Last updated: January 2025
CarRentalAzores.com ("we", "our", "the site") is an independent car rental comparison service. We compare live offers from multiple car rental suppliers operating across the nine islands of the Azores archipelago (Portugal). We are not a car rental company. We do not own or operate rental vehicles, counters or depots.
When you use our comparison engine and select an offer, you are redirected to complete your booking with the supplier's booking partner platform. The rental contract is formed directly between you and the car rental supplier whose offer you selected. We act solely as an intermediary displaying available offers.
Acceptance: By accessing and using CarRentalAzores.com, you agree to these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.
Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old to use this site. Minimum driver age for actual car rental varies by supplier (typically 21 or 23 years) and additional young driver fees may apply.
Permitted use: You may use our comparison engine for personal, non-commercial purposes to search and compare car rental offers in the Azores. You may not use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access or copy our content or data without written permission.
Accuracy of information you provide: When using the search form, provide accurate pickup and return dates, times and locations. Incorrect information may result in unavailable or incorrectly priced offers.
Live offers: Our comparison engine queries multiple car rental suppliers and displays results in real time based on availability at the moment of your search. Prices, vehicle availability and terms shown are provided by the suppliers.
No booking through us: We do not process bookings. When you click to reserve a vehicle, you leave our site and complete the reservation on the supplier's booking partner platform. The booking confirmation, payment, rental voucher and any subsequent communication come from that platform and the supplier, not from us.
Commission: We may earn a commission from suppliers or their booking partners when a user completes a reservation after using our comparison service. This does not affect the price you pay - the price shown on our site matches the price on the supplier's platform. Our commission arrangement does not influence the order or prominence of offers displayed; results are sorted by price or other user-selected criteria.
No guarantee of availability: Offers displayed are subject to availability. A vehicle shown in search results may become unavailable between your search and the moment you attempt to book, especially during peak travel periods (June to September in the Azores). We recommend booking early, particularly for automatic transmission vehicles and rentals on smaller islands (Flores, Santa Maria, Sao Jorge, Pico).
Price accuracy: We strive to display accurate prices, but prices are set by suppliers and can change. The final price is confirmed on the booking partner's platform before you complete payment. Always review the total cost, included coverage and terms before confirming your reservation.
Independent entities: Each car rental supplier displayed in our comparison results is an independent business. Booking partners that process reservations are also independent entities. We are not responsible for the performance, service quality, vehicle condition, insurance terms or any other aspect of the rental provided by the supplier.
Terms and conditions: Your rental is governed by the supplier's and booking partner's terms and conditions, not ours. You must review and accept those terms when you book. Typical supplier terms cover driver age, licence requirements, insurance/damage waiver options, fuel policy, mileage limits, cross-border travel restrictions, additional driver fees, child seat rental, deposit and payment method.
Inter-island travel: Rental cars in the Azores cannot be taken between islands. Ferries (Atlanticoline) and SATA inter-island flights transport passengers only, not vehicles. If you plan to visit multiple islands, you must book a separate rental on each island. This restriction is set by suppliers and Azorean maritime/aviation regulations. Attempting to take a rental car on a ferry or plane is a breach of the rental agreement and may result in significant fines or legal action.
Insurance and damage waiver: Most suppliers offer Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and theft protection as part of the rental or as an optional extra. CDW typically reduces (but does not eliminate) your liability for damage; an excess (deductible) still applies. We display the coverage included in each offer, but you should confirm details with the supplier at pickup. Some credit cards provide rental car insurance - check your card's terms and ensure it covers rentals in Portugal/Azores.
Payment and deposits: Payment is processed by the booking partner platform or the supplier. A security deposit (held on your credit card) is typically required at pickup; the amount and hold method vary by supplier. We do not process payments or hold deposits.
Cancellation and refunds: Cancellation policies are set by the booking partner and supplier. Many offers include free cancellation up to 24 or 48 hours before pickup, but some discounted rates may be non-refundable. Check the cancellation terms before booking. Cancellation requests must be made directly with the booking partner, not with us.
Complaints and disputes: If you have an issue with a rental (vehicle defect, pricing discrepancy, service problem), contact the supplier and/or the booking partner directly. We are not party to your rental contract and cannot resolve disputes, issue refunds or provide compensation. We may assist by providing contact information for the supplier if available.
