Amiroad and the Best private drivers in Portugal

Plenty of companies promise a professional driver. Few explain what that actually means. So here is how Amiroad chooses, prepares and supports the people behind the wheel, told plainly.

A little context first. Amiroad was founded in 2013 by Rahimo Jiná and his son, Amin Jiná. Both came from international freight transport, so they knew roads, schedules and the cost of a missed deadline long before they carried a single passenger. That first passenger rode in one six-seat Volkswagen Multivan. Today the company runs 60 vehicles and a team of 50 drivers.

Who Gets Hired

Selection starts with professional experience. Driving well is the baseline, not the differentiator. Beyond it, the team looks for a real sense of responsibility, a polished presentation and the ability to deliver a high standard of service on every trip.

Languages matter too. English is the skill Amiroad values most, and for good reason: about 90% of its work involves international clients. The United States, Canada and Brazil are among the main markets. Spanish, French and German are also valued when hiring.

Then come the qualities that are harder to teach:

• Punctuality, because an official agenda or a flight does not wait.
• Presentation, from the vehicle to the way a guest is greeted.
• Clear communication, in a calm and courteous tone.
• Discretion, with every guest and every conversation.
• Adaptability, since plans change, often at the last minute.
• Ease with different cultures and very different guest profiles.

How Training Works

Training is led by Amiroad’s own operations team. These are people with long experience in the sector. They pass on the company’s procedures and service standards directly to each driver, and they stay close once the driver is on the road.

There is a second layer, and it surprises many guests. Amiroad works with official tour guides who run periodic training sessions for its drivers. The sessions cover tours, destinations, heritage and the main points of interest. As a result, the person driving you to Sintra or Évora can usually tell you why a place matters, not only how to get there.

For a fully guided day, with a licensed guide on board, see our article on guided tours with a private chauffeur.

Discretion Is a Rule, Not a Promise

Over the years, Amiroad has driven prominent personalities and well-known artists. The team has plenty of memorable stories. Most of them will never be told.

That is by design. Confidentiality is part of the company’s internal rules, and it is non-negotiable. In practice, trust is earned through the ride itself: a safe, quiet and professional space where guests can talk, work or rest without a second thought.

Diplomatic work adds another step. Before each service, drivers receive a briefing on the protocol to follow and on the guidance given by the embassy or responsible entity. Our article on transport for diplomatic delegations explains how those operations are prepared.

More Than a Driver

One request has grown steadily. Guests increasingly expect their driver to act as a concierge too. That might mean a restaurant suggestion, a change of plan mid-afternoon or a stop nobody had planned. Good drivers handle it calmly, with the operations team backing them up.

Speed matters as well. Clients tell Amiroad that fast replies and personalisation are what they value most. Requests also arrive later than ever, so the whole structure is built to respond to different scenarios at short notice.

The Vehicles Behind the Service

Drivers work with a modern fleet. Every vehicle is serviced at the brand’s own dealer, and the rule is to replace vehicles every four years.

The range runs from executive sedans and minivans to minibuses and coaches. It includes electric models such as the Mercedes EQE, EQS and EQV. The most exclusive is the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, still in service and a favourite for VIP and executive work. You can see every vehicle on our fleet page.

Why It Matters

For many visitors, the driver is the first face they see in Portugal. Often, it is also the last one before the flight home. That is a real responsibility.

It also explains why so many clients and partners keep coming back to Amiroad year after year. They point to the quality of the service, the professionalism of the team and the flexibility to find a solution for each request. You can read some of their words in our client reviews.

In Portugal, anyone can drive. The difference lies in everything that happens around the drive.