I-VII 07:00 – 23:00
InterRent is Europcar's low-cost brand at Porto Airport – off-airport, with the cheapest headline rates and DiscoverCars rating the Porto desk 7/10. The trade-off is the deposit and insurance model: renters report a hold of around £2,000 (or an extra ~£300 for cover) when pre-paid third-party insurance is not recognised, plus slow deposit refunds. It can be the cheapest way to drive from Porto if you pre-book full cover and have a high-limit credit card – but the all-in cost and stress are higher than the headline suggests.
Average daily rates at Porto Airport (OPO) by season
Economy/compact, booked ~4 weeks ahead, EUR
| Season | Economy | Compact | Automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €8–18 | €12–24 | €22–38 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €16–30 | €22–40 | €35–60 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €30–50 | €40–65 | €55–95 |
InterRent is handled off-airport (shared with the Europcar/Goldcar group operation); you collect via shuttle/desk away from the terminal. Allow extra time and read the contract before signing.
DiscoverCars 7/10. Lowest headline rates, but expect a large deposit (~£2,000) or pressure to buy ~£300 of cover, and budget for a slow refund. Pre-book stand-alone excess insurance and document the car.
A 100% Portuguese company and the official Enterprise Rent-A-Car franchisee, in-terminal at OPO with DiscoverCars 8/10 – the dependable, no-drama alternative to a budget brand.
Trustpilot ~1.6/5 with upsell and damage complaints. InterRent and Goldcar sit in the same budget tier – for a little more, a mainstream brand is calmer.
DiscoverCars verified scores at Porto (2026)
/10, verified-rental ratings
This is the crux with InterRent. Basic CDW leaves a large excess blocked – renters cite ~£2,000 – and the desk will offer to remove it for around £300. Stand-alone excess insurance (€4–7/day) bought beforehand refunds your excess directly and is far cheaper, but the hold still applies. Bring a high-limit credit card and photograph the car and fuel gauge.
Porto's toll picture changed in 2025: the A28 coastal motorway north to Viana do Castelo is now toll-free, along with the A24/A25. The A1 (south to Aveiro, Coimbra and Lisbon), A3 (north to Braga and the Spanish border) and parts of the A4 remain tolled, mostly via electronic gantries. With a rental you either take the company's Via Verde transponder (small daily fee) or the tolls plus an admin fee (typically €25–50) are billed to your card afterwards. Fuel in May 2026 is about €1.95/L petrol and ~€2.00/L diesel; supermarket pumps are cheapest. Always return the car full.
Add the deposit risk and any forced cover to the headline before deciding.
Cheaper than the desk and covers exclusions counter policies skip.
What a week at Porto really costs
Economy car, shoulder season
| Cost item | Mainstream (prepaid) | Typical InterRent |
|---|---|---|
| Base (7 days) | €180 | €84 headline |
| Insurance | €42 excess | €120+ (desk cover) |
| Deposit hold | Moderate | ~£2,000, slow refund |
| Tolls/fuel | €45 | €55 + admin fee |
| Total | €267 (~$290) | €259+ (~$282) + big hold |
InterRent is Europcar’s low-cost brand, run from the same group operation but with cheaper rates and stricter budget-brand terms (bigger deposits, more upsell pressure).
Renters report a hold of around £2,000 unless you buy the counter cover (about £300). Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with enough available limit.
You can use stand-alone excess cover (it refunds your excess directly), but InterRent often does not waive the deposit for it. Keep your policy documents and expect the hold.
No – it is handled off-airport. Allow extra time for the shuttle/desk and read the contract before signing.
The A28 is toll-free since 2025; A1/A3 are tolled (electronic) and rentals add a €25–50 admin fee. Deposit refunds can be slow – document the car and chase in writing.
Only if the saving is real after the deposit and cover. For a little more, Guerin (Enterprise franchisee, 8/10, in-terminal) avoids most of the friction.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Reviews are based on Trustpilot, Google Maps, traveller forums and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: May 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
