Full Terms and Conditions

The minimum rental period is 1 day (24 hours) with any fraction being considered as such.

It is necessary to present a driving license valid in Portugal. 

A minimum of 21 years old with two year's driving experience is required, with the exception of groups D where the minimum age is 25 years with at least two years driving experience.

Vehicle is delivered with a full tank of fuel. You must return it with the same fuel level you had when you picked it up (full tank), as shown by the original fuel gauge.

We advise the Customer to fill up the fuel tanks as close as possible of the return station on the same day of return and to keep the receipt to be presented to us.

If the Customer does not return the Vehicle with a full tank, and if he is unable to present the refueling receipt, a fee of €50 will be charged, as well as the value of the fuel, to cover the costs incurred with refueling the Vehicle.

It is mandatory to present the refueling receipt when the rental period is 1 day (24 hours) or when the distance covered is less than 120 kilometers.

In these cases, in the absence of presentation of the refueling receipt, you will be charged a fee of €50, as well as the value of the fuel, to cover the costs incurred with refueling the Vehicle.

The amount of fuel charged to the Customer will correspond to the fuel used, according to the level shown by the original fuel gauge, rounded to the nearest value of one eighth (1/8) of the tank. This value is based on the tank capacity indicated by the manufacturer.

The fuel price charged at the end of the rental period is based on the prices used in the Região Autónoma dos Açores, as indicated on the website of the Fundo Regional de Apoio à Coesão e ao Desenvolvimento Económico: https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/fracde/pre%C3%A7o-combust%C3%ADveis

All prices include limited Third-Party Liability Insurance valid in Portugal. The customer (lessee) is responsible for any damage caused to the rented vehicle. This responsibility may be reduced by subscribing to an additional insurance option:  ZERO EXCESS, which incur a daily surcharge, as indicated in our public price table available at the counter and on our website www.Micauto.com.

The customer (lessee) will always be held responsible for any damage caused to third parties or to the rented vehicle whenever:

a) The vehicle is driven by a person who is not legally authorized or licensed to do so, or not authorized by MICAUTO;

b) The damage is caused intentionally by the customer (lessee) or by a person for whom they are responsible;

c) It is verified that the damage results from negligence, speeding, misuse of the vehicle, driving on roads not suitable for cars or motorbikes, or engaging in off-road adventures on such routes;

d) The vehicle is driven by a person under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, drugs or toxic substances, or if the driver suffers from dementia or mental disorders;

e) The vehicle suffers acts of vandalism, such as damaged locks, broken windows, or damage to any other part of the vehicle. This also includes damage resulting from attempted theft;

f) Acts of vandalism will also include tyre bursts and damaged rims, when not caused by an accident;

g) The vehicle suffers damage to its undercarriage due to poor driving or circulation on damaged roads;

h) The vehicle is used in sporting events, races, rallies, challenges, competitions, bets, etc.;

i) An accident occurs and it is not reported to MICAUTO as soon as possible.

Failure to report, or delay in reporting, an accident assigns to the customer (lessee) the responsibility to indemnify or compensate MICAUTO for all related expenses and procedural delays.

The customer is also responsible for any situations involving the loss or damage of the vehicle keys, as well as incidents involving incorrect fuel usage.

Payment of the estimated rental cost is made on the booking date. The settlement of any extra costs charged to the customer will be made at the end of the rent.

A deposit (hold) will be placed on your credit or debit card at the time of vehicle delivery. This deposit includes all or part of the vehicle’s excess, as well as a €150 guarantee to cover potential traffic fines, parking tickets, fuel shortages/refueling fees, cleaning fees, rental extensions, abandonment fees (e.g., leaving the car at the airport or any other location), parking charges, and any related costs.

The held funds on the customer’s card will be released a few days after the vehicle is returned, with a maximum processing time of 30 working days.

MICAUTO is authorized to make subsequent charges using the pre-authorization or via tokenization, within a maximum period of 90 days from the date of vehicle return. These charges may apply in cases of damage identified after the vehicle has been cleaned, fines or penalties related to the rental period and received after the contract has ended, or any damage not detected during the return inspection.

Any amounts charged via pre-authorization or tokenization will be communicated to the customer in advance by email, using the address provided in the Rental Agreement.

Free of charge at our rental stations on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Pico as long as they are within the working hours of those offices.

Outside working hours, a fee of €20 will be applied, and are subject to our availability.

Deliveries outside the rental stations are subject to the payment of extra costs and fees. This information and prices are available at our rental stations.

Vehicles shall be dropped-off in the same conditions as they were delivered to the tenant, including its cleaning. 

A cleaning fee of 25€ will be charged, whenever the vehicle is not delivered in the same cleaning conditions in which it was delivered.

Subject to availability at our rental stations, the vehicle may be returned to a location/ island different  from the one where it was originally picked up.
If this return option is chosen at the time of contract signing, the cost will already be included in the rental price.
If, after the contract has been signed, you decide to return the vehicle to a different station, you must confirm the station’s availability directly with our team prior to return. An additional fee of €250 will be charged at the time of return.

