For licence, age, insurance and the national traffic rules, see renting a car in Portugal as a visitor. Mainland Portugal's electronic tolls, covered in electronic tolls in a rental car, do not apply on Madeira. This guide covers what is different on the island.
Do you pay tolls on Madeira's VR1 and expressways?
No. The Madeira tourism board states that all expressways and main roads are free for residents and visitors alike. Two networks do the long-distance work:
- VR1, the Via Rápida. It runs along the south coast between Ribeira Brava and Machico Sul, past Funchal and the airport. From 00:00 on 29 July 2026 it has been run by AIGIH Madeira under the VR1 brand, after the previous operator's concession ended on 28 July 2026. A local newspaper, DNOTICIAS.PT, asked about tolls in May 2026 and quoted the regional infrastructure secretary's office: no tolls are planned.
- Expressways VE1 to VE4. VIAEXPRESSO runs 68.96 km of them under a no-charge-to-user (SCUT) concession: VE1 from Machico to Ribeira de São Jorge (20.7 km), VE2 from São Vicente to Porto Moniz (14.05 km), VE3 from Ribeira Brava to Raposeira (21.86 km) and VE4 (12.35 km), the main south-to-north link.
Much of this network is in tunnels, and the useful habit is to check closures before a long drive. The VR1 site posts live traffic notices; on the day this guide was checked it listed a closure of exit 25 towards Machico Sul.
How much is parking in Funchal?
Street parking in Funchal is paid by zone. The hourly meter rates were last changed in Notice 16324/2025/2, published on 2 July 2025. They are quoted before VAT:
| Zone | Per hour before VAT | Three hours before VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 1.50 euros | 4.50 euros |
| Green | 1.13 euros | 3.39 euros |
| Red | 0.62 euros | 1.86 euros |
| Brown | 0.44 euros | 1.32 euros |
The tourism board explains the kerb markings. White lines are free, though some are reserved for residents; blue lines are paid; yellow lines mean no parking. Paid parking applies Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00 and on Saturday from 8:00 to 14:00, and it is free on Sundays and public holidays. You pay at the meter or with the iPark Driver app.
The practical choice is where to leave the car for a day in the old town. Across three hours, a brown-zone space costs about a third of a yellow one. On a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday, blue-line spaces cost nothing.
What does a day at Pico do Areeiro cost with a rental car?
Two separate charges apply, both set by the regional government in Portaria 48/2026, which took effect the day after its publication on 13 February 2026.
Car parks run by the IFCN, the regional forestry and nature agency:
| Car park | 2026 hourly rate | Free time | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pico do Areeiro viewpoint | 4.00 euros | First 30 minutes | 20 euros |
| Queimadas | 2.00 euros | First 30 minutes | 10 euros |
| Other IFCN forest-park car parks | 2.00 euros | First 30 minutes | 5 euros |
The same table already sets higher rates for 2027: 4.25 euros an hour at Pico do Areeiro. The toilets at IFCN forest parks cost 0.50 euros a person in 2026. The ordinance does not list each "other" car park by name, so check the signs on arrival at places such as Fanal.
Trail fees, per person over 12, for visitors who are not Madeira residents, as listed in the IFCN fee FAQ:
| Booking | Fee |
|---|---|
| One classified trail (not PR1) | 4.50 euros |
| PR1 from Pico do Areeiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint only | 4.50 euros |
| Full PR1, Vereda do Areeiro, towards Pico Ruivo | 10.50 euros |
| Two or more trails in one day (not PR1) | 9.00 euros |
| Two or more trails in 3 days (not PR1) | 22.50 euros |
| Two or more trails in 7 days (not PR1) | 52.50 euros |
PR1 fully reopened on 1 May 2026, the IFCN says. Every walker, including exempt children and residents, must book an entry slot on the SIMplifica portal; the IFCN's 2026 information note describes 30-minute slots from sunrise to sunset. The IFCN allows a tolerance of around 15 minutes either side of the slot. That matters for drivers, because the mountain road up can be slower than the map suggests.
Worked example: two adults, sunrise and PR1
You drive up from Funchal for sunrise, walk the full PR1 towards Pico Ruivo and back, and leave the car for 6 hours.
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pico do Areeiro parking | 30 minutes free, then 5.5 hours at 4 euros = 22 euros, capped | 20.00 euros |
| Full PR1 trail fee | 2 adults x 10.50 euros | 21.00 euros |
| Total for the day | 41.00 euros |
If you only stop for sunrise photos, the bill changes completely. Stay within 30 minutes and parking costs nothing, and you need no trail booking unless you walk onto PR1. A trail slot cannot be refunded if the weather turns; the IFCN refunds or reschedules only when the authorities close the trail, so check the forecast before paying.
Steep roads: manual or automatic?
The tourism board's road advice describes Madeira's roads as often narrow and winding. It tells drivers to use lower gears on descents instead of relying on the brakes, and to give a short horn signal on sharp or blind bends. On narrow roads, vehicles going downhill have the right of way. It also warns that GPS may suggest impractical or steep roads.
None of this makes an automatic compulsory, but it changes the choice:
- Choose an automatic if you rarely drive a manual or have not done hill starts on steep gradients. Old Funchal streets and village roads can make you stop and pull away on a slope.
- A manual is fine if you drive one every day and are comfortable holding it on a hill. Engine braking in a low gear is simple.
- Either way, pick a small car. Narrow roads and tight car parks at viewpoints matter more than engine size.
Availability, price and the excess on each car class vary by rental company, so compare the terms before you book, not at the desk.