Car Hire in Madeira

Driving in Madeira: Essential Rules

• Side of the road: Madeira drives on the right, and overtakes on the left, in line with mainland Portugal. At unsignalled junctions, give way to traffic approaching from the right, and give way to traffic already circulating at roundabouts.
• Mandatory equipment: Every vehicle is legally required to carry a warning triangle and a reflective vest. Check both are present in the boot before you drive away from the rental desk.
• Alcohol limit: The national Portuguese limit of 0.05% applies, lower still for drivers with less than three years' experience. Police carry out random breath tests, particularly at weekends, so the safest approach is not to drink at all before driving.
• Mobile phones: Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. Hands-free devices are permitted.
• No toll roads: Unlike mainland Portugal, Madeira has no toll roads at all. The island's fast expressway network, the vias rápidas (VR1 and others), is free to use, along with every other road on the island.
• Tunnels: Madeira's mountainous terrain means an extensive network of road tunnels, some stretching several kilometres through volcanic rock, connecting the main towns via the expressway system. Dipped headlights are mandatory inside every tunnel, and posted speeds inside are often noticeably lower than the open road, so slow down well before you enter.
• Away from the expressways: Village and coastal roads climb steeply and narrow quickly, especially heading up to viewpoints or through older settlements. A light tap of the horn before a blind bend is standard local practice on these older routes, and it's worth adopting yourself for the duration of your hire, particularly on the older coastal roads rather than the main expressway network.
• Weather: Conditions change quickly and vary sharply between the sunnier south coast and the cloudier, wetter north. Fog and rain are common the further uphill you go, so check the forecast before driving up to a mountain viewpoint, and turn back if visibility drops, since some higher routes have no safety barrier.
• Minimum age: Most suppliers require drivers to be at least 21, with a young driver surcharge often applying under 25, and a licence held for a minimum period. Requirements vary by supplier and vehicle class, so check the terms shown at booking.
• Refuelling: Petrol stations are frequent around Funchal and the main south-coast towns, but noticeably sparser in the mountainous interior and along the north coast. Fill up before heading into a remote area rather than assuming a station will appear along the way.
• International Driving Permit: EU licences are fully valid, and UK, US, Canadian, and Australian licence holders are generally accepted with just their home licence. An International Driving Permit is still worth carrying as a precaution, and is required for licence holders from some other countries, so check your supplier's terms before you travel.

Madeira's expressway limit sits lower than the 120 km/h motorway limit found on mainland Portugal, reflecting the island's tighter curves and tunnel-heavy network. Posted limits on mountain and village roads are frequently lower still, so follow the signs rather than the table above once you leave the main routes.

Madeira Car Hire Insurance

Every car hire booked through eCarBookers in Madeira includes the supplier's standard collision damage waiver (CDW) in the basic rate. Standard CDW carries an excess — the amount you would be responsible for in the event of damage. Excess amounts vary by supplier and vehicle class, and the exact figure is displayed clearly before you confirm your booking, so there are no surprises at the desk.

If you prefer to drive with no excess at all, fully comprehensive zero-excess cover is available directly from your supplier when you collect the car in Madeira. The cover comes from the hire company itself, not from a third-party insurer — so there is no separate policy, no paying the excess upfront, and no reimbursement claim to file once it is added. Because your booking confirmation shows the standard excess that applies, you arrive knowing exactly what the cover replaces.

Certain situations fall outside standard CDW cover across the car hire industry, and Madeira is no exception. Tyres, glass, underbody damage, lost or damaged keys, and a flat battery caused by driver error — such as leaving the lights on while the vehicle is unattended — are typically not covered and may result in a separate charge if they occur. Madeira's steep, narrow village streets make minor scrapes to mirrors and bodywork more common than on flatter routes, which is worth factoring in when weighing up the optional cover upgrade.

Madeira's main island is separate from Porto Santo, reached by ferry or a short flight, and standard rental terms don't automatically extend between the two — confirm with the supplier before collection if your trip includes both. Pay the balance on arrival at the desk, as with every eCarBookers booking — the price you confirm online is the price you pay.

Popular Car Hire Locations

eCarBookers compares car hire across Madeira's main pick-up points. Book through eCarBookers first to lock in your price and vehicle class before you arrive — the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive at the desk.

• Funchal — the island's capital and primary hire hub, including pick-up at Madeira Airport (FNC), around 20 minutes east of the city centre along the coast
• Santana — a common stop on the north coast route, known for its traditional A-frame thatched houses, reached from Funchal via the VR1 and the expressway's tunnel network
• Câmara de Lobos — a short drive west of Funchal, and the starting point for the road up to Cabo Girão, one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, with dramatic views back along the coast
• Porto Moniz — on the island's far northwest tip, known for its natural volcanic swimming pools, and one of the longer drives from Funchal via the tunnel network, worth allowing extra time for