best options for Portugal auto rental for 2 weeks
 

Hi, just finished reading the long thread started in 2011 about atlas car rentals. I think it left me more confused than when I started. We will be there in June, we will need an automatic, plan to pick up and drop off in Lisbon (is airport the only option there?). What is the best way to find a rental and do you have advice re specific models and options. I gather that smaller is better as many towns are hard to navigate in what would be mid size American models? Thanks

We used Autoeurope.

I'm a US citizen but generally for Portugual book through www.billigermietwagen.de which adheres to strict German travel standard laws, and never have a problem. I always read the fine print to see whether I as a US citizen am eligible for their rates, but have never seen that I am not (EXCEPT in some rare occasions for booking rentals in the United States).

They have options for "vollkasko ohne selbstbeteilung" which means no responsibility for a random rock bounce under the chassis, but I usually just take the insurance with deductible, since my credit card would cover the difference anyways.

My preference with billigermietwagen.de is simply to use Avis, as they are totally cool and professional and no-nonsense. Sometimes you dcan't decipher the local agency in advance, but if you look closely at the offer, you can often figure it out (e.g., Avis, Europcar, GoldCar, or others).

I've never used Atlas, but do Google Atlas and look at customer statisfaction comments. The www.billigermietwagen.de website also lets you look at customer comments for each purveyor, and if Atlas sounds trouble-free, go with it.

Thanks so much for the advice, how does one navigate the billigermietwagen site if one doesn't speak German?

Auto Europe would be my first choice, followed by Kemwel. The referenced website is a German based broker, similar to Auto Europe, but doesn't allow you the option of using your credit card as you primary insurance carrier.

thanks so much Robert Dfourth, I've been looking at AutoEurope and will check out Kemwel. do you advise picking up the car at the Lisbon airport or in town (we plan to spend the first 4 days in Lisbon sans car). thanks