Zero Excess Portugal Car Hire

What is Zero Excess and How Does it Work?

Portugal, sitting on the western edge of the European continent, borders both Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. Its warm, Mediterranean climate makes it a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.

The best way to explore Portugal’s rugged and dry terrain is undoubtedly by car – giving you access to hidden gems off the beaten track that would otherwise be inaccessible if you did not hire a car.

When searching for car hire in Portugal, why should you opt for zero excess car hire? There are many other options available, but in this article, we will explain why zero excess car hire in Portugal is one of the best options to choose from.

Why You Should Choose Zero Excess Car Hire in Portugal

When visiting Portugal, there are several factors as to why zero excess car hire is the best option to choose.

For instance, zero excess policies offer full, complete protection. This means that if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a claim or an accident, you do not need to pay any extra on damages to the hire vehicle, precisely because you have opted for a zero excess policy – and zero means zero.

A further advantage is that you can budget for your trip to Portugal much easier. This is because the price is fixed, and as explained earlier, there will be no extras to pay should you be involved in an accident. Because you know exactly how much your policy costs when quoted the final figure, you can easily plan the rest of your Portugal visit around this – stress-free.

And finally, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will not have to fork out any unexpected expenses related to your hire car because the insurance provider has it all covered.

Top Zero Excess Car Hire Providers in Portugal

There are several car hire providers in Portugal, all of which offer reduced excess policies. These are Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty and Keddy.

All of these suppliers offer reduced excess policies, which include Full Theft Waivers and Full Collision Damage Waivers.

There are certain areas of the car that are not covered by the policy, and this is typical of a reduced excess and, even more commonly, a zero excess policy. Such areas generally include the windscreen, wing mirrors, undercarriage and the interior of the car.

However, cover for these areas can usually be bought for a small fee on top of the reduced excess policy, and depending on your needs and where you plan on driving, can be worth it.

Zero Excess Car Hire in Portugal: Save Time and Money

Of course, we all want to save time and money in whatever we are doing, and choosing zero excess car hire is no different.

Fortunately, zero excess car hire actually offers some of the best time and money-saving methods when it comes to the car hire industry.

For starters, everything is already covered by the insurance as mentioned earlier – so not only does this make the whole process easier to manage should you be involved in any claims or accidents, but it saves you the stress of having to deal with it all on your own.

And while zero excess policies are generally more expensive upfront than other policies, they save you money in the long term – there are no hidden costs or fees in the small print, and this also helps to give you peace of mind knowing that you’re not going to be hit with a surprise three or four-figure repair bill.

What is Zero Excess Car Hire and How Does it Work?

Before going any further with this article, it is imperative that you understand what zero excess car hire is and how it works.

The best place to start is with your policy documents. Read them thoroughly, and then read them again for good measure. Suppose you miss some important information related to your policy because you did not fully understand it. In that case, you may be put in an awkward position and not know what your rights are with regard to your zero excess policy.

Earlier in the article, we mentioned how you can purchase additional cover for your zero excess or reduced excess policy, such as cover for the wing mirrors or the windscreen. While these additionals come at a small fee, they can be worth it, especially if you are planning on exploring Portugal’s notoriously rugged and hilly terrain by car – a stone chipping the windscreen will be covered if you opt for windscreen coverage, for example, and save you a lot more money than having to pay a mechanic to fix it for you.

Furthermore, it is important to check whether or not the zero excess price is a part of the base price of the policy, or whether you will need to pay extra for this.

The last thing to do is ensure you have all of the correct, updated and necessary documents with you to collect the hire car. This includes your policy documents, confirmation email or number, credit card, driving licence and passport. And once all of these have been checked and you’ve got the go-ahead – simply get in your hire car, and head out to explore the natural beauty of Portugal by road.

How to Find Zero Excess Car Hire in Portugal

How often do we jump straight to a search engine for our queries, only to be greeted with hundreds of sponsored ads all claiming that their company is the best zero excess car hire provider in Portugal?

The best way to find out who is actually the best for your needs is to use a reputable comparison site, such as Enjoy Travel. Simply arrange the filters on the website in a way that suits your needs, and then you can sit back while the algorithm does all the hard work for you, giving you more time to deal with the important things, such as finding out where you can try some authentic Portuguese food.

The Most Important Factors to Consider: Reputation, Customer Service, and Vehicle Quality

Nobody wants to make what can be quite a challenging procedure even more stressful, so here at Enjoy Travel, we have put together three of the most important factors to look for when hiring a car: reputation, customer service and vehicle quality.

Ensuring that all three of these boxes can be ticked to the highest standard will mean that your car hire journey will be a seamless one.

Reputation means a lot. You will have noticed the brands mentioned earlier in the article: names such as Hertz, Europcar and Sixt are all huge names in the car hire industry, and as a result, they are reputable providers. They have built their reputation over years of operating in the car hire industry, and deservedly hold onto their sterling reputations.

Customer service is another key element to consider. You don’t want to hire a car and then find out that there’s no support should anything go wrong. Check for providers who offer 24/7 live chat services on their websites, or emergency numbers which are available to call around the clock. Even companies who offer excellent in-person support at their offices in Portugal are worth looking out for, for a positive experience.

Vehicle quality should also be noted. A company can have a glittering reputation and equally brilliant customer service to go alongside it, but if their selection of vehicles is poor and they are all old and damaged, then they are not a suitable choice. Driving in a foreign country can be challenging at the best of times, and the last thing you want to experience is fear behind the wheel of a car because it is dangerous and you’re not sure it will last the journey. Look out for providers with new, clean and damage-free cars, ensuring that their vehicles are of the very best quality.

Enjoy Your Trip with Zero Excess Car Hire in Portugal

Now you can enjoy your Portugal trip with zero excess car hire – and the feelings of confidence on the roads that come with driving a new, clean, well-looked-after vehicle are second to none.

This will all contribute to making your visit to Portugal all that much more enjoyable.

How to Drive Safely and Responsibly in Portugal

In Portugal, there are several rules of the road which must be adhered to. By paying attention to these, you will have a seamless time enjoying exploring Portugal by road:

• Cars drive on the right side of the road. This is the same as in much of Europe but on the opposite side of the road to the UK.
• You must carry the right documents with you when driving in Portugal at all times – a fully valid driving licence, insurance documents and proof that you are hiring the car.
• The speed limit is 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas and must be adhered to.
• Cars exiting a roundabout must stay on the inside lane until reaching their exit.
• Using a mobile phone while driving – unless on a hands-free basis – is illegal in Portugal.
• The blood alcohol limit in Portugal is 0.02% for drivers who have had their licence for less than three years, and 0.05% for other drivers. It is always best to not have any alcohol if you plan on driving.

What to do in a Road Accident or Emergency in Portugal

In Portugal, the number to call for emergency services is 112. You should always ask for the police first unless someone is injured, in which case an ambulance is also necessary.

The next step is to move the car off the road if possible, and you should also exit the vehicle.

Placing warning triangles or cones in front and behind your vehicle is also important if your car has them, in order to alert other drivers that there is a road accident up ahead.

How to Avoid Extra Charges with Your Zero Excess Car Hire in Portugal

Pay for any additional charges before driving away with your hire car – this includes elements such as windscreen cover or undercarriage cover, for example.

After you have done this – it’s time to drive away and enjoy your Portuguese road trip!