The best prices for car rental in São Miguel

> Car rental without a credit card

Looking to rent a car in São Miguel with just a debit card? No problem! Not all, but some of our partners allow for this. In this case the car rental supplier will charge the security deposit directly from the debit card, in some cases will require it in cash, while in other cases doesn't require a deposit at all. You can find this information when browsing the rental options available.

> Free Cancellation up to 24h before

We understand that plans can change, which is why we offer the convenience of free cancellation up to 24 hours before picking-up your car. So, whether it's a sudden change of plans or unexpected weather conditions (so typical in the Azores), you're covered without any extra costs, ensuring your trip remains stress-free.

> Different Pick-up and Drop-off locations

In the island of São Miguel most of the car rental desks will be in or around Ponta Delgada. If you are staying in a different part of the island we recommend to arrange transportation to Ponta Delgada to access a larger pool of options. Car rental suppliers might charge a high fee to deliver the car outside of town and airport areas.

• Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL): The most common location to pick-up and return a rental car. The airport is located just 10 minutes by car from the city of Ponta Delgada and is the primary gateway to the island thanks to its direct flights to Lisbon and Porto, cities in Europe, cities on the east cost of the United States and Canada. From Ponta Delgada you can also take an inter-island flight to reach any other island of the archipelago. Here's an interactive map of all direct flights to Ponta Delgada. All our car rental offers can be booked to pick-up at the airport. Some of our suppliers have a desk inside the terminal, while others a member of the staff will meet you at Parking lot number 6, outside the terminal. This is information is mentioned when browsing the available options on our website.

• Ponta Delgada downtown: A big part of the car rental offices are located in Ponta Delgada itself. This can be especially convenient if you don't need a car for the full length of your stay, or you are arriving late in the day and want to save 1 day of rental by picking it up the next morning. At the end of your stay you can always return your rental car at a different location - such as the airport - as we don't charge one way fees. Learn more about renting a car in Ponta Delgada with us.

> Options with no Credit Card and no Security Deposit required

With us you'll find car rental options in the island of São Miguel that only require a standard debit card for renting. Some may even ask for a minimal or no security deposit at all upon car pickup. When exploring our options you'll discover the card and deposit requirements for each vehicle during checkout. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to us.

> Wide range of cars to choose from

São Miguel being the most visited island in the Azores, it's also the one with the widest range of cars to choose from:

• Small Economy Cars: Fuel-efficient, typically equipped with four seats and a compact trunk. These are ideal for two people and are very easy to drive around. Under this category you'll find the Volkswagen Up, the Toyota Aygo, Mitsubishi Spacestar, etc.

• Economy Cars: Slightly bigger than the above, with seating for five and a more spacious trunk. Examples in this category include the Opel Corsa, Seat Ibiza, VW Polo, Renault Clio, small SUVs and more. These are suitable for three adults to sit comfortably, or even four if you're willing to cozy up a bit.

• Medium Cars: A step up in size, comfortably accommodating four adults and their luggage. Models in this category include the Opel Astra, Renault Megane, VW Golf, and medium sized SUVs. On this category you'll also find versions of these cars with a longer trunk, also known as estate or station wagon - which are great if you are travelling with a lot of luggage.

• 7-Seater and 9-Seater Vans: Perfect for larger families or groups. Keep in mind there's limited availability for this type of vehicles, particularly with automatic transmission. We have customers booking their vans as early as 10 months in advance, so we highly recommend booking well in advance to secure your rental! With us, you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up, no questions asked.

• Premium Cars: São Miguel is the only island where you will find premium family cars or SUVs from brands like BMW, Audi or Mercedes and even convertible cars. Supply of this type of cars is limited.

• Automatic Cars: All options above are available in automatic version. But keep in mind the automatics are only around 15% of the total supply, so make sure to book in advance.

• Scooters: Scooters are less common in the Azores than mainland Europe, but some of the suppliers we work with do have these for rent as well.

Useful tips when selecting a car

• The roads in São Miguel are well maintained. Some roads down in the countryside might be a bit more narrow or have no dividing lines on the asphalt, but typically you will not be required to drive off road.
• Be prepared to overcome tractors, as you'll find them often, not only in São Miguel, but throughout all the others islands.
• Travelers in São Miguel don't cover long distances in their journeys. Instead, due to the size of the islands and the number of things to see, there are frequent stops, resulting in shorter drives. The total time to drive from tip to tip is around 1h30.
• Given the steep hills on the island, and depending on the size of your group, you might find that a larger vehicle with a more powerful engine is better suited.

> Full insurance options available

You can hire additional insurance to provide you with extra peace of mind. You can find about the included and the additional insurance options under the "Insurance" section when browsing our options.

> Early car drop-off to catch an early flight

The airport of Ponta Delgada (PDL) is small, with a small number of gates and all next to the security check. However if you are returning your car we advise to do it 1h30 before departure for international flights and 1h for inter-island flight. Even if your flight is early in the morning - flights start departing from São Miguel as early as 06h00 - you can book your car with us with an early drop-off. Some of our partners will charge an out of hours fee for this, but if applicable this information will be mentioned during the booking process.