U.S.Citizens are entitled to drive in Portugal with their U.S. issued driver's license for a period no to exceed 185 days, provided they are not legal residents.
People Also Ask
The legal driving age in Portugal is 18 years old. In order to be able to rent a car, however, most rental car companies in Portugal require you to be at least 21 years of age. On top of that, some companies might also require that you have had your driving license for at least one year.
Yes, you will need both your passport and your driver's license to rent a car in Europe. Additionally, for Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, or Spain, you will also need to provide an International Driver's Permit (IDP).
Portuguese traffic lights follow the conventions of the Vienna agreement and so should be familiar to most drivers. You cannot turn right on a red light unless indicated and you should also be aware that many local drivers run red lights.
Do I Need an IDP in Germany? Licensed Americans looking to rent a car in Germany should be aware they need an IDP to pick-up and drive their rental in Germany. IDPs are also required if you are looking to drive outside of the country in neighboring Austria.
Generally, most European countries do not require American drivers to have an IDP. However, the following countries do require International Driver's Permits in conjunction with valid United States' driver's licenses: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain.
Many car rental companies do not require an IDP, only your US driver's license along with your passport. However, if you get pulled over by Spanish police, they will ask for an International Driver's License and you will probably incur a fine if you don't have one.
If you want to make the most of your time in Portugal, it is definitely worth renting a car in Algarve. Driving in the Algarve is easy and can be more affordable than using other transportation.