Car Hire - Spain

BillyGoatGruff

Looking to hire a car for 10 days in June. Will be landing in Malaga Airport. Does anyone know where i would get the best deal. Is it better to arrange it with an Irish company before i go or use one over there. Also, do i need a credit card.

many thanks

gerardk55

I find that Hertz do the best deals in spain. Used them the last two years. Definitely need a credit card.

urranger

I got 10 days from alicante for €145 with www.carjet.co.uk.
Also, try www.travelsupermarket.co.uk for a range of quotes.
I advised someone to check this site for Italy, as they were quoted €600 by Hertz. They got Hertz through travelsupermarket for €307 !!!!
Also, if you're flying Ryanair go through the link on their website as I saved €60 on Hertz doing this last year.

Oh and yes you do need a credit card!

FestivalFox

Just came back from spain last night. It was only 3 days but I got a Ford focus + half a tank of petrol for 60euro form sol mar car hire

flikflak

I have found doyouspain.com to be great value.

You will probably need a c/card alright for the deposit you need to leave.

Squiggle

flikflak wrote: »

I have found doyouspain.com to be great value.

You will probably need a c/card alright for the deposit you need to leave.

I have used doyouspain several times in Malaga and never had to leave a deposit at the time of booking or leave my cc details. You will need your cc to pay at the desk though. The queues at Malaga car hire desks can be brutally slow in my experience. Tony's rent a car avoids that problem because they meet you at arrivals ( they will hold up a card with your name on it ) and take it from there - he's usually not the cheapest though which is the downside. You can get online quotes for both companys.

BillyGoatGruff

Thanks for all the useful info. Much appreciated.

LordDorington

My parents hired a citroen berlingo in Alicante yesterday (not aparticularly big car) and they were charged 90 euro for fuel. It seems a little extortionate to be honest, any opinions on this?

black & white

LordDorington wrote: »

My parents hired a citroen berlingo in Alicante yesterday (not aparticularly big car) and they were charged 90 euro for fuel. It seems a little extortionate to be honest, any opinions on this?

Similar situation to me in July. Booked through Carjet and the car was to be collected at Goldstar car hire at Alicante airport. I knew beforehand that I would have to prepay for a tank of fuel but they told me 70 for the tank of fuel and a 20 supplement because that fuel was diesel. I nearly had an eppo there and then but the woman behind the desk said "take it or leave it" The queue at that desk and all the other companies were huge so I paid through gritted teeth

Through email correspondence since we came home involving the Spanish tourist authority, we got the 20 Euro supplement back.

LordDorington

black & white wrote: »

Similar situation to me in July. Booked through Carjet and the car was to be collected at Goldstar car hire at Alicante airport. I knew beforehand that I would have to prepay for a tank of fuel but they told me 70 for the tank of fuel and a 20 supplement because that fuel was diesel. I nearly had an eppo there and then but the woman behind the desk said "take it or leave it" The queue at that desk and all the other companies were huge so I paid through gritted teeth

Through email correspondence since we came home involving the Spanish tourist authority, we got the 20 Euro supplement back.

I think thats what they were told also. I have emailed asking for a copy of the booking confirmation and now they are being very guarded and asking me why I want to have it!

tawnie

I have used both Goldcar.es and Sixt for renting cars from malaga airport. They both are pretty decent. The downside to Sixt is that they are not in the arrivals lounge. You must get a bus from outside the arrivals area which will bring you to there garage. There building is only 2mins from the arrivals area to be fair.

On the other hand in peak season the queues are very long in the arrivals area for car hire and you maybe waiting up to an hour to be served from any of the rental companies.

A credit card is essential for booking the hire car.

