All information you need to know to rent a car in Portugal and Algarve
How to pay A22 tolls if you drive an Auto Rent Algarve car
The payment of tolls on the A22 or Via do Infante in Algarve is a major concern and is not easy for non rersidents that's why all the Algarve Car Hire cars delivered by Yor Car Hire in the Algarve and booked using our booking form for Algarve are equiped with the electronic transponders for automatic payment of the A22 tolls.
The transponder does not need to be pre-booked as it will be available on arrival for all the clients that wish to have it.
All rental cars have the transponders and are connected to the license car number. They can't be removed from the car.
Q & A
How can I have a transponder to go legally into the A22 road?
The transponders that YOR car hire offers you are available on arrival for all the clients that wish to have them; they do not need to be pre-booked.
How much will cost the transponder?
The transponder will have a cost of 20 euros, cash payment, and it already includes 15 euros of passages in it.
For minibus car models will have a cost of 30 euro, cash payment, and includes 25 euros of passages in it.
I know in advance, these initial 15 euros will not be enough for my journeys. How can I add more money?
On arrival should you choose to add more money to the transponder, our representatives can recharge it with a minimum of 10 euros and multiples of 10 euros, which will be added to the initial 15 euros.
I have started and finished my holidays and I did not spend the initial 15 euros. Will I get a refund?
Unfortunately no. Any amount left to use will not be possible to refund as we do not have that facility as well.
When you lose the transponder or return damaged?
The company will charge 57 euro+ Vat for the replacement of the new transponder. You must not take the transponder form the car,as the cameras in the motorways will identify the car with the plate number, and will consider as a crime, punish by the European Law.
If you know what to do in case of accident and what procedures you should follow you guarantee the excemption of your responsability in the case you have an accident driving one of our cars.
A Police report: AUTO DE OCORRENCIA is always requested for the insurance to cover, no matter the circumstances of the accident.
Some restrictions may apply with respect to:
- loading the vehicle on trains, boats, ferries or similar means of transportation;
- taking the vehicle from the mainland onto an island;
- taking certain types of vehicles across borders.
You must take care of the Vehicle, keep it in good repair and condition, pay any fines for which you may be liable, reimburse the car hire company for any damage to the Vehicle, and refund the car hire company for any costs it incurs.
You are liable for all fees, taxes, fines and penalties incurred in connection with the use of the Vehicle and for which the car hire company is charged, unless they have arisen through the fault of the car hire company.
During the rental period you must carry out the usual checks (engine oil level, tyre pressure, etc.) as would any careful user and you must respect the maintenance cycle of the Vehicle as stated in the maintenance guide, if any.
When parking the Vehicle, even for a short period, you undertake to lock it and make use of the Vehicle's alarm and/or immobilization equipment. You must never leave the Vehicle unoccupied with the keys in the ignition. Non-return of the keys will lead to invalidation of the theft cover.
You undertake to use the Vehicle in a responsible manner and in particular, only for the purposes for which it is intended. For a car, this means primarily carrying passengers other than for hire and reward.
In particular, you must not use the Vehicle under any of the following conditions or for any of the following purposes:
Driving the Vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other type of narcotic substances.
Transportation of inflammable or dangerous goods, as well as toxic, corrosive, radioactive or other harmful substances.
Carrying anything which, because of its smell or condition, harms the Vehicle or causes the car hire company to lose time or money before it can rent the Vehicle again.
Transportation of live animals (with the exception of domestic pets, subject to prior authorisation by the car hire company.
Use a roof rack, luggage carrier or similar, unless supplied by the car hire company.
Re-rental to or use by other persons.
Carrying passengers for hire or reward.
Participating in rallies, competitions or trials, wherever they may take place,
Giving driving lessons.
Pushing or towing another vehicle (except those vehicles equipped by the car hire company with a towing-hook; maximum load 1,000 kg), or exceeding the authorised load weight.
Travelling on non-paved roads or on roads, the surface or state of repair of which could put the vehicle's wheels, tyres or its under body mechanics at risk.
