Renting a Car at Lisbon Airport

Last updated: 30 July 2026

Lisbon Airport Humberto Delgado (LIS) is Portugal's main international hub, located just 7 km from the city center. The rental car area is on the arrivals level of Terminal 1 — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, and Portuguese chain Guerin share a row of desks. Lisbon is the start of some of Europe's best road trips: the Algarve coast southward, Sintra's fairy-tale palaces, and the Douro Valley wine country north toward Porto.

🎯 Quick Tip

Register your rental car's plate for electronic tolling at the Via Verde desk inside the airport before leaving. Portugal's A-roads (autoestradas) use camera-based tolling with no booths on many sections — without registration, you'll receive fines weeks later at the rental company's surcharge rate.

Compare QEEQ, Localrent, Economybookings, AutoEurope & GetRentacar at LIS

Economybookings.com

Aggregates 800+ rental companies including all major brands operating at LIS

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QEEQ

Strong fleet selection at Lisbon Airport with competitive Portugal rates

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AutoEurope

Best for premium brands and one-way drops within Europe from Lisbon

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Localrent.com

Specialises in local Portugal operators that often undercut international brands at LIS

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GetRentacar.com

Marketplace of local owners and agencies with live inventory in 80 countries — check live listings at LIS

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Airport Pickup Tips

LIS rental desks are in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1, to the left after exiting customs. Present your passport, EU license or IDP, and credit card. After signing your contract, visit the Via Verde Easy Toll counter (nearby) to activate electronic tolling — this takes 5 extra minutes but saves significant hassle. Total pickup: 15-20 minutes.

Lisbon's hills and narrow streets mean rental cars accumulate clutch wear and parking scrapes. Check both mirrors, bumper corners, and wheel rims. Also test the handbrake on a slope — Lisbon driving requires constant hill-start maneuvers. If the handbrake feels weak, request a different vehicle.

Explore Lisbon by Car

Lisbon's position at the mouth of the Tagus makes it an excellent base for coastal road trips. Drive south to the wild beaches of the Alentejo coast, west to the dramatic cliffs of Sintra, or north to the surf town of Nazaré.

Top drive from Lisbon: Sintra palaces and Cabo da Roca — Europe's westernmost point

Full Lisbon Car Hire Guide →

Hotels near Lisbon Airport

Landing late or returning the car before an early flight? The map below compares live hotel prices around Lisbon Airport and nearby areas — handy for the night before pickup or drop-off:

Getting from Lisbon Airport to the City

LIS is 7 km from central Lisbon (15-30 min depending on traffic). For Sintra's palaces, take the IC19 west (30 min). For Cascais and Estoril, take the A5 west (25 min). For the Algarve (Faro), take the A2 south (2.5 hours). For Porto, take the A1 north (3 hours). For Évora (Alentejo), take the A6 east (90 min). For Óbidos, take the A8 north (75 min).

Guerin has a large depot on Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho, 1 km from LIS, with free shuttle. Guerin is Portugal's biggest local chain and includes Via Verde toll registration free with every rental. Their rates are consistently 15-20% below international brands at LIS.

What to Know Before Driving from LIS

Portugal drives on the right. Motorway speed limit is 120 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h. Lisbon's Ponte 25 de Abril bridge (to the south bank) charges a toll northbound only (€1.85). Autoestrada tolls use a mix of physical booths and electronic cameras — ensure you're registered for both. Portuguese drivers are courteous but fast — left-lane tailgating on the A1 is common.

Lisbon's city center is extremely difficult to drive in — narrow one-way streets, tram tracks, steep cobblestone hills, and aggressive parking. Don't drive to your hotel if it's in Alfama, Baixa, or Bairro Alto — instead, park at Parque das Nações (near the airport) and use the metro. Save the car for day trips outside the city.

Fuel Stations Near LIS

Galp and BP stations are on the Segunda Circular ring road near LIS. Fuel: unleaded 95 approximately €1.65/L, diesel €1.55/L. The cheapest fuel near LIS is at the Jumbo hypermarket station in Alfragide (10 min west), consistently 8-10 cents below branded stations. Fill up there before returning to the airport.

Local Driving Tip

Lisbon's tram 28 route through Alfama follows roads so narrow that your mirrors will nearly touch the buildings — avoid driving in this area entirely. The 25 de Abril Bridge charges €1.90 electronic toll southbound only; northbound is free.

Car Hire at LIS — FAQ

Do I need a credit card to rent a car at Lisbon Airport (LIS)?
Not necessarily. GetRentacar accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards with about 15% paid online and the balance to the owner. The other platforms leave the decision to the local supplier, and most of them want a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Portugal?
Most suppliers set a minimum of 21 and add a young-driver surcharge below 25. GetRentacar is the exception here: its marketplace rents from age 18. QEEQ shows the young-driver fee inside the displayed total, so the price you compare is the price you pay.
Which car rental platform is cheapest at Lisbon Airport (LIS)?
No platform wins everywhere. Localrent lists local operators and is usually the price floor in Portugal, with small deposits and 15–20% prepaid online. Run it against one broker on the same dates and compare the total including insurance and deposit, not the daily rate.
Is it cheaper to rent at LIS or in Lisbon?
Airport locations carry concession fees that typically add 10–15% to the base rate, so a city branch can be cheaper. Against that, off-airport pickup costs a shuttle and time, and one-way drop-offs are simpler from the airport. For short rentals the premium is often smaller than the transfer into Lisbon.

More Airport Car Hire in Portugal

✈️ Faro (FAO) ✈️ Porto (OPO) ✈️ Funchal (Madeira) (FNC)