Car hire in andalucia is the way to go. Enjoy.:)

mackey087

we used carhire 3000 in janaury. seat ibiza for 120 euro. stayed in fuertaventura. collected the car at the airport with a full tank. no charge but the tank had to be full on return

LordDorington

mackey087 wrote: »

we used carhire 3000 in janaury. seat ibiza for 120 euro. stayed in fuertaventura. collected the car at the airport with a full tank. no charge but the tank had to be full on return

thats better in a way because at least you are just paying the price at the pump and not some ridiculous markup and "service charge" at the desk

Tabnabs

I used http://www.hispacar.com/ in Malaga last September, very good value for money. Met at the airport and driven by bus to their office just in front of the airport. Excellent service and extremely friendly staff. They even gave me tips on directions for my destination. Couldn't fault the car or the costs.

I found them after reading favourable reviews on tripadvisor.com

celliman

Carjet are the one,they will beat all the rest.i have used them 20 plus times.Fuel all car companys use a full tank given and bring back empty.3days or less and it is full/full

Plood

Are there any companies which waive the condition that you have to have held a full license for a certain period. Had mine less than a year but am 29 and have been driving for years, just never got round to it...

jammy32

i am going to alicante in spain for 1 week in april.I need to rent a car.Problem is i dont have a credit card.i only have a laser debit card.is there anything i can do?

Leper

I travel to Sp;ain several times during the year and always use www.economycarhire.com

ThePool

Just be careful when renting a car in Spain, they will ask you if you want extra insurance and if you say no they will add to you invoice in Spanish and ask you to sign without seeing invoice.
I have queried on 3 occassions this year and have been refunded except for the extra insurance as I had signed for.
Just wondering has anybody experienced difficulties with Car Rentals in Spain overcharging.

ThePool

Leper

Well, (ThePool) I find it difficult to believe your story. I am renting cars in Spain for the past 20 years and none of the car rental companies sold me other than I had asked for.

I have come across people when renting start talking in broken Spanish and perhaps because of this they were sold something other than they wanted.

The trick is to speak in English (unless of course your Spanish is good. The car rental people are usually proficient in English.

Leper

Jammy I have rented cars in Spain without a Credit Card. But, you have to ring well in advance of your arrival date. The likliehood is that you will have to pay a substantial deposit which will be refunded when you return the car.

Try www.economycarhire.com on google - ring them. I am sure you will be facilitated.

mayfire

Leper wrote: »

Well, (ThePool) I find it difficult to believe your story. I am renting cars in Spain for the past 20 years and none of the car rental companies sold me other than I had asked for.

I have come across people when renting start talking in broken Spanish and perhaps because of this they were sold something other than they wanted.

The trick is to speak in English (unless of course your Spanish is good. The car rental people are usually proficient in English.

I too never had any problem rent ing a car or came across anything like that either. I always speak in English as it puts the responsibility on the renter to understand you. Also I have often rented without a credit card. You have to but the full insurance though for them to be covered and also to give deposit for full tank of petrol and a deposit in case you do not return it to the location agreed. Some companies won't do it but some will.

anneboleyn

Always rent from one of the major brand companies - it might cost a bit more but in the event that any of the usual car hire scams fuel, damage , extra mileage etc are deployed, you'll have more come back becuase you deal with the Customer Service Dept in your own country .. Hertz, Avis and Europcar all operate this way. Always check the car for existing damage before you take it away and when you return it make sure that a member of staff checks it with you, and check if you will be charged a premium if they refuel the car for you.. if yes, then fill it up yourself before you return it. In terms of insurance, make sure you know what the excess is for damage before you turn the extra insurance down.. your own car insurance won't cover you and you might find yourself with a €600 excess to pay for a relatively minor bump, when you could have avoided it by paying an extra €30 for insurance.
I always find in Spain that if you are friendly and polite and raise any issues at the time, the people will treat you accordingly, if you aren't then they'll respond in kind..

anneboleyn

Plood wrote: »

Are there any companies which waive the condition that you have to have held a full license for a certain period. Had mine less than a year but am 29 and have been driving for years, just never got round to it...

Afraid not, the insurance underwriters insist on a minimum of a years licence

Leper

Sound advice thre from Anneboleyn. And if you are going off the beaten track it could be prudent to take out insurance against windscreen breakage and tyre damage (€15).

hcpfaisal

is all members who are traveling with me are covered under the insurance plan or I need to buy separate insurance for everyone?

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