The main reason why you should know the best rental company in Portugal is to give you tons of flexibility and freedom when you want to explore the country. People have different preferences and like when it comes to traveling.
Some people like it when they can roam the area freely without being limited to schedules and transportation option. Some, however, don’t mind with the limited option because they find it more convenient. The decision whether you should rent a car or not depends on your traveling purpose, the areas that you want to visit, and how long you want to spend your time traveling.
Why Renting a Car?
As it was mentioned before, knowing the best rental company in Portugal can give you the best advantage of which company to choose or turn to. Depending on how long you want to stay in Portugal or what destinations to go to, you can decide whether a rented car is necessary.
For a starter, how long are you planning to stay in Portugal? If it’s only two to three days, you will likely visit the most popular sites or tourist objects located in Lisbon or Porto, or both. If this is the case, then you won’t need to rent a car. Traveling within Lisbon or Porto is easy with the public transportation.
They are cheap. They are easy to access. And they can reach the popular tourist objects. They are operating constantly, so you will never run out of options. You don’t have to depend on taxis as these public transportations would be enough.
If you plan on staying inside the city during your travel and you aren’t going out of the cities, then you should rely on the public transportation. Renting a car may not be the best option because parking space is pretty limited. Not to mention that the roads in both cities are pretty narrow and small, so it would make driving around a bit difficult.
However, if you are planning to spend at least five (and even more) days in the country, then it’s likely you will need a rented car. Moreover, if you are planning to go places, even going out from Lisbon or Porto, then you should rent a car. Getting a park space outside the cities is easier. Not many places outside the cities are reachable by public transportations, so renting a vehicle will make your travel easier.
Most Popular Car Rental Companies
If you think that renting a car in Portugal would be difficult, you are mistaken. Aside from the most popular names, there are some international and local best rental company in Portugal offering their expertise. Not only they have offices in many locations in Portugal, including big cities like Lisbon or Porto, they also have offices at international airports.
Some of the most popular names are:
- Hertz
- Amoita
- Europcar
- Sixt
- Enterprise
- Luzcars
Among those names, Luzcars and Amoita are the local names. The first one is hugely popular in Faro, especially in the area of Algarve. They may not be as modern other international names, but they provide friendly and impressive service with very nice tag price. They have limitless clients who are loyal to them.
The latter one would be Amoita, another local name that is super well-known in Portugal. The company has been around since 1988, so it speaks volumes of their performance and quality. Many of their loyal clients are happy with the impeccable service and also good rates. In terms of car fleets, their collections are pretty wide and expansive. They have different types and models in their collections, so they have various options.
Finding these rental companies is relatively easy. When you are in Lisbon, these rental companies are basically scattered in many places. Not only you can find them at airports, but they can be easily found in major points within the city. If you are coming to Porto, the number of offices may be limited, but you can still find them easily. It means that when you are renting a car in Porto Portugal, you won’t encounter any difficulties or whatsoever.
The Basic Requirements
No need to worry about fussy documentation or complicated procedures. Aside from the knowledge about the best rental company in Portugal, you should also know what kinds of requirements to have when renting a vehicle.
The first thing to do is to have a valid driver license. You don’t necessarily have an international license, but having a driver license is a must. It’s also crucial that you have it for at least a year so the company can confirm your driving abilities. If you have an international license, that’s great. But the again, it’s not the main and mandatory requirement, so no fret if you don’t have one.
You should also consider the age limitation. You need to be at least 18 years old to drive. However, if you want to rent a car, you must be at least 21. If you are at least 25, you may be charged a standard rate and you don’t have to go the extra mile with the procedures and the requirements. But if you are between 21 and 25, you may face extra charge. Be ready with your budgets.
Keep in mind that you must use a credit card to rent a car. In the US, you may be able to use a debit card, but that requirement doesn’t apply in foreign land. Even with the best rental company in Portugal, they won’t take chances and risks about lending out a vehicle to a foreigner. The credit card will guarantee your status and your ability to pay.
Final Words
Renting a vehicle abroad, especially in Portugal, isn’t complicated or tricky. As long as you have what it takes, the rental companies would provide only the best service that is accompanied by inexpensive rental rates. Exploring Portugal can offer you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you won’t even forget, but you need to know what to expect. Only when you consult the best rental company in Portugal, you can expect flawless experience and service.
