Due to strong competition, car hire in Spain is the cheapest in Europe; this fact also puts Spain the top European destination for visitors renting cars. Andalucía, in Southern Spain accounts for a high percentage of the annual car hire figures in Spain and there is a plethora of hire companies vying for your business.

The larger international car rental companies have offices in the three airports serving The Costa Tropical, Almería, Granada and Málaga and further offices can be found both in Granada City itself and the larger towns such as Motril and Almuñécar.

Also worth considering are the smaller local companies who can often prove to be less expensive. The downside of these is that they are rarely represented at the airports, therefore being mainly used by the local Spanish residents, and thus not necessarily able to communicate in English. This can cause problems if you are not comfortable doing business in Spanish. Details of these, along with the larger companies can be found in our business directory.

Most visitors, however, choose to book a car in advance online and collect it from the airport. Popular online companies are CarJet and Malaga Car Hire. It is particularly advisable to book in advance if you are visiting during the peak holiday times.

In order to hire a car in Spain you must produce a valid licence (not a copy). If you hold the pink European driving licence, you will need to produce both parts: the plastic card, along with the accompanying paper document. If there is to be more than one driver all drivers must produce valid licences and be named on the rental agreement.

When comparing rates, check that the quoted price is fully inclusive of insurance and taxes. Standard insurance cover does not usually cover the first €250 of any damage, but each company has their own variety of options to choose from to ensure that you are adequately covered. It is important to note that drivers under the age of 26 are often excluded from driving, so be sure to check this detail in the small print should you have a driver that falls into this category. Car seats for babies and young children can also be reserved, often at no additional cost.

Each rental company has its own policy regarding the payment for fuel. Many will issue cars with a full tank of fuel and charge you a set rate. This is frequently more than what it actually costs you to fill the tank. It should also be noted that no credit is given should the car be returned with fuel remaining in the tank. Other companies issue their cars with a quarter or half a tank of fuel. This is by far the best option as all you need do is ensure that on returning the vehicle, the gauge shows the same amount. You therefore only pay for the fuel you actually use.

With regards to mileage, there is generally no restriction on the distance you travel (excluding the hire of commercial vehicles), however many companies prohibit the car being taken into Portugal and France and almost all of them prohibit their vehicles being taken to Morocco.

The rule of thumb is to carefully check the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, particularly if you are unfamiliar with hiring a car in Spain. If there is any existing damage to the car this should be clearly shown on the rental agreement. The last thing to remember is that all vehicles are required to carry two warning triangles and two reflective yellow jackets. It is imperative to ensure that these are present.

For more information on driving in Spain, including details of the recently introduced penalty system, please refer to our Driving in Spain article.