Faro Airport Car Hire - Faro Airport is the main commercial airport serving the Algarve region of Portugal. In recent years Faro Airport has been extended, in line with the growth of international tourism in the region, with the construction of a new and dedicated departures concourse. Access to Faro airport has also been improved with the completion of the A22 motorway that connects the whole of the Algarve with both Spain and Northern Portugal. This development of tourism and road infrastructure has in turn created a fiercely competitive car hire market serving the thousands of tourists who pass through Faro Airport every year.

The number of Algarve car hire companies operating out of Faro Airport far exceeds the number of those officially represented in the airport concourse. Nearly all Algarve car hire companies offer hire car collection and drop off services direct from Faro airport with many of them offering car hire promotions and discounts for each month of the year. Minibus hire for large groups and golf parties is normally discounted and commercial hire services are also available from many of the Algarve car hire companies serving Faro Airport at competitive rates.

Hire car drivers should note that there are three car parks at Faro Airport. Car parks P1 and P3 offer short-term parking and are located in the Departures and Arrivals areas respectively. People leaving cars in these car parks will need to keep their entry tickets with them as these are also used to leave the car park once the ticket has been entered into the payment machine and payment made. Faro Airport car park payment machines currently accept Euro coins and notes. Car park P2 is for long-term parking and is located behind car parks P1 and P3. Faro Airport hire cars, however, are collected from a separate car park to the right of the arrivals lounge as you exit the building; cars hired from companies officially represented at the airport are normally dropped off on the main approach road to Faro Airport.

Faro Airport is situated in central Algarve. It is only a 20 minute drive from the Algarve golf resorts of Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to the west and a 30 minute drive to the newer golf resort of Tavira on the Spanish border. Because Faro Airport is so close to the Spanish border, visitors to the Algarve can also take in the sights of the southern coast of Spain with a low cost car hire package direct from Faro Airport. Note: Some Faro Airport car hire companies have specific contractual obligations applicable to cross border driving.

Visitors to the Algarve should consider the benefits of Faro car hire as there is so much to see and do in this region of Portugal that does not involve the beach or hotel. Roads in the region have improved considerably although drivers from other European countries should take care entering and exiting the regions motorways as some slip roads are far shorter than their European counterparts with occasional entrance and exit lanes overlapping.

Drivers looking to hire vehicles in the Algarve will usually have to provide a Drivers Licence valid in the European Union as well as an Identity Card or Passport. Many car hire companies serving Faro Airport and the Algarve will also require a minimum driver age of 23 years old with at least two full years driving experience.

Things to look out for when evaluating the final hire price of your vehicle from Faro airport - the inclusion of: C.D.W. (collision damage waiver); unlimited public liability; 24 hour travel assistance; Faro Airport drop off and collection surcharges; optional extra insurances covering against vandalism and personal accident. Families with small children should also ask for child seats to be included in the final Faro car hire price.

Although the bigger car hire companies serving Faro Airport, such as Budget Rent a Car Algarve, usually have the best prices on offer, some local companies such as Algarve Cheap Car hire, Rent a Car Algarve and Auto Prudente also offer drivers extremely good value for money, with service levels and pricing matching those of their larger rivals. As is customary with Faro Airport car hire companies, current hire prices and conditions can be found on their respective websites with online booking facilities allowing drivers to pre book their Faro Airport hire cars prior to arrival in the Algarve, Portugal.