No toll roads. UNESCO mountain drives. Hidden coves that no tour bus ever reaches. Here is why Mallorca is one of the best islands in Europe to explore by hire car, and exactly what you need to know before you book.
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Mallorca has a reputation as a package holiday destination. Resorts, beach clubs, all-inclusives. That reputation is not entirely unfair but it tells roughly a third of the story.
The other two thirds of the island, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains in the northwest, the rural interior with its ancient olive groves and windmills, the quiet coves and fishing villages of the east coast, is some of the most beautiful landscape in the Mediterranean. Car hire in Mallorca is the key that unlocks all of it.
The catch is that you cannot reach most of it without a hire car. Buses run between the major resorts and Palma. Beyond that you are on your own. Mallorca car hire rates are competitive year-round outside the summer peak, and the island rewards slow, exploratory driving in a way that few Mediterranean destinations can match.
This guide covers everything you need to know to hire a car in Mallorca, drive it safely and get to the places that most visitors never find.
Why Mallorca is Perfect for Exploring by Car
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands at roughly 3,600 square kilometres. You can drive across the island in under two hours on good roads.
Hiring a car in Mallorca rather than relying on organised tours or public transport gives you complete flexibility to explore at your own pace, on your own schedule.
The practical case for car rental in Mallorca is compelling. Public transport connects the main towns but the timetables are inconsistent and the routes miss most of the places worth seeing.
Taxis add up quickly over a week. With a hire car you leave when you want, stop when you want and take the roads that the sat nav would never suggest.
One practical advantage worth knowing immediately: Mallorca has no toll roads. Every road on the island is completely free to drive, unlike mainland Spain where toll motorways (autopistas, pronounced ow-to-pees-tas) can add significant cost to longer journeys.
Choosing the Right Car for Mallorca
Car size matters more in Mallorca than almost any other Mediterranean island. When comparing car hire Mallorca deals, resist the temptation to upgrade to a larger vehicle. The resort areas and main roads are fine for any vehicle.
Once you leave them, the roads narrow dramatically. The mountain roads of the Serra de Tramuntana, the access roads to remote coves, the village streets of Deia, Valldemossa and Fornalutx are built for vehicles that were considerably smaller than most modern cars.
A compact or economy car is the right choice for the vast majority of visitors. It is cheaper to hire, cheaper to fuel and genuinely fits where a larger car does not.
If you are a family of five with full luggage, a mid-size is the minimum but keep the size as small as the group allows.
Insider tip: The road from Sa Calobra to the Torrent de Pareis is one of the most spectacular drives on the island. It is also extremely narrow with 270-degree hairpin bends cut into a cliff face. The tour coaches that visit take the outside of every bend. In a compact car you slide through gaps that would be genuinely stressful in anything larger. Hire small.
Car Hire in Mallorca: What to Watch Out For
Insurance at the Rental Desk
Palma Airport is one of the busiest hire car hubs in Europe and the insurance upselling at the desks is well documented. Your hire car comes with basic third-party liability and a Collision Damage Waiver, but both carry an excess of typically 1,000 to 2,000 euros held against your credit card.
The desk agent will offer to reduce or eliminate this excess for an additional daily fee, often as much as the base hire cost itself.
The most effective way to handle this is to purchase excess insurance cover independently before you travel. Third-party excess policies are widely available for as little as 3 to 5 euros per day, compared to 15 to 20 euros at the rental desk for equivalent cover.
When the desk agent asks if you want additional cover, you can decline with confidence knowing you are already protected.
Credit Card Deposit Requirements
Most car hire Mallorca companies require a credit card for the deposit, not a debit card. The deposit amount varies but is typically between 500 and 2,000 euros blocked on the card.
If you do not have a credit card with sufficient available limit, some companies will accept a debit card but with a significantly higher deposit. Always check payment conditions before you book a rental car in Mallorca.
Photographing the Car at Collection
Take photos and short video of every panel, the roof, the undercarriage where accessible, and the interior before you leave the car park. Do this even if the agent does a walkaround with you.
Disputes about pre-existing damage are common. Having timestamped photos eliminates any ambiguity when you return the car.
Summer Availability
Mallorca in July and August is extremely busy and hire car availability is tight. Categories sell out, particularly automatics, people carriers and premium vehicles. Book at the same time as your flights.
Prices also increase significantly as the summer peak approaches, so early booking saves money as well as securing the vehicle you want.
The Best Drives in Mallorca
The Serra de Tramuntana: MA-10 from Andratx to Pollenca
This is the drive that defines Mallorca for people who know the island. The MA-10 runs along the spine of the UNESCO-listed Tramuntana mountain range from Andratx in the southwest to Pollenca in the northeast.
