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Travel around Portugal with a rental car

If you have always dreamed of making a trip to this country, but the coverage of attractions in bus tours does not suit you, and the idea of moving around the country by public transport does not seem attractive, then a trip around Portugal in a rented car is a great option for you. Traveling in this format has a lot of advantages, but the main thing is that you can independently choose the route that suits you. Portugal is considered one of the most accessible countries for traveling by car. And all thanks to the fact that car rental prices in this country are significantly lower than in other European countries.

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One of the fastest and easiest route in Portugal is the route from Lisbon to the Algarve. Many tourists who have been to Portugal more than once note that this road is one of the most picturesque. The length of the route is less than 800 km. It is worth starting sightseeing from the capital itself, in which it is worth stopping at least for a few days. Lisbon is a modern bustling city that has retained some of its historic character. First of all, you should visit one of the largest squares in Europe - Commerce Square. In its place, there used to be a royal palace, but an earthquake that occurred in the 18th century completely destroyed the building. Lisbon. One of the best is Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. From here you will have the opportunity to see most of the capital, the river and the bridge.

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Following the route, it is worth visiting the two main attractions of Portugal - Cape Roca and ancient buildings in the city of Sintra.

If you are very limited in time, then the fastest way to get to the Algarve is on the toll highway. It will cost you almost 20 euros, but you will be able to save a lot of time, since you will get from the capital to the southernmost region in just two hours. If you are not in a hurry, then feel free to take the free road, which will take you twice as long, but which runs through many small towns, in one of which you may want to stop.

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When you get to Algarve, you can admire the white sandy beaches, green hills and orange groves. Due to the mild climate, this region of the country is the most popular holiday destination for tourists who come here at any time of the year. The southern province has everything for a comfortable stay. In addition to the beaches, there are many cozy restaurants with local cuisine, markets, cafes, clothing stores, water parks and sports centers. In addition to relaxing on the beaches, in the Algarve you can see many historical sights and monuments of Moorish culture. At the website, which was created especially for tourists, you can learn more about the must-see places in Portugal.

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How to rent a car in Portugal without a franchise?

Many tourists doubt whether it is necessary to leave a deposit for a rental car to a rental company? That's a moot point. The deposit amount is not withdrawn from your account, but simply frozen until you return the rented car. This is done so that the company can protect itself in case the machine is damaged. But there are different situations, for example, when the client did not properly inspect the car before signing the lease agreement, and after returning it to the rental point, a scratch or dent was found left by the previous temporary owner. In this case, the amount of damage can be written off from your security deposit. To avoid such situations, always carefully inspect the machine upon receipt. And any scratches or abrasions in the cabin are included in the inspection sheet. If you want to rent a car without an excess, you can pay the cost of full insurance at the company's rate. This will help reduce the deductible, and therefore the amount of the deposit, to almost zero.

To sign a car rental agreement, you will need a passport, driver's license, cash or credit card, and a voucher. The latter is required if you booked a car in advance on the site. The voucher must be printed out to show to the company representative.

Portuguese car rental companies to look out for:

Centauro Rent a Car, Lisbon. Provides 24/7 customer support. In the event of a breakdown on the road, you can call (+351) 308 810 816 so that company representatives can help you. On the website of the rental company, you can not only book a car, but also find out where you can go on it. The site has several review articles that allow tourists to decide on a place to stay;
Autocunha Car Rental - Porto. Phone: +351963569848. The rental company offers its customers the best prices for car rental, as well as additional services in the form of child seats, a modern navigator and smart insurance (aka super-insurance). It has been on the market since 2007, has a lot of positive reviews and guarantees good service.

Withoutapproval from the rental company, it is forbidden to transport the car by ferry to the islands if you plan to visit them. This point should be taken into account in the lease agreement. But there is good news, which is that most companies allow you to travel by car to neighboring countries without additional fees. For example, in neighboring Spain. The cost of renting a Comfort class car starts from 39 euros per day.

Peculiarities of driving in Portugal

There are toll roads in Portugal, which are divided into standard ones (they can be paid both in cash and by card) and those that can only be paid electronically way. Of course, if you are a tourist, then it is easier for you to choose the first type of roads than to bother with paying Electronic Toll roads. Payment for standard autobahns is the same as in many other countries: at the entrance to the motorway you take a ticket, and at the exit you pay it in cash or with a bank card. The fare on toll roads ranges from 0.50 to 4 euros.

Portugal is among the top Europe countries with the most expensive fuel, so you should be prepared for this. And since the rental company usually gives you a car with a full tank, you should also return it with a full tank.

The following speed limits apply in Portugal:

In cities - 50 km/h;
In rural areas - 90 km/h;
On freeways - 12 km/h

You can be fined up to 600 euros for exceeding the specified speed limit.

Parking.

Portugal has a lot of public and paid parking lots. If you plan to stop somewhere for a short time, then you can park your car near the curb. The main thing is that there is no Estacionamento Probido sign in this place, which means that parking is prohibited here. Paid parking is a better option for you if you want to leave your rental car somewhere for a few hours or more. Payment is made in cash or by credit card. At the entrance to paid parking, you will need to take a ticket so that the barrier opens, after which you drive in and leave the car. And when you leave the parking lot, you need to show the ticket to the employee and pay for the actual time the car stays in the parking lot.

