To make the most of the wonderful island of Porto Santo, it’s best to set off on an adventure in your own vehicle: to go off the beaten track, to see the most beautiful places and to admire the sunrises!
Here’s our practical guide to stress-free car rental in Porto Santo.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
1 – Where to rent a car in Porto Santo: best agencies
Our preferred platform
Our first instinct is to check out the offers on DiscoverCars.
This platform allows us to easily compare offers from different rental companies: prices and conditions. And every time, we find good deals.
Where to take your car? Which are the best rental agencies in Porto Santo?
Porto Santo is a very small island, so you don’t have much choice:
- At the airport, you can rent with Rodavante, which has a good reputation – see offers
- All along Porto Santo beach, you can rent small electric vehicles (which carry 2 people) or quads. Obviously, you don’t have the same security as in a traditional car.
When to rent a car
It’s an island with a limited number of cars. We therefore advise you to book as soon as you have your travel dates, to have a choice of cars and better prices!
Rent a car in Madeira
If you’re splitting your vacation between Porto and Madeira, you can also rent a car in Madeira and take the ferry with it. Be sure to check with the rental company that this is allowed.
See our article on car rental in Madeira.
And book your ferry – you can tick that you don’t know your car’s registration yet, and you’ll inform the ferry company once you have your car.
2 – Which car rental for Porto Santo?
You won’t have much choice when it comes to car rental.
But the island isn’t very big, so you don’t need a big car.
The roads are not difficult. Some access roads are unpaved, but these are never very long.
3 – Permits, rules and credit cards
Minimum age
The official driving age in Portugal, and therefore in Porto Santo, is 18.
However, most car rental companies in Porto Santo, will ask you:
- be over 21 years of age
- have held a driving licence for one year or more,
- pay an additional fee if you are under 25.
Do I need an international permit to rent a car in Porto Santo?
To be allowed to drive in Porto Santo (for a short stay), you can use your country’s driving license if:
- it has a license number,
- he has a photograph,
- it has a validity date,
- it is written in Latin letters,
European, American, Canadian, Australian countries… all work.
Do I need a credit card?
The answer may be.
When you rent a car without taking the 0 deductible from the rental company, they systematically take a deposit with your credit card (a sum is blocked on your account to be debited in the event of an accident). Some rental companies refuse to accept debit cards.
If you rent directly from the rental company and take out their insurance, which sets the deductible at zero, you don’t need a credit card.
4 – Taking out insurance
Compulsory insurance
Unlimited liability insurance is compulsory in Porto Santo and Portugal. It is automatically included in the price of all car rentals.
Supplements
As these are a lot of winding mountain roads, and even if we didn’t find the driving very difficult, we’d advise you to take out additional protection that reduces the amount you have to pay in the event of an accident.
3 main options:
Option 1
Your personal car or home insurance covers car rentals (but read the fine print, it’s rare).
Option 2
Take out insurance with the rental platform.
Advantage: best price
Disadvantage: you’ll have to leave the security deposit (sum blocked on account) when you pick up the car, and you’ll have to advance the sum and send in the paperwork to be reimbursed. We’ve already used DiscoverCars insurance twice with no worries. Refunds were very quick.
Option 3
Take the complementary car rental. It’s more expensive, but you won’t have to pay anything up front and you won’t have to do any paperwork in the event of damage.
OUR GUIDE TO PLANNING A Dream trip
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 120 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 260 photos to help you choose
5 – Access to rental cars
At Porto Santo airport, car rentals are very easy to find.
The airport is very small, so you won’t have to walk for miles.
The rental company’s offices are in the corner of the building, and the cars are not far away.
6 – Check your vehicle on pick-up
If you’ve taken the rental company’s complementary service to set the excess to zero, there’s no need to check the condition of the car, but make sure you have all the essential equipment.
Otherwise, we recommend (just for peace of mind) that you walk around the car, take photos of any damage and inform the agency if it’s not noted in the car pick-up document.
Pay attention:
- all over the car’s exterior to detect dents and scratches.
- on the roof – It’s often forgotten, but it may be checked on your return.
- below the bumpers
- rearview mirrors
- inside
- tire condition
- the condition of the wing (mud wing above the wheels)
- spare wheel (if applicable, as fewer and fewer cars have a spare wheel)
- fuel level and mileage, that they correspond to the file
In Porto Santo and Portugal, the following equipment must be available in the car:
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest or jacket
- Set of spare lights
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN Porto Santo
Depuis Ponta Calheta, découvrez la côte et les grottes en Kayak.
An unforgettable experience close to the volcanic cliffs.
7 – Getting ready to drive in Porto Santo
As we’ve written many times before, Porto Santo is a very small island.
The roads are few and easy.
There’s also little traffic.
City driving
In town, the atmosphere is relaxed, with a few buses, few cars, bicycles…
The streets are fairly wide and parking is easy.
Driving on main roads
ER111, ER120 and ER 133 are the main roads on Porto Santo.
They are paved with one lane in each direction. And you don’t come across many vehicles.
You also have plenty of other roads that take a detour from these, which are paved and take you to viewpoints or beaches. They are sometimes narrower, but without difficulty.
The roads are paved
Often, at the end of a road to a parking area, the last few hundred meters are not paved.
You can park and walk, or do the short drive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to rent a car in Porto Santo?
Yes, we highly recommend it.
This allows you to see some of the island’s most beautiful scenery, and there’s a lot of it!
You don’t just have to stay on the beach. There are natural pools, viewpoints, dunes, caves, hidden beaches, cliffs…
What to do in the event of a fine or ticket?
You are responsible for any contraventions during the rental period.
If you are notified immediately, you may pay at the police station or online as indicated.
But it can take up to 3 months before a fine is reported to the rental company. In this case, they’ll send you a proof, charge you for it and probably add an administration fee.
What to do if there’s a problem with the car?
Don’t lose your rental agreement.
On this page, you will find the steps to take if you have a problem with your car.
Most use a breakdown assistance service and the number will be indicated on the contract.
You can then contact the rental company to see how to replace the car.
What is the budget required?
Average prices throughout the year range from 15 to 75 EUR per day.
Prices depend on: car, reservation period, rental period, additional insurance…
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Porto Santo
Best of
Best things to do in Porto Santo
The most beautiful landscapes in photos
Porto Santo’s most beautiful beaches
The dunes
Salemas natural pools
Best restaurants
Terra Cha hiking trail
Pico Ana Feireira
Practical advice
How to get to Porto Santo
Getting around Porto Santo
Rent a car in Porto Santo
Where to stay in Porto Santo – best hotels