Intentionally committing any offence.
None of the goods and baggage carried in the Vehicle, including their packing and stowage equipment, will be permitted to damage the Vehicle, nor put the occupants abnormally at risk.
In any way which breaks the highway Code, road traffic laws or any other laws.
You will be liable for any offence committed during the rental period which relates in any way to your use of the Vehicle, as if you were the owner of the Vehicle. Upon the request of the Police or any official body the car hire company may have to transfer your personal data. Such transfer will be done in accordance with the data protection Laws of Portugal.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
BEFORE YOU BOOK
DURING YOUR STAY
DRIVING IN PORTUGAL
GENERAL QUESTIONS
About A22 Tolls Electronic Payment
How to pay A22 tolls if you drive an Algarve Car Rental car
The payment of tolls on the A22 or Via do Infante in Algarve is a major concern and is not easy for non residents. That's why all the Algarve Car Hire cars delivered by Yor Car Hire in the Algarve and booked using our booking form for Algarve are equiped with the electronic transponders for automatic payment of the A22 tolls.
The transponder does not need to be pre-booked as it will be available on arrival for all the clients that wish to have it.
All rental cars have the transponders and are connected to the license car number. They can't be removed from the car.
How can I have a transponder to go legally into the A22 road?
The transponders are available on arrival for all the clients that wish to have them; they do not need to be pre-booked.
How much will cost the transponder?
The transponder will have a cost of 20 euros, cash payment, and it already includes 15 euros of passages in it. For minibus car models will have a cost of 30 euro, cash payment, and includes 25 euros of passages in it.
I know in advance, these initial 15 euros will not be enough for my journeys. How can I add more money?
On arrival should you choose to add more money to the transponder, our representatives can recharge it with a minimum of 10 euros and multiples of 10 euros, which will be added to the initial 15 euros.
I have started and finished my holidays and I did not spend the initial 15 euros. Will I get a refund?
Unfortunately no. Any amount left to use will not be possible to refund as we do not have that facility as well.
In case I decide not to use the A22, what will happen?
You need to provide the 20 euro for deposit, anyway, on collection. In case you did not use the A22, we will refund the 20 euro.
What happen if I lose the transponder or return it damaged?
The company will charge 57 euro + Vat for the replacement of the new transponder. You must not take the transponder from the car, as the cameras in the motorways will identify the car with the plate number, and will consider as a crime, punish by the European Law.
About the Security Deposit
What is the Security Deposit?
The Security Deposit is a pre-authorization requested on your credit or debit card upon delivery of the rental car.
This deposit is to ensure that the car is returned in perfect condition and to cover damage or loss caused by events not covered by accident insurance.
What is the amount of the Security Deposit?
The amount of the Security Deposit varies depending on the rental car group and the insurance contracted.
The amount of the Security Deposit is 1.250,00 Euro for cars from groups A to D, 2.000,00 Euro for groups E to F1 and 3.500,00 Euro for groups G to O.
The amount of the Security Deposit is reduced to half or to about 1/3 when the customer contracts Super CDW or Super CDW + SPI.
How is the Security Deposit processed?
Upon delivery of your rental car your card is issued to the payment machine and a pre-authorization is requested for the Security Deposit.
This amount never leaves the customer's account to pass to our account. This amount remains in the customer's account but is available to us in case it becomes necessary in case of any abnormal situation not covered by the insurance or the car is not delivered to us in perfect condition.
What if I don't have a credit card can I use a debit card?
If you do not have a credit card you can use a debit card for Security Deposit but in this case contracting Loss Insurance is mandatory (SCDW + SPI)
What if I already have an insurance?
If you already have accident insurance on your credit card or subscribed to a foreign insurance company and you think you have automatic coverage in case you have an accident, this is not the case.
No insurance company accepts participation in an asset that it has not insured. Therefore, if you have an accident with a car for which you have not paid accident insurance, you do not have the possibility of having your participation accepted with an insurance company as you do not have insurance. This is clear.
