Car hire
Portugal
Places to start your journey in Portugal
Discover Portugal
SIXT Car Hire in Portugal
At SIXT, we make car hire in Portugal easy and convenient. Our friendlyEnglish-speaking agents are a pleasure to deal with, and will help you choose the ideal vehicle from our wide range of the latest models.
Ready to book? Personalise your car hire by choosing from many add-ons such as a sat nav, or an extra driver. You can also enjoy a flexible collection and return options at our prominent branch locations, giving your more freedom to make the most of the sunny Portuguese weather at your leisure.
Driving Tips for Portugal
Before you start your Portuguese adventures, read on for some driving tips:
- Toll roads: To travel on motorways with toll booths, you'll either need to get a temporary electronic toll device, or pre-pay for the route you're taking. Both options are smooth and easy – see our guide on tolls in Europe for more information.
- Look out for pedestrians: Many streets in Portuguese towns – especially more rural ones – don't have any pavements. As a result, you can expect to encounter a lot of pedestrians along the roadsides, often in groups. Drive mindfully!
- Right-side driving: If you haven't driven on the right-hand side of the road before, changing gear with the ""wrong"" hand can feel strange. You can eliminate this niggle by choosing an automatic vehicle when you rent a car in Portugal.
- Be careful in rural areas: Stay especially alert if you're driving on rural roads, as there's a good chance of encountering livestock crossing them.
Best places to visit in Portugal
With car hire in Portugal, you'll have the freedom to visit some of the country's most popular out-of-the-way destinations.
- The glittering Algarve: The Algarve coastline could well have been designed for driving, with its exquisite views over the Mediterranean. You can stop at some of the country's best beaches and visit charming traditional villages.
- Ancient history: Drive through the north-west region of Portugal and you'll find remnants and ruins going back as far as the 1100s, like those in Guimaraes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site.
- World-famous cities: Take your time and drive between Portugal's main cities rather than flying. Porto is an immersive cultural experience, and if you're visiting the capital, there are plenty of ideas on what to do in Lisbon.
Portugal offers some great road trips and the ideal weather for them, too! Make the most of it with the freedom to drive yourself anywhere you want, whenever suits you, with SIXT.
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*Our Customer Excitement Score is based on a survey sent to all customers who booked in Portugal. The score is an average of all customer responses.
Good to know when renting in Portugal
In order to hire a car in Portugal you'll need a valid licence, which you've held for at lease one year, as well as a valid passport. Your UK licence continues to be valid in Portugal as a tourist. If you move to Portugal then your UK licence will only be valid for 90 days before needing to be exchanged.
You are able to use your hire car in Spain as well as many other other European countries. Please inform us of your plan to use your hire car outside of Portugal when you book as foreign usage fees may apply.
Yes, all major debit cards are all acceptable forms of payment. Please make sure the credit or debit card you use is in the driver's name and is present when collecting the car at the branch in Portugal.
Yes you will be able to pick your hire car up from one branch in Portugal and drop it off at another. This is only possible on the mainland as one-way bookings are not possible between the mainland and Madeira or the Azores.
You need to be at least 19 years old to hire a car in Portugal and have held your licence for at least one year. The majority of car categories are available to drivers under 25, however you will have to be over 25 to book certain cars.
When booking online or on the SIXT app you'll be able to filter which cars are available depending on your age. If you are under 25 a young driver surcharge will apply.
Having your own hire car can be extremely valuable in Portugal, especially when looking to explore more rural areas, the Douro Valley wine region as well as the popular Algarve with its many picturesque beaches. Likewise on Madeira your own hire car will allow you to explore the entre island at your will.
