Car rental in Coimbra starts from about €12 / $13 a day in low season and climbs to €35-50 / $38-54 in July and August. The city itself has roughly six rental desks (Drivalia, Hertz, Europcar, Keddy, Firefly, Sadorent), and the closest airport for arrivals is Porto (1h30) — Lisbon takes 2h15 by car.
Compact cars dominate the Coimbra fleet because of the city's narrow medieval streets. Expect to pay €12-18 / $13-20 per day off-season and €30-50 / $33-54 per day in peak summer.
Coimbra has no commercial airport. You have three pickup options, each with trade-offs.
Largest selection, cheapest overall rates, all major brands. 1h30 drive south on the A1 motorway to Coimbra (~€12 / $13 in tolls). Best choice if you fly in.
Drivalia, Hertz and Sadorent operate within walking distance of Coimbra-B. Convenient if you arrive by train from Porto or Lisbon, but the fleet is smaller and you may not get your preferred car class.
Cheaper than Porto only if you fly low-cost into LIS. The 2h15 drive on the A1 costs ~€20 / $22 in tolls. Avoid if you can — too much driving with luggage.
These four operators have consistent 4+ star ratings on Google Maps and Trustpilot reviews in 2026. Verify the address shown — Coimbra has several rebranded desks.
Italian-owned chain expanding fast in Portugal. Newest fleet in town (avg age under 12 months), transparent pricing, no pushy upselling at the counter. Best choice for a stress-free pickup.
Long-running desk inside the city. Larger fleet, accepts debit cards on certain bookings, well organised. Slightly more expensive than Drivalia, but very few surprises.
Inside Coimbra-B station building. Extended hours match train timetables, so you can pick up after 20:00. Good for one-way rentals to Lisbon or Porto.
Europcar's discount brand. Older fleet (1-3 years) but cheaper headline price. Use it if budget is the priority and you don't mind a more basic experience.
Every car rental in Coimbra comes with basic CDW and theft protection by law. The “excess” (deductible) is usually €1,000-1,800 / $1,090-1,960. Reducing it costs either €8-15 / $9-16 per day at the counter or €4-6 / $4-7 per day via a standalone insurer (RentalCover, iCarHireInsurance, etc.).
Portuguese motorways use electronic tolls (Via Verde). Most rentals include a transponder for €1.50-2 / $1.60-2.20 per rental day plus actual toll costs. Check before driving away.
| Route | Distance | Drive time | Approx. toll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coimbra → Porto Airport | 120 km | 1h25 | €12 / $13 |
| Coimbra → Lisbon Airport | 200 km | 2h15 | €20 / $22 |
| Coimbra → Aveiro | 65 km | 50 min | €6 / $6.50 |
| Coimbra → Nazaré | 100 km | 1h05 | €10 / $11 |
| Coimbra → Serra da Estrela | 110 km | 1h30 | €8 / $9 |
July and August prices rise sharply 3 weeks before pickup. Lock in early.
The same car can be 40 % cheaper on a comparison engine than at the operator's own website. Always check both.
One-way fees in Portugal are usually waived if the distance is under 150 km. Coimbra to Porto Airport falls inside that range.
Counter staff push the prepaid full tank deal. It always works out more expensive than filling up at the BP or Galp 500 m before drop-off.
Save up to 40 % comparing all Coimbra rental companies at once. See the live deals from Drivalia, Europcar, Hertz, Keddy and Sadorent side by side:
Compare car rental in Coimbra on DiscoverCarsCoimbra city desks save you 18-22 % vs. Porto Airport for the same car class.
“Dynamic currency conversion” at the counter charges 4-7 % extra. Always say “EUR”.
Coimbra sits at the centre of mainland Portugal — perfect base for day trips. The most-loved circuits are the Serra da Estrela mountain loop, the coastal Figueira da Foz / Nazaré drive, and the wine country around the Bairrada region.
Drivalia and Keddy by Europcar usually have the lowest sticker price (€13-14 / $14-15 per day in low season). Always compare with insurance included — a “cheap” rate with €1,800 excess can be more expensive than a slightly higher headline with low excess.
Europcar and Drivalia accept debit cards on certain plans, but the excess deposit is higher (typically €1,800 / $1,960 vs €700 / $760 for credit). Most other companies still require a physical credit card.
Only if you're flying in. Otherwise you'll pay airport surcharges and lose 3 hours to transfers. Pick up in Coimbra-B if you're already on a train.
No, if your licence is from an EU/EEA country, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. For non-Latin-alphabet licences (China, Japan, Russia), an IDP is required.
Most rentals come with a Via Verde transponder. Use the dedicated lane, the toll is charged automatically and added to your card. Without a transponder you'd need to register your plate online within 5 days, which is a hassle for visitors.
21 with a young-driver surcharge (€8-12 / $9-13 per day) up to age 25. Some operators require 23+ for certain car classes (SUV, premium).
Disclosure: we earn a small commission when you book through our partner DiscoverCars — at no extra cost to you. Information verified on 19 May 2026 against Drivalia.pt, Europcar.com, Hertz.com, Keddy.com and current Google Maps reviews of each Coimbra branch.
