Terms & Conditions

1. Insurance Coverage & Exclusions

Basic Insurance (CDW)

All rentals include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) as standard. CDW covers bodywork damage to the vehicle subject to a security deposit.

CDW includes:

• –Bodywork damage coverage (subject to deposit)
• –Theft protection
• –Third-party liability insurance
• –24/7 roadside assistance

Extra Insurance (SCDW)

Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) is available as an upgrade. SCDW significantly reduces or eliminates the security deposit for bodywork damage.

SCDW includes everything in CDW, plus:

• –Groups A, B, C — Full bodywork coverage with no damage deposit (only €80.00 fuel deposit)
• –Group D — Reduced deposit from €500.00 to €200.00
• –Full bodywork damage coverage

SCDW is available when all drivers are aged 25 to 70.

External Insurance

Our CDW insurance is mandatory and included in every rental. If you hold separate coverage (e.g. through your credit card or travel insurance), that is an agreement between you and your insurer. You are welcome to file a claim with them to recover any costs — we can provide a repair quote upon request — but this does not waive or replace our CDW requirements or deposit terms.

What Is Not Covered

The following are not covered by either CDW or SCDW and remain the renter's responsibility:

• –Interior damage (upholstery, dashboard, etc.)
• –Personal belongings left in the vehicle
• –Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• –Drivers not signed into and insured by the rental contract
• –Off-road driving or driving on unpaved roads
• –Key loss or damage
• –Fuel contamination (wrong fuel type)
• –Damages caused by negligence and/or misuse
• –Windows, tires, clutch, undercarriage and roof damage
• –Fire and flood damage

2. Driver Requirements

Age Requirements

The primary driver must be at least 23 years old and no older than 75 years old at the start of the rental period.

Driving License

All drivers must hold a valid driving license for a minimum of 3 years. The license must be presented at pickup.

You must present your physical driving license or an official digital version from your government's mobile app. Photographs or scans of your license are not accepted.

Additional Drivers

Additional drivers must be registered and meet the same age and license requirements. All additional drivers must be present at pickup with valid identification.

Required at Pickup

Please bring the following to pickup:

• –Valid driving license of all drivers (held for at least 3 years)
• –A payment method for the rental amount and security deposit

3. Deposit & Damage Policy

A refundable security deposit is required at the start of each rental. The deposit amount depends on your chosen insurance and vehicle group.

CDW Deposit Amounts

• –Groups A, B, C: €300.00
• –Group D: €500.00

SCDW Deposit Amounts

• –Groups A, B, C: €80.00 (fuel deposit only)
• –Group D: €200.00 (reduced damages deposit)

Deposit Payment & Refunds

The deposit can be paid by credit card, debit card, or cash (American Express is not accepted). The exact deposit amount depends on the vehicle group and insurance option chosen.

• –Fuel deposits are refunded when the vehicle is returned with the same fuel level
• –Damages deposits are refunded provided the vehicle is returned in the same condition
• –Damages listed in the insurance exclusions are never covered by any deposit or insurance and remain the renter's full responsibility

Cash deposits are refunded immediately; card deposits may take several business days to process, depending on the bank. We create the refund request immediately. Autorentacar is not responsible for any currency conversion fees charged by your bank.

Damage Assessment

At both pickup and return, the vehicle is inspected together by the client and a member of our team. We encourage you to take as many photos and videos as you wish during both inspections, so you have full proof of the vehicle's condition before and after your rental. We work this way so that all evidence is in your hands. Any new damage identified at return will be assessed, and repair costs may be deducted from the deposit. If requested, we will provide a repair quote from our repair shop, which you may use to file a claim with your own insurance provider (e.g. travel insurance or credit card coverage).

Driving in Madeira

Madeira's roads include steep mountain descents and sharp turns. Please keep the following in mind:

• –Use engine braking (lower gears) on steep descents — avoid relying solely on the brakes
• –Do not pour water on brake discs to cool them
• –Do not drive under waterfalls or through water crossings
• –Do not drive down steps or stairways
• –Stay on paved public roads at all times — off-road driving is not permitted
• –Do not leave personal belongings visibly inside the vehicle when parked

4. Payment Terms

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

• –Online payment via credit or debit card
• –Credit or debit card at pickup
• –Cash at pickup (EUR)

Please note: American Express is not accepted.

Payment Timing

You may choose to pay online at the time of booking or in full at pickup. The full rental amount is due before or at the start of the rental period.

All prices include VAT at the applicable Portuguese rate.

5. Cancellation & Refund Policy

How to Cancel

You can cancel your booking at any time through the Manage Booking page or by contacting us directly via email, phone, or WhatsApp.

Refund Terms

Refund amounts depend on how far in advance you cancel:

Autorentacar reserves the right to modify the refund policy. The refund terms applicable at the time of your booking will always be honoured.

No-Show Policy

If you do not collect the vehicle at the scheduled pickup time and have not contacted us to cancel or modify your booking, this is considered a no-show. No refund is available for no-shows.

After Rental Begins

Once the rental period has begun, no refunds are available for any reason, including early returns or unused rental days.

