Car hire in Spain
Renting a car in Spain provides a unique opportunity to enjoy travelling around this sunny country. It is an ideal way to explore the diversity of Spanish cities, feel the rhythm of life outside the capital, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of hospitality and even learn a few phrases in the local language. By the way, car rental in Spanish is denoted as “alquiler de automoviles”.
With a rented car, you can easily visit neighbouring Schengen countries, but you should remember to pay extra for insurance in case of travelling outside the European Union.
Suggestions
The choice of car rental is diverse. All major airports and some railway stations offer the services of well-known international car rental companies, such as Hertz, Avis, EuropCar, Sixt, and Goldcar. Offices of these companies are also spread across cities popular with tourists. Local agencies operate in resort areas, such as Centauro on the mainland and Cicar in the Canary Islands. You can get significant discounts by booking a car online. It’s also worth considering that prices on weekends are usually lower than on weekdays, and it’s better to sign several contracts to save money when renting for a long time.
Rental rates are comparable for all companies, but international agencies have a larger selection of cars and their technical condition is usually better. The price depends on the car category, rental dates and season. In August and September, when tourists are actively visiting Spain, prices may rise.
Documents and insurance
To rent a car in Spain, you need an international driving licence and a credit card. The driver must be at least 21 years old (23 years old in some companies) and have at least a year of driving experience (2 years in some companies). The car should be returned with a full tank.
Types of insurance in Spain:
The rental price includes limited insurance with a deductible (from 300 to 500 euros). Additional types of insurance include third-party liability, collision damage warning (CDW), theft protection (TP), personal accident insurance (PAI) and extended protection (EP).
Fuel and refuelling
As for fuel, Spain uses unleaded 95 and 98 petrol (gasoline sin plomo) and diesel (gasoleo A or gas-oil). It is worth checking with the rental company about the appropriate type of fuel for your car.
Road traffic regulations
Traffic rules include speed cameras on many roads, mandatory use of dipped headlights in tunnels, permission to use radar detectors and a ban on anti-radar. When renting a car, it is recommended that you check for mandatory equipment, such as emergency stop signs, a spare wheel, reflective vest, first aid kit and a set of headlight bulbs.
