Car rental in Lisbon

After hiring a vehicle in Lisbon, if you break the traffic rules it is best to pay the relevant fine directly to the police officer who issued it. Most police vehicles are equipped with portable card terminals. You will receive a receipt indicating the possible maximum penalty.

If a foreign driver refuses to pay the fine, they will be asked to make a deposit to cover the maximum possible amount for the traffic offence committed. In case of disagreement, the officer of the law has the right to withdraw the offender's driving licence and registration papers, and seize the vehicle.

Portugal has standard speed limits for vehicles:

• 50 km/h in built-up areas;
• 90 km/h (or 70 km/h with a trailer) on country roads;
• 100 km/h (or 80 km/h with a trailer) on high-speed suburban roads;
• 120 km/h (or 100 km/h with a trailer) on motorways.

The minimum speed limit on motorways is 50 km/h. For drivers with less than one year of driving experience, the maximum speed on any road is 90 km/h.

When renting a car in Lisbon, note that parking rules in the city vary depending on the day of the week, time of day or month.

• • You can park a car on a one-way street only in the direction of travel
• • In residential areas, parking requires the permission of local residents
• • In some areas, parking from 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM is only permitted with a company or resident permit (Cartão de Residente)
• • It is prohibited to park 5 metres before a road intersection, 5 metres after, 25 metres before a bus stop, and 6 metres before and after a tram stop;
• • The prohibition sign Estacionamento Proibido (No Parking) is a single red diagonal line on a blue or white background.
• • Service personnel at car parks are always dressed in uniform.

The maximum permissible blood alcohol level for driving in Lisbon is 0.49 ‰. Exceeding this level incurs the following penalties:

Unleaded petrol (98 and 95) and diesel fuel are sold in Lisbon and across Portugal. It is permitted to carry petrol in cans. LPG filling stations are also widely available.

Using some roads and bridges in Portugal is subject to tolls. The tariff depends on the type of vehicle, which varies by height and number of axles.

- at gates with this sign, you can pay automatically by cash or credit card

- gates with this sign are operated by an attendant. Cash and credit cards are accepted

- gates with this sign are only for ViaVerde subscribers.

On some motorways, payment is only by electronic method.

If you are planning to rent a car in Lisbon and travel across the country, you can become a ViaVerde subscriber by renting a transponder at service stations along the road marked with the appropriate sign or at the company's offices. The cost depends on the duration of its use. For example, a one-week rental will cost about 6 euros. You are also required to pay a deposit of 27 euros for the transponder and a deposit of up to 10 euros for tolls.

Driving across the Vasco da Gama Bridge over the Tagus River to the north of Lisbon is subject to a toll. This route is part of the A12 motorway. The toll for passenger cars is 2.60 euros. Payment can be made in cash or via the Via Verde or Via Card payment systems. On the north bank of the Tagus River is the 25 de Abril suspension bridge connecting Lisbon and Almada. The toll on this road is 1.60 euros and it is charged only when driving from Almada to Lisbon.