The road passes through the villages of Banyalbufar, Estellencs, Deia, Soller and Fornalutx with views across the Mediterranean that are genuinely extraordinary. Allow a full day. Stop frequently. Do not rush.
Insider tip: The viewpoint at Es Grau between Port de Soller and Sa Calobra is one of the finest views on the island and most people drive straight past it. It is a small pull-off on the left heading northeast, easy to miss, with a view down to the coastline far below. Stop here.
The East Coast: Coves and Caves
The eastern coast of Mallorca has a completely different character to the northwest. Lower limestone cliffs, turquoise coves, the tourist town of Porto Cristo with the famous Dragon Caves nearby, and quieter beaches that require a hire car and some determination to find.
The drive from Cala Millor south through Cala d’Or to Santanyi and the Cala Mondrago natural park takes a leisurely half day.
Visitors combining Mallorca with the mainland will find our car hire in Spain guide covers everything you need to know about driving beyond the islands.
The Rural Interior: Windmills and Olive Groves
Central Mallorca between Palma and the east coast is agricultural countryside that most visitors drive through without stopping. The towns of Sineu, Petra and Arta have good markets and genuinely local restaurants.
The windmills of Es Pla plain are a defining image of Mallorca that most package tourists never see. The almond blossom in January and February turns the entire interior white, which makes this one of the most beautiful times to visit and the easiest period to find affordable car hire in Mallorca.
Winter prices can be 60% to 70% lower than peak summer rates for the same vehicle.
Practical Information for Hiring a Car in Mallorca
Before you travel, the official Mallorca tourism information published by the Balearic Islands tourism authority covers events, attractions and current travel conditions across the island.
Picking Up Your Car at Palma Airport
The Mallorca car hire desks at Palma Airport (PMI) are on the arrivals level. The major international brands have counters in the terminal. Some local companies operate from off-airport lots and require a short transfer.
If you have booked with a company that does not have a terminal desk, follow the signs to the courtesy bus collection point outside arrivals.
Insider tip: Mallorca car hire desks at Palma Airport can have long queues during peak arrival times in July and August, particularly on Saturday mornings when weekly package holidays turn over. If your flight arrives at a busy time, complete the online check-in for your hire car before you travel if the company offers it. Some local companies also offer meet-and-greet directly at the car park, bypassing the terminal desk queue entirely.
Driving in Palma
Palma city centre is manageable by car but parking is difficult and expensive. If your itinerary includes time in Palma, consider parking outside the centre and walking or using public transport into the old town.
The Parc de la Mar underground car park near the cathedral is convenient but fills quickly in summer.
Fuel
Petrol stations are well distributed across the island. Prices are broadly similar to mainland Spain. Fill up before heading into the mountain roads of the Tramuntana as stations are scarce once you leave the main roads.
Most hire cars use unleaded petrol but check the fuel cap before you fill.
Driving Licence Requirements
EU licence holders drive in Mallorca on their national licence. Drivers from outside the EU require an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence. Obtain this before you travel.
Full details on terminal layout, car hire desk locations and transport connections are available on the Mallorca Airport official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there toll roads in Mallorca?
No. Mallorca has no toll roads. All roads on the island are completely free to drive. This is one of the practical advantages of hiring a car in Mallorca compared to mainland Spain where toll motorways can add significant cost.
What is the minimum age to hire a car in Mallorca?
Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21. Drivers under 25 usually pay a young driver surcharge. Check the specific conditions when you compare deals.
Is an automatic car available in Mallorca?
Yes, but availability is more limited than manual cars and automatics cost more to hire. If you need an automatic, book well in advance, particularly in summer. The mountain roads of the Tramuntana are driveable in a manual for anyone with basic experience.
Which side of the road do they drive in Mallorca?
The right side, the same as mainland Spain and most of Europe.
Can I take a hire car on the ferry to Ibiza or Menorca?
Most rental companies prohibit taking hire cars on inter-island ferries. If you want to visit another Balearic island, hire separately on that island rather than attempting to take a car across on the ferry.
Ready to Explore Mallorca by Car?
Mallorca rewards the visitor who goes beyond the resort. The mountain roads of the Tramuntana, the quiet coves of the east coast, the almond blossom of the interior in January, and the village streets that no tour bus ever reaches: all of it is accessible with a hire car and the willingness to take the road that the sat nav would not suggest.
Ready to book? Compare car hire in Mallorca alongside deals across mainland Spain and the other islands at Getcarhire.com. Over 500 suppliers, free cancellation on most vehicles, and transparent pricing from the start. Your Mallorca adventure starts here.
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