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Car rental in Spain

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★★★★★★ 4.5 / 8,764 reviews
Rent a car in Spain
✓ No hidden fees · ✓ Free cancellation

Popular cities in Spain

Playa De Las Americas
Playa De Las Americas
Madrid
Madrid
Barcelona
Barcelona
San Bartolome
San Bartolome

Why drive in Spain

Spain rewards drivers with varied routes, from Catalonias Costa Brava to the white villages of Andalusia. With a car you can leave Barcelona or Malaga behind and meander through vineyard roads, hill towns and quiet coves.

High speed trains link major cities, but many sierras, pueblos and surf beaches are better reached on your own wheels. A rental lets you follow detours to places like Ronda, Picos de Europa or Rioja bodegas when the mood strikes.

At a glance
Drives onRight
Motorway tollToll roads (pay per use)
CurrencyEuro (€)
Min. rental age21 years

Good to know before you drive

The essentials for a smooth, ticket-free trip.

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Speed limits

Town50 km/h
Open road90 km/h
Motorway130 km/h
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Parking

Paid short-stay zones in city centres — buy a ticket and display it.

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Alcohol limit

Typically 0.05% blood-alcohol limit; lower for new drivers.

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Vignette / tolls

Check whether a motorway vignette or tolls apply — many rentals include one.

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Practical Information for Drivers

Rent a car in Spain: speed limits

In this country, there are standard speed limits:

Section of road Maximum speed (km/h)
Car with trailer Car without trailer
In built-up areas 50 50
Outside built-up areas 70 90
On main roads 80 100
On motorways 90 120

Car hire in Spain: speed limits

There are standard speed limits in this country:

Road type Speed limit (km/h)
Car with trailer Car without trailer
In built-up areas 50 50
Outside built-up areas 70 90
On main roads 80 100
On motorways 90 120

Parking rules

The parking fee is influenced by the time of day and the day of the week, and even by the week of the month. Some places require a special permit for parking during working hours, which are called in Spain "Horas laborables".

City centres have a limited number of parking spaces. So, in order to leave your car in a blue zone, you will need to purchase a special parking ticket from a machine. On weekdays, payment is required from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and on Saturdays payment is only required in the morning from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Most cities have underground car parks showing whether parking spaces are available. The parking fee is paid before leaving the car park at payment machines or at a pay desk.

Some Spanish cities use the Ora Zona system in their car parks. Parking tickets are valid for 30, 60 and 90 minutes and can be purchased at many sales points in the city or at tobacco shops.

If you are travelling around Spain in a hire car, do not leave it in places marked with a tow-away sign. Otherwise, you risk having your car towed away. You will only be able to get your car back after paying a fine of up to 100 €.

Parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities can result in a more severe penalty of up to 200 €.

Permitted alcohol limit

If you are planning to hire a car at the airport on arrival in Spain, you should avoid alcoholic drinks before and during the flight, because the fine for exceeding the alcohol limit is 500 €. The limit itself is 0.5 per mille for experienced drivers and 0.3 per mille for those whose driving experience is less than two years. If you refuse to take a blood alcohol content test, the fine remains the same at 500 €.

Renting a car in Spain: traffic regulations

Dipped headlights must be used only when driving through a tunnel.

Children under 3 years old may only travel in cars in special child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight. Older children who are under 135 cm in height must use a child seat or booster seat.

It is forbidden to use a handheld mobile phone while driving in Spain. In addition, your mobile phone must be switched off while refuelling at a petrol station.

Fuel cost

In Spain it is possible to purchase 95 or 98 standard unleaded petrol ("Gasolina sin plomo"), or diesel fuel called Gasoleo 'A' or Gas-oil. Leaded petrol is not sold in this country. LPG filling stations are also available, but in small numbers.

The cheapest fuel can be found in the Canary Islands. The cost here is 0.20-0.22 € lower than the average price across the country.

Toll roads

Spain has a motorway network with a total length of 16 204 km. In addition, a separate toll is charged for driving on certain sections of these roads. For example, hiring a car in Spain and travelling on the AP-6 motorway from Madrid to Adanero will cost you € 12.15. The toll depends on many factors:

  • Season;
  • Vehicle category;
  • Distance;
  • Rush hour during the day.

There are several sections with special toll rates. The Cadi tunnel, located in Barcelona, is one of these. It is the third longest tunnel in Spain (5 026 metres). In the table below you can find the tolls for the year 2013:

Vehicle type Payment amount (EUR)
Motorcycles with and without a sidecar. 9.40
Passenger cars and vans with 2 axles and up to 9 seats, or with 1 axle without towing a trailer. 11.67
Minibuses and vans with 2 axles and more than 9 seats, or with 1 axle without towing a trailer. Buses and trucks with 2 axles (more than 4 wheels). 11.67
Passenger cars and vans with 2 axles and up to 9 seats, towing 2-axle trailers. 25.47
Minibuses and vans with 2 axles towing trailers with 2 non-tandem axles. Buses and trucks with 2 axles (more than 4 wheels). 25.47
Vans and passenger cars with 2 axles and up to 9 seats, towing a trailer with 2 axles and twin wheels on at least one of the two axles. 30.55

What drivers say about Spain

★★★★★★4.5
★★★★★ 5

"I picked up the car in Madrid and everything went incredibly smoothly. Staff were friendly, spoke good English and explained the insurance options clearly without pressure. The car was spotless, nearly new and very economical on fuel. Return at Barcelona airport took just a few minutes."

