Hello,
We'll be renting a little Fiat in Portugal through Sixt and are wondering if there is typically a way to charge an iphone as we use the GPS. Old school cigarette lighter adapter or usb? If not, have you used a portable charger and what size/brand have you liked? We haven't had one and there are so many from which to choose!
Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
IME most (almost all, though not all) rental cars have a standard USB port to charge phones. A few might have USB C ports. A few might have no USB port but have an old-school "cigarette lighter" plug - but those are disappearing, and you're only likely to find no USB plugs in older cars.
It's highly likely you will find a simple, familiar USB port (maybe even two of them). But there's no 100% guarantee you will. If you plan to/need to charge something in your car, it's best to have a powerbank with you to stand in. I like Anker units (there are a LOT of them to choose from). You'll want to weigh your wants/needs against bulk/heaviness...literally. Powerbanks can get really heavy, so don't bring one that's big enough to power Los Angeles, bring one that'll get you through a day if you need it.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks so much! I'll assume we'll have something in the car but may buy a small powerbank for backup.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11180 posts
Are any cars made without some sort of 'power port' ?
Unlikely any rental fleet will have a car more than 2 years old.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6553 posts
Last September our rental car had both USB-2/USB-A and USB-C ports. On a previous trip the rental only had USB-C ports. Yet another trip it was USB-A only. The EU standard is USB-C.
On the trip where the vehicle only had USB-C ports, my USB-2 cable was useless and the battery drained quickly. After that trip I bought a USB-C cable and now carry both since you have no idea which ports the vehicle will have.