Car hire Madeira airport: shuttles, steep roads and levadas

Car hire Madeira is a different exercise from a week on the Algarve. The island climbs to more than 1,800 metres, its best trailheads sit at the end of steep mountain roads, and a sunrise at Pico do Areeiro means driving up in the dark. Add a left-hand drive car and the right-hand side of the road from the first junction, and you have the driver this guide is written for: someone flying in from the UK, landing at Madeira Airport in Santa Cruz and collecting a car from OK Mobility or Surprice, the two companies Vrooem offers on the island.

Everything below was checked on 13 October 2026 against the companies’ official terms, the airport operator ANA, Visit Madeira and Portuguese and Madeiran official texts, all linked at the end. For mainland Portugal, see our guide to car hire in Portugal.

Car hire Madeira airport: two shuttles, no desk in the hall

You will not find OK Mobility or Surprice in the arrivals hall; both pick you up by shuttle. The airport’s car rental page lists the desks inside the terminal, before security on Floor 0 of arrivals (Avis-Budget, Europcar, Goldcar, Guerin, Hertz, Madeira Rent, Rodavante and Sixt), and our two companies are not among them. Head straight for the shuttle point instead.

	OK Mobility	Surprice
Where the shuttle stops	Pick-up point outside, beyond the exit by Burger King	AEROBUS bus stop, in front of the arrivals exit
Office	R. do Cano 15, 9100-105 Santa Cruz	Not published; free shuttle stated
Opening hours	Daily 7am to 10pm (8pm on 24 and 31 December)	Not published; out of hours on request, 40 EUR
If your flight is late	Booking held for 4 hours	60 minutes, or 120 with flight details

Finding the OK Mobility shuttle

OK Mobility’s page for the store gives the route:

1. From arrivals, walk through the car rental zone until you reach the “Exchange” sign.
2. Turn right and follow the signs to Burger King.
3. Turn right there to the exit, go outside and turn right again.
4. Keep walking to the pick-up point, where the OK Mobility shuttle takes you to the office.

The booking data OK Mobility sends to Vrooem shows the branch only as “OK FNC”, with no address or directions, so save the official address and the phone number on your voucher before you fly. After the 4-hour grace period, the Madeira terms allow a booking to be reactivated within 48 hours, subject to availability and opening hours, for a 60 EUR fee. Collecting or returning outside opening hours costs 40 EUR.

Finding the Surprice shuttle

Surprice’s official terms and the instructions it sends to Vrooem match: a free shuttle leaves from the AEROBUS stop, outside in front of the arrivals exit, on the first walkway. Staff often drive round in a minibus marked SURPRICE, and if the wait drags on you are asked to ring the assistance number given. Without a call, Surprice may treat you as a no-show 4 hours after the booked time. On the way back, it allows 2 hours’ grace on the return time before charging an extra day.

Switching sides: driving on the right in Madeira

Portugal’s Highway Code (article 13) puts traffic on the right-hand side of the road, and Madeira is no exception. Your hire car will have the steering wheel on the left and the gearstick, if it is a manual, under your right hand. A few habits make the first day easier:

• Roundabouts run anticlockwise. Under article 14-A, you give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, use the right-hand lane if you leave at the first exit, and for later exits move into the right-hand lane only after passing the exit before yours.
• Settle in on the expressway. Save the steep village streets for when the car feels familiar.
• Lights on in tunnels. Article 61 makes dipped headlights compulsory in daytime in signposted tunnels, and OK Mobility talks of “endless tunnels” on the island. Find the light switch before you leave the car park.
• Watch the empty roads. Pulling out of a quiet car park or onto a deserted hairpin is when the old habit of keeping left returns.

The rules to know, from the EU’s official Your Europe portal: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside them and 100 to 120 km/h on expressways and motorways (roughly 31, 56 and 62 to 75 mph), unless signs say otherwise. The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, or 0.2 g/l for novice drivers. A reflective vest and warning triangle are compulsory; OK Mobility’s terms say the car comes with both.

