Planning a trip to Spain and wondering whether to hire a car? It is one of the best decisions you can make. The road network is excellent, the scenery changes completely from region to region, and vast stretches of the country are simply not accessible by public transport without significant planning. Cheap car hire in Spain starts from just a few pounds a day in the quieter months.
Whether you are heading to Andalucia for white villages and the Alhambra, the Pyrenees for mountain roads, the Costa Brava for coastal drives, or the Balearic and Canary Islands for island exploration, car hire in Spain is available at every major airport and city, and Getcarhire.com makes it straightforward to compare every supplier in one search.
Car hire in Spain is also a market where the uninformed traveller gets caught out more than almost anywhere else in Europe. Insurance upselling at the desk, low emission zones in the major cities, complex toll arrangements and seasonal prices that swing wildly all catch people off guard. This guide covers everything you need to know before you book, so none of that happens to you.
What to Know Before You Book Car Hire in Spain
Insurance and the Excess Upsell
Every hire car in Spain comes with third-party liability insurance by law. Most also include a Collision Damage Waiver, but with an excess, typically between 1,000 and 4,000 euros, held against your credit card as a deposit. At the desk the agent will almost certainly try to sell you additional excess cover to reduce that deposit, and this is the single biggest cost trap in car hire in Spain. This upsell is legal, but the prices are often far higher than buying equivalent cover independently in advance.
Low Emission Zones: The Fines That Arrive Weeks Later
Spain is rolling out Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE) across all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. Barcelona and Madrid already have established zones with camera enforcement, and Valencia, Seville and Malaga are following. Fines start at 90 euros and can reach 1,800 euros in Barcelona, issued automatically by number plate cameras and arriving through the rental company weeks after you return home, with an admin fee on top. Most cars for car hire in Spain already carry the DGT environmental sticker required for entry, but always confirm compliance when you collect the car. In Barcelona, foreign-registered vehicles must also pre-register online before driving in the zone.
Toll Roads: Autopistas vs Autovias
Spain has two types of motorway. Autopistas are designated AP and charge tolls. Autovias are designated A and are free. The distinction matters because sat navs default to the fastest route, which is often a toll road, and the costs add up on longer journeys. Catalonia in particular has a heavy concentration of toll roads, something worth planning around with any car hire in Spain. If you want to avoid them, set your navigation to avoid tolls before you set off.
Car Size: Smaller is Almost Always Better
Spain’s historic city centres, mountain villages and rural roads were built long before modern cars existed. The streets of Ronda, Frigiliana, Trujillo and Albarracin are genuinely tight. An economy or compact car costs less to hire, costs less to fuel, and fits where larger cars do not. Unless you are a larger group with significant luggage on a motorway-heavy trip, a small car is the right choice for car hire in Spain.
Cheap Car Hire Spain: When to Book
Car hire in Spain has some of the most volatile pricing in Europe. Summer prices from June to September can be four to five times winter prices for the same vehicle at the same location. Costs for car hire in Spain are particularly high in the Balearic and Canary Islands during peak season, with availability tightening quickly in July and August. For the cheapest car hire in Spain, book at the same time as your flights.
| Season | Period | Daily Rate | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | Nov to Feb | From £8/day | Cheapest. Book anytime. |
| Shoulder | Mar to May, Oct | £12 to £25/day | Best weather-to-price balance. |
| Peak Summer | Jun to Sep | £35 to £70/day | Highest, especially on the islands. Book 6+ weeks ahead. |
Driving in Spain: Rules and Regulations
Documents You Need
To collect car hire in Spain you must carry your passport and a full valid driving licence at all times. EU licences are accepted directly. Drivers from outside the EU, including the USA, Canada and Australia, need an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, obtained before you travel.
Speed Limits
Motorways and dual carriageways: 120 km/h. National roads: 90 km/h. Urban areas: 50 km/h, with 30 km/h zones increasingly common. Speed cameras are widespread and fines are passed through the rental company with an admin fee.
Mandatory Equipment
Every hire car in Spain must carry two warning triangles (the new V16 flashing beacon is gradually replacing these), a high-visibility vest for each occupant, and a spare wheel or repair kit. Check the car before leaving the airport.
Alcohol Limit
The legal limit is 0.5mg of alcohol per ml of blood, lower than the UK. For drivers who have held their licence less than two years it is 0.3mg. Do not drive after drinking.
Mobile Phones and Headphones
Handheld mobile use while driving is illegal, and using headphones while driving is explicitly illegal. Both carry on-the-spot fines.
The Best Road Trips in Spain by Hire Car
Andalucia: White Villages and the Alhambra
Flying into Malaga and collecting your hire car at the airport before driving east through the Sierra Nevada to Granada, north to Cordoba and west through the pueblos blancos to Seville is one of the classic car hire Spain routes. Allow five to seven days. The roads through the white villages of Cadiz and Malaga are narrow and winding, exactly where a compact car earns its cost back.
