Driving and Hiring a Car in Madeira

One of the best ways to explore Madeira is by car. The roads are generally pretty good and the villages are well signposted. You can easily rent your car in advance of your trip at one of the many (online) car rental companies, possibly together with your flight and / or hotel booking. You can then specify where you want the car to be delivered. You can also rent a car at the airport of Madeira. There are seven car rental companies that have an office at the airport of Madeira: Europcar, Hertz, Auto Jardim, Avis, Guerin, Sixt and Rodavante. It is wise to take a comprehensive coverage (Super CDW).

Below you will find car rental companies where you can hire your car on Madeira directly:

Europcar

Sixt rent a car

Alamo  

Having efficient means of transportation in Madeira is a cost-efficient choice. This will save time so there are more places that one can go to. The locations that visitors could check out would not be limited too. Most important of all, there is less hassle when travelling because chasing after public transportation would not be necessary. Yes, Madeira also has a well-structured system of public transportation but it can not be denied that car hire would still make the trip even more enjoyable.

Getting a Car

There are two options for people who would like to rent a car during their stay in Madeira—to arrange for car hire companies’ services ahead of time or book for it upon arrival. For people who would like to have the car driven right from the time that they step out of the airport, then early booking is the key. On the other hand, for those who would like to have the chance to compare prices, then booking upon arrival would make it easier to do inquiries.

Driving Around Madeira

When getting a car rental, it is utterly important to be fully aware of the regulations which need to be followed on the road. Always remember to drive on the right side! When driving the car, make sure that all pertinent documents are brought along. This includes the hire contract, driving license and passport.  

Speed limit is within 40 to 50 kph for cities and villages. Secondary roads allow up to 80 kph while highways are up to 120 kph. However, it is important to pay attention to road signs because these would indicate the specific speed limit. There are also strict rules that are implemented when it comes to seat belts. All passengers at the front and back seats of the car should be safely fastened on their seat belts while on the road. For children who are below 12 years of age, it is a must for them to stay seated at the back of the car.

Car Rental Price

The exact amount to spend on a car rental is not easy to determine because there are several factors which need to be identified first. Prices will depend on the type and capacity of the vehicle, number of hours or days to use it, destination and company where it is hired from. The best thing to do to be able to find the most cost-efficient offer is to compare the rates from various companies. Usually, the quotations can already be requested through their websites for free.

Visitors should also be aware that the rates for rent a car services may escalate during the peak months. This is the usual trend because the demand increases during such periods. Price for car hire is usually more expensive during Easter, the month of August and the weeks that are close to the New Year’s Day.  

Settlement of payment may be done through credit card. Yes, this can be paid in cash too if the transaction is done right at the office of the car hire company.

Using the Car Hire Options

Customers are given flexible options when it comes to the length of time that they will use the vehicle. For some, it could be as quick as picking them up from the airport and dropping them off to the hotel on the day of their arrival. Then, the same car hire would drive them back to the airport from the hotel when they leave Madeira. Usually, the company also provides a driver for this type of services.

On the other hand, it is also possible to get a car rental for several days, or even weeks. Customers can opt for 1 to 2 days, 3 to 6 days or longer. The full computation for the rates should be provided by the company even before the rental contract is signed. It is also the responsibility of the of the car hire company to inform the customer about rules, penalty fees, policies on returning the vehicle, insurance and other pertinent details.