Portugal Car Rental Guide
The current page informs you of the car rental possibilities in Portugal and describes the main car rental and driving restrictions valid in the country.
Rental Restrictions
In order to rent a car in Portugal, you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge.
Cars rented in Portugal are not allowed to travel into the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the former Yugoslavian republics.
Driving Restrictions
In Portugal, driving is on the right and passing on the left. The minimum driving age is 17 years. Children must be at least 12 to be allowed to sit in the front. The maximum blood alcohol limit is 0.5‰ and drunk driving is subject to very severe fines.
Roads are often three lanes wide – you should use the middle lane for passing in both directions. At the junction of two roads of equal importance, traffic coming from the right has priority.
You may only use the horn in cases of extreme and immediate danger. Do not flash your headlights – it is illegal.
You must park in the direction of traffic, except where parking is allowed on one side of the road only. Illegally parked vehicles will be confiscated. In many towns, Blue Zone parking areas exist; for parking in these zones, you have to obtain a parking disc.
The police are authorised to collect fines on the spot.
Speed limits:| Area | Speed |
| City | 50KM/H |
| Main roads | 90KM/H |
| Motorways | 120KM/H |
Emergency Numbers
Police/fire/ambulance: 112
Road Tolls
In Portugal, many motorways and several bridges and tunnels have tolls. You can pay for the ticket with a card, but it is advised you carry cash. The tolls are rather expensive.
About Portugal
Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe. The country is mainly described by sunny beaches and friendly resorts of the Algarve, surrounded by amazing cliffs and crystal waters, but the other regions of the country have a lot to offer as well – mediaeval hilltop towns, delicious food and wine and unforgettable sights. Great monuments, castles and churches are side by side with new buildings and technologies. There are two particularly Portuguese architectural items found in many towns: the pelourinhos – decorated stone columns, and azulejos – glazed tiles used to decorate buildings.
The Portuguese are a friendly people and will definitely welcome you to their country.
Population: 10,524,145
Area: 91,951 sq km
Capital City: Lisbon
Language: Portuguese
Time Zone: GMT (+1 in summer)
Monetary unit: Euro
