The major international Car rental companies have offices in most major cities and at the major airports such as Malaga servicing the Costa da Sol or Alicante, Valencia and San Javier (Murcia) servicing the Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida or Barcelona and Girona for the Costa Brava and of course , Palma for Majorca. However the smaller local car rental companies tend to be less expensive. If you're a visitor, it's advisable to reserve a rental car before arriving, particularly during peak periods. More visitors rent cars in Spain than any other European country and a hefty percentage of these are in Andalucía and the Costa Blanca. Car rental in Spain is the cheapest in Europe due to the strong competition. However, due to pressure on fleet financing rates have increased a little. When comparing rates, check that prices are fully inclusive of insurance and taxes. Standard Insurance cover does not ususlly cover the first 250 EUR of any damage. Check insurance cover for young drivers under 25. Policy on payment for petrol varies – check the small print. Most issue cars with a full/half/empty tank and ask you to return the car the same. Others charge for a full tank and do not credit you when the car is not returned empty. This is often prohibited to take the car to Portugal or France and almost certainly prohibited to take the car to Morocco. To rent a car in Spain you must produce a valid licence (a copy is not acceptable). If more than one person will be driving, all the drivers' names must be included on the rental agreement. Lastly check the car on collection for damage, record with digital camera if unsure whether to officially record minor damages on the contract. All (hire) cars are required by law to carry two warning triangles in the luggage compartment and two yellow vests in the glove compartment. Ensure these are present on collection.
Tags: Alicante Airport, Andalucia, Car Hire, car rental, Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Majorca, Murcia, Palma, spain, valencia