M
María González López
Spain
★★★★★★ 4.5

"I travelled with a friend along the Costa del Sol and the car was perfect and clean. Staff were efficient, though the queue at pick-up was a bit long. Overall, very good value and we’d use the same service again."

J
Javier Martínez Ruiz
Spain
★★★★★ 4

"We travelled as a family with two kids and the car was comfortable and clean, with plenty of boot space for luggage and a pushchair. Child seats were safe and in good condition, though a bit pricey to add. Pick-up and return were straightforward and staff were kind."

L
Lucía
Spain
More reviews →

Renting in Spain — FAQ

For Spain, it is wise to book a hire car 4–8 weeks before your trip, especially for July, August and Easter when demand is highest. Booking early usually gives a better choice of vehicles and lower prices, particularly at airports such as Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga. Last-minute cars are often available, but expect higher rates and fewer automatic or larger models.
In Spain, the security deposit is normally just a card pre-authorisation rather than a real charge. After you return the car undamaged and with the agreed fuel level, the hold is usually released within 3–10 working days, depending on your bank. Some local suppliers and special “no deposit, no credit card” offers use a smaller or zero deposit when extra insurance is purchased.
The excess in Spain is the maximum amount you must pay towards damage or theft before the insurer pays the rest. It often ranges from about EUR 600 to EUR 1,500, higher for premium or 9-seater vehicles. If the car is damaged, the rental company charges up to this amount. You can reduce or reduce the excess to zero by buying the rental company’s or an independent extra cover policy.
Many Spanish rental firms still require a major credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit. However, some companies and intermediaries offer debit-card rentals or special no-deposit, no-credit-card deals, usually with extra insurance and stricter conditions. Availability varies by location and vehicle category, so always check the payment and deposit rules in the booking conditions before confirming.
Prices in Spain vary by season and location. As a general guide, an economy car often costs around EUR 25–40 per day in spring and autumn, rising to EUR 45–70 per day in peak summer on the coasts and islands. Longer rentals usually reduce the daily rate. Extras such as one-way fees, young-driver surcharges and additional insurance are charged separately.
Bookingcar lets you compare hire-car prices from a wide range of Spanish and international rental brands in one search. You can quickly see different offers for the same dates, filter by fuel policy, mileage and supplier rating, and select the most suitable combination of price and conditions. This price-comparison approach helps you find competitive deals across Spain without checking each company separately.
If you return your hire car late in Spain, most companies apply a grace period of about 29–59 minutes, after which they may charge an extra day at the current local tariff. Late returns can also affect insurance validity if you exceed the contract time. If you know you will be delayed, contact the rental office as early as possible to extend the agreement and avoid penalties.
Standard speed limits in Spain are usually:
  • Urban areas: 50 km/h (sometimes 30 km/h in residential or school zones)
  • Single carriageway roads: 90 km/h
  • Conventional roads with hard shoulder: up to 100 km/h if signed
  • Motorways and dual carriageways (autopistas/autovias): 120 km/h
Always follow local signs, which take priority over general limits, and slow down in bad weather or heavy traffic.
Traffic fines in Spain are typically between EUR 100 and EUR 600, and can be higher for serious offences. Speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing seat belts and dangerous overtaking all carry fines and possible points on a Spanish licence. Foreign drivers can be required to pay on the spot. Rental companies may also add an administration fee for handling offence paperwork.
In Spain, the general blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l (0.05%) for most drivers. For professional drivers and those with less than two years’ experience, the lower limit of 0.3 g/l (0.03%) applies. Penalties include heavy fines, licence suspension and, in severe cases, imprisonment. Police conduct frequent roadside checks, so the safest approach is not to drink at all if you are driving.
Fuel prices in Spain change regularly but are generally lower than in some neighbouring countries. As a recent typical range, unleaded petrol (Gasolina 95) is around EUR 1.60–1.80 per litre, while diesel (Gasoleo A) is roughly EUR 1.50–1.75 per litre. Motorway service stations can be more expensive than supermarkets or independent stations on local roads.
Yes, Spain has toll motorways known as autopistas de peaje, mainly around Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia and some major corridors. Tolls are charged per use, usually at barriers, and can be paid by cash or card; some sections accept electronic tags (Telepeaje). Many former toll roads have become free autovias, so costs and coverage vary by region and route.

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