Renting a car in Spain: what to check before you sign

Renting a car is often the easiest way to explore Spain, collect visitors from the airport or get by while you wait for your own car. Most rentals go smoothly, but the problems people do run into are usually the same: a debit card that the desk will not accept, a fuel policy nobody explained, a scratch you are blamed for, or a fine that turns up weeks later. This checklist covers what to look at before you sign, from your licence to the low-emission zones now found in Spanish cities.

Check that your licence is valid

According to the DGT, Spain’s traffic authority, a driving licence issued in an EU or EEA country is valid in Spain for as long as it is in force. Licences from other countries are valid if they are in force and you meet the Spanish minimum age for that category. Some visitors also need an International Driving Permit, depending on the country that issued the licence, so check before you travel.

If you have moved to Spain, the picture changes: a non-EU licence can only be used for up to six months after you become a resident. After that you need to exchange it or take a Spanish test. Our guide to driving licence rules for EU, UK and non-EU drivers explains the details.

Rental companies also set their own conditions, such as a minimum age, a minimum number of years with a licence and extra charges for young drivers or additional drivers. These are in the terms, not the headline price, so read them before you pay.

Deposit and payment card

Most companies block a deposit on your card when you pick up the car and release it after you return it. The amount depends on the company, the car and the insurance you choose.

• Credit or debit: many companies require a credit card in the main driver’s name. Some accept debit cards only with their full insurance, and some not at all. Check this before you book.
• Card limit: make sure your available limit covers the deposit plus any spending you plan on the trip.
• Release time: it can take several days for the blocked amount to reappear on your card after you return the car.

Comparison sites help you see the conditions of several companies side by side. VIP Cars (ad) is a car rental comparison service where you can compare offers and read the rental terms before you book.

Fuel policy and extras

The fuel policy can change the real price of a rental a lot. The most common types are:

• Full to full: you get the car with a full tank and return it full. Usually the fairest option. Keep the receipt from a petrol station near the drop-off point.
• Full to empty (pre-paid fuel): you pay for a full tank at pick-up, often with a service fee, and get no refund for fuel you do not use. This rarely pays off on short trips.
• Same to same: you return the car with the same level as when you got it. Photograph the fuel gauge at pick-up.

Also check the price of child seats, an additional driver, one-way drop-off, out-of-hours collection and taking the car to another country. Under EU consumer rules, you should be shown the full price including unavoidable charges before you pay.

Insurance and the excess

Every rental car in the EU must have third-party liability insurance, and the cost must be included in the rental price. What varies is the cover for damage to the rental car itself. The basic cover usually comes with an excess (franquicia): the amount you pay yourself if the car is damaged or stolen.

• Ask what the excess is in euros, and what is excluded. Tyres, windows, mirrors, the underside of the car and keys are often not covered.
• The desk may offer extra cover to reduce the excess to zero. It can be worth it, but compare the price with the deposit you would otherwise have blocked.
• Separate excess insurance from a third party can be cheaper, but then you usually pay the rental company first and claim the money back later.

If you live in Spain and will soon buy your own car, our guide to car insurance in Spain for expats explains the types of cover.

Damage check at pick-up and return

Disputes about damage are the most common rental complaint. Protect yourself with a few minutes of checks:

• Walk around the car and film it slowly in daylight, including wheels, bumpers, windscreen and roof.
• Make sure every scratch and dent is marked on the damage form before you drive away. If staff say “small marks do not matter”, ask them to write that down.
• Photograph the dashboard with mileage and fuel level.
• On return, ask for the car to be checked with you and get a signed return document. If you drop the keys off out of hours, film the car in the car park.

If you disagree with a charge, complain in writing to the company first. Businesses in Andalucía must offer an official complaint form (hoja de reclamaciones). If you rented from a company based in another EU country, the European Consumer Centre in your country can also help.

Tolls, fines and low-emission zones

Most Spanish motorways are free, but some are still toll roads. On the Costa del Sol, the AP-7 between Málaga and Guadiaro and the AP-46 to Las Pedrizas charge tolls, while the A-7 runs along the coast without tolls. Ask the rental company whether the car has an electronic toll device and how they charge for it.

Speed cameras and parking fines are sent to the rental company, which passes your details to the authorities and usually adds an administration fee. Read that fee in the terms.

Since Spain’s climate change law of 2021, larger towns must set up low-emission zones (zonas de bajas emisiones, ZBE). Access depends on the car’s DGT environmental label: CERO, ECO, C or B. Málaga, for example, has a camera-controlled ZBE in the centre, and cars without a label can be fined. Its rules have been challenged in court in 2026 and may change. Rental cars are usually recent models with a label, but if you rent an older or cheaper car, ask which label it has and check the rules of the cities you plan to visit.

Picking up your car at the airport? Our guide to airports in Spain and how to get into town covers the main airports.

FAQ: renting a car in Spain

Can I rent a car in Spain with a debit card?

Sometimes. Many companies require a credit card for the deposit, and others accept debit cards only if you buy their full insurance. Check the payment conditions before you book, not at the desk.

Is insurance included in the rental price?

Third-party liability insurance must be included. Cover for damage to the rental car usually comes with an excess that you pay yourself, unless you buy extra cover.

Which fuel policy is best?

For most trips, “full to full” is the fairest, because you only pay for the fuel you use. Keep the petrol station receipt as proof.

Can a rental car enter a low-emission zone?

Usually yes, because most rental cars have a DGT environmental label. Cars without a label can be fined in some cities, including Málaga, so ask the company which label your car has.

Useful links

• DGT: foreign licences valid in Spain (Spanish)
• Your Europe: renting a car in another EU country
• Málaga City Council: low-emission zone (Spanish)

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and prices change, so check with the official source before you decide. Links marked “(ad)” are affiliate links – NewInSpain may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.