12 Things You Should Know Before Renting a Car in Portugal

​By far one of the most convenient way to visit Portugal is by car.  You can make pit stops in any walled medieval towns such as Obidós pictured above, or the secret beaches along the way through the Algarve, without worrying about missing a bus or train, or having to deal with unpleasant seat neighbors.
 
Going at our own pace and being able to explore every corner of the country our hearts desired is why we decided to rent a car. It can be scary to drive somewhere you have never been so we’ve prepared a little guide to help you prepare for it. Some things are common to European countries (but completely new to us naïve Canadians!) and others are particular to Portugal.

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Things you should know before renting a car in portugal

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Firstly, why should you even bother renting a car? Beaches are so much more accessible by car. Not only can you beat the crowd and leave later, but the tour bus and shuttles only go to certain, more popular, beaches and only offer you a limited time to enjoy it all. It would be an exorbitant price to take a taxi to smaller towns and that’s if you find one who will take you. And buses will only work on a certain schedule which may mean you need to cut out some of the things you want to do. For the freedom to stay in one place as long or as little as you want it's completely worth the expense!
 
Choosing a rental car agency – Consider carefully the pros and cons of the location before choosing based on price alone. Although airport fees might make the overall cost higher, the convenience of pick up and drop off alone may make it worth it. You will also save in shuttle or taxi transfer to your hotel. We decided to pick up at the Lisbon airport so that we could be on our way sooner.

If you decide to pick up your car from the Lisbon airport (or most airports for that matter), I warn you that lineups can get very long! Be sure to get your ticket from the cue when you get there (each company have their own). At first I was standing in a lineup but realized after about 15 minutes that there was no line. If there’s a few of you waiting together, ask your friends to stay behind as to make a clear path to the front desk.

The beach side town of Nazaré is the perfect pit stop to recharge from your road trip!

​Driver’s license – It's not necessary to have an international driver's licence to drive in Portugal, as long as your country’s license is valid and in roman numerical. Make sure you carry your license and passport with you at all time while driving in case you get pulled over. 
 
Insurance – Before splurging on the rental company's insurance rates, check your credit card features if they cover car rentals as it may save you a ton! Whether you choose to use your credit card insurance or the rental agent's, make sure you choose one and that you understand what it includes (car, windshield, harm to yourself, others, etc.) 
 
Type of car – I'll keep this one simple, skip the town car and opt instead for a decent highway driving car. Also, if you're not 100% comfortable with driving standard transmissions, splurge on the extra for the automatic transmission. You'll be thankful as you drive through very steep inclines, cobble stone roads, and heavy traffic through tight spaces with lots of pedestrians.

​Gas (petrol) – Firstly, always use the recommended kind of petrol from your car rental place. Although for some stations it didn't matter, paying with a credit card makes the transactions much easier as it saves you from going inside the station first, then back out to gas, then back in for your change. It's simply much easier with a credit card using the pre-approved amount function. 

Explored the tiny winding roads of Coimbra during our roadtrip

​GPS or navigation systems – You can use Google Maps, the roads are quite well indicated. However, if you step out of your provider's service area, you will lose the navigation. We really enjoyed having the  built in GPS in the car to guide us.
 
Toll roads vs. toll free – Although using the toll roads is the quickest and simplest way to travel between the Algarves, Lisbon and Porto, it will cost you to take the route. we spent easily 45 Euros going from Lisbon to Porto one way with a few breaks along the way.

Avoiding the tolls may be worth it if you have the time to make it through the twisty turvy route. Awesome views of small towns and villages, lots of wineries and oliveries to enjoy along the way. Keep in mind that it will double, even triple the amount of time required to get from point A to B.

​Toll pass – Get it! It saves time when driving through, you can use the fast lane, and don't have to worry about keeping cash or cards close by. Watch the counter every time you pass the toll, it adds up quickly!
 
Road signs – If you're not familiar with the European traffic laws in general, I recommend doing a bit of research prior to driving through. We did not and it took us a while to figure out what the signs meant. For example, a passing sign that's crossed out means the passing lane is over, not quite what we're used to in Canada!
 
Speed limits – The speed limit goes up to 130 km/h on major highways, differs in towns and small roads between 30 to 80 km/h.
 
Parking – You will find paid parking very well indicated in almost any city through Portugal. Make sure to read the signage, pay at the pay stations and to bring back the ticket to your car.

​When you visit the bigger cities (like Porto, Lisbon or Lagoa) try to choose a hotel with parking to save on costs and headaches and use the transit around the city. It's faster and cheaper than searching and paying for parking. Many hotels don’t have parking or have street parking which you will need to fight for a spot and possibly move around at different times if parking is permitted at limited times.

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​This information is subject to change as per the applicable laws and regulations of the Portuguese government – you should always verify with the embassy or through an official website if you’re unsure about anything.

​Got any other tips for your fellow travelers?