I – V 08:30-13:00; 15:00-18:30 and VI till 17:30
Thrifty is the value brand of the Hertz group – a budget route into a major's fleet for Portimão and Praia da Rocha, with 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 driving the Algarve from Portimão or Faro costs nothing in tolls. This guide covers Thrifty in Portimão, the real prices, how it compares, and the practical tips for driving the western-central Algarve.
Thrifty is the Hertz group's value brand – lower rates with a leaner process.
Most visitors collect at Faro Airport (FAO, ~45 minutes east via the free A22) or at a Portimão-area desk. Faro is a big, competitive market, keeping prices low outside peak summer. Expect roughly the following in 2026:
Average Daily Rates (Faro / Portimão) 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 |
With the A22 now toll-free, your only running cost around the Algarve is fuel.
Thrifty offers lower rates drawn from the Hertz group's fleet, with a leaner, value-oriented process. You get a major's cars and network at a budget price – in exchange for a more bare-bones counter and sometimes stricter fuel/deposit terms.
Thrifty is usually collected via the Hertz desk/area at Faro Airport or a Portimão-area branch; confirm the exact pickup point, branch hours, deposit and card requirement. Read the fuel and insurance terms carefully, decline cover you don't want, and document the car at pickup.
The subject of this guide – a cheaper route into the Hertz fleet for Portimão. Best if you want a low price and don't mind a leaner process. Check the fuel policy and deposit when booking.
A well-rated Portuguese brand with a strong Algarve presence that often undercuts the chains, with transparent terms.
A dependable major with a broad fleet – a safe fallback for a guaranteed automatic.
The pick for a newer, higher-spec car. 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 can carry strict fuel rules and excess disputes. Read the fine print or stick with a trusted brand.
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 €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 Via do Infante became toll-free in 2025, so the Algarve's main motorway now costs nothing. The N125 coast road is also free but slower. You'd only pay tolls on the A2 toward Lisbon.
| Route from Portimão | Road | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Portimão → Faro / Lagos | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Portimão → Albufeira | A22 | Free (since 2025) |
| Algarve → Lisbon | A2 | ~€22 (booth) |
| Petrol / Diesel | – | ~€2.02 / €1.96 per L |
The Algarve fills up in summer; automatics go first.
The base is low – compare the total with insurance and fuel rules.
Cheaper and more available than automatics.
Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.
Value brands more often use full-to-empty.
Refuel before drop-off.
Portimão's famous beach, with its golden cliffs and long boardwalk.
Dramatic cliffs, grottoes and the best boat trips in the west.
The pretty cove town and the Algarve's most famous sea cave.
The Moorish castle town and the cool green mountains above the coast.
The wild south-western tip of Europe.
Thrifty is the value brand of the Hertz group. You get cars from the Hertz fleet at a lower price, in exchange for a leaner process and sometimes stricter fuel and deposit terms.
Yes, if you want a low base price and don't mind a bare-bones counter. Compare its all-in cost (with insurance and fuel rules) against Hertz or Europcar – sometimes a full-service major is barely more.
No longer on the main motorway. The A22 became toll-free in 2025, so Algarve driving costs nothing in tolls. You'd only pay on the A2 if you drive up to Lisbon.
Usually via the Hertz desk/area at Faro Airport (about 45 minutes east on the free A22) or a Portimão-area branch. Confirm the exact pickup point and hours when booking.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €13–23/day ($14–$25). 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 – useful with value brands.
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.
