I-VII 08:00 – 20:00
Routes Car and Truck Rentals is a Canadian-headquartered operator that runs a Lisbon office for cars from EUR 22 to 45 per day (USD 24 to 49) and moving trucks from EUR 65 to 130 per day — a rare option in Portugal where moving-truck rentals are usually limited to U-Move or specialised local operators. The Lisbon branch sits at the airport (LIS) and a city pickup point near Marquês de Pombal, with cargo vans (Renault Master class) and 3.5-ton flatbed trucks for international relocations and home moves. Trustpilot scores skew positive for the car side (3.4/5) but the truck rental side has thinner review volume. This guide compares Routes against the four better-rated Lisbon alternatives (Sixt, Avis, Europcar for cars; U-Move and Drive4Move for trucks), explains the unique Lisbon moving-truck market, and the EUR 850-1,500 deposit that Routes demands on truck rentals.
Daily rates verified May 2026 via Routes direct booking and ParkVia. The branch supports both car and truck pickup, with truck rentals priced 2.5 to 4x higher than cars.
| Season | Months | Compact car | SUV / 7-seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Nov-Feb | EUR 22-32 (USD 24-35) | EUR 40-55 (USD 43-60) |
| Shoulder | Mar-May, Oct | EUR 28-40 (USD 30-43) | EUR 55-75 (USD 60-82) |
| High | Jun-Sep | EUR 42-65 (USD 46-71) | EUR 75-110 (USD 82-120) |
| Truck class | Daily rate | Deposit | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van (Renault Master) | EUR 65-85 (USD 71-92) | EUR 850 | Small home move, IKEA pickup |
| 3.5-ton box truck (Iveco Daily) | EUR 95-130 (USD 103-141) | EUR 1,500 | Full home move, business relocation |
| Refrigerated truck | EUR 140-180 (USD 152-196) | EUR 1,500 | Food/perishable transport |
Address: Aeroporto Humberto Delgado, Terminal 1 arrivals hall. Hours typically Mon-Sun 08:00-23:00. Both car and truck pickup available — trucks usually require advance booking 48+ hours ahead because of fleet rotation. Phone +351 21 941 1234.
Secondary pickup at Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo near the Marquês de Pombal metro. Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Saturday 09:00-13:00, closed Sundays. Useful if you are already in Lisbon and only need a half-day truck for an IKEA pickup or apartment move. Truck pickup here requires 24-hour advance reservation.
Trustpilot 4.2/5. Premium counter, modern fleet, English-speaking staff. EUR 35-60 per day. Worth the premium for car rentals — fewer counter surprises, transparent fuel policies, Sixt Express online check-in. Best overall for car rentals at LIS.
Portuguese independent. Trustpilot 1.5/5 mixed but reasonable Lisbon-area service. EUR 18-32/day cars. Useful for cost-conscious travellers who can refuse counter upsells. Pickup via shuttle from LIS.
The largest Portuguese moving truck rental network with 25+ Lisbon-area locations. Trustpilot 3.8/5. Cargo van EUR 55-75/day, 3.5-ton box truck EUR 85-115/day — 15-20% cheaper than Routes. Self-service kiosks, longer hours. Best for confident moving DIYers.
Portuguese moving company that also rents trucks with driver included. Trustpilot 4.0/5. Cargo van + driver EUR 120-180/day. Best if you do not want to drive the truck yourself or have limited Portuguese driving experience.
The truck side of Routes Lisbon has thin Trustpilot coverage (under 50 reviews total). Recent reports mention high EUR 1,500 deposits and inconsistent shuttle pickup at LIS. For high-stakes moves, U-Move's larger review base offers more confidence.
| Operator | Trustpilot | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Sixt | 4.2/5 | Premium cars |
| Drive4Move | 4.0/5 | Trucks with driver |
| U-Move | 3.8/5 | DIY trucks (Portugal-wide) |
| Routes | 3.4/5 cars; thin for trucks | Cars + DIY trucks |
| Drive On Holidays | 1.5/5 mixed | Budget cars |
Standard CDW with EUR 1,200 excess included. Counter Super Cover EUR 20-32/day to zero out excess. Buy third-party excess insurance (iCarHireInsurance, RentalCover) before flying for EUR 4-8/day instead.
Trucks have their own insurance package. Standard truck CDW excess starts at EUR 2,500 (van) up to EUR 4,000 (3.5-ton). Routes Super Cover for trucks costs EUR 40-65/day — buy third-party truck-specific cover from iCarHireInsurance Commercial or Insure4Rent commercial truck policies. Saves EUR 80-150 over a typical 3-day move.
| Option | Daily cost | 3-day total |
|---|---|---|
| Routes truck Super Cover | EUR 40-65 (USD 43-71) | EUR 120-195 (USD 130-212) |
| iCarHireInsurance Commercial | EUR 12-18 (USD 13-20) | EUR 36-54 (USD 39-59) |
| Bare CDW + EUR 4,000 risk | EUR 0 | EUR 0 — full excess at risk |
The 3.5-ton box truck is the largest vehicle Routes Lisbon offers on a Category B licence. Most UK, EU, US driving licences cover this class — confirm “Category B” or “Class B” is endorsed on yours. If not, you cannot legally drive the truck even if Routes accepts the booking.
