All-inclusive car rental in Madeira
Madeira is a mild, green winter-sun island where a car is essential for the mountains and coast - Pico do Arieiro, the levada walks, the dramatic north around Porto Moniz and the capital, Funchal. An all-inclusive rental gives full insurance with zero excess on its steep, tunnelled roads.
Madeira is a lush, mountainous island in the Atlantic, famous for its flowers, its levada water-channel walks and its spectacular coastal and mountain roads. Mild all year - rarely below 16°C even in winter - it is a classic cold-season break for walkers and drivers rather than beach-lovers.
The island’s highlights are scattered across steep terrain, so a car is the way to see it. A Cardamar all-inclusive rental includes comprehensive zero-excess cover, unlimited mileage and free cancellation, with pick-up at Madeira (Funchal) Airport (FNC) and in Funchal.
Good to know before you drive in Madeira
| Pick-up points | Madeira Airport (FNC) & Funchal |
|---|---|
| Highlight drive | Pico do Arieiro and the mountain passes |
| Best season | Year-round - mild, green winters |
| Known for | Mountains, levadas, flowers and Funchal |
| Roads | Modern tunnels & fast roads; steep old routes |
A green winter-sun island for drivers
Madeira stays mild and green through the European winter, which is one of its busiest seasons for walkers and road-trippers. This is not a beach island but a mountain one: the reward is the driving itself - up to the Pico do Arieiro peak, across the Paul da Serra plateau and down to the sea-pools at Porto Moniz.
An all-inclusive price already includes full insurance, zero excess and unlimited mileage, so exploring the whole island in winter adds nothing to the cost.
Driving on Madeira
Modern expressways and tunnels have made Madeira far easier to drive, linking Funchal quickly to the airport and the coasts. Venture onto the older mountain roads and you meet steep gradients, hairpins and narrow village lanes - spectacular, but to be taken slowly.
On those steep, winding sections, zero-excess cover is genuinely reassuring; a kerbed wheel or a mirror scrape in a narrow lane is simply not your problem.
Picking up your car on Madeira
Most rentals are collected at Madeira (Funchal) Airport (FNC), east of the capital and on the fast VR1 road, so you are quickly on your way; pick-up is also offered in Funchal itself. Online check-in beforehand speeds up collection in the busy winter season.
Bring your driving licence, passport or ID and the lead driver’s card; an all-inclusive Cardamar booking avoids a deposit at most pick-up points.
All-inclusive vs. a cheap basic rate plus counter insurance
Two cars on the same lot in Madeira can advertise very different prices. The gap is almost always insurance: an all-inclusive rate settles it up front, while a "basic" rate leaves you to buy excess cover at the desk. Here is what each really means.
| All-inclusive (Cardamar) | Basic rate + counter insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage & theft excess | €0 – fully covered | High excess (often €800–2,000) blocked on your card |
| When you insure | Before you travel, at a fixed price | At the desk, under time pressure, price varies |
| Tyres, glass & undercarriage | Included | Usually excluded or charged extra |
| Deposit / card hold | None or low at most stations | Large hold blocked for the whole trip |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation | Often non-refundable |
| What you pay in total | Known the moment you book | Can climb sharply at the counter |
A basic rate can look cheaper online, but once you add proper excess cover at the desk it usually costs more than an all-inclusive booking - with none of the certainty.
Madeira car rental - FAQ
Is Madeira a good winter destination?
Yes - it stays mild and green through the European winter, making it a favourite cold-season break for walkers and drivers. It is a mountain island rather than a beach one; a car unlocks the peaks, levadas and coasts.
Do I need a car on Madeira?
To see the island properly, yes. The best of Madeira - Pico do Arieiro, the north coast, the plateau - is high, scattered and poorly served by buses, so a car makes all the difference.
Are the roads on Madeira difficult?
The modern tunnels and expressways are easy; the old mountain roads are steep, narrow and winding. Take them slowly - and with zero-excess all-inclusive cover, minor knocks on tight lanes are never a worry.
Where do I pick up the car on Madeira?
Usually at Madeira (Funchal) Airport (FNC), east of the capital on the VR1 road; pick-up is also available in Funchal. Your voucher shows the exact desk.