Your licence, IDP and age at the desk

GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Portugal; with an old paper licence you may need to update it or carry the correct IDP. The hire companies set their own rules on top of the law:

• Surprice requires a European or international licence held for at least a year and asks UK licence holders for the official photocard. The same terms also say that customers from non-EU countries renting in the EU must show both their domestic licence and an International Driving Permit. To avoid a debate at the desk, carry an IDP or ask Surprice to confirm in writing that your photocard is enough.
• OK Mobility’s Madeira terms ask for a passport or European ID card and the driving licence, in physical form, plus an international licence “if necessary”.
• Both refuse photos, photocopies and digital versions. Surprice also asks for a valid return ticket to your country of origin.

Age rules differ. OK Mobility rents from 18, with a young driver charge of 12 EUR a day from 18 to 25 (24 EUR minimum, 320 EUR maximum). Surprice starts at 21, or 25 for some car groups, charges 15 EUR a day from 21 to 24 (300 EUR maximum) and 10 EUR a day from 76 (100 EUR maximum). An extra driver costs 12 EUR a day at OK Mobility and 10 EUR a day at Surprice, capped at 110 EUR.

Deposit, credit card and excess

Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with plenty of headroom. Both companies take the deposit as a pre-authorisation on a credit card, and a debit card does not do the job on the standard terms.

OK Mobility: the Madeira franchise rules

OK Mobility on Madeira is run by a local franchisee, Cassiano’s Rent a Car, under island-specific terms dated 29 May 2026. The hold combines the excess with a fixed 250 EUR deposit:

Car group	Excess	Total hold without OK Premium Cover	Hold with OK Premium Cover
Group 1 (mini and economy)	1,100 EUR	1,350 EUR	250 EUR
Group 2 (including compacts)	1,400 EUR	1,650 EUR	250 EUR
Group 3 (larger categories)	2,500 EUR	2,750 EUR	250 EUR

The hold goes on a physical credit card belonging to the renter or a listed additional driver; the terms make no provision for a debit card. OK Premium Cover waives the excess and covers tyres and windows; the price list shows it at 27 EUR a day for group 1, 31 EUR for group 2 and 41 EUR for group 3, with a minimum and maximum per rental. Structural parts, the underside and interior and exterior equipment stay outside every cover. The hold is released automatically when the contract closes, though your bank may take several working days to show it.

Surprice: Stripe and the card reader

Surprice applies its Portugal terms on Madeira. The deposit goes on a Visa or Mastercard credit card in the main driver’s name, valid for at least 2 months after the return date. A debit card is accepted only if you buy the complete protection package at the counter; American Express, Maestro, prepaid and virtual cards and cash are refused. The pre-authorisation runs through Stripe, and Surprice asks customers to carry their bank’s card reader rather than rely on the banking app.

On Surprice’s own booking site, checked on 13 October 2026, the standard deposit matched the excess: 1,599 EUR for a mini, 1,845 EUR for an economy car and 2,460 EUR for a compact. Release can take 15 to 25 working days, depending on the bank. At the counter, SmartCover reduces the excess, TopCover cuts it to zero and adds tyres, locks and windows, and Full Damage Waiver cuts it to zero; with TopCover and Full Damage Waiver a deposit is still taken. No Surprice cover pays for the underside or the roof.

If you book through Vrooem, your voucher shows the cover included and has the final word. Our guide to excess and deposit explains how the two fit together, and our Surprice car rental guide covers the brand across its other countries.

The 2 EUR a day island fee

Madeira charges its own fee on self-drive car hire. Article 10 of Regional Legislative Decree 7/2025/M sets 2 EUR for each full rental day per car, up to 10 days, so 20 EUR at most per rental. OK Mobility adds it to the rental agreement, while Surprice lists it as a local charge paid on arrival. If your voucher does not mention it, budget for it on top.

Fuel: full to full at both

• OK Mobility advertises full to full on its Madeira store page; its terms also allow, depending on the rate, a version where you pay for a full tank at pick-up. Bring it back short and the price list adds a 19 EUR refuelling fee plus the missing litres.
• Surprice charges missing fuel at market value plus an admin fee and gives no refund for fuel left in the tank. Putting in the wrong fuel costs 2,122 EUR per event, and Surprice asks for the receipt of your last fill-up as proof of the right fuel, so keep it.

