Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Renting a Car
If you're renting a car in Portugal, bring your driver's license. It's recommended, but not
required, that you also have an International Driving Permit (sold at your local AAA of-
fice for $15 plus the cost of two passport-type photos; see www.aaa.com ) ; however, I've
frequently rented cars in Portugal and traveled problem-free with just my US license.
Rental companies require you to be at least 21 years old and have held your license
for one year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young-driver surcharge, and some
rental companies do not rent to anyone 75 or older. If you're considered too young or old,
look into leasing, which has less-stringent age restrictions (see “Leasing,” later).
Research car rentals before you go. It's cheaper to arrange most car rentals from the
US. Call several companies and look online to compare rates, or arrange a rental through
your hometown travel agent.
Most of the major US rental agencies (including National, Avis, Budget, Hertz,
and Thrifty) have offices throughout Europe. The two major Europe-based agencies
are Europcar and Sixt. It can be cheaper to use a consolidator, such as Auto Europe
( www.autoeurope.com ) or Europe by Car ( www.ebctravel.com ) , which compares rates at
several companies to get you the best deal. However, my readers have reported problems
with consolidators, ranging from misinformation to unexpected fees; because you're go-
ing through a middleman, it can be more challenging to resolve disputes that arise with
the rental agency.
Regardless of the car-rental company you choose, always read the contract carefully.
The fine print can conceal a host of common add-on charges—such as one-way drop-
off fees, airport surcharges, or mandatory insurance policies—that aren't included in the
“total price,” but can be tacked on when you pick up your car. You may need to query
rental agents pointedly to find out your actual cost.
For the best rental deal, rent by the week with unlimited mileage. To save money on
fuel, ask for a diesel car. I normally rent the smallest, least-expensive model with a stick-
shift (cheaper than an automatic). An automatic transmission adds about 50 percent to the
car-rental cost over a manual transmission. Almost all rentals are manual by default, so
if you need an automatic, you must request one in advance; be aware that these cars are
usually larger models (not as maneuverable on narrow, winding roads).
For a two-week rental, allow roughly $675 per person (based on two people sharing a
car) for a small economy car with unlimited mileage, including gas, parking, and insur-
ance. For a longer trip, look into leasing; you'll save money on insurance and taxes.
You can sometimes get a GPS unit with your rental car or leased vehicle for an addi-
tional fee (around $15/day; be sure it's set to English and has all the maps you need before
you drive off). Or, if you have a portable GPS device at home, consider taking it with you
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