Updated 2026
I am no stranger to car hire in Portugal. I’m now 10 years into living in and driving around Portugal and for the last 7 I have been working with the same company. I’ve used rental cars to travel around every region including Madeira and Azores. I have driven around Douro Valley in search of wine experiences, along Algarve’s sunny coastline, through undiscovered Alentejo, the wild Peneda-Gerês national park at the tip of the country. I’ve had different periods when I’ve had my own car but most of the road trips I’ve embarked on have been using a rental car.
BEST PLACES TO STOP BETWEEN LISBON <> PORTO <> ALGARVE
Planning a trip to Portugal? You’re in the right place! Welcome to Travel Planning and Itinerary design by Candy. Olá! I’m an independent travel advisor living in Portugal (since 2016). I help people plan their dream trip to Portugal, Spain and Italy. You’re currently reading a post from my collection of travel guides. I also offer personal travel consultation and a bespoke itinerary service.
WHY USE A HIRE CAR IN PORTUGAL?
Unless you are hopping in and out of the country very quickly or plan on staying only in Lisbon or Porto then there are a lot of benefits to renting a car in Portugal. The country, despite its small size is surprisingly diverse, with plenty of different landscapes and culture to embrace. The true beauty of driving in Portugal is the freedom it gives you to explore and the ability to venture of the well trodden path. Portugal’s popularity is soaring but most people stick to the same locations. Driving in Portugal gives you the opportunity to visit esser-known places and experience the real Portugal.
One of the most common questions I come across when helping people plan their trip to Portugal is ‘How do I hire a car?’. With an overwhelming number of options and so many horror stories it is understandably one of the least enjoyable parts of planning a trip. I experienced these same challenges over and over again. After a lot of trial and error and many years of driving around Portugal I finally worked out how to hire a car and stay sane while doing it.
MOST MEMORABLE ROAD TRIPS IN PORTUGAL
HOW TO HIRE A CAR IN PORTUGAL
With so many rental car companies in Portugal it can be overwhelming to find the right fit. My first piece of advice he first bit of advice is to use a comparison site. Use whichever you like but always check the reviews when picking a company.
There are several comparison websites for car hire in Portugal but beware, most are complicated and frustrating to use. Many companies use sneaky tactics to hide prices until the end of the booking process which is infuriating. After many disappointing car hire experiences with other companies I was starting to give up but then I found Zest. I first used Zest to book a hire car in Portugal several years ago and, thanks to an excellent experience, I’ve used them ever since.
Best Car Rental in Portugal
Zest is a comparison website so helps you compare vehicles and companies based on your location, pick-up and drop-off, car type and length of hire. Zest enables you to see the prices upfront so you know exactly what you are getting. There are no surprises waiting for you at check-out. The search function is very easy to use and there is no jargon to navigate. Zest also includes full collision damage waiver with no excess. I have personally used this 2 times after an unfortunate accident involving a broken tail light in Algarve and a scratched door panel in São Miguel; Zest took care of everything for me. To top it off the customer service is excellent.
HOW TO HIRE A CAR IN PORTUGAL : A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
- Visit Zest
- Choose pick-up and drop-off location and age. Click ‘Search’.
- Choose any filters such as category, doors, air-con etc
- Find a suitable car
- Click ‘View Rental Conditions’ to see full condition. Note any mandatory local charges.
- Choose optional extras. One extra driver is free. Choose ‘Toll Transponder’ if you plan on going on any motorways.
- Review insurance. Full Collision Damage Waiver with no excess comes as standard. I personally add top-up insurance at this point which covers the extra bits like damage to wheels or loss of keys.
- Confirm Driver Details
- Continue to payment
- DONE!
TIPS FOR HIRING WITH ZEST
- DON’T BE AFRAID OF SMALLER RENTAL COMPANIES Some of my best car hire experiences have been with smaller companies. These companies are often more flexible too. My personal favourite is Movida.
- BE FLEXIBLE WITH DATES. Prices are sometimes cheaper when you pick up mid-week.
- CONSIDER A LONGER HIRE. Prices are often cheaper when you book for 7 days or longer.
- COMPARE PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF LOCATIONS. Airports tend to add a pick-up fee but are usually the most convenient. Picking up from city centres can be more stressful if it is your first time driving in Portugal.
- BOOK IN ADVANCE During peak times car hire can and does get fully booked. Booking your hire car in advance saves a lot of stress on arrival.
DO I NEED AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT?
Portugal now recognises a large number of international driving licenses. It is unlikely you need one to hire a car but always check with the car rental company. You can read more about which countries are accepted here.
CAN I HIRE A CAR WITHOUT A CREDIT CARD
A common question I see is ‘can I hire a car in Portugal without a credit card?’. Most companies only accept a valid credit card (not pre-paid) when hiring a car. However some companies do accept without. When searching with Zest click on ‘view rental conditions’ under the photo of the car to see everything you need.
I hope this post can help ease any of the worries that naturally come with the car hire process. Now you have everything you need to hire a car in Portugal. Boa viagem!
Planning a Road Trip in Portugal
Being on the road is all about freedom and we love that about it, but being able to fully embrace that freedom involves doing some pre-planning first. The more prepared you are before you go, the more time you have to enjoy the experience of being on the road trip.
One of the biggest joys of a road trip is going off-route and making new discoveries, but sometimes it helps to have some places or points of interest already in mind that can help shape your route. When you already have a list or map of options to choose, you’re not left scrambling last minute. This is exactly why I created the Portugal Travel Map.
Portugal Travel Planning Map
The best way to plan your Portugal itinerary is by having all of the options in one place. I’ve created a trip planning map for Portugal with hundreds of pins to help you plan your trip. Need trip inspiration or itinerary ideas? You’ll find everything you need on the map.
*Some links included in this guide are affiliate links. This means if you click through one of these links and make a purchase I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Zest is one of a few companies I have used again and again while living in Portugal which is why I feel comfortable to recommend them.
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