Trucks on Portuguese motorways pay 1.5-2x the car toll rate (Class 2). Via Verde transponders on trucks are charged at the truck-class rate. Lisbon-Porto truck toll EUR 22-28 one-way versus EUR 14.85 for cars. Factor into move budget.
The Lisbon LEZ (Zona de Emissões Reduzidas) applies to trucks too — pre-2014 diesel trucks face restrictions in the historic centre. Most Routes trucks are post-2018 and clear the LEZ. Confirm with Routes at booking.
Sixt for cars (Trustpilot 4.2 — usually worth the premium); U-Move for trucks (cheaper and better-rated than Routes truck side).
Truck inventory is limited; same-week truck bookings often unavailable. Plan a move 1-2 weeks ahead minimum.
Weekend truck rentals charge 25-40% surcharge. Move mid-week to save EUR 30-60 per day on a 3.5-ton truck.
Buy iCarHireInsurance Commercial coverage at EUR 12-18/day instead of EUR 40-65 at the counter. Save EUR 80-150 on a 3-day move.
Trucks burn 12-18 L/100 km diesel. A 200 km move uses 24-36 L. Refilling at a supermarket station (Galp/Repsol at Continente or Pingo Doce) saves 8-12 cents/L versus motorway stations.
Routes charges EUR 80-150 for a one-way (Lisbon-Porto, Lisbon-Faro) truck drop. For moves longer than 5 days, ask for fee waiver or 50% discount — they often accommodate.
| Line item | Smart booking | Walk-up tourist |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5-ton truck (mid-week) | EUR 285 (95/day) | EUR 450 (150/day weekend) |
| Insurance | EUR 54 (iCarHireInsurance Commercial) | EUR 195 (Routes Super Cover) |
| Toll one-way (Lisbon area) | EUR 8 | EUR 8 |
| Fuel (200 km move) | EUR 55 (supermarket) | EUR 70 (motorway) |
| Total | EUR 402 (USD 437) | EUR 723 (USD 786) |
IKEA Loures store, 12 km north of Lisbon. Cargo van rental for the day EUR 65-85 from Routes Marquês de Pombal. Park in IKEA's free truck-loading zone. Most flat-pack furniture fits in a Renault Master class van. Return same day to avoid extra-day charges.
One-bedroom apartment typically needs cargo van (1-day rental). Two-bedroom often needs 3.5-ton box truck (2-3 day rental). Loading takes 4-6 hours; transport within Lisbon under 1 hour. Plan EUR 285-400 total cost for typical 2-3 day move.
3.5-ton box truck one-way Lisbon-Porto: 320 km, 3h 30min. Toll EUR 22-28 each way. Two-day truck rental ideal (one day loading, one day driving and unloading at Porto). Routes one-way fee EUR 100-150 added to base. Budget EUR 600-900 total.
Lisbon to Faro: 280 km via A2. Toll EUR 19-25 each way. Cargo van for a single furniture piece delivery, 3.5-ton for multiple items. Routes Faro return possible but adds one-way fee.
Yes — Routes is one of the few Lisbon car rental operators that also offers commercial truck rentals (cargo vans up to 3.5-ton box trucks). Most other rental brands in Portugal stop at car/SUV level. For larger commercial moves, U-Move and Drive4Move are specialist alternatives with bigger fleets.
Category B (standard car licence) covers up to 3.5 tonnes — the largest Routes truck class. Most UK, EU, US, Canadian licences include Category B by default. For trucks over 3.5 tonnes you would need Category C (commercial), which Routes does not certify. Confirm “Category B” or “Class B” on your licence before booking.
EUR 850 for cargo vans, EUR 1,500 for 3.5-ton box trucks. Held on credit card for the rental period + 14 days after return. Debit cards rejected for truck rentals. Plan your credit card limit accordingly — combined with the rental fee, a 3-day truck move can consume EUR 1,800+ of card capacity.
U-Move (Trustpilot 3.8/5) has 25+ Lisbon-area locations versus Routes' 2 locations. U-Move charges 15-20% less per day and has more flexible same-day booking. Routes' advantage: combined car+truck rentals at the same location, useful if you also need a follow-up rental car. For pure truck moves, U-Move usually wins on price and convenience.
Routes allows trucks into Spain with EUR 80-150 cross-border fee and written authorization at booking. France, Germany, UK and other countries require advance confirmation — Routes truck insurance may not cover all EU jurisdictions. For international moves, contact Routes 7+ days ahead with destination details.
Compact (Fiat Panda, Renault Clio class) from EUR 22-32/day low season. Mid-size (Renault Megane, VW Golf class) from EUR 32-45. Full-size SUV from EUR 55-110. 7-seater from EUR 75-130. Automatic transmission EUR 8-15/day extra. Trustpilot 3.4/5 for the car side — mid-tier compared to Sixt 4.2/5 but more competitive on price than premium operators.
Disclosure: Some links (DiscoverCars) are affiliate — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We choose only partners with free cancellation policies.
Fact-check date: 9 May 2026. Primary sources: routes.ca Portugal, parkvia.com Lisbon truck listings, trustpilot.com (Routes, U-Move, Sixt, Drive4Move), via verde.pt truck toll rates, Portuguese DGV licence regulations, globalpetrolprices.com.
