Out-of-Hours Car Hire Pick-Up at Alicante Airport (ALC)

Why airport counter hours catch travellers out

Alicante (ALC) gets a steady flow of late-evening and red-eye arrivals, particularly on flights from the UK and northern Europe. The problem is that most car hire desks at the airport close by around 11pm or midnight, and some close earlier. If your flight is delayed or simply scheduled late, you can land to find the counter you booked with already shut for the night — with no car, and no straightforward way to get one until morning.

Which suppliers offer out-of-hours pick-up at Alicante

Of the suppliers available at Alicante Airport, Solcar is the one that reliably accommodates out-of-hours arrivals. Rather than closing its desk outright, Solcar can arrange collection to coincide with a late landing, so a delayed or overnight flight doesn't leave you stranded without a car.

How to book an out-of-hours pick-up

The key is to book in advance and enter your actual flight details at the time of booking, not an estimated arrival time. Solcar uses your flight number to track the landing, so if your flight is delayed, the pick-up adjusts with it rather than being treated as a no-show. If you already have a booking and your flight time changes, it's worth contacting the supplier directly to confirm the new arrival time is on file.

With Solcar, both payment and paperwork are handled in advance. Payment is taken upfront by card or bank transfer, and your rental documents are prepared before you land — so there's nothing left to sort out at a desk in the middle of the night.

What to expect on arrival

Because everything is already paid for and prepared, arrival is quick: Solcar delivers the car to just outside the arrivals hall at Alicante Airport, so there's no counter, no queue, and no late-night paperwork. It's essentially a case of collecting the keys and driving off — ideal if you've just come off a delayed or overnight flight and want to get to your accommodation with the minimum of fuss.

Solcar applies an out-of-hours surcharge of €40 for pick-ups outside normal counter hours. This is a fixed fee rather than a hidden cost — it's worth factoring into your total when comparing a late arrival against an earlier flight or an overnight stay near the airport.

What happens if you don't book ahead

Turning up late without having arranged an out-of-hours pick-up in advance is a risk — a closed desk has no one to improvise a handover, whatever the supplier. If there's any chance your arrival will fall outside normal counter hours, it's worth booking with a supplier that explicitly supports it, rather than hoping a daytime-only desk will make an exception.

Useful links

• Car hire at Alicante Airport
• Car hire at Alicante Airport with a debit card