Almost every visitor rents a car, and almost every complaint we hear is about the return. Ten minutes at pick-up saves the argument.
First, the easy part. Through our partner rent-a-cars we get you 5% off, no deposit held on your card, and full insurance already included. The deposit alone can run to a thousand euros or more, so this saves people thousands over a holiday. We sort it on the spot: send us your dates on Instagram (@tropiguide) or by email (hello@tropiguide.com) and we reply with a price. Or use the button below: two minutes, and nothing is booked until you say yes.
Then, at the desk:
- Before you drive off, walk round the car and film it: every panel, the wheels, the windscreen, the roof, the fuel gauge and the mileage. Time-stamped video beats a diagram with crosses on it.
- If you did not book through us, understand the excess (the amount you pay if anything happens). The desk will offer to reduce it to zero for €10–20 a day. If you decline, expect a hold of several hundred euros on your card.
- Where cars get scratched: the ramps into underground car parks, the walls of the old coast roads when two cars meet, and the hedges on the roads above Funchal. Go slower than feels necessary.
- Fuel: "full to full" is the fair option. Fill up in Machico or Santa Cruz before the airport, not at the terminal.
- Porto Santo: most companies do not allow their cars on the ferry, and the ones that do need to know in advance. Cheaper to rent on Porto Santo when you get there.
- Fines from cameras and car parks arrive weeks later, with an admin fee from the rental company on top.
- Automatic cars sell out first. If you need one, book it early.