Car Hire Spain | From €5/day | 365 Car Hire

Spain is one of Europe’s most popular self-drive destinations — and with good reason. The country has an excellent motorway network, fuel is cheaper than in northern Europe, the roads are generally well-maintained, and the variety of landscapes is staggering: alpine mountains in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, vast central plains, dramatic coastal highways along both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, and centuries-old country lanes through wine regions that barely seem to have changed. Renting a car in Spain gives you access to all of it. At 365 Car Hire, we compare rates from Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Budget, and local suppliers to find you affordable car hire in Spain with all-inclusive pricing, no hidden fees, and free cancellation.

Why Hire a Car in Spain?

Spain is too big and too varied to see by public transport. The high-speed AVE train network is excellent for Madrid–Barcelona and Madrid–Seville corridors, but it doesn’t reach Andorra, doesn’t get you to the Pyrenees efficiently, and can’t take you on the coastal road from Valencia to Catalonia the way a car can. Here’s what opens up with a hire car:

• Everything outside the cities — Spain’s best moments are in small towns, national parks, wine regions, and coastal villages that no bus route connects properly
• Flexible itineraries — split your time between Barcelona, the Pyrenees, and the Basque Country in one trip, without backtracking
• Portugal access — the Iberian peninsula is your oyster; Lisbon from Madrid is a manageable 6-hour drive
• Wine country at your own pace — La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Rías Baixas — Spain’s wine regions are best explored with a designated driver and a sat-nav
• Cost-effective for groups — three people sharing a compact hire car will almost always spend less than three separate train tickets for comparable routes

Spain Car Hire — What’s Included

Every rate on 365carhire.com for car hire in Spain is transparent and all-inclusive. Here’s what’s covered as standard:

Major Spain Airports for Car Hire

Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)

Spain’s busiest airport and one of Europe’s largest. Four terminals, all with car hire desks in the arrivals areas. The drive into central Madrid takes 30–40 minutes on the M-11 or A-2, depending on which terminal you land at. Madrid is a great car-hire pick-up point if you’re planning to head north to the Basque Country (about 4.5 hours to Bilbao), east to Valencia (about 3.5 hours), or south to Seville (about 2.5 hours via the A-4/AP-4). Don’t drive into central Madrid itself — the city has extensive ZTL zones, the M-30 ring road is permanently congested, and parking in the centre is expensive and often full.

Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)

Barcelona’s airport (El Prat, terminals T1 and T2) is the main gateway to Catalonia and the Costa Brava. Car hire desks are in both terminal buildings. Barcelona itself is best navigated by public transport — the metro, buses, and trams are comprehensive — so resist the temptation to drive in. Pick up your car and head straight for the Pyrenees (Girona, the Cadaqués coast, the Montserrat monastery), the Costa Brava (Begues, Tossa de Mar, Blanes), or the Priorat wine region. The drive to the French border via the AP-7 takes about 90 minutes.

Malaga Airport (AGP) — Costa del Sol

Spain’s fourth-busiest airport and the gateway to Andalusia. Car hire desks are in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 3. From Malaga, you have the whole southern coast within reach — Marbella (45 minutes), Ronda (90 minutes), Granada (90 minutes), Seville (2.5 hours), and Tarifa at the Strait of Gibraltar (about 2 hours). It’s also one of the most popular one-way car hire locations — pick up at Malaga and drop off in Seville or vice versa.

Seville Airport (SVQ)

Seville’s airport is smaller and more manageable than Madrid or Barcelona. Car hire pick-up is straightforward. Seville is a good base for exploring Andalusia by car — Córdoba and the Mezquita (2 hours north), the white villages of Cádiz province (Jerez, Arcos de la Frontera, about 1.5 hours), and the Doñana National Park are all reachable in a day. Don’t attempt to drive into Seville’s historic centre — the city has extensive ZTL restrictions around the cathedral and Alcázar areas.

