Car Rental in Portugal | Huge Discounts and Tips

14 Essential Tips for Renting a Car in Portugal

1. Portugal has excellent public transportation, but some areas really do require a car if you want to reach them and make the most of your time.
2. Before renting, compare the total package price — not just the car itself, but also all the extras such as insurance, an additional driver, unlimited mileage, and so on.
3. Be sure to note in the reservation if you need a baby seat, have an additional driver, or require any other accessories. Many travelers who forgot to do this ended up without them, which is unpleasant, illegal, and unsafe.
4. When booking, let the rental company know which countries you may be driving to with the car, even if you are not sure you will leave Portugal. It is still worth listing a few neighboring countries. In most cases this does not cost extra, and people sometimes forget later on, even though it matters for insurance.
5. International driver’s license — prepare a printed international driver’s license in advance as well. It can be issued at one of the branches of Memsi and at authorized optical stores.
6. International credit card — the designated driver of the rental car must also carry an international credit card (meaning one that is enabled for use abroad) in their own name. This is absolutely critical for the rental, and quite a few travelers have been unable to collect the car because they did not follow this instruction.
7. Once you receive the car, and before heading onto the road, it is worth photographing it from every angle, inside and out, to document any damage you did not cause. Found any damage? Call a representative from the rental company immediately and get written confirmation (or confirmation on the computer) of the damage you found.
   Just as important—do the same thing right before returning the car to document its condition at the end of the rental, both inside and out, including the underbody, fuel gauge, mileage, and any accessories in the vehicle.
8. If you plan to return the car to a different location from where you picked it up—there will usually be additional charges (assuming it is possible). It is best to check this in advance.
9. Pay attention to any daily mileage limit, which comes with an extra charge for each kilometer beyond the stated amount. These cars are usually a little cheaper than other deals. Still, do not be alarmed by that, because if your route only slightly exceeds the limit (which is of course measured across the total rental period, not per individual day), it can sometimes be worth paying a few extra cents per kilometer and still enjoying a great overall deal.
10. Remember that the rental company does not guarantee a specific car model! It only guarantees a car category or a “car similar to…”
11. Comfort tip— rent a larger car than you think you need. Sometimes you are given something smaller than what you booked, and you will likely have plenty of luggage too.
12. Download navigation apps to your phone before leaving home (or bring a GPS device) — but only ones that allow offline navigation without a constant internet connection (here are a few recommendations…), as this can save you hours of mistakes and map searching. If that is not an option, you can rent a GPS from the rental company, but it is very expensive and not always available, and in many cases it already comes Built in in the car at no extra charge.
    If you are relying on a personal device, remember to install the map of your destination, plus neighboring countries, while still at home before the flight. In any case, it is also wise to buy a good paper road map as backup 🙂
13. Spare tire — recently, many rental companies have been removing the spare tire from the car, meaning you drive without one and, if needed, may have to call and wait around for hours until someone comes to help you. Check in advance whether the rental company does this, and if so, find out whether you can pay a little extra to get a spare tire or faster roadside assistance, and in which areas that service is actually provided.
14. It is worth checking — ‘Excess Reimbursement Insurance' or ‘Excess Waiver':
    What is Excess Reimbursement Insurance? This is a service offered by insurance companies, meaning that in the event of damage, you pay for it to the rental company yourself (or via a credit card charge afterward) up to the amount of the excess, and then receive reimbursement from the insurance company under the policy.
    Excess Reimbursement Insurance can be purchased through:
    — adding an extension to your travel insurance…
    — a third-party company such as Carinsurent…
    — the company רנטאלקאבר…
    What is Excess Waiver? It means that in the event of damage, you pay nothing at all and there is no further hassle — this is the most recommended option wherever it is available, though of course it depends on the price…
    The simplest option is an ‘Excess Waiver' purchased directly from the rental company in advance (at the pickup desk it will be very, very expensive) — but it is not always available and not always cheap, so both options are good. You can find more information about Excess Reimbursement Insurance here…

Time to get moving — compare offers and book a great car for your trip to Portugal!