We follow the same steps for every company and every rule we explain, so you can check our work.
1. Official sources first
Fuel policies, deposits, age limits and cancellation rules come from each company’s own terms, FAQ or help pages. Driving rules and tolls come from government sites such as Spain’s traffic authority (DGT) and Portugal’s road operator. Consumer advice comes from the European Consumer Centres and national consumer bodies.
2. Station rules can differ
Rental companies often set deposits and fuel policies per country or per station. When a rule varies, we say so and tell you where to check the exact terms for your booking.
3. Live prices instead of made-up ones
Car hire prices change by date, season and how early you book. We don’t print “from €X a day” prices that would be wrong the next day. We link to live searches, so you see real prices for your dates.
4. Date and recheck
Every guide shows the date we last checked it. We recheck terms regularly and when companies change their policies.
5. How we decide what to recommend
We favour clear terms: full-to-full fuel, transparent deposits, honest insurance options and free cancellation. Whether a company pays us a commission plays no part. See our affiliate disclosure.