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Driving in Portugal – Recommendations, Tips and Tricks
19. Children under 12 years old and whose height is less than 150 cm can only be carried in a special child seat, chosen in strict accordance with the height and weight of the child. The fine for ignoring this rule will range from 120 to 600 euro.
20. The driver and all passengers in the car must fasten seat belts during the movement. Driver is the person who is responsible for the implementation of this rule – if someone in the car doesn’t use seat belts, the driver will have to pay a fine of 120-600 euro.
21. While driving, drivers are prohibited to use cell phones unless they are equipped with the special “hands free” device. The penalty for the violation of this rule ranges from 120 to 600 euro. The suspension of the driving license for a period of 1 to 12 months can be imposed as an additional punishment.
22. Portuguese policemen are authorized to impose fines right on the spot. It is possible to pay the fine can not only in cash but also by credit card. In most cases, police vehicles are equipped with portable ATMs.
23. Foreign drivers are obliged to pay the fine on the spot. Otherwise, the police have the right to seize the car or the driving license until the fine is fully paid.
Hints on Car Hire in Portugal
When choosing a car for your Portugal trip, don’t forget to check and compare the franchise amount (indicated in the rental conditions) for all cars considered in your selection. The franchise may vary from 200 to 2000 euro/dollars even for cars of the same class. A thorough comparison will allow you to choose the option with the lowest franchise.
During your booking, we will offer you to take a full coverage of the franchise ('No Risk' or 'No Excess' package). If you book a car without full coverage, it is recommended to take it at the pick-up time - this will substantially reduce your financial liability in Portugal for the whole rental period.
During your car pick-up in Portugal, do not forget to check what to do in breakdown-, accident- or theft-cases. Most of our offers include 'Breakdown Assistance' package. Besides this, every rental office would be happy to assist you with this package.
Prior to the car return, please check your voucher for the fuel conditions. If it is indicated that a driver shall return the car with a full tank, do not forget to refuel it on the way back, this will save you from additional charges at the rental office.
If you are looking for a car hire in Portugal, we advise you to check OrangeSmile.com actual rental offers. Just use the orange search form at the top. We guarantee that you would not be able to find better rates anywhere else!
25. Local petrol stations sell unleaded petrol (95 and 98), as well as diesel fuel. Drivers, who plan to make long distance rides, should keep in mind that in Portugal it is allowed to carry petrol in cans.
26. Besides the registration certificate, insurance, and driving license, drivers are required to carry a proof of identity. Do not forget that a warning triangle and a reflective vest are mandatory items that must be present in every car.
27. The use of snow tires with studs is forbidden in Portugal, and the use of winter tires is mandatory in some regions only. Serra da Estrela is one of these regions. In winter, roads here become quite slippery and dangerous.
28. It is prohibited to use radar detectors. The fine for this violation ranges from 500 to 2500 euro. If the gadget has been discovered, it is subject to mandatory forfeiture even in case it wasn’t used.
29. On toll roads, you will find the so called “green zones” every 30 - 50 kilometers. Besides several shops and a petrol station, they usually include a special rest area equipped with tables and benches. Quite often these recreation areas include small cafes and restaurants.
30. Drivers, who decide to stay in the “green zone” at night, will have to pay a double toll. Budget travelers can look for suitable places for an overnight stay near free roads, but finding such place will be a lot more difficult.
32. Local drivers are not used to driving at low speed, so constant overtaking is absolutely normal here. If you see a car at the back that is moving at high speed, there is no doubt that it will certainly try to overcome all the cars moving ahead. In this case, it is better to move to the right lane as quick as possible and give way to the fast driver.
33. While driving, it is recommended to keep the lower beams turned on, and you absolutely must keep them turned on when driving in a tunnel. Breaking this rule is likely to bring you a heavy fine.
34. The majority of parking areas is not free. The cost of the service is standard, and in most cases it is approximately 1 euro per one hour of parking. It is worth noting that in some parking areas it is possible to leave cars for free on weekdays from 20:00 to 8:00. On Saturdays, the service is usually paid from 8:00 to 14:00, and on Sundays, a large part of parking areas is free of charge.
35. It is permitted to leave a car in a parking lot only in case you have a special parking ticket with the indicated time of arrival. As a rule, the machines that sell these parking tickets are located at the parking lot entrance. The tickets are also often sold at newsstands.
36. If you see a red marking along the road, this means that it is prohibited to stop there. If the marking is yellow, then on this section of the road it is permitted to stay for a few minutes only, and parking a car is prohibited. If the car is parked in the wrong place, then, most likely, it will be sent to the penalty parking, and you will be able to return the car only after you pay the fine.
Popular cities in Portugal with OrangeSmile.com rental points
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