Car hire reviews
Car hire in Lisbon is best thought of as a trip-extension tool, not a city-essential. Central Lisbon is steep, busy, and parking can be expensive or deeply inconvenient, so many travellers should avoid collecting a car until they are ready to leave for Sintra, the Alentejo, the Algarve, or wider Portugal. If you are heading straight out, Lisbon Airport pickup is normally the best choice because supplier selection is strongest there and road access is simpler than collecting deep in the centre. City pickup is more sensible if you spend a few days in Lisbon first and only rent for the onward route. Expect toll roads, narrow urban streets, and strong seasonality in pricing. A small hatchback is ideal for most itineraries. The reviews below help you judge which Lisbon car hire desks stay efficient under airport pressure and which ones make a routine pickup feel more complicated than it should be.
Counter intelligence
18 min
Best: Europcar (13 min)
43% low
7 reported answers
High at: Budget
0%
0 of 7 reported answers
86%
Got car they booked
Missing answers are excluded. Based on 7 reviews across 20 locations and 47 suppliers. Average rating: 4/5 · Typical wait: ~18 minutes · Higher upsell reports: Budget
Quick insights
Archived editorial notes on suppliers and pickup locations in Lisbon; not verified traveller reviews.
Locations in Lisbon
Lisbon Airport
Airport
Lisbon Downtown
City / downtown
Lisbon Amadora
Other location
Lisbon Azul
Other location
Lisbon Benfica
Other location
Lisbon Benfica Railway Station
Other location
These archived editorial notes are not verified traveller reviews. Their source experiences have not been independently confirmed; they are excluded from traveller ratings and counter statistics.
Editorial · Keddy · Lisbon Airport
Keddy is the budget side of Europcar and it showed — older car, minimal handover, but honest terms. If you just need wheels and know the Portuguese road rules, this works.
Editorial · Enterprise · Lisbon
Downtown pickup saved airport time. The Fiat 500 was perfect for narrow Lisbon streets. Staff warned about tram lanes.
Editorial · Sixt · Lisbon Airport
Pickup took barely ten minutes and the VW T-Cross was immaculate, but the optional excess reduction was framed with enough theatre to suggest the Atlantic coast might devour uninsured tyres whole.
Editorial · Goldcar · Lisbon Airport
A 50-minute queue, a €1,600 hold, and a surprise push toward prepaid fuel made this one feel like a low-cost fare with every hidden fee switched on.
Editorial · Europcar · Lisbon Airport
Despite the early-morning rush, staff moved briskly, the Fiat 500X was well prepared, and the only real sting was a €55 one-way fee for dropping in Porto.
Editorial · Goldcar · Lisbon
Goldcar's city branch near Marquês de Pombal was a pleasant surprise. Staff were patient, car was a zippy Citroën C3. Great for Sintra day trips.
4.0
Great
7 reviews
Paulo Santos
1 Apr 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Flight landed close to midnight and I half expected problems, but they still had everything sorted. Keys in about 12 minutes, car clean, no drama. Good start.
Emma van der Berg
29 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Base rate looked fine, then airport fee, second driver, cover chat, the usual. Still usable, just ended up pricier than expected. Car drove well though.
George Dean
18 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
I rented from Hertz at Lisbon Airport for a quick business trip. The location is convenient—just a short walk from the arrivals hall—and the queue moved reasonably fast since I arrived mid-morning. The car itself, a VW Golf, was clean inside and out, which I appreciated. However, the service felt purely transactional and cold. The agent was clearly unhappy when I declined the additional Super Cover and spent a solid five minutes trying to upsell me, warning about 'common scratches' on Portuguese roads. It felt like unnecessary pressure. I stood my ground, but it left a sour note on an otherwise average experience. The deposit hold was high but released promptly after return. It gets the job done, but don't expect a warm welcome.
Paulo Santos
26 Jan 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Flight landed close to midnight and I half expected problems, but they still had everything sorted. Keys in about 12 minutes, car clean, no drama. Good start.
Emma van der Berg
11 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Base rate looked fine, then airport fee, second driver, cover chat, the usual. Still usable, just ended up pricier than expected. Car drove well though.
Scarlett Mills
3 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
We rented from Europcar at Lisbon Airport for a quick weekend trip to Cascais and had a largely positive experience. There was a bit of a queue at the counter when we landed around 10 AM on a Friday, but it moved steadily and we were seen within about 20 minutes. The staff member was efficient and, unlike some other rentals I've had in Portugal, there was no hard sell on extra insurance, which was a relief. We were given a nearly new Seat Ibiza, which was perfect for navigating the coastal roads. The car was clean and the return process was just as smooth. I’m knocking off one star only because the paperwork took a little while to process, but overall, I would definitely use them again for the convenience.
Matilda Shaw
31 May 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
My wife and I were a bit apprehensive after reading some horror stories about car rentals in Portugal, but our experience with Europcar was surprisingly seamless. We landed at Lisbon Airport around 10:00 AM and headed straight to the counter. I expected a long wait, but there was literally no queue, which was a huge relief after a tiring flight. The staff member was friendly and didn't try to pressure us into buying expensive extra insurance, which I really appreciated. They simply explained the fuel policy and sent us on our way. We were given a nearly new Renault Clio that was spotless inside and out. The pricing we paid matched exactly what was on our booking confirmation—no hidden fees or nasty surprises at the desk. It honestly made the start of our couple's trip completely stress-free. I would definitely use them again for the honesty and efficiency alone.
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