Car rental in Portugal

In recent years it has been catching up פורטוגל It has a place of honor in the list of top tourist destinations among many Israelis and is a center of attraction for crowds of all ages, young and old, individuals and families with children. The people of Portugal are known to be very friendly and warm people and it is impossible to mention it without also mentioning the excellent wine it offers. Lisbon, detailed And many other destinations in Portugal must be part of the entire route, including the small and beautiful villages, which are decorated with olive and grape vineyards. 

One of the ways, if not the way, to experience Portugal is by renting a car. Renting a car in Portugal can suit anyone and any style of vacation, and especially for all those who want to experience it properly and also enjoy an independent trip that does not depend on anything. The rented car can be picked up immediately after landing at the airport or picked up from the car agency through which the order was made, which has branches in the major cities and other places. Whether you are going on vacation in Portugal for a few days or for a longer period, the option of renting a car is definitely a suitable solution. At the same time, for those who plan to focus their trip exclusively on Lisbon and/or Porto, it is recommended not to rent a car, as there are convenient public transportation solutions and a car may make it a little difficult to navigate the city, including navigating it (you have to find available parking spaces, some of which are paid, which adds quite a bit for the total financial expenditure). For those who want to travel in both cities, there are express trains that connect them and the local transportation system works well and is offered with high frequency. You can easily go on day trips from Lisbon to Sintra Sintra and Cashish (Cascais) and use the train.

International driving license

In many countries in the world it is important to have an international driver's license when renting a car and also while driving. The same is true for Portugal, although in practice - you don't always want to see it (but you should be prepared and ready for that).

Pre-order

Almost all cars offered for rent in Portugal (similar to other European countries) are cars with manual transmissions, which are considered the most popular. Therefore, when you make the reservation for the rental car, and on the assumption that you are indeed interested in driving an automatic car, it is important to specify this in advance. When searching for such cars you will find a smaller selection of options (compared to manual cars) and also higher prices (sometimes even twice or more). It is highly recommended not to wait until the last minute, as you may find yourself in front of a car rental company that has no free and available automatic vehicles left. 

In Portugal, you can find almost all the largest car rental companies in the world, while there are also some local car rental companies, which are larger in number. It is highly recommended to conduct a market survey before ordering the vehicle, to compare prices, terms and also vehicle models offered for rent. No matter what time of the year you go on vacation, you should make sure to book the car ahead of time, and if you are planning a vacation in the summer, between the months of June and August, it is important to book several months in advance to reserve the right car. As for the car model you should choose: If so, in order to make the right decision on the matter, several parameters must be taken into account - the number of passengers, the amount of luggage (luggage and bags) to be taken and also the places to be reached. A compact car for example will help you a lot when traveling in the cities and in the small and crowded streets. You will find parking more easily instead of spending a lot of time looking for a spacious parking space suitable for a relatively large vehicle. On the other hand, a large vehicle can provide the appropriate answer when it comes to three to four passengers and a relatively large load. 

The speed limit on the roads of Portugal

Although there are speed limits on the roads in Portugal, it is rare to see speed cameras on roads or mobiles. This does not mean that they do not exist and are not there at all, it simply means that they are less common compared to other countries. It is important to know the traffic laws, which are very similar to those of Israel, and to follow them. In built-up areas the speed limit is 50 km/h, outside built-up areas - 90 km/h or 100 km/h and on highways - 120 km/h.

Driving outside the big cities

Although Portugal is well networked, the real challenge, in driving it, is actually outside the big cities. Stone-paved roads, very narrow roads that curve up the hill, are common and can be found in the more rural areas. In the Douro Valley, for example, the tracks next to the vineyards rise and fall, twist and become narrow, and there are quite a few 90 degree turns without railings or fences. At the same time, the spectacular views, which can be seen during the drive, justify the great challenge and make, even a little difficult, the driving itself one of a kind. 

Where do you return the vehicle?

When renting a car, it can be returned exactly at the same pick-up point, or, another option, from another point. Some of the rental companies demand higher amounts for this compared to returning the vehicle to the starting point, even when it is the same city itself and with others the differences are not large (if any). Therefore, it is very important to compare the options and refer to this figure, especially if you want to return the vehicle in a different place, which is not the original collection point. 

car insurance

The insurance is necessary and it is better to examine the conditions it includes before purchasing it. The car rental companies offer car insurance, as part of the entire transaction, and it is better not to take the risk and take care of the matter before setting off. The issue of deductibles, third parties and other equally important parameters should be examined.

toll roads

The toll roads are the fastest and best way to move around Portugal. A trip from Lisbon to Albufeira, for example, will take a little less than two and a half hours on the toll roads, while on the regular roads, which are not toll roads, it will take about three and a half hours. At the same time, when you go on vacation, speed is not everything and patience is usually a lot. When driving on non-toll roads, it is likely that you will come across interesting towns and cities and unique points of interest, the likes of which you will not see on the highways. Of course, sometimes you will have to get from point A to B without stopping along the way. In these cases the toll roads will be the right solution for you. There are two types of toll roads: fully electronic toll roads and those that also allow other types of payment (by credit card and cash). 

road navigation

Using GPS will provide the right answer not only for long journeys but, above all, for traveling within the big cities, where navigation is not always easy. It is not necessarily only Lisbon or Porto, but smaller cities such as Portimao, for example, which can be very confusing when driving through them. Today it is not necessary to purchase a GPS or even ask the rental company to equip the vehicle with such a GPS device. There are great apps, like Wiz, that can help with this and also Google Maps that do the job just fine.