Returning the vehicle to a location not specified in the rental contract, without prior confirmation from Micauto Rent a Car as outlined above, will result in the cumulative charge of the following amounts:

   a) The rental cost for the number of days required to retrieve and make the vehicle available again to Micauto Rent a Car, until it can be rented again;

   b) Compensation for the economic loss caused by the immobilization of the vehicle;

   c) Costs related to travel, towing, repatriation, tolls, and vehicle storage – when applicable – until the vehicle reaches the agreed return location stated in the rental contract.

Micauto Rent a Car reserves the right to take legal action in the event of disappearance or failure to return the vehicle.

It is always the customer's responsibility for any traffic fines or parking fines occurred during the period of the rental agreement.

The rental ends on the agreed day, time and place.

If the customer wants to extend the rental agreement, he will have to contact MICAUTO, at least 24 hours in advance. So that company can authorize it.

In case of use after the end of the contract and without prior authorization from Micauto, it will be considered improper use of the vehicle. This fact will be considered improper use of the vehicle, being reported to the authorities and punishable under Portuguese law.

Additionally, there will not be any public liability Insurance coverage in the event of an accident, so any damage caused to third parties will be under the responsibility of the client.

It is not allowed to exceed the maximum capacity shown in the vehicle registration, under the Portuguese legislation.

In case of an accident or traffic fine, it will be entirely the customer's responsibility.

In case of accident the client must proceed as follows:

  A. To call the Athorities PSP our G.N.R.;

  B. If there are any injured persons, call an ambulance;

  C. Immediately contact and inform the nearest MICAUTO office or call (+351) 296 284 382

  D. Obtain from the other driver(s) involved in the accident:

             i. Name, Address and Phone number;

             ii. Driver’s license, country and date of issue;

             iii. Car brand, model and registration number(es) of involved car(s );

             iv. Insurance company and policy number;

             v. Name and Addresses of the accident witnesses.

  E. Properly fill out all sections of the document: Declaração Amigável de Acidente Automóvel (DAAA)

Under paragraph 1, Article 12 of Decree-Law No. 181/2012 of August 6, republished by Decree-Law No. 47/2018 of June 20, MICAUTO provides a free assistance service to the renter, available 24 hours a day, for reporting any irregular situations that may occur during the execution of the contract.

In case of a breakdown, the customer (renter) must immediately contact our free roadside assistance service by calling (+351) 296 284 382.

You must indicate the following data:

   a) Client Name;

   b) Car registration number;

   c) Nr. of rental Agreement;

   d) Place of the car breakdown;

   e) Car breakdown details.

MICAUTO is not responsible for any time loss caused by accident or breakdown that may delay or stop the client's Holidays or trip.

MICAUTO delivers to the customer a folder with the documents relating to the vehicle.

In case of loss during the rental period, the customer will be responsible for that. A fee of €100 will be charged to cover the costs of the new documents. 

The customer will also be responsible for the payment of any fine while driving the vehicle without the legal documentation.

Non-refundable bookings cannot be cancelled and refunded.

Free Cancellation or Zero Excess bookings can be canceled free of charge up to 48 hours before the rental start date.

All cancellations made after this period will be considered a non-show and will not be refunded.

Cross Island Rules. The renter is not allowed to drive the car in to a different island. You can only drive the car on the island where you rented it.

You acknowledge that the Vehicle may be equipped with a communication service (a “Communication System”), that provides emergency notification, navigation, diagnostics, tracking and other services, and a receiver for receiving audio signals from subscription satellite radio services to which we may subscribe (“Satellite Radio”). You expressly authorize all those services. You acknowledge that you understand that a Communication System, requires the Vehicle’s electrical system and equipment, cellular service, and satellite technologies to be available and operating to function properly. Not all services offered by the Communication System provider are available on all vehicles. You understand and agree that the Communication System provider may provide us and/or law enforcement with all necessary information to enable us and/or law enforcement to locate the Vehicle if you fail to return the Vehicle to the Designated Return Location and/or at the Designated Return Time. You agree to release and hold us, and the Communication System providers, harmless for any Communication System failures. You also agree to limit claims against the Communication System provider for damages for any losses under any theory to the pro rata portion of the daily rate for use of the Vehicle for one Day.

All disputes and differences arising out of or in connection with this Agreement including in relation to any non-contractual obligation, will be competent the Court of the District of Ponta Delgada, with express waiver of any other.

The Customer declares to have read and agreed to these GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF VEHICLE RENTAL.

The Customer confirms having read the "General Rental Conditions" document in full, understands it, accepts it entirely, and agrees to its provisions.

The Customer acknowledges the importance of visually inspecting the vehicle at the time of pick-up and the obligation to inform MICAUTO of any discrepancies.

The Customer declares to have been informed, to be aware of, and to agree that, within a maximum period of 90 days from the date of return of the vehicle, their card may be charged according to the amounts defined by MICAUTO, should any damages be identified after the vehicle is returned.

Any amounts subsequently charged or withheld due to the Customer's breach of these General Rental Conditions will be collected by MICAUTO as contractual penalties.