I-VII 05:30 – 00:00
Avis operates locally operated by Ilha Verde, by meet-and-greet in the Azores (gateway: Ponta Delgada / PDL, São Miguel). There are no tolls anywhere on the islands, but the fleet is small and sells out in summer – low-season economy cars start around €10–18/day ($11–19), peak compacts reach €60+/day. This guide covers what to expect from Avis in the Azores, the real 2026 prices, the island insurance exclusions, and the best-rated local alternatives.
Avis in the Azores – compare it against the top-rated island locals before booking.
Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel is the main gateway. The island fleet is limited, so prices swing sharply across the year – here is 2026:
Average Daily Rates in the Azores (PDL) by Season
Booked in advance, EUR (USD approx.)
| Season | Economy | Compact | Automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Jan–Feb) | €10–18 | €13–22 | €22–38 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct–Nov) | €25–40 | €30–48 | €45–65 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €45–75 | €52–85 | €70–110 |
Automatics are scarce on the islands and sell out first – book months ahead for summer.
The Azores: Cheapest vs. Most Expensive Months
Average economy car rate, EUR/day, 2025–2026 data
💰 Azores Rental Budget Calculator
Compare live Azores prices →Rate prefilled with a typical off-season economy rate; change it for your dates. Some Azorean locals offer no-deposit rates; the majors hold €900–1,200 on a credit card.
In the Azores, an Avis booking is fulfilled locally by Ilha Verde – so you book the brand but get the local fleet and service. Its global Trustpilot is low (1.3/5, industry-wide for the majors); on the ground expect a meet-and-greet, occasional queues and small add-on fees. Fine as a mainstream option if you document the car.
Whatever you make of Avis, the Azores' best-rated options are the island locals – line them up before booking.
A standout São Miguel local with a 4.9/5 Google rating across ~2,100 reviews. Newer low-mileage cars (CarPlay, reversing cameras), no-deposit and debit-friendly options, and a friendly meet-and-greet (you call on landing). The best value-for-trust choice in the Azores.
The simplest way to compare the island's limited fleet across all suppliers, with all-inclusive pricing and free cancellation on most bookings – useful given how fast Azores cars sell out in summer. Highest-rated rental platform on Trustpilot.
Auto Turística Micaelense (Micauto) is a well-established island local with a 4.2/5 Google rating (~336 reviews), competitive prices and a quick ~10-minute meet-and-greet. A solid alternative if Wonder Islands is sold out.
Goldcar has the cheapest rates and the lowest Trustpilot scores (1.3/5): aggressive counter insurance upselling, large deposits and fuel-deposit traps. Off-airport shuttle. Only book it if you pre-buy full excess cover and photograph the car thoroughly.
InterRent shares the Goldcar/Europcar group's shuttle and has one of the lowest Trustpilot scores (1.2/5, ~50% one-star): cheap rates but heavy upsell and strict damage and fuel terms. Read the contract closely.
Wayzor has a convenient PDL terminal desk and looks fine on some aggregators, but Trustpilot and TripAdvisor carry repeated explicit scam reports – forced expensive insurance, bald-tyre disputes and surprise fees. We don't recommend it.
Azores Rental Reputation: Best vs. Worst
Google Maps (local) + Trustpilot (global), June 2026
Insurance matters more on the islands because of what basic cover leaves out.
Basic CDW (bodywork only) with a deposit/excess of roughly €900–1,200 held on a credit card – and it excludes tyres, glass, mirrors, keys and especially undercarriage/gravel-road damage.
Full coverage to cut the excess is about €10–15/day at the desk – usually cheaper if you add it online before pickup.
A pre-booked standalone excess policy (~€4–8/day, or an annual policy) reimburses any excess charged and often covers the island exclusions. Several Azores locals (e.g. Wonder Islands) also offer no-deposit, all-in rates.
Insurance Cost Comparison: Azores
7-day rental, 2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Excess Covered? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No (€900–1,200; excl. tyres/underside) |
| Counter full coverage | €10–15 | €70–105 | Mostly |
| Third-party / local all-in | €4–8 | €28–56 | Yes (incl. exclusions) |
Good news: there are no toll roads on any Azorean island – mainland Portugal's electronic tolls and Via Verde do not apply here, so you can drive freely with nothing to register or pay.
| Fuel Type | Azores Price (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol (gasolina 95) | €1.55–1.80/L | Volatile in 2026; a regional fuel-tax cut eased prices |
| Diesel (gasóleo) | €1.50–1.75/L | Most economy cars are diesel |
Island prices move around but were cushioned by a 2026 regional tax reduction. The island is small – end to end under two hours – so a week of touring uses little fuel.
The island fleet is small and economy, automatic and van categories sell out in summer – some visitors book months ahead. January–February is cheapest; July–August can be six times dearer.
A comparison search lines up the international desks and the top-rated Azorean locals (Wonder Islands, Micauto) so you see the real island market.
A small car suits the narrow roads; pre-book excess cover (~€4–8/day) that includes the island exclusions instead of the counter upsell.
All the headline sights are reachable on tarmac – avoid gravel tracks that void the insurance.
The island is small but the sights are scattered, so a car is the only practical way to combine them – and there are no tolls anywhere in the Azores.
The island's signature stop: twin blue and green crater lakes seen from the Vista do Rei and Boca do Inferno viewpoints. Go early before the cloud rolls in.
A pristine, building-free crater lake in a protected reserve, reached by the cross-island road. Frequently fog-bound at the rim – time it for a clear spell.
A geothermal valley of bubbling caldeiras and geysers, hot-spring pools (Terra Nostra) and cozido slow-cooked underground. A full half-day.
Europe's oldest tea estate (free to visit) on the way to Nordeste's dramatic clifftop miradouros – Ponta do Sossego and Madrugada. A car is essential here.
The capital's Portas da Cidade, marina and old centre – park at the marina lots and explore on foot.
Effectively yes on São Miguel – the sights (Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Furnas, Nordeste) are spread out with sparse public transport, so a car is the only flexible way to see them.
No – there are zero toll roads or motorways on any Azorean island. Mainland Portugal's electronic tolls don't apply, so there's nothing to register or pay.
As early as possible. The island fleet is limited and economy/automatic cars sell out in summer (June–September) – some travellers book six to ten months ahead. January–February is cheapest, July–August the priciest.
Most budget cars are manual; automatics are scarce and pricier on the islands – reserve one well in advance if you can't drive a manual.
Yes – the standard excess is ~€900–1,200 and basic cover excludes tyres, glass and undercarriage. A pre-booked excess policy (or a no-deposit local) is cheaper than the €10–15/day counter cover.
The majors require a credit card for the deposit, but several Azorean locals (e.g. Wonder Islands) offer no-deposit or debit-friendly rates – confirm the exact terms when booking.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Our company reviews are based on current Trustpilot and Google Maps ratings and traveler feedback. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
