Age restrictions at Faro Airport are not universal — each company sets its own minimum age, young driver surcharge, and senior limits, and they rarely advertise them upfront. You’d think renting a car would be straightforward once you have a licence, money, and a booking confirmation. But at Faro Airport, your age determines not just whether you can rent — but how much extra you’ll pay, which car categories are available to you, and whether the desk will even hand over the keys.

I’ve seen 22-year-olds turned away because they booked a premium SUV (minimum age 25 for that category), and a 72-year-old refused at Goldcar because they didn’t know the company has a hard cutoff at 70. These situations are avoidable if you know the rules before you book.

For the full company ranking, see our Faro Airport car rental comparison.

Minimum Age by Company

This table covers every major company operating at Faro Airport in 2026. The young driver surcharge applies per day on top of the rental price and is non-negotiable at the desk.

The pattern is clear: most international brands draw the line at 21 and charge between €12 and €20 per day until you turn 25. Over a week-long summer rental, that surcharge alone adds €84 to €140 to your total. Young driver surcharges also inflate the deposit hold — the pre-authorization amount goes up because the company factors in the extra fees.

How to Reduce the Young Driver Surcharge

The surcharge is technically non-negotiable, but there are practical ways to lower what you actually pay:

1. Book via DiscoverCars. As an aggregator, DiscoverCars sometimes absorbs or bundles the young driver fee into the total price. You won’t always see it broken out separately, and the all-in price is frequently lower than booking direct.
2. Choose local companies. MasterKings charges the lowest young driver fee at just €10/day and rents from age 19 — the only company at Faro that does. For a 7-day rental, that’s €70 versus €140 at Goldcar. The shuttle ride to their office takes five minutes and saves real money.
3. Avoid premium and SUV categories. The surcharge is often higher for expensive car groups. Stick to economy or compact categories where the young driver fee stays at the base rate. You’ll also face a lower deposit on smaller cars.
4. Don’t buy full coverage just to waive the surcharge. Some companies offer to drop the young driver fee if you purchase their full desk coverage. It sounds tempting, but desk insurance typically costs €15–€25 per day — more than the surcharge itself. Buy third-party coverage online instead and pay the surcharge separately. You’ll come out ahead.

Senior Drivers

Most companies at Faro have no upper age limit on paper, but there are catches that trip people up at the desk.

Europcar requires a medical fitness certificate for drivers over 75. This needs to be issued by your doctor and translated into Portuguese or English. Without it, they will refuse the rental — I’ve seen it happen.

Goldcar is the strictest: they do not rent to anyone over 70, full stop. There is no workaround, no medical certificate option. If you’re 71, you’ll be turned away.

Hertz requires a medical certificate for drivers over 80 but is otherwise flexible up to that point.

MasterKings is the most accommodating. Their official limit is 80, but they handle cases over 80 on an individual basis — call them before booking and they’ll usually find a way to make it work.

Guerin and Sixt have no upper age limit and require no medical documentation at any age. If you’re over 70 and want a hassle-free experience, these two are the safest bet. Just make sure your driving licence is valid and current.

Regardless of company, if you’re a senior driver, carry your valid driving licence and consider having a recent medical fitness letter on hand even if it’s not required. It eliminates any ambiguity at the desk.

International Driving Permits

The IDP question comes up constantly, and the answer depends on where you’re from.

Who needs one:

• UK drivers: Recommended but not legally required in Portugal. Your full UK photocard licence is accepted. However, some rental companies (especially budget brands) may ask for an IDP as an extra verification step.
• US and Canadian drivers: Recommended, and some companies require it. Europcar and Goldcar are the most likely to ask. Guerin and MasterKings have never asked me for one, but policy can vary by agent.
• Australian and New Zealand drivers: Required by Portuguese law. Your domestic licence alone is not officially valid for driving in Portugal, even though enforcement is inconsistent.

How to get one:

• UK: Available at any Post Office branch. Costs £5.50, issued same day. Bring a passport photo and your driving licence.
• US: Available through AAA (American Automobile Association). Costs $20, issued same day at any AAA branch. Bring two passport photos and your valid licence.
• Australia: Through your state motoring organisation (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, etc.). Costs around AUD $40, can take a few days by post or same day in person.

Portuguese police rarely ask for an IDP during routine stops. But rental companies can and do refuse pickups without one — and when you’re standing at the Faro Airport desk at midnight with a tired family, that’s not the time to argue. Spend the £5.50 or $20 before you fly.

Can You Rent at 18?

Portuguese law allows driving at 18, so you’d assume you can rent at 18 too. You can’t — not at Faro Airport.

Almost no rental company at the airport will rent to anyone under 19. MasterKings is the single exception, with a minimum age of 19. Every other major company — Guerin, Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Goldcar — requires you to be at least 21.

If you’re 18, your only realistic option is to have an older driver (21+) rent the car and add you as an additional driver. Be aware that:

• Additional drivers cost between €5 and €12 per day.
• Some companies restrict additional drivers to the same age minimums, so even this workaround may not be available everywhere.
• The primary renter must be present at the desk and is fully liable for the vehicle.

For 19- and 20-year-olds, MasterKings is the only game at Faro. Book through DiscoverCars and filter for MasterKings availability. Their young driver fee of €10/day is the lowest available, and they’re one of the most straightforward companies to deal with. The shuttle ride from the terminal takes five minutes. If you’re also looking for a debit card option, MasterKings is often more flexible on payment methods too — important for younger drivers who may not have a credit card yet.