Car hire at Porto airport (OPO)
What to know before you pick up a hire car at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport: where the desks are, what the deposit and excess mean, and the local roads worth knowing about.
Compare car hire at Porto airport
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write.
Porto airport at a glance
| Airport | Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), Porto, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Operator | ANA Aeroportos de Portugal (official site) |
| Car hire desks | The desks are in the arrivals hall on the ground floor, straight ahead after you clear customs. Some lower-cost suppliers work from depots off the airport and collect you by shuttle, so check your voucher for the pick-up point. |
Before you book and at the desk
- Credit card in the main driver's name. Most suppliers place a hold on the card at pick-up, and many do not accept debit cards for it. Check the voucher before you fly.
- Fuel policy. "Full to full" means you return it full and pay only for what you use. "Full to empty" charges you for a full tank up front, usually above pump prices.
- Excess. The basic price includes cover with an excess: the amount you pay if the car is damaged. The desk will offer to reduce it. Decide before you arrive, not at the counter.
- Take photos and a video of the car before you drive off, including the wheels, windscreen and fuel gauge. Do the same when you return it.
- Your UK photocard licence is all you need for a holiday in Spain or Portugal; you do not need an International Driving Permit.
Driving from Porto airport
- The airport is about 11 km north of the city centre, just off the A28 and A41 motorways. Both are electronic-toll roads: you need a Via Verde transponder from your hire company or you may get fines weeks later.
- The drive north into the Minho region (Viana do Castelo, the Lima Valley) is straightforward on the A28, but the A3 to Braga and the interior also uses electronic tolls. Check the toll package at the desk.
Checked October 2026. Desk locations and rules change: your booking voucher is the final word. Sources: ANA, Porto Airport, Portugal electronic tolls.
Questions
Where are the car hire desks at Porto airport?
The desks are in the arrivals hall on the ground floor, straight ahead after you clear customs. Some lower-cost suppliers work from depots off the airport and collect you by shuttle, so check your voucher for the pick-up point.
Do I need a credit card to hire a car at Porto airport?
In most cases, yes: the supplier pre-authorises a deposit on a credit card in the main driver's name. Some suppliers accept a debit card if you buy their full cover. Your voucher states the rule for your booking.
Should I buy the excess cover at the desk?
Only if you have not covered the excess another way. Compare the desk price with the full cover offered when you book online; buying at the desk is usually the most expensive option.