day trip to Costa Nova from Porto

If you will only be staying in Lisbon, no, there is no need to rent a car. Lisbon is a very well-connected city so you can visit every place in town using public transport. The center is also very pedestrian friendly so you can explore a lot of Lisbon on foot too.

It is not very easy to find parking in the center of Lisbon. If you will be looking for a hotel in Lisbon, make sure you get something that includes parking.

The cost of renting a car in Lisbon varies depending on the type of car, rental company, and length of rental. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between € 10-50 per day for a standard economy car from a major rental company. This price may be higher during the summer and even lower during the winter (especially if you book the car for at least one week).

Check the price for your specific dates.

Yes, the Algarve region is the best example of why renting a car in Portugal is worth it. Most places in the Algarve are not well connected with public transport. It is possible to see a lot with the bus (trust me, I have done it), but some of the most secluded beaches only have the bus running once a day so you need to plan your entire day around it.

If you can afford it on your travel budget, we strongly recommend renting a car when going to the Algarve as you will be able to see much more.

Typically, rental car companies in Portugal will offer toll pass packages that you can add to your rental. This will allow you to use the toll roads without needing to pay at the booths. 

Another option is to choose to pay for each toll road individually with cash or credit card at the toll booth. But be sure to always have both available, as some of the booths might not have a cash/card option.

The toll prices in Portugal are quite expensive and can add up very quickly if you will be traveling around the country through the highways. Make sure to factor those costs in when planning your trip.

No, you do not need a green card to drive a hire car in Portugal. Green cards are typically required when driving abroad in your own car, so you don’t have to worry about that.

Yes, it is possible to hire a car in Portugal and drive to Spain, as long as your car rental company allows it. 

Every company has its own rules regarding international trips. Even though both Portugal and Spain are part of the EU, driving a rental car between both countries still counts as international travel for insurance purposes. 

If you intend to rent a car in Portugal and drive to Spain, make sure to communicate it with the car rental company beforehand. They may charge an additional fee.

Yes, you can rent a car in Lisbon and return it to Madrid. This is known as a one-way rental, where the pick-up location is different from the drop-off. 

Note that some companies may charge an additional fee for this service.

Generally speaking, prices may be slightly lower in Spain than in Portugal. However, the cost of renting a car in Portugal or Spain can vary a lot based on the type of car and the rental company you choose. 

We would recommend checking prices for both Spain and Portugal with Discover Cars, and seeing which option suits you best.