Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Faro Airport. The A22 is now toll-free, plus Portuguese child seat rules, speed limits, ID rules and cross-border trips to Spain.
Old advice about Algarve motorway tolls is out of date. The A22 is now free. Read the toll section below before you pay for a toll package you may not need.
The UK is Faro Airport’s biggest market by a long way, with 46% of all passenger traffic, ahead of Germany, Ireland, France and the Netherlands (TravelMole).
Faro passed 10 million passengers in a year for the first time in 2025. Many of those UK travellers are families and groups heading for villas along the coast, which is exactly where a 7 seater earns its keep.
The A22 is free now
The A22, the old Via do Infante, runs 133 km along the Algarve from Bensafrim near Lagos to Castro Marim on the Spanish border. Its electronic tolls were abolished on 1 January 2025, along with tolls on six other former SCUT motorways (Diário de Notícias).
For years, the A22 was the toll that confused visitors. Overhead gantries with no booths and hire firm admin fees made a short drive to Lagos surprisingly expensive.
That is gone. You can drive from Faro Airport to Lagos or Tavira on the A22 without paying a toll.
The road north still has tolls
The A2 motorway to Lisbon is a different story. It still charges tolls, with traditional booths that take cash and cards, plus electronic lanes (The Portugal News).
Do not use the green Via Verde lanes unless your hire car has a transponder. If you plan a day trip north, ask at the desk whether a toll device is fitted and what it costs per day.
If you are staying in the Algarve and never going north, you may not need a toll package at all.
Algarve 7 Seaters, compared at Faro
One search lines up the 7 seaters at Faro with the total price for each, including firms off the airport.
Portugal’s child seat rule
Portugal’s rule looks like the UK’s. All children under 12 and shorter than 135 cm must travel in an approved child restraint (DECO PROteste).
In the front, a child under three may only travel in a rear-facing seat, and the passenger airbag must be switched off.
Check the third row of your 7 seater for ISOFIX points before you plan where each seat goes. In some models it has none.
Speed limits and the drink-drive limit
Portugal’s limits are in km/h (The Portugal News):
- Motorways: 120 km/h, about 75 mph
- Roads reserved for motor vehicles: 100 km/h, about 62 mph
- Other roads: 90 km/h, about 56 mph
- Towns: 50 km/h, about 31 mph
The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood for most drivers and 0.2 g for newly qualified drivers. That is lower than the limit in England and Wales, which is 80 mg per 100 ml, or 0.8 g per litre (GOV.UK).
The N125 coast road, which runs parallel to the A22, passes through towns and roundabouts all the way. Now the A22 is free, there is less reason to use it for long trips.
Carry your passport when you drive
GOV.UK says you must show photo ID if a police officer asks, and that applies when you are driving (GOV.UK).
A UK photocard licence is accepted for driving in Portugal. Keep your passport in the car as well, not in the villa safe.
Portugal is in the Schengen area, so the EU Entry/Exit System applies at Faro. You may need to give fingerprints and a photo on arrival (GOV.UK).
A day in Spain
The A22 ends at the Guadiana bridge, and Seville is within reach for a long day trip. Crossing the border has no checks, but your hire agreement does matter.
Some Faro hire firms charge a cross-border fee or require you to tell them in advance. Driving into Spain without permission can leave you without cover. Check the terms when you compare prices, because the lowest headline rate may not include it.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. For two families sharing a villa, two smaller cars can cost less than one large people carrier.
Picking up at Faro Airport
Some hire firms have desks in the arrivals hall at Faro, while others are based nearby and run a shuttle bus.
Your voucher will say which applies. Off-airport firms are often cheaper, but the shuttle can add time on a busy summer Saturday. Weigh the saving against the wait when you compare.
Crossing into Spain? Our Seville Airport guide covers Andalucía’s capital. For the north of Portugal and the Douro, see our Porto Airport guide.
Getting a better Algarve 7 Seater deal
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Fuel policy, deposit, insurance excess and cross-border fees all sit outside the headline price.
- Skip the toll package if you stay south. The A22 is free. You only need a toll device for the A2 and other motorways further north.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and two or three seats over a fortnight add up. Bringing your own is often cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. 7 seaters are in high demand at Easter and in August. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Check Faro 7 Seater prices for your dates
Enter pickup and return times to compare low-cost rates before you fly.
Questions people ask
Do I have to pay tolls on the A22 in the Algarve?
No. Tolls on the A22 were abolished on 1 January 2025. The A2 north to Lisbon still has tolls.
Do I need a toll transponder in a Faro hire car?
Only if you plan to use tolled motorways such as the A2. For trips within the Algarve on the A22, you do not.
Can I drive a Faro hire car into Spain?
Usually, yes, but check your rental terms. Some firms charge a cross-border fee or ask you to tell them in advance.
Do I need my passport when driving in Portugal?
Carry it. Police can ask for photo ID, and GOV.UK says this applies when you are driving.
Where can I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Faro Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from firms in the terminal and off the airport, so you can weigh the total price against the shuttle time. Prices move with demand, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
