Cheap Car Rental São Jorge Airport (SJZ), Azores

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Best Car Rental Companies at Sao Jorge Airport

Compare low cost car rental deals for Sao Jorge Airport among top-rated companies in Portugal who guarantee the best rates for a modern vehicle fleet with zero compromise on quality.

Sixt
Guerin
Europcar
Hertz Car Rental
Drivalia
klass Wagen
Avis car Rental
Green Motion
Enterprise
Budget
Alamo
Bravacar

Ranging from fuel-efficient economy/compact cars, SUVs, and 7 seater vans for group travel, convertibles for an open-air driving experience, and luxury car rentals ideal for adding a touch of class, we offer the widest selection of vehicles at Sao Jorge Airport.

*The prices above are subject to change without prior notice. Since costs vary by vehicle class, dates, supplier, and season, we recommend checking real-time rates to get the most accurate price.

Rent a Car at São Jorge Island Airport

If you wish to hire a car and explore the city behind the steering wheel, Sao Jorge Airport is the perfect starting point for your journey into the heart of the island’s breathtaking landscapes. Our reliable booking engine makes it easy to find the ideal ride for your journey. Through our website’s user friendly interface, renters can search and compare prices for multiple Sao Jorge Airport car rental deals among the best international and domestic companies in Portugal. Offering more in the way of economy, compact, mini, fullsize, luxury rentals, SUVs, multi-seater vans/minivans at the airport than any other competitor, we ensure your travels from the terminal and beyond are smooth and enjoyable.

Known for its breathtaking landscape and rugged coastline, there’s much to see and explore on this stunning island, and a rental car provides convenient access to the region’s manifold attractions. And through our website’s three-step booking process, users can reserve Sao Jorge Airport car rental in a hassle-free and straightforward manner without worrying about hidden costs or charges. Don’t wait until the last minute to book your car hire for Sao Jorge Airport, and book online today through our website to avail cheapest prices for a high-quality vehicle fleet.

Sao Jorge Airport Car Rental

About Sao Jorge Airport

São Jorge Airport serves as the main gateway to Ilha de São Jorge in the Azores archipelago and sits on the southern coastal edge of Faja da Queimada. Operated by SATA Aeródromos, the airport is situated in the civil parish of Santo Amaro, 6 km southeast of the municipality of Velas. Featuring a single asphalt runway and a single terminal building that handles all arrivals and departures, the airport is the only landing field facility on the island.

SATA Air Azores is the only airline operating at the airport with flights to popular destinations, including Ponta Delgada and Terceira. Sao Jorge Airport offers a range of facilities and amenities including free WiFi, lost and found, luggage storage, souvenir shop, short/long term parking, restrooms, check-in counters, etc. For visitors considering overnight options, Hotel São Jorge Garden, Hotel Os Moinhos, Villas Casteletes, Blue Planet São Jorge Azores AL, Casa d’Avó Guesthouse, and Casa do Antonio are popular hotels near São Jorge Island Airport.

Address: Aeroporto de São Jorge, EN1, Velas, Azores, 9800, Portugal

IATA Code: SJZ

ICAO Code: LPSJ

Car Hire Sao Jorge Airport: Requirements

Car Rental Age

The minimum and maximum driver age limits for booking a car hire for Sao Jorge Airport, Velas, vary based on your chosen supplier and vehicle category. All major rental companies servicing the region permit drivers aged 21 and above, as well as those under the age of 80, to rent a car. However, an additional fee in the form of a Young/Senior Surcharge (payable at the rental desk in local currency) is applicable. Different driver age restrictions apply to all online rental searches; therefore, we recommend entering the correct age when adding the details of your itinerary in the booking widget on our website.

Payments & Deposit

For payment at the rental counter you must present a credit card ( with chip, pin code and embossed numbers) in the name of the primary driver. The credit card must have a validity of at least 3 months after the end of the rental period. Virtual credit cards, debit card Cash, Maestro, Switch Card, and Chinese Union Pay credit cards are not accepted. The rental company will proceed to block an amount on the credit card in the form of security deposit which will be refunded in full when the hired vehicle is returned in its original condition.

Documentation

At the rental counter, present all necessary documents such as your driver’s license, passport, valid credit card, and Rental Confirmation Voucher. The authorized driver must have held the Driving Licence for a minimum of 1 full year(s) and, in cases where the DL has multiple parts, all of them must be presented during vehicle pick-up. Some rental companies may require an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your driver’s license, so check the requirements by referring to the Rental Terms section before your trip.

Rental Car Pick-Up & Return at São Jorge Airport (SJZ)

Once you arrive at Sao Jorge Airport you will find rental desks of on-site rental suppliers situated in the Arrivals Hall, just outside the exit of the Baggage Claim Area. Europcar, Rent a Car Autatlantis, Ilha Verde, Sunset Rent-A-Car, Avis, Budget, Sixt, CarAlliance are among the on-site companies at SJZ.

AzoreanWay Rent-a-Car, Rent a car – Ribeiro, VELASAUTO rent | S.Jorge, are among off-site suppliers that provide complimentary shuttle/ meet and greet services for renters to reach their respective branches located just a few miles away. The details about your supplier’s branch address, opening hours, and shuttle pick-up point will also be specified in the Rental Confirmation Voucher.

