I, IV, V, VII 08:30 – 12:30 and 14:30 – 18:30, II, VI 08:30 – 12:30
Europcar is a dependable choice for Monte Gordo – the easternmost Algarve beach town, right by the Spanish border – with a wide fleet collected at Faro Airport (about 50 minutes west) or nearby Vila Real de Santo António, and economy cars from around €13–23/day ($14–$25) in low season. The 2026 plus: the A22 Via do Infante is now toll-free, so the drive east to Monte Gordo costs nothing in tolls. This guide covers Europcar for Monte Gordo, the real prices, how it compares, and the practical tips for the eastern Algarve.
Europcar offers a wide fleet for Monte Gordo, usually collected at Faro Airport or Vila Real de Santo António.
Almost everyone collects at Faro Airport (FAO) and drives the now toll-free A22 east. Faro is a big, competitive market, keeping prices low outside peak summer. Expect roughly the following in 2026:
Average Daily Rates at Faro by Season
Booked 4–6 weeks in advance, prices in EUR
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €13–23 | €17–29 | €30–44 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €21–33 | €27–41 | €42–58 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €34–52 | €42–62 | €58–85 |
The A22 east to Monte Gordo is now toll-free – just fuel.
Europcar is a dependable international major with a broad, well-maintained fleet and good automatic availability. Monte Gordo itself has limited car-hire presence, so most visitors collect at Faro Airport and drive east, or use the Europcar desk at Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA), a few minutes from Monte Gordo.
Confirm whether you're collecting at Faro Airport or VRSA, and the branch hours (VRSA closes at lunch and on Sundays). Check the deposit and card requirement, read the fuel and insurance terms, decline cover you don't want, and document the car at pickup.
The subject of this guide – a dependable major with the broadest fleet and a VRSA desk near Monte Gordo. Confirm the pickup point and deposit when booking.
A well-rated Portuguese brand with a strong Algarve presence that often undercuts the chains.
Reliable majors with Faro presence – compare their all-in price against Europcar for the eastern Algarve.
The pick for a newer, higher-spec car at Faro. Pricier; decline the counter extras.
Aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.
The very cheapest online listings at Faro often carry strict fuel rules and excess disputes. Read the fine print or stick with a trusted major.
Basic CDW with an excess of €900–€1,600, blocked on your card. Tyres, glass and underbody usually excluded.
Super CDW to zero the excess is €14–22/day – €98–154 a week.
Standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) bought before you travel covers the excluded items and refunds any excess charged. Buy it and decline the counter upsell.
Insurance Cost Comparison: 7-Day Algarve Rental
2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Covers Tyres/Glass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No |
| Counter Super CDW | €14–22 | €98–154 | Sometimes |
| Third-party excess cover | €4–7 | €28–49 | Yes |
The A22 became toll-free in 2025, so the ~50-minute drive east from Faro to Monte Gordo costs nothing in tolls. The N125 is the free coastal alternative.
| Route | Road | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Faro → Monte Gordo | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Monte Gordo → Spain (Ayamonte) | A22 / Guadiana bridge | Free |
| Algarve → Lisbon | A2 | ~€22 (booth) |
| Petrol / Diesel | – | ~€2.02 / €1.96 per L |
Faro fills up in summer; automatics go first.
Faro has the widest fleet; VRSA is closer to Monte Gordo.
Cheaper and more available than automatics.
Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.
The A22 is free now.
Refuel before drop-off.
A handsome grid-planned town on the Guadiana, with riverfront cafés.
One of the Algarve's prettiest towns, on the Gilão river.
Cross the Guadiana bridge for tapas and the route on to Huelva and Seville.
A hilltop castle and salt-pan nature reserve.
Sandbar islands and lagoon beaches reached by short ferries.
Most visitors collect at Faro Airport (about 50 minutes west) and drive the now toll-free A22. Europcar also has a desk at Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA), a few minutes from Monte Gordo – confirm the pickup point when booking.
Usually yes within the EU, but tell Europcar and confirm cross-border cover. Spain is minutes away over the Guadiana bridge – great for a day trip to Ayamonte, Huelva or Seville.
No longer. The A22 became toll-free in 2025, so the Faro–Monte Gordo drive costs nothing in tolls. You'd only pay on the A2 to Lisbon or on Spanish AP motorways inland.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €13–23/day ($14–$25) at Faro. Shoulder season is €21–33/day and peak summer €34–52/day, with automatics more.
It's cheaper to buy standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) before you travel than the counter Super CDW (€14–22/day). Third-party cover also includes tyres, glass and underbody.
The beach and town are walkable, but a car is the best way to reach Tavira, the eastern islands, Castro Marim and Spain. Distances are short and the roads are easy.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Our company reviews are based on Trustpilot scores, Google Maps reviews, traveler-forum feedback and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
