Car Hire in Spain

Visa and MasterCard debit cards (not prepaid) are accepted by all of our suppliers. Maestro is more problematic and, at present, is only accepted by one of our suppliers (Drivalia). Note that the card used must be nominative, i.e. show the cardholder's name.

Once you have picked up your hire car, extensions are not normally possible. Instead, you will have to return to the office and start a new contract. If you need to extend your booking before you travel, some of our suppliers allow modifications whilst others don't. If they don't, a new booking would be required.

This varies from one company to another. 21 years old is normally the minimum age permitted, but some companies allow 19 and 20 year old drivers. All drivers under the age of 25 are considered young drivers and a young driver surcharge applies. Bear in mind also that many companies allow young drivers to hire only their smaller vehicles.

Many of our suppliers will allow one-way rental from one to another of their offices. Those that don't allow one-ways at present are Leasys, Niza Cars and Record. A one-way charge always applies, and the amount of the charge is, in general, proportional to the distance between the offices (e.g. 25€ for a one-way between offices in the same city to 170€ for a one-way across Spain). If you do need a one-way rental, please contact us and we'll get back to you with your best option.

With all but one of our suppliers (Solcar), payment is made 100% on pick-up. When you book your car online, neither a deposit nor your credit card details are required. Easy and safe. No payment in advance, no hassle should you need to cancel!

If you're travelling during a peak period (e.g. Easter or peak summer) try to book as far in advance as possible. By doing so, you will be able to lock in a good deal as prices for peak periods tend to increase closer to the time. And remember that you're always welcome to cancel and rebook if prices drop! If you're going to be renting during low season, you probably don't need to worry too much about booking far in advance: availability shouldn't be a problem and often good last minute deals are available.

You'll need your passport (or NIE if you are a resident in Spain) and a valid driving licence (held for a minimum of 1 year). Note that the old UK paper licences are no longer accepted. If your licence is written in non-Latin script, you will need an international driving permit (IDP). Don't forget that the main driver will need a credit card (or major debit card) to make payment. Payment in cash is never possible.

The speed limit on motorways in Spain is 120km/hour. Watch out, though, as some stretches of motorway may have a 100km/hour limit. On main roads between towns and cities, the limit is 90km/hour. In urban areas, the limit is 30km/hour on roads with a single lane in each direction and 50km/hour when there are two or more lanes in each direction.

Even if you have the maximum cover, it's always a good idea to check your vehicle, inside and out, before driving off. On the inside, check that the vehicle has been properly valeted between hires and that there is nothing obviously missing (e.g. rear luggage tray). If the contract indicates that the car is delivered to you with a full tank of fuel, check that this is indeed the case. On the outside, check that any damage more serious than minor scratches and scuffs is marked on the contract. If you do find anything amiss, it's best to report this to the staff before leaving.

With last minute packing and the dash to the airport, a quick clean of your rental car isn't always top of the list of things-to-do at the end of a holiday. However, try to return the vehicle as you collected it. Avoid leaving tissues, wrappers and empty water bottles. And if you've been to the beach, be careful not to leave a pile of sand in the boot! Of course, our suppliers clean their vehicles between hires, but anything that requires more than their standard clean can be considered 'special cleaning', for which you could be charged between 50€ and 150€.