| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Rent a car to see Porto? | No: hilly centre, narrow streets, hard parking; the metro and walking are enough |
| Rent for the Douro, the north, the coast? | Yes, a car lets you stop wherever you like |
| Where do you collect it? | Desk in the arrivals hall or the company's shuttle, depending on the company |
| Tolls? | Several motorways have no toll booths: ask for the company's toll device |
| Deposit? | Held on a credit card in the driver's name, amount set by the company |
| Fuel? | Simplest: return it full, at a station near the airport |
Do you really need a car in Porto?
Not for the city. The centre is hilly, the streets of the Ribeira are narrow and parking is limited: the metro, buses and walking are enough, and our article on getting around Porto covers the tickets. A car becomes useful for:
- the Douro Valley, where the quintas are spread out: see the rental-car itinerary, or compare with tours, the train and the cruise;
- day trips in the north: Peneda-Gerês National Park, Arouca, Viana do Castelo;
- a stay with luggage or children outside the centre.
Tip: if you spend two days in Porto before moving on, rent the car only on the day you leave the city. You avoid paying for days of parking.
Collecting the car at the airport
The airport is about twelve kilometres from the centre; to get into town without a car, see from the airport to the centre. According to the rental companies' and comparison sites' own pages, there are two cases:
- Companies with a desk in the arrivals hall (the big international brands): you sign at the desk, then walk to the car park.
- Off-terminal companies: the company's shuttle picks you up outside arrivals and takes you to its office in a few minutes. Advertised prices are often lower, but the wait can be longer when a large flight lands.
Read your booking confirmation for the exact pick-up and return point: it differs by company. Before you leave, photograph the car from every angle (scratches, wheels, windscreen) and have existing damage noted on the contract.
Licence, age and deposit
- Licence: a European Union driving licence is valid in Portugal. For a non-EU licence, check on the rental company's site and with the IMT whether an international permit is required.
- Age: the minimum age, how long you must have held your licence and the young-driver surcharge are set by each company in its terms.
- Deposit: an amount is held on the driver's credit card, sometimes higher if you decline the company's insurance. A debit card is often refused for the deposit: check before booking.
Insurance: the excess is the real price
The base price usually includes cover with an excess: after damage or theft you pay up to that amount. Three ways to reduce it:
- The company's excess waiver, at the desk: more expensive per day, but no money to advance after an incident; the deposit held is then often lower.
- Independent insurance or your bank card's cover: cheaper, but you pay the damage first and claim it back. Read the exclusions (tyres, glass, underbody).
- Nothing: not advisable for a stay of several days on mountain roads.
The desk may push its own insurance: you have the right to decline, but the deposit will then be higher.
Tolls: motorways with no booths
In Portugal, several motorways have fully electronic tolls, with no barrier or booth: a gantry reads the device or the plate. Other sections keep classic booths where you pay by cash or card. The official toll portal (pttolls.com) lists the motorways concerned and the ways to pay.
For a rental car:
- Take the company's device (Via Verde type) when offered: the tolls are charged to your card afterwards. Ask for the device fee (daily charge, possibly capped) and the commission per toll.
- Without a device, ask the company how to pay. For Portuguese plates, the official portal describes deferred payment (CTT post office or bank reference) within a short time after the toll, with a fee per trip.
- Don't skip it: an unpaid toll leads to a fine and fees, which the company passes on to you.
Fuel: return it full
The clearest is a "full/full" policy: you return the car with a full tank, at a station near the airport, and keep the receipt. A prepaid full tank is charged at the company's price, with no refund for unused fuel. In Portugal "gasóleo" is diesel and "gasolina 95" is unleaded petrol: do not pick up the wrong nozzle.
Parking the car in Porto
In the centre, paid street parking is paid at a meter or by app, with a maximum stay; underground car parks are safer. Never leave anything visible in the car: see scams and safety in Porto. Ask your hotel whether it has parking and at what rate; otherwise leave the car outside the centre and take the metro.
Driving in Portugal: the basics
- Drive on the right; seat belts are compulsory.
- Alcohol: the legal limit is 0.5 g/l of blood (0.2 g/l for novice and professional drivers, according to ETSC). Above it, fines are heavy and may come with a licence suspension; before a wine or port tasting, appoint a driver who does not drink.
- Respect the posted speed limits: speed cameras are common.
- Entry formalities and laws worth knowing are in before you go to Porto.
Our choice
For most travellers: a small car collected at the airport on the day you leave Porto, with the company's toll device and insurance that reduces the excess. If you only want one outing to the Douro Valley, compare first with the organised tour: it spares you the driving, drink-driving risk and parking. Otherwise, compare car rental offers at the airport and read the deposit and excess before booking.
If you have an accident
On the spot: get to safety, switch on the hazard lights, check for injuries and call emergency services (112 (emergencies)). Fill in the European accident statement with the other driver; call the police if anyone is hurt, if you disagree, if the other driver leaves, or if your rental contract requires it. Photograph the vehicles, the plate, the road and the damage, note the other driver's details, and call the rental company before any repair.
Who pays what: damage to the car is covered by the rental company's protection (CDW), subject to its excess (deductible), or by an excess cover bought with the rental; injuries and medical costs fall under your travel insurance. Travel insurance does not pay for the rental car or for damage to third parties.
SafetyWing covers medical costs after an accident abroad; check the policy's conditions for driving (a licence valid in the country, a helmet on a scooter).
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a car to visit Porto?
No, the centre is covered on foot, by metro and by tram. A car is for trips outside the city.
Is an international driving permit compulsory?
A European Union licence is enough. For a non-EU licence, check with the rental company and the IMT before you go.
How do you pay tolls with a rental car?
The simplest is the company's device, charged after the trip. Ask about the fees at the desk.
What is the deposit?
It is set by the rental company and held on a credit card in the driver's name; the amount depends on the insurance you choose.
What about fuel?
Return the car with a full tank if the contract says "full/full", and keep the receipt from the station.
Can you drink wine if you drive?
The legal limit is 0.5 g/l, which a tasting can quickly reach. Appoint a driver who does not drink.
Going further
For the Douro Valley, see the rental-car itinerary and the page Douro Valley from Porto.
The Porto Authority editorial team