The Portuguese driving style cannot be called aggressive, but they do not always follow the rules of the road. Therefore, on the road you need to be careful and look both ways. Local police can stop you even if you didn't break the rules. But do not worry, because this can be a simple document check. As a last resort, you may be asked to take a test for alcohol, the permissible level of which in the blood should not exceed 0.5 ppm.

Renting an electric car in Portugal

The electric car industry is actively developing in the country. Recently, many electric stations have been installed in cities, and rental companies are increasingly offering you to rent an electric car. Charging infrastructure in settlements is represented by AC stations, so for accelerated charging they will need a cable provided by the rental company. You may be offered to rent the following models of electric cars: Fiat 500e, BMW i3, Renault ZOE and, of course, different models of Tesla electric cars.

The cost of 1 kWh of electricity in the country is about 0.2 euros. This means that for 100 km you will pay less than 3 euros. Given the high cost of fuel in Portugal, an electric car can be a great choice to save money.

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Good to know

Monthly price chart. Approximate prices for 7 days rental

January

€86

February

€86

March

€108

April

€153

May

€149

June

€223

July

€301

August

€197

September

€97

October

€93

November

€79

December

€145

The most popular cars in Portugal

Fiat 500

€13 / Day

Citroen C1

€14 / Day

Ford Fiesta

€18 / Day

Ford Focus

€23 / Day

Opel Astra Estate

€28 / Day

Audi A4

€32 / Day

BMW X1

€33 / Day

Ford Foxus Estate

€33 / Day

Mercedes C Class

€43 / Day

BMW 5 series

€45 / Day

Ford Tourneo

€55 / Day

BMW 4 Cabrio

€65 / Day

Audi A6

€70 / Day

Audi A5 Cabrio

€75 / Day

Mercedes Vito

€80 / Day

Popular car rental places in Portugal

Faro - Airport

Lisbon airport

Porto - Airport

Madeira - Intl Airport - Funchal

Azores - Ponta Delgada - Airport

Azores - Ilha Terceira - Airport

Azores - Horta - Airport

Braga

Pico Airport

Flores Airport

Albufeira

Cascais

Porto - Ave Boavista

Vilamoura

Lisbon - Downtown

Porto - Downtown

Covilha

Coimbra

Setubal

Estoril

Lisbon - Lisbon Tivoli Hotel

Lisbon - Rua Castilho

Faro

Madeira

Portalegre

List of required documents

Driving license

Credit card

Voucher

Passport

A valid international driver's license is required!

Car rental tips in Portugal

Download Google maps for offline access

The presence of an offline navigator allows you to save on roaming. It is enough just to download the necessary maps from Google Maps and get directions even without a network connection. To do this, enter the phrase "OK MAPS" in the application, select the desired area and download offline maps to your smartphone.

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Book in advance

Portugal is a popular tourist destination, so car rental is consistently in demand. The earlier you book a car, the more options there will be and the lower the prices will be. Choose transport online at least 6 weeks before your visit. Better yet, do it as soon as you start planning your vacation. If plans change, you can cancel your booking without penalty up to 48 hours before it starts.

Which car to choose for rent

Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Toyota Aygo or VW Polo. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting Ford Foxus Estate in Portugal will cost €31 per day.

What you need to pay attention to at the time of receiving a car

Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.

The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.

Insurance recommendations

When you pick up your rental car, you need to take it seriously. This is especially true if you do not intend to purchase additional insurance. You should carefully inspect the received car and fix all scratches, dents, and other defects in the contract. It is also recommended to take a picture of the existing damage to the car, its number, write down the name of the rental company employee.

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What types of insurance are available for car rental?

Third Party Liability (TPL). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Waiver (T.W.). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.

Fuel Policy

When renting a car, you should pay attention to the fuel policy of rental companies. Often, when renting, tourists have to pay the cost of a full tank of fuel. This option is suitable for long-term rentals and long trips. But if you're only renting Portugal for a day or two, or if you're only planning short trips, such as to a small island, then you probably won't need a full tank. You can get acquainted with the fuel policy in the "Important information" section of the car you have chosen.

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Unlimited mileage

According to the rental conditions, the mileage can be limited or unlimited. Travel lovers should choose the option without a limit. It will cost more, but in the end it will save. Check the appropriate box to filter offers with unlimited mileage.

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Compare conditions of different rental companies

When choosing a rental car in Portugal, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.

How to choose a rental company

It is recommended to rent a car in trusted companies, that is, in those whose services you have already used. You can also focus on the rating of our site, which is displayed next to the name of the company in the search results.

Ceteris paribus, preference should be given to larger companies that have a high level of service and a large selection of cars. The best rental companies in Portugal are EUROPCAR with an average rating of 9.9 points and SIXT (rating - 9).

Car pick-up procedure

Before signing a car rental agreement, it should be carefully checked for damage and defects. Do not be shy to point out the identified problems and problems - then you will not have to answer for them. When returning, pay attention to the fuel in the tank. Its volume must correspond to that prescribed in the agreement.

Also, do not ignore the phone number provided by the technical support representative when concluding the contract. After all, even the most experienced driver is not insured against a breakdown, accident or other force majeure event. In such a case, contact a specialist before the arrival of the police.

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Based on 8255 reviews

Tony

4,8

Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!

Michael

4,7

Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!

Luna

4,5

The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.

Jody

4,9

Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.

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