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Car rental from Santiago to Lisbon

L

Laura M

C.P. 2023
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Portuguese 2023
I'm looking for the best way to rent a car between Santiago and Lisbon for 2 days in mid-October.

I understand that we'll need to get International Drivers' licenses and that we can get those through AAA.

Is it best to reserve the car now online or wait until we're in Portugal or Spain?
Also, which companies are available and reliable in Santiago?
I've read some posts that people obtain their insurance through their credit card. Which cards offer this (and what do they offer)?

Thanks,
Laura
 
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Laura M said:
Which cards offer this (and what do they offer)?
Click to expand...
Only your bank or card issuer can answer this question, even cards issued by the same bank have different benefits and policies.. Their website should have a PDS or personal disclosure statement. Europcar and Hertz definitely hire from Santiago airport. Picking up and dropping off at airports is nearly always cheaper in Spain, and probably Portugal as well. If it is simply a matter of getting from Santiago to Lisbon, think about the train or flying. Tolls are higher in Portugal. They are also notoriously bad drivers. Checking prices and booking online is advisable.
 
A side note: I have rented a car in Germany (post military service) several times over the last 5 years and have never been asked for an International Driver's License. I have only provided a stateside (valid) one. While I have purchased International ones (always from AAA), they have gone unused. Last time (Munich airport) the desk person indicated that she had no need to see it at all. All my rentals have been for at least 10 days so I don't know if duration has anything to do with it. I do know that I have made arrangements stateside for the cars (most recently a SUV). I'm beginning to think it's a waste of $20 (or so).
 
there are Alsa Busses going from SdC -Porto - Lisbon.
Taking a car wil not much faster , but much more expensive
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
I know it takes longer by train, probably 3 hours or so, why would you rent a car? Is there a pressing need besides a preference. The cost of a train will be much lower. I have no idea what your experience is driving in a foreign country but there definitely is added stress to different signage, and as @dick bird said:
dick bird said:
Tolls are higher in Portugal. They are also notoriously bad drivers.
Click to expand...
I live in a country now with really bad drivers and you never can relax whether you are on a city street or a major highway. I know many credit card companies are dropping travel insurance and not telling us about that. As I said in a previous post it is buried on page 437b of your user agreement. I have taken the train and bus to Porto (Going to Lisbon is just a continuation of the trip to Porto) and they are comfortable and relaxing. Maybe a few hours longer but you end up more rested with more money in your pocket and you will see the same thing out of the window as you would in the car.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. We wanted to make a side trip to Fatima. Would this be possible by train and/or bus?
 
Laura M said:
Thanks everyone for your replies. We wanted to make a side trip to Fatima. Would this be possible by train and/or bus?
Click to expand...
I beleave (most of) the the busses Porto to Lisbon (each hour) stop in Fatima. I visited Fatima early May and the Bus, from a portuguese company ,who took me to Lisbon, came from Porto
 
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I have rented a car several times in Spain, from the Enterprise - Europe Car franchise up the hill - in the office building on Avenida de Lugo, overlooking the train station. They only ever asked for my US state drivers license - and a credit card.

On one occasion, I rented a car to tour around northern Spain, before dropping the car at Madrid Barajas Airport.

Cost is a relative issue, compared to the convenience it gives you.

Hope this helps.

Tom
 
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Although the rental car companies may not ask to see it, my country's automobile association indicates an international driver's permit is a legal requirement for driving in Spain or Portugal, so it might be worth checking the situation for your country.
 
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I don’t know of anyone on the forum who has reported anything different from what you say. Car rental companies do not ask for international drivers licenses (which, as others have said, is just a translation of your drivers license). We have also bought cars in both Spain and Portugal and never had to show anything but our US license.

The potential problem is with the police. The potential fine for not having the international license is 200 €. Since in the US, the AAA only charges about $20 for it, it just depends on the risk you want to take. I have had to show my US drivers license several times to the Guardia Civil during random stops along the highway, but I was never asked for the international license. I usually get one just in case, though, since the cost is so low, though I don’t like giving my money to what is essentially a lobbying organization for cars.
 
Yes, I agree. If I decide to opt for a car rental, I will apply for an IDP. Upon further research, I see that they are required in Spain (and honored in Portugal).
 
peregrina2000 said:
Car rental companies do not ask for international drivers licenses
Click to expand...
This did actually happen to me, I think it was Gold Rentals, or something similar, at Santiago airport. They demanded an IDP. I tried Europcar and luckily they had me on their books already so it was OK, except a lot more expensive. The IDP costs almost nothing and it is required by police so I would advise getting one, just in case.
 
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2016 experience (so may be out of date) but we were unable to rent a car in Portugal and return in Spain, had to return somewhere in Portugal.
 
I’ve taken the bus from Santiago to Porto and then onto Fatima. Afterwards, we traveled to
Lisbon by bus to finish that journey. It is simple, comfortable, and much cheaper than the one-way rental cost of a car plus gas and tolls. Also, realize that you want to rent in one country and return it in another - that may increase the one way fee or be outright prohibited. You do not need a car in any of those cities (Porto, Fatima, Lisbon) nor is it a particularly interesting or beautiful route that would be better seen through a car window versus a bus window.

As for the IDP, it’s required by law. Just because a rental company doesn’t ask for it doesn’t mean you as a guest in another country should be emboldened to break it. Plus I’m the event of an accident or police stop, you’ll wish you had it. Plus some credit card companies will not honor your insurance coverage of you make an international claim if you do not have it.

If you are still set on renting, I’ve used several different car companies in Europe and they all seemed equivalent to me. I make my decision based on price, location of agency, and car availability.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
remember that the insurance coverage can be very different (the amount of the deductible in case of damage)
 
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