Car rental in Lisbon – Exploring the Portuguese Capital

The short answer is yes! The reason for this is because the local car rental company will need to block a security deposit for the duration of your rental period, which also means that you must make sure that your credit card has a limit high enough to cover the cost of the rental. You can easily find out how much the security deposit will be on the Auto Europe website: just click on the blue and white info (i) button in the car details when making a search in our booking engine and you will see the amount in the Mandatory Deposit Information section. Please be advised that if you fail to present a credit card, the local car hire supplier might well refuse you a vehicle or more commonly they might ask you to pay for additional insurance at the counter.

It's also important to remember that no matter which credit card you used to rent a car in Lisbon on the Auto Europe website, the credit card you use to collect your vehicle when you arrive at the pick-up counter must always be in the name of the main driver stated on the voucher. One useful tip is that that if you are planning to add the name of second driver for your trip, please check out our regular Free Additional Driver which will save you even more cash.

When you book a car rental in Lisbon with Auto Europe, it's always good to know that all the rates on our website automatically include the minimum amount of legally-required coverage to drive in Portugal, including collision-damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection. Nevertheless, some parts of the vehicle are not covered and for extra peace of mind it's always best to pay a little more for extensive coverage such as Auto Europe's very popular Full Damage Protection package. Please note that when you arrive to collect your vehicle, there's a possibility that the local car rental staff will try to sell you additional products that you won't necessarily need and are under no obligation to purchase. It's easy to see exactly what's included in the price during the booking process by clicking on the blue and white info (i) button where you'll find full details of the coverage and other information relating to credit cards, young driver surcharges etc.

Driving around Lisbon is relatively easy, although it's best to avoid driving in the Old Town due to its narrow streets and trams, most notably in the Alfama, Chiado and Baixa quarters. Lisbon can be accessed from six motorways including the A2 coming from the south, A1 from the north (including Porto) and the A6 from the east (from Spain). One important thing to remember is that Lisbon is a capital city with a lot of local drivers, so some congestion should be expected, especially during the morning and evening rush-hours. Portuguese motorists (particularly in Lisbon) are known for their somewhat aggressive driving style so please drive cautiously at all times. In case of emergency, SOS telephones are located at 2-kilometre intervals along all motorways and main dual-carriageways, plus you can dial 112 from anywhere in Portugal and an English-speaking operator will connect you to the local emergency and breakdown services. The general rules of driving in Lisbon are that motorists drive on the right and overtake on the left. When being overtaken, motorists should keep as far right as possible and not accelerate. You are permitted to pass a stationary tram only if there’s an island for passengers boarding and alighting. On a hill, the vehicle travelling uphill should give way to the one going down. Another important consideration is the fact that Portugal (including the Greater Lisbon area) has motorways with tolls, which you can pay for with cash or a credit card, although some motorways only accept electronic payment. Please note that both bridges (25 Abril and Vasco da Gama) are tolled but only on the way into Lisbon, not on the way out. The national speed limit on motorways in Portugal is 120kph. On main roads outside Lisbon it varies between 90kph and 100kph but in the city it’s 50kph. Finally, in the centre of Lisbon drivers should expect to encounter Tuk-Tuks, the majority of which tend to circulate in and around the most historic parts of the city. These small motorised or electric vehicles are used by tourist companies to take small groups of people on guided tours, so it's important to look out for them when you rent a car in Lisbon.

On-street parking is plentiful with parking meters in abundance in central Lisbon, but there's always a maximum time-limit that drivers need to be aware of. There's also a good number of underground car parks available in key inner city locations such as Baixa, Chiado, Martim Moniz and Marquês de Pombal which are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Utilizing underground parking facilities typically requires obtaining a parking ticket which are obtainable when you enter the car park via the payment machine. It’s worth noting that electric vehicles are exempt from parking fees in some cases. Additionally, Lisbon has several Park and Ride (P&R) facilities located just beyond the inner city (such as Parque das Nações and Sete Rios), which are well-connected to the capital's extensive public transport system, thus giving visitors the chance to park their car in a prime spot before getting in and out of the city centre quickly and easily. Please note that illegally-parked vehicles are likely to be clamped and, if causing an obstruction to moving traffic, towed away. In both cases, a fine must be paid to cover the offence plus towing and impounding costs.

Lisbon does have a low emission zone (ZER = Zona de Emissões Reduzidas) but it relates to older vehicles (ie cars manufactured before the year 2,000) and therefore the system doesn't really apply to rental cars. It is divided in two specific areas: Zone 1 and Zone 2, which operate Monday to Friday only from 7am until 9pm. Zone 1 encompasses the inner city districts of Av. Liberdade and Baixa while Zone 2 incorporates Avenida de Ceuta, Avenida das Forças Armadas, Avenida EUA, Avenida Marechal António Spínola and Avenida Infante Dom Henrique. Please note that electric vehicles (which are becoming a more frequent sight on the roads of Lisbon) are allowed to enter and park in the ZER with a sticker. required. Please consult this page for more info or refer to the electronic displays found at ZER entry points.

Yes, and in many ways it's one of the best ways to visit the city whilst saving money on hotels and restaurants. Auto Europe can offer you a wide range of motorhomes, large or small, for groups of friends and/or family members looking to enjoy the city and it's long sandy coastline in comfort and with total freedom and flexibility. Check out our motorhome rental deals and start planning your Lisbon road-trip adventure today!