Bilbao Airport (BIO)

The gateway to the Basque Country and northern Spain. Bilbao Airport ( Loiu) is about 12km north of the city. The Basque Country is one of Spain’s most rewarding driving regions — the coast from Bilbao to San Sebastián is spectacular, the interior hasroman cider houses and green mountains, and it’s a short drive to the Picos de Europa national park. Car hire at Bilbao opens up the entire north coast: Santander, the Altamira caves near Santillana del Mar, the Asturian coast, and ultimately Galicia — a wonderful two-week coastal road trip if you have the time.

Spain’s Road Network — What to Expect

Spain has over 400,000km of roads — the third-longest network in the EU after France and Germany. Here’s what you need to know about driving them:

• Motorways (autopistas): The AP-series roads are toll roads. The parallel A-series (like A-1, A-2, A-5) are generally toll-free dual carriageways. The AP-7 along the Mediterranean coast (and the soon-to-be-completed sections) are tolled but fast. Expect to pay €5–20 per hour on the most-used toll sections.
• Speed limits: 120 km/h on toll motorways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 90 km/h on open roads, 50 km/h in urban areas. Spain enforces these strictly —radar cameras (radares) are widespread and fines arrive by post within weeks.
• The radial road network: From Madrid, major roads radiate outward like spokes of a wheel — the A-1 north to Burgos and the Basque Country, the A-2 east to Zaragoza and Barcelona, the A-3 south to Valencia, the A-4 south to Seville. They’re all well-maintained and mostly toll-free.
• Mountain roads: Spain has spectacular mountain driving: the Pyrenees (A-138 via the Bielsa tunnel, the winding climb to Noguera de Tor), the Sierra Nevada (the road up to the ski resort at Sierra Nevada is steep but spectacular), the Galicia interior. Many mountain roads are single-lane with passing places — take your time.
• Driving in cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Bilbao all have ZTL (Zona de Tráfico Limitado) zones in their historic centres. Entering without authorisation can result in fines of €90–200. Always check before driving into any Spanish city centre. Park outside and walk in, or use public transport for city sightseeing.
• Roundabouts: Spain has an enormous number of roundabouts, including some very large multi-lane ones on the outskirts of cities. The golden rule: traffic already on the roundabout has priority. Signal your exit.
• Toll roads and payment: Most toll booths accept cash and cards. Some newer sections use only telepeaje (electronic toll) — if you hire from a Spanish supplier, ask if they provide a toll device (like a Via-T or equivalent). Unpaid tolls are traced to the vehicle registration and fines issued via the hire car company.

Regional Spain — Driving Highlights

The Costa Brava — Girona to the French Border

The Costa Brava (literally “Rugged Coast”) runs from the town of Blanes north to the French border. It’s one of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines — rocky coves, medieval cliff-top villages, crystal-clear water, and some of the best seafood in the Mediterranean. The main road (GI-600/N-II) follows the coast closely. The best bits are accessed by turning off toward the sea: Cadaqués (near the French border, famous for its association with Dalí), the illa de Roses, the古镇 of Empúries (where Greece and Rome meet), and the beautiful Parc Natural del Cap de Creus. Book your car hire in Barcelona and pick it up at the airport for the smoothest start.

Andalusia — Seville to Granada to Malaga

The classic Andalusian triangle: Seville (the Alcázar, the cathedral, the alive tapas scene), Córdoba (the Mezquita, one of the world’s most extraordinary buildings), and Granada (the Alhambra at dawn is a life-changing experience). Each pair of cities is about 2–2.5 hours by car, making this a perfect three-destination road trip. The A-92 inland route is toll-free and in excellent condition. Drive through the white villages (pueblos blancos) of Cádiz province as a detour — Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema, and Zahara de la Sierra are spectacular.

