Compare Funchal car hire

On the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira, Funchal bustles with historic sites, amazing natural scenery, swanky bars and busy restaurants. Whether you’re heading here for a week in the sun or some hardcore island exploration, picking up a hire car is a great place to start.

The best place to look for car hire companies in Funchal is around R. Imperatriz Dona Amelia, close to the main port. Another area you can find car rental companies is the São Martinho district, particularly in the area near Praia Formosa.

Booking a rental car in advance is always a good option, as is comparing hire car companies to ensure you get the best price.

In Funchal you can take your pick from Hertz, Europcar and plenty more local and international brands, including:

• Hertz: (+351) 219 426 300
• Amsterdam Rent a Car: (+351) 968 566 790
• CR Rent: (+351) 291 105 594
• Easy Rent-a-Car: (+351) 291 762 235
• Europcar: (+351) 291 765 116
• Madeira Rent: (+351) 291 706 070
• Point Car Rental: (+351) 968 888 026
• 22AG Madeira: (+351) 916 311 016
• GOCar Rentals: (+351) 963 733 202

Renting a car in Funchal puts the whole island of Madeira within your grasp. Once you’re behind the wheel, remember to stay sharp when approaching junctions and roundabouts if you’re not used to driving on the right.

Madeira’s only international airport is so good they named it four times. Officially, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), but it’s also known as Madeira Airport, was formerly known as Santa Catarina Airport and is sometimes informally referred to as Funchal Airport.

Whatever you call it, you’ll find plenty of car rental companies when you arrive here. The rental desks are on Floor 0 before security in the arrivals hall.

Car hire companies here include:

• Avis / Budget: (+351) 291 524 392
• Europcar: (+351) 291 524 633
• Goldcar: (+351) 211 451 595
• Guerin: (+351) 291 522 248
• Hertz: (+351) 219 426 300
• Rodavante: (+351) 291 524 718
• Sixt: (+351) 255 788 199

Car rental desks at Funchal Airport aren’t open 24 hours. The latest closes at 22:00, so if you’re planning to arrive after this time and before 07:00 the next morning, it’s best to book in advance to ensure you can collect your vehicle.

Booking in advance also saves hassle when you arrive at the airport and increases your chances of getting the car you want. When you book online, you’ll have more time to digest the rental fees and paperwork away from the busy arrivals hall too.

To speed up the process even more, make sure you have your passport, driving licence and credit card to hand when approaching the rental desk.

Renting a car expands your Funchal holiday to the whole of Madeira. The island’s compact size means you can get around it all in a day or two.

Take a tour of its quaint clifftop towns, pootle through miles of levadas (irrigation canals turned hiking trails), swim in giant rock pools and stop off somewhere scenic for a seafood dinner.

Wherever you go it’s safe to say you should expect some tricky terrain. The roads around Funchal and across Madeira can be hilly, rocky and narrow.

It’s a good idea to try out a few preparatory hill starts before you set off. Expect to parallel park on the occasional incline, too. On the plus side, Funchal’s roads are not particularly busy, so you can get used to island driving at your own pace.

As for the rules of the road, make sure everyone is wearing a seatbelt and stick to the posted speed limits. Unless clearly signed, go for 50km/h (30mph) in urban areas, 90km/h (55mph) on national highways and 120km/h (75mph) on motorways. You might get a ticket if you forget where your indicators are too.