Driving Around Lisbon Portugal in a Rental Car

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Any city you visit in Europe or the Americas will caution you to follow proper driving laws and regulations.  They may even point out certain areas of danger that could lead to your vehicle, bags, or other items being stolen.  All of this is highly important, especially in Lisbon Portugal.  Suffice it to say you do not want to leave your car, bags, or other items unattended even in a locked vehicle.  There are areas of the city which are more dangerous, so check with the car rental company regarding where you should travel. 

For a tourist you will most likely want to stay in the more tourist areas visiting the historical places and places of interest Lisbon has to offer.  There are a few tips for using a rental car in Lisbon Portugal, which you should keep in mind.  Booking your rental car online is the best place to compare prices and find the proper sized vehicle for your party.  You also want to choose the right car for the tourist driving you may attempt.  Places in the hills outside of Lisbon may take a little more power than your city rental.  These considerations should be considered.  By booking online you also save yourself the majority of hassles in finding an appropriate vehicle at the airport, hotel or other car rental location. 

In Lisbon you can use your valid driver's license from America, but to save you from any trouble at the rental counter or in the event you get stopped you may want to get an International Driving License.  An international license has multiple languages to help those in the visited country read your information.  While you can go without it, an international driver's license is easy to obtain and lasts for one year from the date of issuance.  To rent a car in Portugal you must be at least 21 years of age.  Traffic will flow on the right side of the road like the United States, so you have nothing to worry about road wise. 

You will want to learn the local driving laws and road signs before you head out to Lisbon Portugal.  A few things will differ from America and if you are unsure if something is legal avoid doing it.  Most of the car rentals in Lisbon will be manual drive rather than automatic.  If you are not trained on manual it is not a good idea to learn on a foreign road with different driving laws.  Make sure at least one person in your party can handle the stick shift. 

Insurance laws are similar to the US in that you must have insurance.  If you are not sure your American insurance will cover the rental car call your company or take advantage of the insurance offered with the rental car.  This is the best bet to being protected.  One last thing about renting a car for Lisbon Portugal: have a credit card or local currency on you in the event you are stopped.  Some countries require immediate payment. 

As you book your Lisbon car rental look around at the holiday apartment rentals provided online to get your vacation plans settled all at once.

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