But you have insurance that you took out in your country and you think it should be taken out in case you have an accident with a rental car in Portugal. And you think well.
If you take out SCDW or LDW insurance with us, we will take out the insurance and the damages will be covered.
If you do not want to take out our insurance and you have an accident, we will charge the deductible for the car you rented. In order to be reimbursed by your insurance company we can issue an invoice based on which your insurance company will pay you the reimbursement.
How long does it take to get back the Security Deposit?
After the car is delivered in perfect condition and all the checks are made in the presence of the customer we have to wait 3-4 days for the toll report to check if there are any tolls to pay. At that time we charge your card for tolls in case there are tickets that exceed the amount paid with the transponder and proceed to cancel the pre-authorization on your card, so this value is unlocked.
The exact time it takes to unlock this amount depends on the banks or companies that manage the various cards, not us. The only thing we can do is give orders through the payment machine for the unlocking process.
Important note:
Some customers ask us the questions:
"When are you going to return the Security Deposit?"
or
- I cannot find on my statement the return of the Security Deposit.
These questions are not correctly formulated because:
- We cannot return a value we have never take.
- You will not find on your statement the return of this amount for the reason that it was never taken from your account. At the time of unlocking the pre-authorization the Security Deposit amount will simply be available again for you to use but it never left your account.
Is my drivers license valid to drive in Portugal?
The driving licenses of citizens of countries subscribing to the Convention on Road Traffic and/or the Convention on Traffic Circulation to which Portugal is a signatory are authorized for driving in Portugal.
Convention on Road Traffic, celebrated in Geneva on 19.09.1949, entering into force in Portugal on 27/01/1956 and the Convention on Traffic Circulation adopted in Vienna on 8 November 1968 (approved by Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic no. 107/2010, DR I, no. 178, of 13/09/2010.
Countries subscribing to one of the conventions:
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic , Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Vatican, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka , Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tail India, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
If your driving licence is not in the Roman alphabet (i.e. if it is in Arabic, Greek, Cyrillic or Chinese), you are required to bring an International Driving Permit and your domestic licence. For driving licences from countries not part of the international driving licence treaty, an official translation of the licence must be presented with the original licence.
When renting within the EU, customers who do not hold a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA country or Switzerland must also present an International Driving Permit along with their domestic licence.
If you have any question that is not answered here, please send us a message and we will respond you as soon as possible.
The Algarve is a region, sub-region and traditional province of mainland Portugal, being the most southern of all. It coincides perfectly with the District of Faro, with an area of 5,412 km2 and a population of 451,005 inhabitants (Census 2011) (0.06% of the population of Europe and 4.27% of the population of Portugal), constitutes the tourist region Most important in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe.
The climate of the Algarve is temperate Mediterranean, characterized by mild and mild winters and long, hot and dry summers, the warm and calm waters that bathe its south coast, its natural landscapes, historical and ethnographic heritage and the delicious and healthy gastronomy Are attributes that attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year and that make the Algarve the most visited and one of the most developed regions of the country.
The Algarve is the ideal place to practice sports such as golf, sailing, tennis or diving. The landscape is very varied; The west coast of Faro is known for its rocky formations with small beaches, while to the east of Faro lie the lagoons with white sandy beaches stretching for miles.
The number of visitors has been increasing in the Algarve in recent years and the British lead the number of stays by nationality. The Algarve received, in 2016, almost 7 million tourists, for a total of 34 million overnight stays.
Being traditionally a region marked mainly by tourism of British origin, the ALgarve began to catch the attention of thousands of tourists of other nationalities such as France and Spain and of the countries of the Northern Europe such as Sweden, Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
The best way to know the Algarve freely and go where you prefer it is to rent a car and drive at your will and without constrains. If you book a car hire online in advance to receive when you arrive you get cheaper prices and better deals than if you make your reservation at desk when you arrive.
To get to know the Algarve better, we will introduce you to some of the most emblematic and most visited places in the Algarve. Click here to see some Algarve Locations.