Try reaching Fanal forest by bus and the journey quickly becomes awkward. The same is true for many levada trailheads and places such as the glass skywalk at Cabo Girão. They are not impossible to visit without a car, but having your own vehicle makes the island much easier to explore. The cost, however, is not just the figure shown on the booking page.
The Costs Behind the Daily Rate
The daily Madeira car rental rate is the obvious starting point, but several other costs can change the final amount. Madeira applies a local tourist tax to car rentals, while fuel is another consideration. Driving around the island involves plenty of hills, and longer trips to places such as Porto Moniz can quickly add to your fuel bill.
Then there is the deposit. Unless extra cover reduces or removes it, the rental company may place a sizeable hold on the main driver’s credit card. The money is not normally taken from the account, but the amount can reduce the available credit for the rest of the trip. That is easy to overlook when comparing two cars on price alone.
Card and licence requirements can vary between companies. Many require a physical credit card in the main driver’s name, while some also ask that the driver has held their licence for at least 12 months. Depending on where the licence was issued, an international permit or official translation may also be needed.
There is another restriction worth checking before booking. Rental cars generally have to stay on Madeira. Taking one by ferry to Porto Santo may invalidate the rental company’s insurance, leaving the driver responsible for the consequences.
Is Full Cover Worth It?
Extra cover can make sense for travellers who would rather not have a large amount sitting against their credit card. The roads around Madeira are steep in places, and parking in Funchal can be tight enough to make small scrapes more likely. The price of the cover is only part of the decision, though. What it leaves out matters just as much.
Some travellers use a separate excess policy instead. It can work out cheaper, but there is a catch: a claim may involve paying the rental company first and recovering the money afterwards. That is fine for someone prepared to handle the paperwork, but less appealing to anyone looking for a simpler arrangement.
Where the Savings Usually Come From
The car itself is a good place to start. Manual models tend to be cheaper, and a smaller car is often enough for a couple travelling with ordinary luggage. It is also easier to deal with narrow roads and cramped parking spaces. An automatic may be a better choice for drivers who are used to one at home, especially on steep roads, but it comes with a higher daily rate.
A prepaid deal or first-booking offer may bring down the headline price while giving you less flexibility if your plans change. Before you contact a Madeira car rental company, work out the likely total rather than comparing the daily rate alone. Include the tax, any cover you choose, fuel and the deposit. That figure is much closer to the cost you will actually feel during the trip.
