Car Hire in Portugal
A short guide to Driving in Portugal and Car Hire in Portugal.
Please enjoy your hire car in Portugal
Are you going on holiday to Portugal? To see as much as possible and to get the most out of Portugal, the best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you will have to abide by Portugal's law of driving. Below you will find some useful information about driving in Portugal.
Documents you need when driving in Portugal
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Portugal you must have the following documents with you, which are your current full driving licence, valid insurance certificate a minimum Third Party cover, a Green Card is highly recommended. Failure to produce these documents on request to the authorities will result in on-the-spot cash fine.
Special rules you must follow
When driving in Portugal all vehicles must carry a warning triangle, it is also recommended to carry a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in all vehicles. The police are able to issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these rules. For all passengers it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts.
Minimum age
The minimum age of a driver in Portugal is 18 years. Children under 12 years of age and must be seated in an approved child seat to sit in the front of a vehicle.
Parking
Parking in Portugal is similar to Britain with car parks and parking meters. Only park your vehicle in the same direction as traffic flow. Be aware as Illegally parked cars will be wheel clamped.
A few basic rules
In Portugal, they drive on the right hand side and overtake on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts. You must carry your driving licence passport, and vehicle documents at all times. Use your dipped headlights in reduced visibility and sidelights should be used when parking in badly lit areas. Remember not to pass trams when passengers getting on or off. Only use your horn in emergencies. Please note that it is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles.
Speed limits
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 90 kph (56 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 100 kph (62 mph)
Motorways: 120 kph (74 mph)
Bus
There is a frequent coach service, which runs between all Portuguese cities.
Taxi
The taxi charges are according to distance and all the taxis metered. Most taxis are usually painted beige although you should watch out as some taxis are painted in the old colours of green and black and they still exist. In the city, the taxis charge a standard meter fare, for the outside of the city, limits are charged per kilometre they are also entitled to charge for the return fare. Beware, as there is a surcharge for carrying luggage in the cities.
Urban
In Lisbon there is an underground services (Metropolitano) which is currently being expanded. There are also trams, which operates in major Portuguese cities. For a good opportunity to see the city, a tram ride in Lisbon will provide this. There also is an extensive bus network in Lisbon.
Travel times
The following chart below gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Lisbon to other major cities/towns in Portugal.
Road
Faro 4.00
Oporto 5.00
Driving in Portugal will be a pleasurable experience as long as you remember you are in their country and abide by their laws. Please remember it is not a good enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you are a foreigner, you are the driver and it's your responsibility to know the law.