Madeira’s roads: free expressways, many tunnels, steep side roads

The main roads are quick and free; the effort starts when you leave them. Visit Madeira puts it plainly: all expressways and main roads in Madeira are free for both residents and visitors, so there are no tolls to plan for.

The VR1, the south coast expressway, has run between Ribeira Brava and Machico since Regional Legislative Decree 21-A/99/M under a SCUT regime, with no charge to the user. The VE expressways follow the same model; Regional Legislative Decree 9/2016/M lists about 69 km of them:

Road	Sections	Takes you to
VE1	Machico to Ribeira de São Jorge	The north-east
VE2	São Vicente to Porto Moniz	The north coast
VE3	Ribeira Brava to Madalena do Mar; Arco da Calheta to Raposeira	The south-west
VE4	Ribeira Brava to Meia Légua; Serra de Água to São Vicente	Across the island, south to north

Surprice’s Portugal terms mention a Via Verde transponder in every car, with a daily service fee that applies only if the device is used.

Off the expressways, ANA is frank in its own FAQ: Madeira is mountainous and many roads are winding and steep, and if you have driven in mountains before you should be fine. OK Mobility’s driving tips for the island add three practical points: use engine braking on long descents so the brakes do not overheat, check the forecast because fog and rain are possible in the mountains even in summer, and fill up before heading to coves and remote spots, since petrol stations are in the main towns.

Automatic or manual?

For most UK drivers the honest answer is automatic. A manual on Madeira means changing gear with the “wrong” hand, on the “wrong” side of the road, on gradients where a stalled hill start holds up a queue. In our search on 13 October 2026, automatics were the minority of what was available on the island, so reserve one early. Our comparison of automatic and manual hire cars sets out the trade-offs.

Funchal: when the car can stay parked

You do not need a car for Funchal itself. Visit Madeira points to public transport, taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt, and OK Mobility warns that parking can be difficult in Funchal and the smaller towns. The airport’s Aerobus runs from arrivals to Praia Formosa, stopping near several hotels: ANA gives about 50 minutes for the whole route, plus a connection of around 20 minutes to central Funchal.

If you do bring the car into town, the kerb tells you the rules, according to Visit Madeira:

• White lines: free, though some spaces are for residents.
• Blue lines: paid, generally Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
• Yellow lines: no parking.
• Sundays and public holidays: free.

OK Mobility suggests finding car parks before you arrive, and a hotel with parking saves a nightly hunt. Leave nothing on show: OK Mobility’s terms even list items visible in the car among the examples of unauthorised use.

As the car goes back to the airport where you collected it, put your Funchal days at the start or end of the trip if you can.

Levadas: book the trail, then drive

Book your walking slot before you set off. Visit Madeira says access to every classified walking trail (PR) requires a timed booking on the SIMplifica platform, paid in advance because mobile coverage in the mountains may be limited. The general fee for 2026 is 4.50 EUR per person, with residents and children aged 12 or under exempt. Each trail also shows a status of open, restricted or closed, so check it the evening before.

Trail	Where you park up	Time given	Visitor fee	Worth knowing
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro	Pico do Areeiro viewpoint, parking 4 EUR an hour	About 3 hours, 6.1 km	10.50 EUR full route; 4.50 EUR return to Pedra Rija	One-way beyond Pedra Rija
PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes	Rabaçal, on regional road ER 105	About 3 hours, 4.3 km each way	4.50 EUR	Open on 13 October 2026
PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço	Baía d’Abra	About 2.5 hours	4.50 EUR	Restricted on 13 October 2026

GOV.UK’s travel advice adds a fair warning: hiking in Madeira can be challenging.

Three day trips that justify the hire car

Times are a guide only; on Madeira the bends and the cloud matter more than the distance.