Whether booked with an on-airport or off-airport provider, you can find the exact addresses of all available suppliers in the list provided below:

CompanyAddressPickup
CarAllianceSão Jorge Airport, Velas, Açores, 9800, PortugalAirport
EuropcarSão Jorge Airport (SJZ), EN1, Velas, Azores, 9800, PortugalTerminal

São Jorge Airport Car Rental Return

For rental car drop-off at Velas Sao Jorge Airport, follow the airport signs for ‘Estacionamento/Parking’ to reach the car park area. Park your rental at the designated area of your supplier and return the keys and the agreement to the associate of the supplier. For after-hour returns, you can park the car and place the car keys and the completed agreement in the Drop Box. However, the out of hours vehicle return service is available on request; therefore, we recommend inquiring about the same from the supplier when picking up the rented vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a one way car rental from São Jorge Airport (SJZ) to Velas?

Yes, a few car rental companies servicing Sao Jorge Airport permit driving the hired vehicle from the airport to the Velas municipality. Europcar and CarAlliance are among the popular rental companies offering one way car rental deals from Azores Sao Jorge Airport to Velas, Ilha de São Jorge. Simply select the pick-up/drop-off locations from the drop down menu in the booking widget and press ‘Search Car’ after adding the rental dates to view all available one way deals for your desired route. You can also contact our customer support team to book an offline one way car hire.

How do I book a self drive luxury car rental at Sao Jorge Island Airport (SJZ)?

Yes, on our booking platform, users can find an extensive selection of luxury car rentals available for Sao Jorge Island Airport. Utilize our website’s three step booking process to reserve your ideal exotic car rental. Start by conducting a search query by adding the pick-up/drop-off location details along with rental dates in the booking widget of your website and press ‘search car’. As our system displays all available results, select the ‘luxury/premium’ filter from the left panel and compare prices for luxury car rental deals from major brands in one place and select the most suitable option for your travel plans. Alternatively, you can also contact our customer support team to book an offline luxury car rental for Sao Jorge Island Airport, Velas.

Do car rental companies permit inter island travel from São Jorge Island?

Driving the rental car from Sao Jorge Island for inter-island travel to nearby Pico, Faial, Graciosa, and Terceira – neighbouring islands- is not permitted by the car hire companies. As per the rental terms of suppliers, crossing between and to different islands within the territory of the rental country is not allowed. Users can refer to the Rental Terms sections while browsing deals on our website to review the applicable supplier-specific terms and conditions for Geographical Restrictions.

Can I book a car rental at Azores Sao Jorge Airport with no deposit?

When picking up your car hire from Velas Sao Jorge Island Airport, the primary authorized driver will be required to leave a security deposit, typically in the form of a credit card block, as per the supplier’s terms and conditions. Held for the rental duration, the deposit amount serves as financial security to cover any unexpected charges resulting from traffic fines, unpaid tolls, and other similar expenses. In case of no such penalties, the security deposit is refunded in full when you return the rented car to the supplier’s station. We recommend carefully reading the supplier’s Rental Terms section for more information regarding payment and charges.

Which is the best fuel policy for renting a car at Sao Jorge Airport?

Although the car rental companies servicing Sao Jorge Airport offer a range of fuel policies, including ‘full to full’ and ‘same to same’, it is highly recommended to opt for the latter. A ‘full to full’ fuel policy is the most transparent and cost-effective option, as it ensures you only pay for the fuel you consume and avoids the need to refuel at the rental company’s office, where you might be charged higher rates than local fuel prices. We recommend carefully comparing the fuel policies for multiple companies through us to select the most suitable option for your journey.

Are electric or hybrid cars available for hire at Sao Jorge Airport?

Yes, plenty of energy-efficient electric and hybrid vehicles can be hired for pickup at Sao Jorge Airport. When searching for suitable deals, you can use the ‘Fuel Type’ filter to refine the search results to your liking and confirm booking for an ideal car.

How can I add a baby seat to my car rental deal booked for Sao Jorge Airport (SJZ)?

Adding a baby seat as an optional add-on to your Sao Jorge Airport car hire deal is possible when making a reservation through our reliable website. While browsing deals from major brands on our platform, select the most suitable deal based on your preferences, and as you are directed to the booking page, scroll down to see the list of optional Extras and review the price for ‘Baby Seats’ and select the quantity as per your requirements. Following that, the cost of the additional equipment i.e. baby seat, will be added to the final rental price, and you will be required to pay the same at the rental desk in the local currency. In case of any confusion, you can also contact our highly qualified customer support team for quick resolution.

What are the prices to rent a car at Velas Sao Jorge Airport?

The final rental prices for Sao Jorge Island Airport car rental deals is dependent on key factors like the rental duration, rental company, the car class, and the additional equipment. To view the updated prices for Azores Sao Jorge Airport car hire deals, simply conduct a search query by filling in the details of your pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as your rental dates, in the booking widget on our website. Alternatively, you can also contact our customer support team via chat, email, or phone to obtain a cost estimate for your ideal car hire deal.

Cathy O’Hara
Editorial Contributor

Meet the Experts Behind the Research

Cathy O’Hara – Portugal Travel & Car Rental Specialist

Cathy is a Portugal-based travel specialist with over 10 years of experience in travel and car rental content. She has spent more than 8 years living and exploring Portugal, covering over 20 destinations, including Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, and the Algarve. Through her hands-on experience, she has analysed 150+ car rental listings and pricing trends, helping travelers find the best options using real data and practical insights.

How this content is created
  • Based on real booking and pricing data
  • Reviewed by travel experts
  • Updated regularly for accuracy

Last Reviewed: April 2026