logo

Opção Rent a Car in Lisbon: Prices, Tips & 2026 Guide

+351935010186

I-VII 09:00 – 18:00

Car rental in Lisbon — local scene with a white rental car and an orange car-key icon
Best Price
All models & locations

Opção Rent a Car is a local Lisbon rental company – a good-value, flexible alternative to the big chains for exploring the capital and its coast, with economy cars from around €12–18/day ($13–$20) in low season. Local operators like Opção often beat the international names on price and flexibility. Note the Lisbon area still has tolls (A5, bridges, ring roads). This guide covers Opção in Lisbon, the real prices, how it compares, and the toll and insurance tips.

Opção Rent a Car in Lisbon, Portugal

Opção Rent a Car is a local Lisbon operator, often better value than the international chains.

How Much Does a Rental Car Cost in Lisbon?

Lisbon Airport (LIS) is a large, competitive market, which keeps prices reasonable outside peak summer. Expect roughly the following in 2026:

Average Daily Rates in Lisbon by Season

Booked 4–6 weeks in advance, prices in EUR

SeasonManual EconomyManual CompactAutomatic Compact
Low (Nov–Feb)€12–18€15–24€26–42
Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct)€18–30€24–38€38–55
Peak (Jun–Sep)€32–48€38–58€55–85

Local operators like Opção typically offer better value than the international chains for the same car.

Opção in Lisbon: What to Expect

Opção Rent a Car is a local Lisbon company. Local operators generally offer keener prices and more flexible terms than the global chains, with personal service and helpful local knowledge.

Pickup & Service

Confirm with Opção whether you collect at Lisbon Airport (LIS), 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.

Local advantage: Lisbon's local operators frequently undercut the chains and are often more flexible on documentation and deposits. Always compare a local like Opção against the big names before booking.

Which Rental Companies Are Worth Using in Lisbon?

Companies Worth Booking

Opção Rent a CarLocal Choice
Local Lisbon operator, good value, flexible

The subject of this guide – a local Lisbon company offering good value and flexible terms versus the chains. Worth a direct quote. Confirm the pickup point, deposit and insurance details when booking.

Local companyGood valueFlexible terms
Rent-a-StarTop Value
Well-rated value operator, meet-and-greet

Friendly service and below-average prices – a strong value pick at Lisbon if you don't mind an off-terminal pickup.

Well-ratedMeet-and-greetBelow-average prices
SixtInternational Option
Newer fleet, terminal desk

The strongest international brand at Lisbon for a newer fleet and a real terminal desk. Pricier; watch the upsell.

Trustpilot: 3.8/5 (global)Terminal deskNewer fleet
GuerinLocal Favourite
Portuguese national brand, good value

A well-rated Portuguese brand that often undercuts the global chains while keeping service high.

Portuguese brandGood valueFlexible

Companies to Approach with Caution

GoldcarAvoid
Cheap headline price, expensive in practice

Aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.

Trustpilot: 1.6/5Upselling, damage claims
FireflyCaution
Recurring deposit and fuel complaints

Low headline prices but repeated complaints over deposit holds and fuel policy.

Trustpilot: 2.0/5Deposit & fuel disputes
Klass WagenWatch Out
Strict fuel/toll policies, excess disputes

Cheap online but notorious for strict fuel rules, toll fees and excess disputes at return.

Trustpilot: 2.3/5Fuel/toll fees
Lisbon-specific warning: The Lisbon area still has tolls – the A5 to Cascais, the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges, plus some electronic ring roads. Ask how Opção handles tolls (usually a Via Verde device), and film a walk-around video at pickup.

Insurance: How to Avoid the Biggest Markup

Default Coverage

Basic CDW with an excess of €1,000–€1,800, blocked on your card. Tyres, glass and underbody usually excluded.

The Counter Upsell

Super CDW to zero the excess is €15–25/day – €105–175 a week.

The Smarter Option

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 Lisbon Rental

2026 pricing

OptionDaily Cost7-Day TotalCovers Tyres/Glass?
Basic CDW (included)€0€0No
Counter Super CDW€15–25€105–175Sometimes
Third-party excess cover€4–7€28–49Yes

Tolls Around Lisbon

The Lisbon area has booth tolls (A1, A2), the tolled A5 to Cascais, the bridge tolls (25 de Abril, Vasco da Gama) and some electronic ring roads. Most companies fit a Via Verde transponder and bill you the tolls plus a small daily fee.

