Several documents are needed in order to be able to rent a car in Portugal, these include: A passport, proof of address in Portugal (such as hotel/guest house/residency card), and of course a valid driving license.Visitors are allowed to drive in Portugal with a foreign driving license as long as the license is in a language that uses the Roman alphabet. For driving licenses in other alphabets an international driving permit will be required.
Select a credit card to utilize for payment of the rental car. Car rental agencies in Portugal accept most major credit cards. Lisbon Anglo Info advises travelers to use a credit card with a high limit since a high deposit will be charged and not refunded until the vehicle is returned. As of 2010, most rental agencies will charge at least $500 as a deposit amount.
Choose who will be driving the rental car. Be mindful of the individual ages of the drivers for the prospective rental car, since there may be age restrictions. The minimum age requirement for most rental agencies is 21 with a minimum of one year driving experience, but younger drivers may also be limited to the type of car they may rent. Most Portuguese companies will restrict younger drivers to renting economy cars, with the minimum age requirement being 23 to rent compact cars and 25-30 to rent luxury cars. An additional requirement is that all drivers must be present and have the appropriate documents at the time the vehicle is picked up.
Decide if the rental car will be driven outside of Portugal. Crossing the border to Spain is commonly permitted, but a special permit and insurance is needed and issued upon rental of the vehicle in Portugal. Travel to other countries outside of Western Europe is only permitted by some car rental agencies and must also be requested in advance.
Search for the best Portuguese car rental agencies on the internet. Most companies offer special fares for advance bookings. The rental can usually be completed by email by sending your name, car desired, flight information, the airport of departure and the airport of arrival where the vehicle will be retrieved. Most companies will return a rental confirmation voucher within hours by email. If booking ahead of time by internet is not possible, renting a car in the four main airports in Portugal is another alternative.
