Car Hire at Faro Airport: Desks, Tolls and Deposits (2026)

For car hire at Faro Airport, compare live prices, then check where the desk is, how the car pays tolls and how big the deposit is. The main motorway of the Algarve, the A22, has been toll-free since 1 January 2025. You still need a toll solution for most other Portuguese motorways, and rental companies charge a fee for it.

Terms were checked on 18 October 2026.

Faro is the gateway to the Algarve. According to ANA, the airport passed 10 million passengers for the first time in 2025, with 10,395 thousand passengers, 5.8% more than in 2024. Cars sell out in peak summer weeks, so book early.

We don’t quote daily rates because they change every hour. To see current offers from several suppliers, compare prices for Faro Airport on Discover Cars.

Where the car hire desks are

Faro has desks in the arrivals area of the terminal and several companies further out, linked by shuttle buses. This is what each company says on its own Faro page.

Sixt runs two branches with similar names. Check which one is on your voucher, because the pick-up process is different. An off-airport desk adds time, so allow for it on the way back to your flight.

Tolls: the A22 is free, other roads are not

Portuguese Law 37/2024, in force from 1 January 2025, abolished tolls on several former “SCUT” motorways. The A22 (Via do Infante) across the Algarve is one of them. Infraestruturas de Portugal confirms that these sections have been priced at zero since 00:00 on 1 January 2025.

Tolls remain on other former SCUT roads, such as Costa de Prata, Grande Porto and parts of Norte Litoral, and on other motorway concessions. If you leave the Algarve, check your route before you assume it is free. Some tolled roads are electronic-only, with no booth to pay at. The official portal says cash or card payment is only possible at traditional toll plazas.

With a rental car, the transponder is usually the simplest choice. Portuguese rental companies are required to offer a toll payment system. According to Centauro’s conditions, all its cars have a Via Verde transponder. The fee is €2.21 per rental day, up to €22.14 per month, plus a €100 toll deposit returned in about 20 days. Other companies’ fees were not confirmed, so ask at the desk. Our Portugal tolls guide covers the details.

Deposits at Faro

The deposit is blocked on your card at pick-up and released after return. Published Portuguese figures are scarce. According to Centauro’s conditions, its deposit in Portugal is €1,200 to €1,900 without its Smart cover. Add the €100 toll deposit if you use the transponder.

Read more in our guides to car hire deposits and excess insurance. The rules are similar in Portugal, but each company sets its own figures.

Which company to compare

A broker lets you filter by desk location, fuel policy and deposit. If you are not sure which broker to use, read Discover Cars vs Rentalcars.

Driving licence

EU and EEA licences are valid in Portugal until they expire. According to the Portuguese transport authority IMT, tourists with licences from countries that are party to the road traffic conventions or bilateral agreements may drive for up to 185 days after entry. The rental company can still ask for more, so check its terms.

Before you drive off

• Check which fuel policy is on the contract. See our fuel policy guide.
• Confirm that the transponder is active if you plan to leave the Algarve.
• Photograph the car, the fuel gauge and the mileage at pick-up and at return.
• Ask about cross-border rules if you plan to drive into Spain.

If you have a dispute with a rental company, the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) publishes guidance on car rental rights in the EU. It says the price at booking must include all mandatory charges.

Flying into Spain instead? See car hire at Malaga Airport and car hire at Alicante Airport, or browse all our airport guides. We may earn a commission on some links; see our affiliate disclosure and how we research.

Last updated: 18 October 2026