We always book CDW + LDW with a deductible. Our Mastercard Platinum covers the deductible part.
Previously the deductible was covered by a year policy 'excess insurance' that was far more economical than buying zero excess with the car rental company.

In Portugal, we are taking the basic rate. We have very good coverage with Chase.The customer service sent me a coverage letter authorization just in case.
I usually price compare and this trip I picked Sixt, basic rate with two drivers at a very attractive price. We will pick up at LIS and return to OPO. Then we plan to take the train to Lisbon.
Maribel. So glad you mentioned dropping off at the rail station in Porto which we considered and vetoed. But we will have to make our way there from the airport which should not be difficult. We want to avoid the 3+ hour drive to Lisbon as we do not intend any stops along the way.

Remember to check the fine print. Sometimes for an automatic there is a surcharge and sometimes airport locations have a surcharge. I really have never run into a difference in price for picking up in one city and dropping off in the same country but different city. It has not happened so far. But the other two have cropped up depending on the company.

Also, I always rent very early. Remember if there is a price drop with Auto Europe they will refund the difference if you call them. So check back after you pay them.

For Barcelona , in August, we picked Auto Europe and full coverage with only one driver.

Get on an Auto Europe mailing list. They have been featuring some discounts for Portugal as well as other countries.

I noticed the same thing. We rented an automatic for 2 weeks in France last year....the rental for 10 days only in Portugal in Sept is more than double....

I’m surprised by the expense that folks are reporting. We are renting an economy through Autoeurope in April for 10 days and getting a basic rate (we also have good coverage through our CC). It’s costing a total of $286. Of course, it is a manual, but it doesn’t seem much different than rentals we’ve had in other parts of Europe. Maybe because we’re going in April?

You can do better with rentalcars.com - pick-up Lisbon / drop-off Porto.
I have never paid that much for a rental car, to be honest. Even for our one month stays in Spain I never paid more than around 150€ (for the smallest car).

<<You can do better with rentalcars.com - pick-up Lisbon / drop-off Porto.
I have never paid that much for a rental car, to be honest. Even for our one month stays in Spain I never paid more than around 150€ (for the smallest car).>>

For the same class of car we rented, it’s just a $6 cheaper than through Auto Europe, so maybe the class we have is slightly higher than economy. But rentalcars does have cheaper options.

SIXT, ten days in April, standard insurance, AUTOMATIC, Megrane (not the smallest car), TWO drivers pick up in LIS drop off in OPO
$289. The transponder for tolls will cost an additional €1.80 per day.
Rentalcars.com does not beat that price.

I always check many companies including Rentalcars.com. For me, they have never come out less expensive. Maybe it is the automatic.

So, just to correct myself, our rate is $256 for 12 days. And in looking at rentalcars.com, I see a number of optiins for economy cars, ranging from $178 for the same period and up, through different rental companies. Sixt appear to be the least expensive as it doesn’t have a drop off fee.

it’s actually not comparing the same thing as the higher-priced options begin to offer rates which include the cdw and other coverage, which our CC will cover. But it’s worth it for me to look back and check everything as the rates do seem less expensive overall through rentalcars.com.

The least expensive company appears to be Sixt and then Europ Cars. Any comments about these?

I have rented thru EuropCar, never rented from Sixt.
The last years I rent from Centauro (www.centauro.net). Initally they were only in Spain but they have grown and offer rental cars in Italy and Portugal, too.
They are not the cheapest when you book far ahead BUT they constantly change their prices and you're free to cancel and rebook at the lower price.
And I know no-one will believe this, but we rented in Spain one time at 14 euro for 10 days. Fourteen euros (basic rate, fuel full to full)! I bought the supplement for a second driver and the total was 69 euro. Their initial price, booked 4 months earlier, was 149 euro without the second driver.
You have to be prepared, though, to check, and recheck week after week. Book and rebook when the price goes down.
Another pro: after three rentals you'll have the 'gold member' status and don't have to queue in the - sometimes - long lines in front of the desk.

Miriam. If you tell me that is what you paid I definitely believe you.

I just know in my experience of renting cars many times all over Europe, I pretty much can count on a certain price point.

I rented both the cars this Summer around September for April and August (Barcelona). I do not rent standard shift cars so I know I will pay a premium. Also. We usually rent at airports which is reflected in the price at times.

I do not just stick to one company but with brokers I am particular with the suppliers they use. And I have had price changes and taken advantage. Just recently Auto Europe gave me a $40 discount on one rental. But people have to realize they have to check periodically because they are not just going to give a credit. You don’t have to rebook with them because it is always prepaid.

I am going to check Centauro. Thank you

Centauro also is prepaid. But when you rebook at a lower price, you will be refunded within a few days. So far they have been very correct (I think we have rented 15 times from them) and we have always had excellent cars, except the last time at Málaga airport. It was a recent car but with many scratches and dents. The advantage is that they don't look so closely when you return the car. ;-)
BTW, we also pick up our rental cars at airports or locations just off-airports.

You do not have to rebook with Auto Europe. You just call them to tell them the price has change. They credited me very quickly.

i checked Centauro and the lowest rental for an automatic during my time is $509.
But I will keep them in mind for next time.
Thanks

Yes, an automatic car is always much more expensive.