Car Rental in Portugal without Credit Card

Portugal is a perfect destination for road trips. Short distances between cities and attractions, well-maintained roads, and stunning scenery make driving here a true pleasure. And the lack of a credit card is no longer a reason to miss out on this convenient way of exploring the country. Local rental companies increasingly offer car hire in Portugal using a debit card or other alternative payment methods.

You won’t need to apply for a credit card just for your trip, worry about extra fees, or deal with fund holds. On Localrent, you can easily book a car for pickup in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and other cities across the country.

Benefits of Renting Without a Credit Card in Portugal

Renting a car without a credit card offers several key advantages:

• Accessible to all travellers. Virtually anyone can rent a car without unnecessary complications, regardless of whether they have a credit card.
• Multiple payment options. On Localrent, you can pay with a debit card, cash, or even cryptocurrency. Available options can be found using the filters when booking or on the specific vehicle’s listing page.
• Fewer financial barriers for younger travellers. Young people who may not be able to obtain a credit card due to banking restrictions (e.g. age requirements) can now also rent a car for a road trip across Portugal.
• Transparent terms. Renting without a credit card eliminates potential fees for using credit funds. You see the final rental price and the deposit amount (if applicable) at the time of booking.
• High-quality service. When renting without a credit card, you can choose vehicles of various classes — from compact models like the Fiat 500 to comfortable crossovers such as the Nissan Qashqai.
  

Car rental prices in Lisbon

Payment Methods Without a Credit Card

When booking a car in Portugal on Localrent, select the “Without a Credit Card” filter to see only the relevant offers. Depending on the rental company, the following payment methods may be available:

• Debit card. Many rental companies in Portugal accept debit cards from international payment networks for both the rental fee and the deposit. The card must be in the name of the primary driver and have sufficient funds to cover the rental cost and/or deposit.
• Cash payment. Some rental providers accept cash. You can use it to pay the remaining rental balance and leave a security deposit.
• Cryptocurrency. In certain cases, companies accept cryptocurrency payments. Availability of this option is shown at the vehicle selection stage.

Please note that a bank card is required to make the advance payment.

What You Need to Rent Without a Credit Card

To rent a car in Portugal without a credit card, you will need:

• a valid driving licence;
• a passport or national ID;
• a debit card in the name of the primary driver for the advance payment;
• a voucher sent to your email after completing the booking.

The driver must also meet the rental company’s age and driving experience requirements. These vary depending on the vehicle and are listed on each car’s listing page.

The demand for car rental services in Portugal

How to Book a Car Without a Credit Card in Portugal

Follow these steps for a quick booking on the Localrent website:

1. Select your pickup city (e.g. Lisbon, Porto, etc.) and enter your travel dates.
2. Use the payment method filter to find offers available without a credit card.
3. Compare offers from different rental companies.
4. Review the listing of the car you like and the rental terms. Pay attention to age and driving experience requirements, deposit amount, and insurance coverage.
5. Complete the booking using a debit card for the advance payment (approximately 15–20% of the total rental cost).
6. Receive your confirmation. A voucher with your order details and the rental company representative’s contact information will be sent to your email. You will need it when picking up the car in Portugal — print it out or save it on your phone.
   

Frequently Asked Questions