Founded in 1958, CAEL is one of Portugal’s longest-established, family-owned car rental companies. Over the decades, it has expanded from a small fleet into a broader business serving both tourism and corporate customers. Today, the company remains under the management of the same two families, now spanning three generations.

Pick Up Locations

Porto Airport - After collecting your luggage, leave the Arrivals hall and turn right. Walk for around 150 metres until you reach Avenida Arquitecto Fernando Távora, then use the pedestrian crossing to reach the other side, where you’ll find the CAEL rental office. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am-7pm

Lisbon Airport - Once you have collected your luggage, make your way out of the Arrivals hall and turn right. Leave the terminal through Exit 4, next to the Vodafone shop, then cross to the other side of the road and wait by the second lane, where a CAEL shuttle will collect you. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am-8pm

Faro Airport - From the Arrivals hall, turn left after collecting your luggage and head towards Car Park 1. Cross the car park using the pedestrian crossing and continue to Car Park 4, where the CAEL shuttle departs from. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am-8pm

Other Pick Up Locations: Lisbon City Centre, Porto City Centre

Fleet

CAEL’s fleet includes a broad range of vehicle types, from economy cars such as the Fiat Panda to more premium options such as the Mercedes E-Class. Its SUV selection includes models like the Volkswagen T-Cross, while larger premium SUVs such as the Mercedes GLC are also available. For drivers looking for an electric option, CAEL offers fully electric models including the Peugeot e-208 and Cupra Born.

Popular Cars

Pricing

In our testing, CAEL was consistently one of the more affordable car rental options at the airports, particularly when compared with companies operating directly from the terminal.

One drawback is the relatively high security deposit, which applies even to some of the cheaper vehicle categories and can be considerably higher than those charged by major international brands. Customers can avoid leaving the deposit by purchasing CAEL’s premium insurance at the rental desk.

If you already have separate third-party car rental insurance, CAEL will still require the full security deposit to be held on your credit card.

Client Reviews

Overall, CAEL receives very positive feedback from customers, with strong ratings across its main airport locations. At Lisbon Airport for example, CAEL scores an impressive 9.7 overall, with car comfort receiving the highest rating at 9.9 and value for money the lowest, though still strong, at 8.9.

We did, however, find a small number of complaints relating to the relatively high security deposit, particularly in cases where the required amount could not be authorised on the customer’s credit card and additional premium insurance had to be purchased.

Our Rating: 8/10

CAEL is a highly recommended car rental company in Portugal and offers very good value for money. One thing to bear in mind is that customers renting from Lisbon or Faro Airport need to take a shuttle bus to reach the rental office.

How to Book

Use our convenient price comparison tool to find the best rates for renting a car with Cael. You can also compare rates with other available car rental companies at the respective airport. Compare rates now!