Do You Need To Rent A Car In The Algarve, Portugal?
Heading to The Algarve soon & wondering should you rent a car for your trip?
Then you are in the right place! We recently rented a car for our weeks holiday to the Algarve region in June of this year & we would really recommend it.
There’s so much to see & do in the Algarve – with its stunning scenery & incredible coastline – & we think having a car is the best way to see everything!
Do You Need A Car In Algarve, Portugal?
We think renting a car in the Algarve is seriously worth it, especially if you want to explore beyond the area you’re staying in, or you get bored just sitting by the pool (like us!😆)
Having a car is the easiest & most convenient way to get around, & means you’ll be able to explore at your leisure, without having to rely on taxis or public transport.
There are so many off-the-beaten track places to discover all across the Algarve that you’ll most definitely require a car to get to.
Another thing we enjoyed about having a car was that we could pick it up right from the airport, throw our luggage in the boot & get straight on the road to our villa to start our holiday. We didn’t have to wait about on transfers.
However, with everything in life, it depends! If you’re happy enough just staying close to your hotel & don’t want to venture too far, you may not need a car. Especially if you’re staying in one of the bigger resort towns. You can always book some day trips or tours instead!
Ultimately it’s going to depend what type of vacation you want.
If you are steering more towards renting a car in the Algarve, hopefully this post will provide some useful insight & information to inform your decision!
Whatever you choose to do – we hope you enjoy your Algarve adventure!
Where To Rent Your Car For Algarve
We recommend using Discover Cars to search for, & pre-book your rental car for the Algarve.
We’ve used them several times now & we find them to have the best rates. Plus the process is pretty straightforward & hassle-free.
Basically the Discover Cars website will compare various local & international rental car companies for you, in order to find the best option & price for your search. They include all mandatory fees, taxes, and extras in their quotes which we find helpful as well.
Booking your car in ADVANCE of your trip is the cheapest way to do it & to ensure you get the car you want. If you wait until you get to Faro Airport or even where you’re staying in the Algarve, you may be hit with higher prices & there may not be the best availability.
We picked our rental car up from Faro Airport, which we would recommend doing as it’s the most convenient option. It means you don’t have to worry about booking additional transfers & it’s honestly so handy to just jump in the car when you get there, & to drop-off when your holiday is (sadly!) over.
🚗
For the best experience with DiscoverCars.com, book with Full Coverage, take detailed photos of the car before you set off, choose fully prepaid cars, select suppliers with high ratings (8.0+), be mindful of mileage policies especially for long trips, always read the Rental Conditions for detailed information, and thoroughly review the Booking Confirmation.
TIP: The company we booked with via Discover Cars was ‘Rent A Star‘ & we can recommend them. We rang them when we arrived at Faro Airport Arrivals hall, they came to meet us & took us over to their rental car location which was about a 5 min drive away. We had a few bits of paperwork to do & then we were on the road. Drop-off was super simple aswell, the staff were really friendly & they dropped us back over to the airport for our flight!
What You Need For Car Rental In Algarve
To rent a car in Portugal, there are some requirements you will have to meet & important legal documents that you’ll need to bring with you.
Here’s a quick list of documents you’ll need to bring:
- Your Booking Confirmation
- Valid Driving Licence
- Valid Passport or ID Card
- Credit Card – must have the same name & surname of the main driver’s driving licence.
- International Driver’s Permit – may be required by some car rental companies if you are a non-EU citizen so do check this.
Other important things to note:
- Most companies will require drivers to be at least 21 years of age to rent a car in Portugal. Always check age restrictions.
- If you are under 25, you may be charged a young drivers fee.
- Some providers ask that you’ve been driving/held your licence for a certain length of time.
- Most car rental companies will require a security deposit when you collect your car – so make sure you have enough funds to cover this on your credit card.
🚗
Always make sure to read ‘Rental Conditions’. These can be found under the car picture on the desktop version of the website and should be read before booking, as they vary by supplier. The voucher, a document confirming the booking, will be sent to you after booking and can also be downloaded from the ‘My Booking’ section.
Full Coverage With Discover Cars
We highly recommend taking out the full coverage option at the time of booking your car on Discover Cars.
This works out much cheaper than getting it at the rental desk in the airport.
The reason we choose the full coverage is to give us peace of mind that if we did happen to have an accident, then we would get the security deposit refunded from the full coverage.
To read more information about the full coverage option click here.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car In The Algarve?