6. Rental Conditions

Fuel Policy

We operate a full-to-full fuel policy. Every vehicle is delivered with a full tank, and we ask that you return it the same way. The fuel level is recorded on your rental contract at pickup. If the vehicle is returned with less fuel, the cost to refill the tank will be deducted from your deposit. If your deposit has already been applied to damage repairs, the refueling cost must be paid separately.

Mileage

All rentals include unlimited kilometers at no extra charge.

Permitted Use

The vehicle may only be driven on paved public roads within Madeira Island. The following uses are prohibited:

• –Off-road driving or unpaved tracks
• –Racing, competitions, or speed testing
• –Towing other vehicles
• –Any illegal activity
• –Subletting or lending the vehicle to unauthorized persons

Vehicle Return

The vehicle must be returned at the agreed date, time, and location. Late returns may incur additional charges. Please contact us as soon as possible if you anticipate a late return.

Any damage to the vehicle will be assessed at return in accordance with our Deposit & Damage Policy.

Rental Extensions

If you wish to extend your rental period, please contact us as soon as possible. Extensions are subject to vehicle availability, and pricing may vary depending on the updated rental dates.

7. Liability

Renter's Responsibility

The renter is responsible for the vehicle during the rental period. Any fines, tolls, towing costs resulting from the renter's actions (e.g. illegal parking or traffic violations), or other penalties incurred while using the vehicle are the renter's responsibility.

Accidents

In the event of an accident, contact Autorentacar immediately — we will come to the scene and assist you with everything. Ensure your safety first: wear the reflective vest and place the warning triangle as needed. Do not move the vehicle until the scene has been fully documented. Take photos and videos of the accident scene, the positions of all vehicles involved, and any visible damage. An accident declaration form must be completed on the scene. Do not admit or assume any fault or blame.

Breakdowns

In case of mechanical breakdown, contact our 24/7 roadside assistance. Do not attempt repairs yourself or take the vehicle to an unauthorized garage.

8. Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. This section explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our website and services.

Data We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• –Personal information you provide when making a booking (name, email, phone number)
• –Payment and refund history associated with your booking (we do not store your payment card details — these are handled securely by our payment providers)
• –Session data including your IP address, browser type, and referring website
• –Marketing attribution data (such as campaign source if you arrived via an advertisement)
• –Website usage data including pages visited, booking steps completed, and interaction events

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience:

• –Essential cookies: A session cookie is used to maintain your browsing session and enable core website functionality (expires after 30 days)
• –Cookie preference: We store your cookie choice locally so we do not ask you again on every visit
• –Google Analytics 4: When you accept cookies, we use GA4 to understand how visitors use our website, helping us improve the booking experience. GA4 operates in Consent Mode v2 — no tracking data is collected until you explicitly accept
• –Microsoft Clarity: When you accept cookies, we use Clarity to record anonymized browsing sessions, helping us identify and fix usability issues. Clarity only activates after you provide consent

If you decline cookies, only essential functionality cookies are used. No analytics or tracking data is collected

How We Use Your Data

We use your information for the following purposes:

• –Processing and managing your car rental booking
• –Communicating with you about your reservation (confirmations, reminders, updates)
• –Improving our website and booking experience based on aggregated usage patterns
• –Complying with legal obligations and resolving disputes

We never sell your personal data to third parties.

Third-Party Services

We work with the following third-party services that may process your data:

• –Payment processors for secure payment handling
• –Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for website analytics (only with your consent)

All third-party providers are required to handle your data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Your Rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the following rights:

• –Right to access your personal data
• –Right to correct inaccurate personal data
• –Right to request deletion of your personal data
• –Right to receive your data in a portable format
• –Right to object to processing of your personal data
• –Right to withdraw consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the Contact Information section.

Vehicle Data & Telemetry

Some vehicles in our fleet may be equipped with an onboard device that collects operational telemetry to support our internal maintenance and fleet management processes.

These devices may record:

• –Mileage and distance travelled
• –Engine diagnostics and warning indicators
• –Fuel level information
• –Vehicle location data for fleet management and vehicle recovery purposes

This data is used exclusively by Autorentacar for internal operational purposes, including maintenance scheduling, vehicle servicing, and fleet logistics. It is not used to monitor driving behavior or to issue penalties.

Vehicle telemetry data is never sold, shared, or disclosed to any third party. It remains strictly within our internal management systems.

If you connect your phone to the vehicle via Bluetooth or USB (for hands-free calling, media playback, or navigation), your phone data such as contacts and call history may be stored by the vehicle's infotainment system. We recommend that you unpair your device from the car's system before returning the vehicle. Our staff clears all paired devices from the system regularly.

The presence of an onboard device does not affect the terms of your rental or insurance coverage.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. Booking records are retained as required by Portuguese law. Analytics data is anonymized and purged according to our data retention schedule.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated date.

9. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these terms or your rental, please contact us. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

10. Legal Information

Governing Law

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Portugal. Any disputes arising from the rental agreement shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Funchal, Madeira.