Check out our guide to renting a car in São Miguel. In this article, you’ll find all the essential information you need to choose the perfect vehicle for exploring this stunning island in the Azores. We’ll provide you with clear and useful details to help you find the rental that best suits your needs, along with tips to avoid surprises and misunderstandings.
We've rented cars in many countries over the years, so in this guide, we’re sharing all the tips based on our experiences. We’ll walk you through the booking process on our favorite car rental price comparison site, step by step, so you can choose the best option for you and book on your own.
Fuel policy, unlimited mileage, deposit, deductible, full coverage… do these terms sound familiar? If you’re not sure what they mean, don’t worry! In this guide to renting a car in São Miguel in 2024, we’ll explain everything to ensure you don’t get caught off guard and can book with total confidence.
Renting a Car in São Miguel, Azores - Contents:
Why Rent a Car in São Miguel
If you’re planning your trip with our São Miguel guide, you’ve probably noticed that while it’s not a huge island, there are a lot of places to visit across its territory. The truth is, relying on public transportation in São Miguel can be tricky. Connections are limited, and bus schedules aren’t always the best. Often, you’d need to make transfers, and in many cases, the travel time by bus can be double or triple compared to going by car.
Renting a car in São Miguel is the most popular option for visitors to the island. With a rental car, you’ll have the freedom to explore the island at your own pace, without being tied to schedules or organized tours. Plus, you can reach spectacular spots that are hard to access without a private vehicle, visit places during less crowded times, and bring everything you need with you. It’s all advantages, don’t you think?
Is it Safe to Drive in São Miguel?
For many people, driving in São Miguel is a "special" part of the travel experience. Imagine driving on roads surrounded by nature, hydrangea fields, and stunning coastal landscapes. It’s a sight you won’t want to miss, we assure you!
But, is it safe to drive in São Miguel? Absolutely! Driving in São Miguel is very safe and enjoyable. The main roads are in good condition and well-marked, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding your way as you explore the island (though a GPS is always helpful).
One thing that surprised us when driving in São Miguel for the first time was the size of the local cars. We expected to see a lot of 4x4s, perfect for navigating rough terrain. But to our surprise, most locals drive "normal" small cars (we saw tons of Ford Fiestas). This is because the roads are in great condition, and I suppose that since some are quite narrow, a small car is a better choice.
Another plus is that there are gas stations all over the island, so you won’t have any trouble refueling. Also, people drive calmly and follow traffic rules, so everything will go smoothly.
Despite everything, it's important to keep a few tips in mind when driving in São Miguel. The roads can be narrow, especially in rural and mountainous areas, so it's best to stay calm and drive cautiously. Additionally, the island's weather can be a bit unpredictable; it's not uncommon to encounter rain or some fog while driving. Just adjust your speed and keep your eyes on the road to enjoy your trip without any surprises.
How to Rent a Car in São Miguel
Renting a car in São Miguel is very straightforward, but we highly recommend booking in advance. Don’t risk arriving on the island without a reservation—you might find yourself with limited availability and miss out on saving money. Booking ahead ensures you get the best price and the car that truly meets your needs. Trust us on this!
To make the rental process as easy as possible, we recommend using a price comparison tool, which allows you to compare offers from different companies on a single website. This is perfect for finding the best price and terms without having to visit each site individually.
Out of all the car rental comparison sites we’ve tried over the years, Discover Cars has been our favorite for a long time, and we don’t say that lightly. The first time we used it, we were surprised by how easy the booking process was, and we found exactly what we were looking for without any hassle. Honestly, it’s no wonder they won the award for the best car rental booking website in the world in 2023…
But that’s not all! Booking your rental car with Discover Cars comes with advantages you won’t find with other comparison tools:
You can CANCEL up to 48 hours before the reservation.
In many cases, you DON’T HAVE TO PAY EVERYTHING upfront. You can pay part when you book and the rest directly to the rental company when you pick up the car—you choose.
They offer their own FULL COVERAGE so you don’t have to worry about anything.
They have 24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
There are NO HIDDEN FEES; everything is very transparent.
It allows you to book at the BEST PRICE. And we know that "every company says this," but Discover Cars negotiates prices directly with suppliers to bring you the best deals. Don’t believe us? Check it out here.
How to Book Your Car in São Miguel - Step-by-Step Guide
Booking a car with Discover Cars is a very intuitive and easy process. When you visit their website, you’ll find a simple form where you need to provide some basic details:
The location where you want to pick up the car and, if different, where you’ll return it.
The dates and times for pick-up and drop-off.
Other details like your country and age.
Then, you can customize your search according to your preferences. You can choose the type of car you want, the number of seats, whether you need air conditioning, four-wheel drive, or any other feature that’s important to you. You can filter these details in their sidebar (or in the top header if you’re using the mobile version).
Additionally, if you need extras like a baby seat, an additional driver, or a GPS, this is the time to add them to your booking.
Once you’ve completed all these steps, Discover Cars will show you detailed offers. In these offers, you’ll clearly see all the costs, including taxes and any extras you’ve added. This allows you to know exactly what you’re paying for and avoid surprises.
Recommendation: Take Advantage of the FULL COVERAGE!
