Portugal rental terms

As published by our booking partner; checked 23 October 2026.

The minimum chargeable rental period is 24 hours. It means that if you rent a car for a few hours, you will be charged for a full day. For example, if you need a car from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon, you will be charged for two full days.
If you want to extend your rental period, you must inform the rental agent in advance.
You must return your rental car with the same level of fuel you picked it up with. If the level of fuel is lower, you pay the difference at the rates of car rental company. If the level of fuel is higher, you are not compensated for the difference.
If the car is returned so dirty that it hinders its inspection, the car will be washed at the customer's expense.
Standard insurance does not cover damages to wheels, undercarriage, windscreen, and interior of the car.
Starting from 1 June 2026, all car rental agreements in Madeira are subject to a mandatory regional vehicle usage fee of €2 per full rental day, capped at 10 days per rental agreement (maximum €20). The fee is collected by the rental company, remitted to the regional authorities, and is not included in the booking price. It must be paid separately by the customer upon vehicle collection.
In case of an insured event, you must immediately notify the rental agent and receive a police report, except as otherwise agreed with the agent. Failure to fulfil these conditions will cancel the insurance issued for the car and make you fully responsible.
The insurance is invalid in the event of deliberate damage to the car caused by intentional vandalism or neglect.
Rental cars are allowed to travel only on paved public roads.
If you plan to travel outside the country, please notify the rental agent in advance to complete the required documents.
It is not permitted to use the ferry service to travel in a rental car from the mainland to the islands, nor from the islands to the mainland.
The contact phone number with the correct country code provided at the time of booking must be available throughout the car rental period and on the day before pick-up. We do not accept any service quality claims, if it was impossible to contact the renter by mobile phone or messengers (Viber / WhatsApp / Telegram).
It is the tenant’s responsibility to pay fines, fuel and parking fees.
Payment for toll roads (both electronic toll systems and standard toll roads) is the responsibility of the lessee. Some rental companies in Portugal charge a mandatory rental fee for the toll transponder and may also block a security deposit to cover potential toll expenses, or request valid credit card details for this purpose.
The driver’s minimum age and driving experience are listed on each car’s page. These requirements may vary even for similar models. The rental agent has the right to refuse to provide the service at any time if the driver’s age and/or driving experience does not meet the requirements for a particular car. Please use the filters to find cars that match your criteria.
To rent a car, you must have a valid national driver’s license with details duplicated in Latin script. The expiry date on the license must be no earlier than the end date of the rental period. Copies or electronic licenses are not accepted. If your driver’s license is only valid in the country of issuance, we strongly recommend including an International Driving Permit (IDP) in your documents and providing it upon request.
Check the methods for paying the remaining rental cost, holding of the deposit, and the deposit refund timelines during the booking process and in the rental voucher.
Renting a car may require a mandatory physical embossed credit card in the name of the main driver. If a credit card is required, ensure that you have it with you when picking up the car. In some cases, rental companies may accept debit cards, which will also be specified during booking and in your voucher. The debit card must also be a physical, personalized card with embossed details and issued in the name of the main driver. Ensure that you have the card with you when picking up the car.
Some companies retain your deposit for 21 to 30 days after the date on which you returned the vehicle. In the event that the rental company receives a fine or is invoiced for an unpaid toll incurred during the time you were renting the car, the associated amount – including the administrative expenses in the case of fines – will be charged to the deposit.
Only small pets may travel in rented cars and should be kept in their travel carriers at all times.

Booking, payment and cancelling

When you book you pay an advance of 15 to 20% of the rental cost; the rest goes to the rental company at pickup, by the methods that car lists.
A cancellation carries no penalty up to 7 days before the rental starts (30 days for luxury cars and convertibles), or up to 24 hours before when the booking includes the 24-hour cancellation option. A later cancellation, or not turning up, means the advance is kept.
The 6% payment service fee is not refunded on any cancellation; the rest of the advance is returned within 14 days of the refund request.
To change a booking, cancel it and book again.
If the rental company cannot provide the booked car because of a breakdown or other force majeure, it must provide a car of the same or a higher class on the same terms and at the same price.

The full booking rules are shown and accepted during booking. Back to car hire in Portugal.