Spain is a sunny and picturesque country, where many decide to go for a holiday. It is important to take care of your own comfort while sightseeing. An excellent solution is car rental in Spain. You need to understand some of the nuances and understand which organization is better to trust. BLS recommends cooperation with Discover Cars. It is a trusted car rental partner in Spain.
To find a car, enter a city, airport or island, plus your pick-up and return dates and times, in the form above. The service shows offers from local and international suppliers with the full price, insurance and deposit terms, and the booking is completed on our partner Discover Cars' website.
When renting a car in Spain, you need to consider some criteria. The main parameters include:
Depending on the purpose of the trip - work, leisure, sightseeing, season, and so on - a car is selected. It can be a good SUV, a roomy family car, a convertible, and so on. The choice is impressive, so you can find both a cheap offer and a luxury one, taking into account personal priorities.
To rent a car in Spain, a minimum set of documents is required. The client must provide the following:
The driver also needs 1–3 years of driving experience, depending on the car class. Most suppliers in Spain require a credit card in the driver's name to block the deposit and do not accept debit cards or cash. Card requirements are shown in each offer's terms – check them before you pay.
Important! Spanish suppliers charge an extra fee for drivers under 25. The amount depends on the company and is shown in the offer terms.
Spanish drivers are usually quite calm on the roads. They treat all road users with respect. Without a good reason, there will not even be a signal. But there are some tips that all drivers should take into account, including when renting a car in Spain. Main:
We must not forget that pedestrians are road users. The driver must leave the car before the person steps on the zebra. Enough for him to approach her. It is strictly controlled by the local police.
Traffic rules in Spain are in many ways similar to ours. There is no particular difference, but there are nuances. In general, logic is the priority in Europe. The roads are mostly of good quality, markings and road signs are provided, there is almost always a separate lane for turning left. But the narrow streets can feel uncomfortable. It is important to know that in Spain there are very high fines for traffic violations, so you should try not to violate them.
Since 2021, the limits in built-up areas are 20 km/h on streets without a separate pavement, 30 km/h on streets with one lane in each direction and 50 km/h on streets with two or more lanes. Signs at town entrances may set other limits.
On ordinary rural roads the limit is 90 km/h, and on motorways and expressways (autopista, autovía) it is 120 km/h. Follow the signs along the way.
One of the main problems when renting a car in Spain is parking. There are free ones, but they are few. They are marked in white. Yellow markings allow a short stop with the emergency flasher on. Green parking lots are for local residents only.
Blue markings indicate paid parking. You pay at a nearby meter or through the city's mobile app and place the ticket behind the windscreen. Parking violations are fined, and the car may be towed.
Important! In many cities the blue zone is paid only at certain hours, and parking may be free at night and on Sundays. The exact hours are shown on the meter or sign – there is no single rule for the whole of Spain.
Mostly offered to rent a car in Spain with a deposit. The cost of car rental already includes compulsory insurance or CDW. This does not cover minor damage, such as scratches from scooters, which is not uncommon in the country. More often in rental companies they take a franchise or a deposit, but the reviews are different and not always people can return the money left.
You can rent a car in Spain without an excess. To do so, take full insurance – from the supplier or when booking; the deposit may then be minimal. The cost of such cover depends on the car class and rental length and is shown in the offer.
Most often, a trip to Spain begins at the airport. It is rational to book a car here. It is convenient to transfer to your own transport immediately upon arrival, albeit a rented one. As a result, the rest will be more comfortable, it will be possible to avoid
You can also see it on the map. There are also other places where you can get a rented vehicle. Usually these are some major attractions, a company office or a car park. It is convenient to use the search or directly consult with a representative of a car rental organization for tourists.
Many travellers look for a rental car not on the mainland but on the islands – Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Mallorca, Ibiza. A car is especially handy there: mountain roads, viewpoints and remote beaches take a long time to reach by public transport. Enter the island's airport in the form to see local offers. Note that most suppliers do not allow taking a rental car on a ferry between islands. For more on the island, see our guide to car rental in Tenerife: airports, seasonal prices and roads to Teide. For the Balearics, see our separate guide to car rental in Mallorca: Palma airport, mountain roads and the Formentor restrictions.
A rental car allows you to see almost any sight of Spain. There are especially many of them in the following cities - Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, Valencia, Girona, Alicante, Salou. Read more about the brightest places below.
Malaga is a city that will be of interest to everyone. Here, medieval beauty borders on ultramodernity. A traveler by car will have easy access to the La Managueta arena, Constitution Square, Marques de Larios Street.
You can visit the halls of the local fortress, to which it is better to go by car. The fortress of Gibralfaro, the Picasso Museum, the Pompidou Center and so on are interesting for inspection.
Madrid is the Spanish capital that captivates at first sight. On a rented car, you can look into the El Madrid de los Austrias area. There you can see the San Miguel market, Almudena Cathedral, and the Royal Palace.
And you can also drive to the gardens in the Buen Retiro Park, admire the chic masterpieces in the Prado National Museum, the Reina Sofia Art Center, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. And in the evening it is worth driving to the Debod Temple, from where you can admire the picturesque sunset.
Barcelona is a modernist city that attracts tourists from all over the world. On a rented car, you can easily get to such objects as:
And you can also admire the architectural masterpieces of Antonio Gaudi, which are included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Pick-up points, the ZBE zone and parking are covered in our guide to car rental in Barcelona.
In Salou, you need a rented transport like in no other city. There are a lot of historical, cultural and natural attractions. Especially interesting is the sea, clear waters, golden beaches.
Among the attractions you can drive to Cape Porroch, the Pilons monument, the port of Salou. It is interesting to look at the house of Bonet, the dancing fountain, Peña Tagliado.
The city attracts tourists with its mild climate, gorgeous sandy beaches with clear water. Renting a car will allow you to admire the views of Loha, visit the rice fields of Albufera.
People can take a ride to the city of science and art. Also noteworthy are the gates of Serranos, Quart, City Hall Square, the Queen, Valencia Cathedral and much more.
It is better to get acquainted with this city on a rented car. The Spanish resort is a real pearl of the Mediterranean. There are wonderful beaches, ancient architecture, Spanish streets.
You can see the esplanade, the port of Alicante, the fortress of Santa Barbara, San Fernando, the Santa Cruz area. These are just some of the sights, and there are many more.
A beautiful city that is best explored in a rented car. It is a warm and bright city with fortified walls from the time of the Roman Empire.
On a rented car, you can drive to the Jewish quarter, Independence Square, Rambla de la Libertad. You can also see the church of St. Philip, the monastery of St. Peter Galligans and so on.
Renting a car in Spain is a chance to comfortably travel around the country, admire its beauty, and get to know the sights. Personal convenience and the ability not to depend on public transport schedules are good desires that motivate you to use the car rental service.
Planning other countries? See our tips on renting a car abroad.
A passport, driving licence and a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit. Ukrainian licences are recognised, but the supplier may ask for an international driving permit – check the terms of your chosen offer.
Most suppliers require a credit card in the driver's name. Some accept debit cards if you buy full insurance – this is stated in the specific offer's terms.
Yes, drivers under 25 usually pay an extra fee, and powerful or premium cars have higher age requirements. The fee is shown in the offer terms before you pay.
Yes. Enter the island's airport in the form to see local offers. Most suppliers do not allow taking a rental car on a ferry between islands.
