Age and licence rules are not the same at every rental company, and they are one of the few things you genuinely cannot negotiate at the counter. Here is where AUTOPORTRENT stands.
The age limits
- The minimum age to drive a rented vehicle is 21.
- The maximum age to drive a rented vehicle is 75.
- A daily young driver charge (YD) applies where the driver is under 24. The amount varies by vehicle group and is shown during the reservation process.
The two year rule
Your driving licence must be valid for driving in Portugal and must have been held for a minimum of two years from the date of issue. This applies to every driver on the agreement, not only the main one. A licence issued eighteen months ago will be refused, even if the driver is well over 21.
If your licence is not valid in Portugal you will need an international driving licence, and it is only valid when accompanied by your original national licence. Bring both documents.
Who is allowed to drive
Only the drivers expressly named in the rental agreement may drive the rented vehicle. This matters more than it sounds: if someone who is not on the agreement is driving at the time of an accident, the collision and theft cover you paid for is void, and the liability becomes yours in full rather than being limited to the excess.
Additional drivers can be added at the counter when the vehicle is collected, at 25€ per driver. Each one has to present their original documents at that moment, and each one has to meet the same age and licence conditions.
Choosing a vehicle for a younger driver
Since the young driver charge is applied by group, it is worth looking at what the group actually gives you. Our economy group starts at 21€ per day and covers four and five seat petrol cars with air conditioning, which is usually the most sensible combination for a driver under 24. The compact group adds boot space for a longer trip, and the automatic group starts at the same 21€ per day if you would rather not deal with a manual gearbox on Lisbon's hills.
Before you book
Check the issue date on every licence that will be used, not just the expiry date. Check that the main driver holds a credit card in their own name for the security deposit. And if anyone in the group is close to either age limit, call us on 217 815 750 first, so nothing is a surprise on the day.
The full conditions are set out in the Terms and Conditions, and the most common questions are answered on the Help page.