A sunrise drive to Pico do Areeiro

At 1,818 metres, Pico do Areeiro is the island’s third highest point, and Visit Madeira describes its sunrise, weather permitting, as a famous spectacle. Leave in the dark, take the climb slowly and expect to pay 4 EUR an hour to park at the top. Then choose:

• The out-and-back to Pedra Rija (4.50 EUR), returning to the car the same way.
• The full PR1 to Pico Ruivo (10.50 EUR). The trail becomes one-way beyond Pedra Rija and links on towards Achada do Teixeira, so you cannot walk back to the car. Sort out how you will get back to Areeiro before you start.

Coming down, stay in a low gear and leave extra room if the fog rolls in.

The north coast loop: São Vicente and Porto Moniz

From Funchal, take the VR1 west to Ribeira Brava, then the VE4 through Serra de Água to São Vicente on the north coast. The VE2 carries on along the coast to Porto Moniz, where the natural pools were formed by cooling lava and are constantly refilled by the sea; Visit Madeira lists them as open, with a car park. Its page for the São Vicente caves showed them as closed on 13 October 2026, so do not build the day around them. Return along the south coast, or via Rabaçal if you have booked the PR6. Allow the whole day.

The eastern tip: Ponta de São Lourenço

This is the trip to pair with an arrival morning or an evening flight home, because the airport is already on the east side of the island. Drive out past Machico towards the tip, where the PR8 starts at Baía d’Abra. Visit Madeira gives about two and a half hours and describes treeless ground exposed to the north wind, so take water, a hat and a windproof layer.

Porto Santo: the hire car stays behind

The Lobo Marinho ferry run by Porto Santo Line links Funchal with Porto Santo, but your hire car does not go with you:

• Surprice does not allow transport between the islands; if you do it anyway, there is no breakdown service and no insurance cover.
• OK Mobility restricts its cars to the island of Madeira and needs prior written authorisation before a car is moved to another island or put on any transport. Otherwise its price list sets 250 EUR for prohibited boarding and 950 EUR for leaving the authorised territory.

Go to Porto Santo as a foot passenger and plan another way of getting around once you are there.

When to go, and when to book

Madeira works all year. Visit Madeira describes a subtropical climate with average temperatures from about 17°C in winter to 25°C in summer, with spring and summer suited to outdoor activities and autumn and winter bringing mild weather and fewer crowds. Clear skies over Funchal say nothing about Pico do Areeiro.

To be straight about our own offer: on Vrooem, Madeira currently means two companies, with few cars in low season. In high season, and especially if you want an automatic or a larger car, book early.

Mistakes UK drivers make on Madeira

• Arriving with only a debit card for the deposit.
• Leaving the IDP question to the desk instead of settling it before the flight.
• Waiting in the arrivals hall for a desk that is not there.
• Riding the brakes down mountain roads instead of using a low gear.
• Taking a rough track to a trailhead: OK Mobility bans roads that can damage the underside, and Surprice can void cover for off-road driving.

Booking Madeira on Vrooem

A Vrooem search at Madeira Airport shows OK Mobility and Surprice side by side, with their current offer at the top of this page. It is a short list, and we would rather say so. Compare the deposit and the card each one wants as carefully as the price. Every Vrooem booking includes a free travel eSIM, handy for ringing the shuttle as soon as you land. Weighing Madeira against another Atlantic island with mountain roads? Our guide to car hire in the Canary Islands covers the alternative.

Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026: OK Mobility Madeira Airport store, OK Mobility general conditions, destination Madeira, OK Mobility tips for driving in Madeira, Surprice terms for Portugal and Madeira Airport on its official booking site, Madeira Airport car rental and public transport (ANA), Visit Madeira FAQ, Visit Madeira pages for PR1, PR6, PR8, Pico do Areeiro, Porto Moniz natural pools and São Vicente caves, Regional Legislative Decree 7/2025/M, Regional Legislative Decree 21-A/99/M, Regional Legislative Decree 9/2016/M, Portuguese Highway Code article 13, article 14-A and article 61, GOV.UK travel advice for Portugal, Porto Santo Line and Your Europe road rules for Portugal.