Intel: Two tips when renting a car in Portugal
Film that rental car before you go!
If you’re wanting to see more than just the central areas of Lisbon or Porto, it’s quite likely that you’ll want to rent a car for your Portuguese exploration. Yes, of course, the train system is very good, but it won’t take you to the many isolated beaches and charming villages that are an essential part of the Portuguese experience. You can easily rent cars from local and international companies at the airports or city centers, but there are two things you need to be aware of when renting:
- Ask for the ‘Via Verde’ toll transponder. Lots of the main highways in Portugal are toll roads. (They are excellent and well-maintained, and the tolls help keep them up). If you want to drive, you’ll need one as many of the roads do not have staffed toll booths.
- REALLY inspect your car before you drive it off the rental lot. In fact, take a carefully filmed video of the car’s condition. Pay close attention to minor scratches, even on the hubcaps or dings on the windshield. We’ve heard numerous tales of companies charging for one centimeter-long scratches that would otherwise seem quite minor. The video evidence will help demonstrate the condition of the car before you rented it, and prove your innocence from marks left by previous renters.
Finally, if you are going to use a Rideshare, Uber does work in Portugal, but Bolt is more popular and is often a bit cheaper than Uber. So download the Bolt app before you go.
Photo Source: standvirtual
In each publication, Syllogi will share various tips, resources, and other odd bits of helpful information we have happened across in our research.
