- When parking in cities and beach resorts, you may be guided to a parking spot by someone offering to ‘watch’ your car. A tip of €0.50 is adequate in such circumstances.
- Compared with the rest of Europe, the price of petrol (gasolina) in Portugal is high, ranging between €1.39 and €1.47 per litre. Unleaded is called sem chumbo and diesel is gasóleo. Most petrol stations accept credit cards.
- By law you should carry a red warning triangle and a fluorescent yellow jacket in your car. All reputable rental companies provide these as standard. If you are stopped by the police, meanwhile, you will be expected to show your ID or passport, driving licence and car hire papers. Police can levy on the spot fines for speeding, wrongful parking and other offences, so it pays to be polite.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Portugal
Whether you plan to explore the vineyards of the Douro Valley, the historic hinterland north of Lisbon or the windswept beaches and tiny fishing villages of Estremadura, hiring a car in Portugal is a great idea.
Like most other popular holiday spots, car hire in Portugal is cheap and hassle-free, while the country’s highways are also pleasantly clear of traffic most of the time.
Like most other popular holiday spots, car hire in Portugal is cheap and hassle-free, while the country’s highways are also pleasantly clear of traffic most of the time.
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We compare prices from leading car hire companies so you can find the best deal for you.
Car rental in Portugal
Cheap car hire in Portugal is best arranged online and in advance through one of the large multinational chains, most of which are represented at the airports in Lisbon, Porto and Faro. Rates start from about £20-25 per day with unlimited mileage, theft cover and collision waivers.
The minimum age for car rental in Portugal is 21, although up to the age of 24 you’ll have to pay a supplement. Moped, scooter and motorbike rental is also popular in Portugal, particularly in the coastal resorts – you need to be at least 18 years old (or 23 for bikes over 125cc) and must have held a licence for a year.
Scenic itineraries in Portugal
Portugal is a small country, but you can see a huge variety of landscapes and sights if you have your own wheels. Northern delights include the green rolling hills of the Douro Valley and the picture-perfect landscapes of the Minho, the most northerly province in Portugal.
In the central region, the landscape flattens out and becomes hotter, drier, and dotted with historic towns such as Coimbra, Elvas and Évora. Even the popular Algarve hides some pretty off-the-beaten-track surprises for adventurous drivers.
These include the historic spa town of Caldas de Monchique and the market town of Loulé. With your own set of wheels, you’re also free to scout out the very best surf spots and beaches in Portugal, many of them strung along the Atlantic coast at Nazaré, Galapos and Porto Covo.