Author: Tatiana
A car while traveling is not just a means of transportation, as Ostap Ibrahimovich once argued, but also the luxury of freedom: go wherever you want, regardless of the schedule of buses and trains :)
Car rental in Europe has long become a common thing for tourists. It is very convenient: the car can be ordered both online and on the spot at the office of the car rental company. You can rent inexpensive personal transport in any more or less large European city. I will not say that it is very cheap, but people who are ready for such expenses will be able to find a budget option (especially if they team up with someone).
The rental rules will be approximately the same everywhere, but different countries have their own "chips". Today I propose to find out what makes car rental in Spain different.
What do you need to rent a car in Europe in 2021?
- First of all, of course, you need a driver's license: international and Russian. In some countries (including Spain), our national rights are enough to drive a car.
- International passport (well, without it you won't get anywhere anyway;)).
- The driver must be of a certain age and have driving experience. In Spain, car rental is available from the age of 21, subject to 2 years of driving experience.
- And the last is a credit (not debit) card. Although we skated with the usual one.
Do i need an international driving license to rent a car in Spain?
The issue is controversial, so I am writing about it separately. Yes, in order to travel on the roads of Spain, international driving license is not needed. But they may be required:
- when renting from a rental company
- when moving from Spain to another Schengen country
Therefore, in my opinion, if you often travel on your own, let it be better. You can make such a driver's license in any department of the traffic police or the MFC (state duty 1600 rubles), as well as on the website of the State Services (1120 rubles).
Car rental prices in Spain
The rental price will depend on:
- car make and class
- rental company
- the city where you take the car
- location of the company's office in the city
- term
For example, renting a car in Barcelona in 2021 through Europcar will cost from 96 to 156 euros (economical Nissan Micra) in 3 days. In the first case, this is the Barcelona airport (and for 1 day it would cost € 59), in the second - the railway station (€ 105 per day). As you can see, it is more profitable to pick up the car in any case upon arrival.
Average rental prices (3 days and 7 days):
- class "mini": from € 20, from € 40 (Fiat 500)
- economy class: from € 25, from € 44 (Opel Corsa)
- class "standard": from € 37, from € 80 (Nissan Beetle)
Add to this the amount of the deposit - € 300- € 800 depending on the car. Car rental in Spain without a deductible and a deposit is possible, but on condition that you purchase additional insurance (we will talk more about the types of insurance below).
View of Montserrat - if you are more than 2 people, then it is more profitable to get there by car (just go through the first parking lot next to the funicular)
And don't forget about fuel costs! For a liter of A-95, you will give € 1.33; A-98 - € 1.46. There is no 92nd in the country at all. But, despite the high cost of gasoline, it is possible to find an inexpensive alternative: diesel fuel is still widespread in Spain at a price of € 1.24 / liter, and many cars are fueled with gas - € 0.62 / liter. But such cars are more expensive for rent - at least € 36 for three days.
Additional costs include the registration of a second driver and a child seat (5-9 euros per day for each "option").
Where are you looking for accommodation abroad? We choose Airbnb especially for Spain. This is a service for finding apartments / apartments / rooms, and it is cheaper than hotel aggregators. Moreover, for the first booking there is a discount of up to 4000 rubles (follow the link). |
White Mini Cooper we rented for 5 days
What sites are the best to book on?
- Rentalcars is, I confess, the favorite site of our traveling family 🙂 Represents such large international companies as Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Goldcar and Avis Rent. Reservation change and complete cancellation of the lease here are absolutely free two days before the appointed date. Very friendly customer support.
- AutoEurope - also free changes and cancellations. In some rental countries (including Spain), a second driver is issued free of charge. There is support through social networks. But you need to carefully read the terms of the contract, spelled out in the "Tariff Details".
- EconomyBookings - Low cost of rent. The opportunity to rent a car even for the youngest drivers who have just celebrated their 18th birthday. BUT! Not the best reviews of all.
Our random photo somewhere on the streets of Barcelona (in the Gothic Quarter)
Our steps to rent a car
1) Car rental in Spain starts with finding the best sites to book on. Three large aggregators are indicated above: we are guided by prices, we decide where to arrange a rental - online (cheaper for large distributors) or locally. With personal contact in small offices, they can offer very interesting prices, but there is also a risk of being left without a car at all. We usually do everything in advance.
2) We calculate our budget, determine which car is best suited (a couple traveling light can take a small Fiat, and a large family with children will not do without a minivan), for how many days a rental is required. We take into account the cost of fuel and other expenses.
3) We think over the route: if you return the car at the same office where you took it, this can reduce the rental price. If the first point of your trip, for example, is Madrid, and the final one is Barcelona, the airport, then the price may increase. We try to return in the same place.
4) While waiting for the keys to our booked "swallow" (ie already at the place, at the airport), we meticulously double-check the documents! If everything is correct, we pay. Then a certain amount is frozen on the card. If you want to do without a deposit, as already mentioned, take out additional insurance (you can do this in advance, online).
5) Next, we inspect the car for all chips, scratches and scuffs. We mark everything on a special form. It is important to pay attention to everything, otherwise some unnoticed dent may then be credited to your account! We always shoot videos and a couple of times it helped us VERY.
Be sure to record all chips and scratches on video, as we did.
Insurance
There are several types of insurance in Spain, so we will deal with:
- TPL or TLP: the rental price already includes initial insurance, which is somewhat reminiscent of our MTPL. Without it, the car will not be issued
- CDW: an analogue of the Russian hull insurance (without insurance against theft), assumes a mandatory franchise, the same amount of collateral
- TR: insurance in case of theft
- PAI: compensates for the damage to the health of passengers and the driver, but those traveling abroad already have life insurance (do you have it?)
- EP: shares the responsibility of the driver in the event of significant damage to third parties
The first three are considered the main ones for tourists. If you want to conclude a deal without a deductible, take out full insurance for about € 10 per day. She will protect you from any trouble, provided that you are not to blame. Glass and wheels with it are also insured.
Reviews for car rental in Spain
And, of course, as before any trip, we gain wisdom by reading reviews and tips:
1. Any travel forum informs us that it is still not worth traveling without an international driver's license - it is especially useful when meeting with the local police. So far, we have been driving without them all the time.
2. Useful advice - take a car outside the capital's offices. Car rental prices in Madrid and Barcelona are much higher than in cities such as Girona, Salou or Reus. Once you get there by public transport, you will save a lot. But then it is better to return in the same place.
3.Parking in Spain is as prone to color differentiation as the pants on the planet Plyuk! Be careful:
- white - parking is allowed (but there may be a time limit)
- blue - paid parking
- green - only with special permission
- yellow - prohibited or only for disabled people
4. In big cities it is better to additionally insure glass and wheels. This is especially true of Barcelona: the city center there is teeming with motorcyclists breaking glass in order to profit from the salon.
5. MANDATORY! Shoot video, take photos of all chips, dents and any defects.
I wish you wise and armed with information a great journey on a four-wheeled horse 😉
