Average daily rental price
EUR 19
per day
Car rental offers across Spain can vary in price, car class, deposit, and rental terms. Renty lets you check options from local and international companies in one place, with the main rental details available before you book. Find a car in Madrid or Barcelona, compare options for a mainland road trip, or rent a car for your stay in Mallorca or the Canaries.
This page covers what to know before renting a car in Spain: where to find car rental locations, which class fits your trip, and which rental terms are worth checking.
Renty's search covers car rental locations across Spain mainland and the islands, from major international airports to city-centre and rail-station pickup locations.
Mainland and island car rentals tend to serve different trips. On mainland Spain, car rental makes it easier to connect several cities and regions over a multi-day trip. On the islands, primary airport locations offer the simplest pickup point, with the car used to reach beaches, villages, and hiking areas beyond the resort where you land. Flying into Barcelona Airport, Madrid Airport, or Málaga Airport? Renty lets you compare car pickup options right at the terminal or in the city center. Pick the most convenient spot to start your journey.
| Pickup type | Where | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Major airport | Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga (for the Costa del Sol), Alicante, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, and Zaragoza | Starting a road trip or reaching several regions |
| Island airport | Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Tenerife North and Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and La Palma | Exploring beaches, villages and areas outside resorts |
| Other mainland airports | Santander, Asturias, Vigo, Girona, Almería, Granada, Jerez, San Sebastián, Valladolid | Reaching a specific region, without driving from a major hub |
| City-centre pickup | Madrid , Barcelona , Valencia and other cities | Arriving by train or staying in the city before starting a road trip |
A small or compact car handles city driving and narrow historic streets better than something larger. For a longer trip around Spain or a group with luggage, a sedan or SUV adds comfort and space without much practical downside on Spain's motorway network. Larger groups or families often move up to a minivan rental, while a luxury car can make longer highway journeys more comfortable. Premium vehicles are also available for travellers who want more equipment, space, or comfort.
Manual transmission is still the default across much of Spain — if you need automatic, filter for it directly rather than assuming it's standard. Electric and hybrid options are increasingly listed in larger cities too, so check whether it matters for your trip.
Renty compares offers from multiple suppliers, and rental conditions can vary even for the exact same vehicle. Please note that the lowest base price is not always the cheapest rental overall: deposit requirements, mileage limits, insurance, and cancellation terms can change the final value. Worth checking each of these on the specific offer before booking:
Deposit. Held on the main driver's credit card at pickup, with the amount set by the car and supplier rather than one flat platform rule. However, car rental deals without a deposit can also be found on the platform; please check.
Mileage. Some listings include unlimited mileage, others cap it per day — shown on the offer before you book.
Insurance. Third-party liability is generally included; damage protection, deductibles, and any additional coverage depend on the supplier and car. Check the individual offer for exact terms.
Fuel policy. Most suppliers use full-to-full — you collect the car with a full tank and return it the same way, though it's worth double-checking the rental terms to avoid a refueling charge.
Additional drivers & extra rental options. Usually you can add this during booking, free with some suppliers and for a fee with others.
One-way pickup and drop-off. Available on some listings, sometimes for an extra fee; others require the car back at the original location.
Cross-border driving. Whether a rental covers driving into Portugal or France is set by the supplier, not guaranteed platform-wide.
Roadside assistance. Included with some rental agreements as standard but on a basic level, though exact coverage and emergency contact details vary by supplier — confirm what's included on the listing.
Cancellation. Terms differ by offer — some allow free cancellation up to a set number of hours before pickup, others don't.
Driving long distances across Spain generally means using one of two major road networks: completely free autovías, or autopistas, which usually require a toll payment. To keep your drive through Spain budget-friendly, set your GPS to bypass toll roads before you start driving.
A few quick rules:
Keep an eye on local speed signs. Speed limits shift constantly depending on the stretch of road you're on.
Navigating urban areas gets tight fast, especially around historic centers and quiet neighborhoods.
Don't hold your phone while driving, and ensure every passenger has their seatbelt on.
Spain borders both, and Schengen membership keeps crossings simple — no checkpoint, no customs stop. Whether a specific rental includes cross-border cover is set by the supplier, so check the listing before planning a Porto or Biarritz side trip.
The same car model in the same city can have different prices, deposits, and terms depending on which supplier lists it. Renty gathers every offer for your dates into one screen so you can compare car rental deals before you book. Look beyond the headline price: mileage, deposit, insurance, cancellation, and fuel policy can make one offer better value than another. Comparing these details alongside the price makes it easier to find affordable rates that also fit your rental needs.
Availability shifts daily as suppliers add and remove cars, and booking goes straight through the site. Please note that rental deals can vary by date and rental location, so changing your pickup point or travel dates may give you more options.
Documents and Rental Requirements
Not if your licence was issued in the EU or EEA — it's valid on its own. Non-EU/EEA licences may need an IDP depending on how long you've been in Europe and the script your licence is printed in, better check with the car rental provider.
Yes, a UK licence is accepted as a non-EU/EEA licence, valid together with your passport under the same conditions as other non-EU licences. Check the Spanish DGT rules and the rental supplier's requirements, as an IDP may be required or recommended.
Yes, residents use a DNI or NIE (or residence permit) plus a valid driving licence instead of a passport and IDP.
When comparing car rental Spain offers, note that major suppliers hold the deposit on a credit card in the main driver's name. Some listings accept debit cards instead — check the specific offer before booking if that matters to you.
Most car rentals offer the option to add an additional driver when booking. Some listings include it at no cost, while others charge a small fee — the individual listing shows which applies.
Practical Information
It depends on the supplier - some allow one-way car rentals, sometimes for an extra fee, while others require the car back where it started. A mainland-to-island or island-to-island drop-off generally isn't possible at all.
Often yes, Spain shares open internal Schengen borders with Portugal and France, although temporary border controls may occasionally apply. Cross-border cover is set by the individual supplier, not guaranteed platform-wide. Confirm it on the listing before planning the trip.
Not usually. Both cities are well served by public transport, and parking adds cost and hassle without much benefit. A car pays off once the plan includes other cities, the coast, or areas public transport doesn't reach well. Car rentals make it easy to discover Spain at your own pace, from coastal towns to rural regions and stunning landscapes.
Driving Rules and Road Safety
No, the toll-free autovía network reaches almost everywhere the autopistas do, usually only slightly slower.
Spain's radar network is extensive, and fines for rental cars are billed to the supplier first, who passes the fine on to the renter along with an administrative handling fee — sometimes after you've already returned home. Staying within the posted limit, including the lower 2021 urban defaults, is the simplest way to avoid this entirely.
0.5 g/l for most drivers, dropping to 0.3 g/l for anyone in their first two years of holding a licence or driving professionally.
In urban areas, the general limit is 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction, 20 km/h on shared road-and-pavement streets, and 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, unless local signs state otherwise.
Average daily rental price
EUR 19
per day
Cheapest month to rent
November
from EUR 16 per day
Most expensive month to rent
August
EUR 29 per day
Most popular car type
Economy cars
50% of bookings
Average rental duration
8 days
Typical booking lead time
42 days
in advance
Most popular rental city
Barcelona
15% of bookings
Airport pickup share
70%
of bookings