General information: Content on our site (destination guides, driving tips, supplier information, typical prices, distances) is provided for general informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all information is current, complete or error-free. Road conditions, fuel prices, attraction opening hours and travel regulations can change.
Driving and legal advice: Information about driving in the Azores (traffic rules, licence requirements, road conditions) is general guidance. You are responsible for complying with Portuguese and Azorean traffic laws. If you are unsure about licence validity, insurance requirements or any legal matter, consult official sources (e.g., Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes, your embassy) or seek legal advice.
Weather and travel conditions: The Azores weather is variable ("four seasons in one day"). We provide general notes, but check current forecasts (IPMA.pt) and road conditions before travel. Driving in fog, rain or on narrow rural roads requires caution.
Third-party links: Our site may link to external websites (supplier sites, tourism boards, regional information). We are not responsible for the content, accuracy or practices of third-party sites. Links are provided for convenience only.
All content on CarRentalAzores.com (text, images, layout, logos, comparison engine interface) is owned by or licensed to CarRentalAzores.com and is protected by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify or republish our content without written permission.
Supplier logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
No warranties: Our comparison service and website content are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free or that defects will be corrected.
Use at your own risk: You use our site and comparison service at your own risk. We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising from your use of the site, inability to use the site, or reliance on information provided on the site.
Third-party services: We are not liable for any loss, damage, injury, dissatisfaction or dispute arising from a car rental booked through our comparison service. Your recourse for rental-related issues is with the supplier and/or booking partner, not with us.
Force majeure: We are not liable for any failure or delay in service caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, strikes, pandemics, volcanic eruptions (relevant in the Azores), government actions or technical failures.
Maximum liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of CarRentalAzores.com shall not exceed EUR 50.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CarRentalAzores.com, its owners, operators and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the site, your violation of these Terms, or your rental car use and any incidents during your rental period.
Our handling of your personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our site, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.
We comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Portuguese data protection law. The comparison engine search form collects minimal data (dates, location) to query suppliers; this data is not stored by us beyond the session. If you contact us via our contact form, we store your email and message as described in the Privacy Policy.
We use cookies and similar technologies for functionality and analytics. Essential cookies enable the comparison engine to function. Analytics cookies (if used) help us understand how visitors use the site. By using the site, you consent to our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
You agree not to:
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the site if you violate these Terms.
We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements or site functionality. The "Last updated" date at the top indicates the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.
Material changes will be communicated by updating this page. We do not send individual notifications of Terms updates.
We reserve the right to modify, suspend or discontinue any aspect of CarRentalAzores.com (including the comparison engine, content, features) at any time without notice. We are not liable for any modification, suspension or discontinuation of the site.
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Portugal. Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of CarRentalAzores.com shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Portugal.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
These Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and CarRentalAzores.com regarding use of the site and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.
If you have questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:
CarRentalAzores.com
Email: [email protected]
Contact page: carrentalazores.com/contact/
Inter-island travel restriction: This cannot be emphasized enough - rental cars cannot travel between Azorean islands. There is no ferry or flight service that transports vehicles between islands for tourists. If you rent a car on Sao Miguel, it stays on Sao Miguel. If your itinerary includes Terceira or Pico, book a separate rental on each island. Violating this rule may void your insurance and rental agreement.
Local driving conditions: Azorean roads range from excellent highways to narrow cobblestone village streets. Cattle crossings, steep grades, tunnels (especially on Sao Miguel) and sudden weather changes are common. Drive cautiously, especially in rural areas and at night. Roundabouts are frequent - yield to traffic already in the circle.
Automatic transmission availability: Manual transmission is standard in the Azores. Automatic vehicles are limited, particularly on smaller islands (Sao Jorge, Flores, Santa Maria) and in high season. Book well in advance if you require an automatic.
Fuel and remote areas: Fuel stations are plentiful in towns (Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroismo, Horta) but sparse in rural areas and may close early or on Sundays. Fill up before driving to remote regions (Nordeste on Sao Miguel, interior Flores).
Airport pickups: Most suppliers have desks at or near the airports (Ponta Delgada PDL, Lajes TER, Horta HOR, Pico PIX). On smaller islands (Santa Maria, Sao Jorge, Flores), some suppliers may meet you by arrangement. Confirm pickup instructions in your rental voucher.
By using CarRentalAzores.com, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use this site.