Coimbra – the historic university city on the Mondego – is a smaller car-hire market, so choosing a well-reviewed company matters; the best-rated options are Avis, Europcar, Hertz and the Portuguese brand Guerin, with economy cars from around €14–24/day ($15–$26) in low season. Coimbra sits on the A1 (booth tolls), while the A25 inland became toll-free in 2025. This guide reviews the car-hire options for Coimbra, the real prices, which companies to trust, and the practical tips for central Portugal.
Coimbra's hilltop university – a car opens up Conímbriga, the Serra da Estrela and the coast.
Coimbra's fleet is limited – book early, especially for automatics. Many visitors arrive by fast train and pick up in the city. Expect roughly the following in 2026:
Average Daily Rates in Coimbra by Season
Booked 3–5 weeks in advance, prices in EUR
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €14–24 | €18–30 | €32–48 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €22–34 | €28–42 | €42–58 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €34–50 | €40–60 | €56–82 |
Most visitors pick up in the city after arriving by train.
A dependable international brand with a Coimbra branch and good automatic availability. Reviewers rate it well for condition and a consistent process.
A well-rated home-grown brand with clear terms and a fair full-to-full fuel policy – consistently among the easiest brands to deal with in Portugal.
A dependable major with the broadest fleet in Coimbra and good automatic availability. Reliable reviews for the process.
A reliable major with a Coimbra branch – compare its all-in price against Avis and Europcar.
Reviews repeatedly flag aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.
The very cheapest listings often carry strict fuel rules and excess disputes at return. In a small market like Coimbra, an established brand is the safer pick.
Coimbra makes a great base for central Portugal – the Roman ruins, the mountains and the coast.
Basic CDW with an excess of €900–€1,600, 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 Coimbra 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 A1 and the A14 use cash/card booths, while the A25 became toll-free in 2025. Fuel in 2026 runs about €2.02/L for petrol and €1.96/L for diesel.
| Route from Coimbra | Road | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Coimbra → Lisbon | A1 | ~€16 (booth) |
| Coimbra → Porto | A1 | ~€11 (booth) |
| Coimbra → Figueira da Foz | A14 | ~€4–5 (booth) |
| Coimbra → Viseu/Guarda | A25 | Free (since 2025) |
Coimbra's fleet is limited; automatics sell out first.
See the market, then check Avis, Europcar and Guerin directly.
City branches close at lunch and on Sundays.
Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.
Keep a card for the A1/A14.
Refuel before drop-off.
Portugal's best-preserved Roman ruins, with stunning mosaics.
Mainland Portugal's highest mountains.
A classic Atlantic beach resort at the mouth of the Mondego.
The “Portuguese Venice” and the striped beach houses of Costa Nova.
Restored slate villages tucked into wooded hills.
For a balance of price, reviews and transparency, Avis, Europcar and the Portuguese brand Guerin score well; Hertz is a solid alternative. Avoid Goldcar and unknown cheap brokers, which get poor reviews for upsells and disputes.
Most companies have a city branch, convenient if you arrive by fast train at Coimbra-B. Confirm the address and opening hours, as smaller branches close at lunch and on Sundays.
The A1 (Lisbon–Porto) and the A14 to Figueira da Foz use cash/card booths. The A25 to Viseu/Guarda became toll-free in 2025.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €14–24/day ($15–$26). Shoulder season is €22–34/day and peak summer €34–50/day, with automatics more. Book early as the fleet is small.
The city itself is walkable, but a car is the best way to reach Conímbriga, the Serra da Estrela, Figueira da Foz and the schist villages. Park below the old town and walk up.
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.
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.