I’m not sure if you’ve rented a car before, but in the past, you had to choose between several insurance options for your rental. Each rental company offered different types of insurance, which could vary significantly from one company to another. This made it quite difficult to understand what was covered and what wasn’t, as well as to assess the pros and cons based on the prices.
A few years ago, FULL COVERAGE came into play, and what a relief! This full coverage isn’t provided by the rental companies but by the comparison tool itself, and Discover Cars offers very competitive prices for it.
With this new way to insure your rental, you don’t have to worry about anything. You pay for insurance that covers the entire deductible stipulated by the rental company. In case you didn’t know, the deductible is the maximum amount you’d have to pay in case of damage or loss of the vehicle, and it usually ranges between €900 and €1,200. Quite a bit of money, right?
The full coverage offered by Discover Cars covers that amount, so if something happens, this insurance will refund any amount you had to pay, no matter the cause.
Now, you can rent with complete peace of mind—this is amazing!
You can add the full coverage during the booking process once you’ve selected your car. And don’t worry about the price—it usually costs between €10-15 per day! Yes, this price is usually less than half of what you’d pay by opting for the conventional insurance offered by the rental companies, so don’t hesitate.
And one more thing! When you get to the counter to pick up your car, don’t purchase any additional insurance! Even if they offer it, with Discover Cars' full coverage, you don’t need anything else!
Things to Consider When Renting a Car in São Miguel
If you’re not used to renting cars during your travels, some terms and conditions might seem confusing. We’ll help you understand the most important aspects to consider when renting a car so that your experience is simpler and free of surprises. Let’s get started!
Check the fuel policy: Typically, the fuel policy of most rental companies is to give you the car with a full tank, and you return it full as well (or in the same condition you received it). However, there’s also the option where you get the car full and return it empty, paying a fixed fee upfront for the fuel.
We recommend always choosing the first option (full-full or same-same). Why? Because, realistically, it’s hard to return the car with the tank completely empty, so you’d lose money… Additionally, the price they’ll charge you for fuel if you return the car empty is usually higher than what you’d pay at a gas station to refill it yourself.
By the way! If you’re going to return the car at the airport, avoid filling the tank at the last gas station before arriving, as prices there are usually higher.
Locate the Pick-Up and Drop-Off Office: Research the location of the car rental office to ensure it's convenient for you. Some offices are located at airports, while others are in the city center or less accessible areas. Consider which option works best for you.
Review the Deposit and Deductible Policy: It's important to understand if a deposit is required and what the deductible is in case of damages. Typically, companies require a deposit equal to the deductible, blocking it on your credit card. The deductible is the maximum amount you'll have to pay in case of an accident or damage to the vehicle. But don’t worry—if you have Discover Cars’ full coverage, you won’t need to stress about these details because if you do have to pay anything, they’ll reimburse you fully!
Make Sure Cancellation is Free: Before confirming your reservation, check whether the rental company’s cancellation policy is free or if there are any associated fees. This gives you flexibility in case your plans change. If you book with Discover Cars, all reservations can be canceled for free up to 48 hours before the vehicle pick-up.
You’ll Likely Need a Credit Card: When we first started renting cars, we had to get our first credit card... Almost all rental companies require a credit card in the name of the primary driver to secure the rental. It’s important to have one since many companies do not accept debit cards for the security deposit.
Which Company to Choose: OUR EXPERIENCE
Once you’ve reviewed all the offers and know what car you want, which extras you need, and which policies suit you best (fuel, deposits, free cancellation...), it’s time to decide on the final offer. With so many options available, this can be a bit tricky.
We’ve had a great experience with Ilha Verde and always recommend it to our friends visiting the island. It’s a local company that we’ve never had any issues with, and the high rating it has on Discover Cars (8.6 with over 6,700 reviews) makes it clear that people are satisfied.
When we first arrived at Ponta Delgada Airport, we were surprised to see that Ilha Verde had the longest line compared to other companies, which were almost empty. We don’t know if it was just a coincidence, but it gave us a good initial impression, even though we had to wait a few minutes to pick up the keys.
What do we like about Ilha Verde? First of all, renting a car directly at Ponta Delgada Airport with them is super convenient. They have their cars right at the terminal. After checking in at the hall, you just need to walk to the parking lot where they’ll hand you the car. This is a big plus because many companies say that the car is picked up at the airport, but they actually require you to rely on an extra shuttle service.
Moreover, if your return flight is very early, like ours was, dropping the car off at the same terminal is a luxury and saves you time.
The experience with Ilha Verde is very positive: the staff is friendly and attentive, the cars are in good condition, and we had no issues when returning the car. This is important because, with other companies, we’ve had problems where they tried to charge us for "damages" that were already there before we used the car.
But if Ilha Verde’s offers don’t match what you’re looking for or if there’s no availability, we recommend going with well-known companies like Sixt or Avis. And if you want to explore other options, make sure to check the ratings and reviews from other customers—this is key!
By the way, if you want to check out offers from Ilha Verde or any other company that catches your eye, you can filter them in the sidebar (or in the top header if you’re using the mobile version).
And that’s it! We hope this article helps you choose a great car rental option in São Miguel and that you enjoy your trip immensely.
DON’T MISS THE BEST ACTIVITIES IN SÃO MIGUEL!