Route from LisbonRoadApprox. Toll
Lisbon → Cascais / EstorilA5~€1–2
Lisbon → PortoA1~€25 (booth)
Lisbon → AlgarveA2~€20–22 (booth)
25 de Abril bridge (into Lisbon)Ponte~€2
Transponder note: Confirm the Via Verde device is active before leaving. Unpaid electronic/bridge tolls become fines with admin charges weeks later.

How to Get the Cheapest Rate in Lisbon

1. Book 4–6 Weeks Ahead

Lisbon fills up in summer; automatics go first.

2. Compare, Then Check Local Direct

See the market, then check local operators like Opção and Guerin directly.

Compare Lisbon prices: We use DiscoverCars to compare offers from 20+ companies at Lisbon Airport in one search – all-inclusive pricing and free cancellation on most bookings. Check Lisbon prices →

3. Manual if You Can

Cheaper and more available than automatics.

4. Skip Counter Insurance

Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.

5. Sort the Toll Device

Confirm at pickup to avoid later fines.

6. Return Full and Clean

Refuel before drop-off.

Where to Drive from Lisbon: Best Day Trips

Sintra (40 min)

Fairytale palaces in misty hills – park on the edge and use shuttles.

Cascais & the Coast (40 min)

An elegant seaside town and the dramatic Boca do Inferno along the scenic Marginal.

Óbidos (1 hour)

A perfectly preserved walled medieval town, famous for ginjinha.

Arrábida & Sesimbra (45 min)

White-sand coves and turquoise water across the bridge.

Évora (1h30)

A UNESCO World Heritage city in the Alentejo.

Driving Around Lisbon: Practical Tips

Documents Required

  • Valid driving licence (EU accepted; non-EU may need an IDP)
  • Credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit
  • Passport or national ID
  • Booking confirmation / voucher

Local Notes

  • Lisbon's centre is hilly and hard to park – use a garage or park-and-ride
  • The A5, bridges and some ring roads are tolled – sort your Via Verde device
  • Mainland fuel runs about €2.02/L petrol and €1.96/L diesel in 2026
  • Speed limits: 50 km/h in town, 90 km/h rural, 120 km/h on motorways
  • The 25 de Abril bridge tolls only when entering Lisbon from the south
Watch out: The most common Lisbon disputes are unpaid electronic/bridge tolls (which become fines later) and surprise damage charges. Confirm the toll arrangement, film a walk-around video at pickup and drop-off, and return the car clean and full.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a local Lisbon company, Opção 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 Lisbon Airport (LIS), 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 €12–18/day ($13–$20). Shoulder season is €18–30/day and peak summer €32–48/day, with automatics more. Local operators are often the best value.

The A5 to Cascais, the bridges and some ring roads are tolled (the A1 and A2 use booths). Most companies fit a Via Verde transponder and bill you the tolls plus a small daily fee – confirm it's active at pickup.

Often, yes – local operators like Opção 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.

Before You Book: Lisbon Rental Checklist

  • Compare on DiscoverCars, then check Opção and Guerin directly
  • Confirm Opção's pickup point, deposit and insurance details
  • Book 4–6 weeks ahead in summer
  • Buy third-party excess insurance and decline the counter upsell
  • Set up the Via Verde toll device at pickup
  • Film a walk-around video at pickup and drop-off; return full
  • Don't skip comparing a local quote – it often wins on price
  • Don't book Goldcar, Firefly or Klass Wagen without reading the fine print
  • Don't buy the counter Super CDW at €15–25/day
  • Don't ignore the A5, bridge and ring-road tolls

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.

Popular locations

We compare 500+ car hire companies

Got some questions before hiring a car?

Let us know what are you looking for and we will send you the customized offer
logo footer
Auto Jardim - Instead of renting cars directly we give access to the car hire companies comparison form which can find you the  cheapest and highest quality options without any additonal or hidden fees.
Copyright ©2026 Auto-Jardim. All Rights Reserved