Algarve Car Hire
The easiest way to explore the region is with Algarve car hire - or,
as it's sometimes termed, Algarve car rental.
Selecting a hire car in Algarve is easy and relatively cheap, with plenty of companies
chasing your custom, wherever your holiday accommodation might be. 
Since I'm an advocate of leaving the beaches behind
(however occasionally) it makes sense to see more of
wonderful Algarve via the comfort and flexibility offered by
a suitable hire vehicle.
And, ecological considerations aside, exploring the obscure nooks and picturesque sights of the Algarve is best undertaken in a motor vehicle. (Let's be honest, when it comes to convenience, most of us opt for four wheels!)
 Grab
your Algarve car hire
and
get exploring!
Over the course of many Algarve vacations, I took
advantage of many companies offering Algarve car hire - and
usually it was relatively bother-free and enjoyable.
There are pitfalls, however, with a few companies being
less than upfront about how much you will actually pay. One
thing to look for is a definite indication within a
quotation that the price is what you will actually be
charged!
I'm glad to report, though, that many Algarve car hire
companies do strive for a reassuring level of transparency
about what your car hire will cost you...
Just do your homework before you book, then you'll be
able to relax and enjoy that upcoming Algarve vacation. If
you must worry about something, then read up on how to drive
safely in Portugal, which is a subject I deal with further
down this page.
Algarve Car Hire
Yor-Car
Looking for inexpensive Algarve car hire? Yor-Car in Faro
say they can help. They offer a large, new fleet giving
plenty of choice for your vacation car hire. Their
Faro
car hire office is right on hand at Faro Airport, so you
can collect your Algarve car hire and hit the open road in
no time at all. A couple of things to
note are that online prices offer a 25% discount, and that
the price you see is guaranteed to be what you pay. If,
for any reason, you don't wish to collect your Algarve car
rental at the airport, Yor-Car have lots of other Algarve
car rental premises here (west to east along the coast): Praia
da Luz, Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, Alvor, Silves, Carvoeiro,
Armação de Pêra, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Loulé,
Almancil, Faro, Tavira, Monte Gordo. Included:
- Unlimited mileage
within Portugal's national borders
- An additional driver
for each vehicle
- Low excess insurance,
collision damage waiver, theft protection and
third-party cover
- Seat for baby or
child, or a child booster cushion
- Roof rack (only
available for Opel Corsa - group C2)
- Free airport service
until 20:00 in winter and 23:00 in summer
- Free delivery and
collection at your chosen accommodation (7-day minimum
hire)
- Personal fast-track
service to accelerate the completion of your paperwork
at the airport to ensure your holiday starts without
delay. Your car will be waiting right outside Arrivals.
- Value added tax (VAT)
Optional extras:
- 'Driving in Spain' insurance
- € 50.00.
- Personal accident
insurance - € 4.00 per day.
- Excess waiver
insurance (all-inclusive) - no excess whatever to pay.
* * *
Algarve Car Hire
 DailyRent
New kids on the block (2007) car hire company DailyRent
are based in Lagos, and they're after your trade. What's more,
they offer 'all-inclusive' prices, with none of the omissions
that sometimes creep in elsewhere.
Here's what DailyRent offers:
Included are:
Unlimited
mileage, all taxes (including IVA - Portuguese VAT), full
insurance (including 'collision damage waiver', theft
protection, airport service fee, unlimited mileage, wheels,
tyres, glass), free delivery to hotels and airports, extra
drivers, child seats, booster seats and roof racks (when
pre-booked at the time of reservation).
Excluded are:
Drivers under the age of 23,
rentals of less than 3 days, fuel
(return vehicle with same level in tank as at pick-up), lost
car keys, traffic fines (speeding, parking tickets etc.)
DailyRent assure me that their vehicle stock is
virtually brand-new (this year's models). You need to
confirm booking at least 72 hours before you're due to
arrive.
Your car will be delivered to the airport (or hotel etc.
should you choose).
See what you think about the DailyRent
offer. Check
out their website and (as always, no matter which
car-hire company you choose), make sure you are happy that
you understand exactly the conditions you are being offered
including any exclusions or riders.
* * *
Algarve Car Hire - Other Franchises
Of course, there is still a wide choice of vehicles from the
other various franchises, some of which will have offices
near to where you're staying, should you be delivered to
your holiday abode by airport transfer. (Remember, if you're dialling from outside Portugal, preface the telephone
number with +351)
Europcar, Lagos: - Tel. 282 767 567
Guérin Rent-a-Car, Alvor: - Tel. 282 457 421
Rent-a-Car Lda, Armacao de Pera: - Tel. 282 315 700
Bolicar, Vilamoura - Tel. 289 322 949
Hertz, Quarteira: - Tel. 289 313 665
Best Deal Rent a Car, Almancil - Tel. 289 388
364
Auto Jardim, Faro: - Tel. 289 800 881
Avis, Faro: - Tel. 289 810 120
A. A. Castanheira, Monte Gordo: - Tel. 281 513 063
Alamo II, Monte Gordo - Tel. 281 513 960
Mudarent, Tavira - Tel. 281 326 815
Things you should know about Algarve Car Hire:
-
Drivers of hire cars must be at least 21 years old, and some companies impose an even higher minimum age. Cost of hire should include 3rd party insurance as a minimum, but check anyway.
Worthwhile optional upgrades (in a country with pretty appalling accident statistics) are: collision damage waiver and personal insurance - not forgetting theft insurance.
-
Carry all relevant documents for your Algarve hire car (and for yourself) whenever you are in the vehicle. It's not unknown for traffic police to ask to inspect such documentation.
-
You'll be safest if you assume (even when otherwise indicated) that vehicles approaching from the right have priority. A vehicle already on a roundabout should be given right of way.
And don't forget the other stuff you should know before you hit the roads in your Algarve hire car, especially for safe driving and self-protection. So, before you go ahead and select that
Algarve car rental, here's another chance to read...
My Top Driving Tips
I hope you'll enjoy using your hire car to explore my favourite holiday region. Do let me know of your most interesting Algarve car hire experiences, (use the form on the Your Algarve Best page), and I'll update things with your topical information.
Meanwhile, why not subscribe to my free monthly newsletter, Algarve Beach Life News, by clicking on the link below ("For Lovers of Algarve Beach Life") or on the button at top left
("Subscribe to ABLN") -- I'll keep you updated, every month, about the new information I have added about this fabulous area.
For Lovers of Algarve Beach Life
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