Scooter Rentals on Madeira island with BikesBooking.com

Madeira rewards anyone willing to leave the tour bus behind, and a scooter is the easiest way to do it. From Funchal's harbour you can be threading the coast road to the colourful fishing boats of Câmara de Lobos in twenty minutes, or climbing toward the glass-floor platform at Cabo Girão, suspended nearly 600 metres above the Atlantic. Rent a scooter in Funchal and the island stops being a checklist of viewpoints seen through a coach window and becomes a place you actually ride through — switchback by switchback, tunnel by tunnel, stopping wherever the view demands it.

This is exactly the kind of terrain a scooter was built for. Funchal's old town has narrow, steep streets with almost nowhere to park a car, and the coastal villages beyond it aren't much roomier. A scooter slips through the tunnels and hairpins that make Madeira's roads a headache for anything larger, and since most sights sit within 20 to 45 minutes of the capital, its modest range is never a limitation. Add cheap running costs and parking that takes seconds, not circles round the block, and scooter hire in Funchal turns out to be the practical choice as much as the fun one.

Top 10 things to see in Funchal by scooter

1. Cabo Girão skywalk — a glass-floor viewpoint over one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, a short scenic ride west of Funchal.
2. Câmara de Lobos — a colourful fishing village on the coast road, an easy first stop on a loop west of the city.
3. Pico do Arieiro — a mountain road up to Madeira's third-highest peak, best ridden early for sunrise above the clouds.
4. Miradouro do Pico do Facho in Machico — sweeping views over the bay and the eastern coastline, reached by a winding uphill road.
5. Ponta de São Lourenço — a dramatic, arid peninsula at the island's eastern tip; park up and hike the coastal trail.
6. Porto Moniz natural lava pools — volcanic rock swimming pools on the rugged north coast, a satisfying full-day loop from Funchal.
7. Ribeira Brava — a riverside town on the south coast where the ER101 meets the valley, a popular stop for a break.
8. Monte and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden — a short climb into the hills above Funchal, and the starting point of the famous wicker toboggan run.
9. São Vicente caves and volcanism centre — north-coast lava tubes reached via a scenic run of tunnels and cliffside road.
10. Queimadas forest park, near Santana — the trailhead for the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, one of Madeira's classic levada walks.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Funchal?

For a 50cc scooter you need a category AM licence, available from age 16 (a full car licence covers this too). For a 125cc machine you need an A1 motorcycle entitlement — note that Portugal's rule allowing car-licence holders to ride 125cc applies only to Portuguese licences, not to visitors. Rental companies usually set their own minimum age, often higher than the legal one, and you should bring an International Driving Permit if your licence isn't from the EU or EEA. Expect to leave a deposit, normally as a hold on a credit card, with the amount depending on the operator and the model you choose.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Funchal?

Prices swing a good deal across the year:

• Low season (roughly January to March and November): around EUR 5-9 per day.
• High season (July and August, plus the Christmas and New Year period): around EUR 12-20 per day.
• Premium models are typically EUR 20-30 per day, whatever the season.

When to book a rental scooter in Funchal?

High season runs from June to September, peaking in July and August, when prices climb and popular models can sell out — book ahead if you're travelling then. Low season, from November to March, is cheapest but also wetter, especially in the north and the interior. For the best balance of good weather, lower prices and fewer crowds, aim for April to June or September to October.

Local traffic rules in Funchal

Portugal drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for every rider and passenger on a scooter, moped or motorcycle, and dipped headlights must stay on at all times, day and night. Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h on the open road, though a 50cc scooter is capped at 45 km/h and can't use motorways. The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, dropping to 0.2 g/l for anyone who has held a licence less than three years, and roadside checks are common, so it's simplest to leave the scooter parked after a glass of wine at dinner.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!