The Costa Brava: Barcelona to Girona
The GI-682 coastal road from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guixols is one of the most dramatic coastal drives in Europe, taking you through coves, cliffs and fishing villages that are completely inaccessible by public transport. Add a detour to Girona and the Dali triangle for a full route.
Northern Spain: Basque Country to Galicia
The northern coast from San Sebastian through Cantabria and Asturias to Galicia is the most underrated road trip in Spain: green mountains, dramatic Atlantic coastline, extraordinary food and almost no foreign tourists, and it is where car hire in Spain truly comes into its own. With cars available at Bilbao, Santander and Santiago airports, it rewards a hire car more than almost any other route in the country.
The Pyrenees: Mountains and the Picos de Europa
The circuit from Bilbao south through the Picos de Europa, east through Navarra and the Sierra de Urbasa, across into France via Pamplona and back along the Atlantic coast takes four to five days and covers some of the finest mountain and coastal scenery in Europe.
Central Spain: The Castilla Road Trip
The drive from Madrid north through Segovia, Salamanca, Zamora and Leon, returning via Valladolid, covers the heart of the Castilian meseta: hilltop castles, cathedral cities and the vast high plateau that forms the historical centre of Spain.
Car Hire in Spain’s Islands: Choose Your Destination
Spain’s islands each have their own character, and car hire in Spain unlocks each of them in a completely different way. Choose your island below for a complete local guide covering pickup, the best routes and the deals available.
Car Hire in Fuerteventura
Long, straight roads run to endless white-sand beaches like Cofete and Sotavento. The driving is flat and easy, so a compact car is all you need.
Car Hire in Gran Canaria
Dramatic mountain roads climb to Roque Nublo and wind down to the harbour at Puerto de Mogan. The volcanic interior is a different world from the coast.
Car Hire in Ibiza
Beyond the resorts, quiet northern roads lead to Portinatx and the hidden coves of the northeast. Book early in summer as the fleet tightens quickly.
Car Hire in Lanzarote
The volcanic roads through Timanfaya National Park and the Cesar Manrique landscapes are unlike anywhere else in Spain. A small car suits the island perfectly.
Car Hire in Mallorca
The Sa Calobra road and the Tramuntana mountains are among the finest drives in the Mediterranean. An automatic helps on the hairpin bends.
Car Hire in Menorca
Quiet lanes thread to the turquoise coves of the south and the wild, empty north coast. The Cami de Cavalls bridle path traces the entire shoreline.
Car Hire in Tenerife
The climb to Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, and the misty Anaga mountain roads reward a hire car more than any tour bus can. Collect at Tenerife South (TFS) or North (TFN).
Why Book Car Hire in Spain with Get Car Hire?
When you are going to Spain, car hire comparison is the single most important step you can take before you travel. Getcarhire.com searches rates from over 500 suppliers across more than 10,000 locations, including every major airport, city centre and resort across mainland Spain and the islands. Search once, compare all the major brands and local suppliers side by side, and book with free cancellation on most vehicles and transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire in Spain
What is the minimum age to hire a car in Spain?
The legal driving age in Spain is 18, but most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21. Drivers under 25 typically pay a young driver surcharge that varies by company and vehicle category.
Do I need an International Driving Permit for Spain?
EU licence holders do not. Drivers from outside the EU, including the USA, Canada and Australia, require an IDP alongside their national licence, obtained before you travel as it cannot be issued on arrival.
Can I pay for car hire in Spain with a debit card?
Some companies accept debit cards but most require a credit card for the security deposit. Without a credit card the deposit requirement is usually significantly higher. Always check the payment conditions before booking.
Are there toll roads in Spain?
Yes. Motorways designated AP are toll roads; those designated A are free. Catalonia has the highest concentration. Cash and credit cards are accepted at all toll booths.
Do low emission zones affect my hire car?
Low emission zones (ZBE) restrict older, more polluting vehicles in cities including Barcelona and Madrid. Most modern hire cars comply, but confirm the environmental sticker status when you collect the car. Barcelona also requires foreign-registered vehicles to pre-register online.
Insider tip: Spain’s consumer organisation OCU has formally complained about Goldcar, Centauro, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt over aggressive insurance practices at the desk. Always check the total cost including insurance before you arrive, and consider buying excess cover independently in advance. It is typically far cheaper than what you will be offered at the counter.
Insider tip: Speed cameras in Spain are signed in advance with yellow warning signs, and many sections use average speed measurement between two fixed points rather than a single snapshot. Drive at the posted limit throughout, not just when a camera is visible, and your car hire in Spain stays penalty-free.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Hire Car in Spain?
Spain rewards the traveller who is prepared. Know where you are going, book your hire car early, sort your insurance before you reach the desk, and give yourself the flexibility to stop when something catches your eye. Getcarhire.com compares cheap car hire in Spain from over 500 suppliers across every major airport, city and resort in Spain and the islands. Search once, compare side by side and book with free cancellation on most vehicles. Whether you are heading to Andalucia, the Balearics or the Canaries, your hire car in Spain is ready when you are.
