I-V 09:00 – 19:00
First Rent is a local Porto rental company – a good-value, flexible alternative to the big chains for exploring the city, the Douro Valley and the green north, with economy cars from around €10–18/day ($11–$20) in low season. Local operators like First Rent often beat the international names on price and personal service. And there's good news on tolls: the A28 to Viana and the A4 to Vila Real became toll-free in 2025. This guide covers First Rent in Porto, the real prices, how it compares, and the practical tips for the north.
Porto Airport (OPO) is a large, competitive market, which keeps prices reasonable outside peak summer. Expect roughly the following in 2026:
Average Daily Rates in Porto by Season
Booked 4–6 weeks in advance, prices in EUR
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €10–18 | €14–22 | €26–40 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €18–28 | €22–36 | €36–52 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €30–45 | €36–55 | €52–80 |
Local operators like First Rent typically offer better value than the international chains for the same car.
Estimated rental cost by trip length
from €10/day
Illustrative — daily rate × days at the lowest 2026 starting price; real prices vary by season & demand.
Porto Rental Budget Calculator
Compare live Porto car rental prices →Rate prefilled with a low-season economy starting price; change it for your dates and season.
First Rent is a local Porto rental company. Local operators generally offer keener prices and more flexible terms than the global chains, with personal service and helpful local knowledge.
Confirm with First Rent whether you collect at Porto Airport (OPO), in the city, or via a shuttle, and what deposit and card they require. As a local company, it's worth a direct quote alongside the comparison sites. Read the fuel and insurance terms and document the car at pickup.
The subject of this guide – a local Porto company offering good value and flexible terms versus the chains. Worth a direct quote. Confirm the pickup point, deposit and insurance details when booking.
A well-rated Portuguese brand that often undercuts the global chains while keeping service high.
The strongest international brand at Porto for a newer fleet and a predictable process. Pricier; watch the upsell.
A dependable major with a broad fleet – a safe fallback at OPO.
Aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.
Cheap online but notorious for strict fuel rules and excess disputes at return.
Low headline prices but repeated complaints over deposit holds and fuel policy.
Basic CDW with an excess of €1,000–€1,800, blocked on your card. Tyres, glass and underbody usually excluded.
Super CDW to zero the excess is €15–25/day – €105–175 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 Porto Rental
2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Covers Tyres/Glass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No |
| Counter Super CDW | €15–25 | €105–175 | Sometimes |
| Third-party excess cover | €4–7 | €28–49 | Yes |
The A1 (Porto–Lisbon) and the A3 (to Braga) still use cash/card booths. The A28 to Viana do Castelo and the A4 to Vila Real became toll-free in 2025; only the A41/A42 ring roads remain electronic.
| Route from Porto | Road | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Porto → Lisbon | A1 | ~€25 (booth) |
| Porto → Braga | A3 | ~€5–6 (booth) |
| Porto → Viana do Castelo | A28 | Free (since 2025) |
| Porto → Douro / Vila Real | A4 | Free (since 2025) |
Porto fills up in summer; automatics go first.
See the market, then check local operators like First Rent and Guerin directly.
Cheaper and more available than automatics.
Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.
A1/A3 booths; A28/A4 are free now.
Refuel before drop-off.
The UNESCO terraced vineyards, with port-wine quintas and tastings – the A4 is now toll-free.
Braga's Bom Jesus sanctuary and the birthplace of Portugal in Guimarães.
An elegant northern coastal town, now reachable toll-free on the A28.
The “Portuguese Venice” and the striped beach houses of Costa Nova.
Portugal's only national park, with mountains, lagoons and granite villages.
As a local Porto company, First Rent typically offers good value and flexible terms versus the international chains. It's worth a direct quote alongside the comparison sites; confirm the pickup, deposit and insurance details when booking.
Confirm whether you collect at Porto Airport (OPO), in the city, or via a shuttle – local operators vary. Check your booking confirmation for the exact location.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €10–18/day ($11–$20). Shoulder season is €18–28/day and peak summer €30–45/day, with automatics more. Local operators are often the best value.
The A1 (to Lisbon) and A3 (to Braga) use cash/card booths. The A28 to Viana and the A4 to Vila Real became toll-free in 2025. Only the A41/A42 ring roads remain electronic.
Often, yes – local operators like First Rent frequently beat the chains on price and flexibility. Compare a local quote against Sixt and Europcar before booking.
It's cheaper to buy standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) before you travel than the counter Super CDW (€15–25/day). Third-party cover also includes tyres, glass and underbody.
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.