The cost of renting a car in the Algarve, Portugal is going to depend on several factors, such as the time of year you’re going, the type of car you want, how long you want to hire the car for etc.
To get the cheapest price, make sure to book in advance of your trip, rather than waiting until you get to there. We find it’s often cheaper to book for a whole week too, rather than just a few days.
For reference, the hire car we booked for our trip to Albufeira in June, cost 109 euro for the week (then we got the full coverage with Discover Cars on top of that which normally ranges from 6-10 euro per day.) We somehow managed to get a Mercedes which we would never normally go for – but it was such a good deal we thought why not treat ourselves!!
We are actually booked again for October 2024 & the car for a week is – would you believe it – only 56 euro! It’s a basic car this time but fits our suitcases & gets us from A to B & that is usually all we need.
So as you can see the price can vary due to lots of different factors but Discover Cars will compare all the companies to find you the best rate.
Is Driving In The Algarve Difficult?
Honestly, we found driving around the Algarve pretty easy & simple enough to navigate!
The main roads are in good condition & there’s lots of signage telling you where to go, so it’s hard to get lost.
Of course with anywhere there’ll be some narrow streets & bumpier roads but that’s only if you really go off the beaten track. Just be careful & take it easy!
We had a satnav in the car which was useful, but we always put our destination into Google Maps on our phone before we set off anywhere, as you get live updates & sometimes a better route if there’s an accident or a road closure.
& of course in Portugal they drive on the other side of the road to us in the UK & Ireland. It does initially take some getting used to, but again once you get driving for a bit you’ll grand. Take your time & drive a bit more cautiously if needs must.
There are plenty of petrol stations dotted about too, so if you think you need to fill up just check on google maps where they are before you set off on your journey!
Our 10 Tips For Renting A Car In Algarve
- Use the Discover Cars website to compare rental car prices
- Book you rental car in advance to get the best rate
- Always check the rental conditions before you book a car
- Make sure to read reviews & check car company ratings
- Pick up & drop your car off at Faro Airport for the most convenience
- Be sure to have all the right documents with you to pick your car up
- Check the car before you set-off & take pictures of any damage etc
- Make sure you know what fuel the car takes & the fuel policy for drop off
- When driving use Google Maps for live updates & best routes
- Always have your documents with you in the event you are stopped
Quick Resources For Your Trip To The Algarve🌞:
🏨 Find accomodation in The Algarve via Booking.Com
🚗 Rent a car at Faro Airport through DiscoverCars.com
🏝️ Book Algarve day trips, tours & experiences on GetYourGuide
Conclusion
After spending a week in the Algarve – we wholeheartedly recommend renting a car! It’s the best & easiest way to see all the magical spots & hidden-gems the Algarve has to offer!
Let us know in the comments if you’re visiting Portugal soon or planning to in the future! 🌞
Quick FAQS: Renting A Car In Algarve
Is it worth renting a car in the Algarve?
We do think it’s worth renting a car in the Algarve. It gives you the opportunity to explore more of this beautiful part of Portugal. Without a car you may be limited to the touristy areas & have to rely on public transport.
Is parking easy in the Algarve?
Yes! We found parking to be pretty easy in Portugal. We never struggled to find a spot. Everywhere we went there seemed to be plenty of on-street parking or designated car parks. Arriving early to your destination will help too!
How do you avoid tolls roads in the Algarve?
The best way we found to avoid the toll roads (such as the A22) was to put our location into Google Maps before we set off & clicked the option to ‘avoid toll roads’. We also did this on the Satnav in the car too. The main road with no tolls through the Algarve is the N125, which runs parallel to the A22.
If I rent a car in Algarve, can I drive it to Spain?
Yes, most car rental companies in Portugal will let you drive your car into Spain. However, not all companies will allow this, so be sure to check the individual policies before you book or confirm with the rental company that you can do this.
Ready To Book Your Algarve Car?
Our favourite place to rent a car is through Discover Cars. 🚗
More posts about Portugal you might enjoy reading:
- Albufeira Marina: Things To Do & Complete Guide 🚤
- Praia Da Vigia, Albufeira: How To Find This Secret Beach 🏖️
- How To Spend One Day In Silves, Portugal (Best Things To Do)
Save this post for renting a car in The Algarve, Portugal 📌
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This just means, if you make a booking or purchase through one of our links, we may make a small commission – at absolutely NO extra cost to you. This will help us continue sharing our travels with you & keep this blog going for years to come! Thank you so much for being here & following along with us – we really appreciate you! ♥︎