La Rioja — Spain’s Most Famous Wine Region

La Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa are best explored by car. The region is small — you can drive from Logroño to the Haro area in 30 minutes — but the wine road (the Lancerada route through Briñas, San Asensio, and the classic vineyards around Haro) demands stop-and-drive pace. Logroño’s calle del Laurel is one of Europe’s great tapas streets, and it’s perfectly walkable — stay in the city and use your car for day trips into the wine country.

The Pyrenees — Aragon and Catalonia

The Spanish Pyrenees are one of Europe’s most overlooked mountain driving destinations. The road from Zaragoza to Huesca and then up to the skiing areas (Cerler, Formigal, Benasque) is spectacular in summer. The A-138 over the Bielsa tunnel into France is a classic Alpine-style mountain pass. The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park has some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Spain — but access roads are steep, narrow in places, and often closed in winter.

Galicia — Green Spain’s Atlantic Coast

Galicia (with its Celtic heritage and Atlantic weather) is very different from the Spain most tourists experience. The coastline — the Rías Baixas (south, near the Portuguese border), the Costa da Morte (the “Coast of Death”, with dramatic cliffs and shipwreck history), and the Rías Altas (north toward Asturias) — is one of Europe’s most spectacular coastal drives. The AC-15 and CG-14.1 roads hugging the cliffs north of Ferrol are not for the faint-hearted but are unforgettable. Santiago de Compostela is the obvious base and has a compact old town that’s genuinely walkable — leave the car at your accommodation.

Spain Car Hire — Practical Answers

What’s the minimum age to rent a car in Spain?

The minimum age is 21 years for most suppliers in Spain, though some premium and sports car categories require drivers to be 23 or 25. Drivers under 25 pay a young driver surcharge of roughly €15–25/day. Drivers over 70 may require a medical certificate — check with your specific supplier.

Can I drive in Spain with my EU/UK/US/Australian licence?

EU driving licences are accepted directly. UK drivers post-Brexit need both their UK licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) — the UK AA and RAC issue these for around £5.50. US drivers need their US licence plus an IDP. Australian drivers need their Australian licence plus an IDP. Canadian drivers need their Canadian licence plus an IDP. The IDP is a simple translation document — get one before you travel, not at the airport.

Should I get a toll device for Spanish motorways?

Most hire car suppliers in Spain now offer a Via-T or equivalent electronic toll device pre-installed in the vehicle. This means you don’t need to stop at toll booths — the toll is charged to your rental agreement and appears on your final bill plus an admin fee of around €10–20 for the whole rental period. Ask your supplier when you pick up the car. It’s worth it for motorway driving — having to find the right coins at a manned booth while traffic queues behind you is not fun.

What fuel do Spanish petrol stations use?

Both diesel (gasóleo) and petrol (gasolina 95 and 98) are universally available. Diesel is almost always cheaper than petrol in Spain and is the fuel of choice for most rural drivers. Unleaded 95 is the standard petrol grade. Many motorway petrol stations (particularly the automated ones in remoter areas) are unattended outside business hours — always carry some cash as backup even if you plan to pay by card.

Is Spain expensive for car hire?

Spain is genuinely good value for car hire in European terms — daily rates from €5 are common in shoulder season (March–May, September–November) for economy cars. Summer peak rates are higher but still competitive by European standards. One-way rentals (pick up in Barcelona, drop off in Madrid, for example) typically incur a one-way fee of €20–80 depending on the distance and which suppliers are involved.

Do I need to worry about snow in Spain?

Only if you’re driving in mountain areas in winter. The Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, the Sierra Nevada (Granada’s mountain), and the roads over the main passes between Madrid and the north (Puerto de Navacerrada, Puerto de Somosierra) can have snow and ice between November and April. If you’re driving in these areas in winter, ask your supplier for winter tyres or chains and carry them — it’s mandatory on many mountain roads during snow conditions. In the cities and along the coasts, you will never need them.

Book Your Car Hire in Spain

Spain rewards the independent traveller with a car. Whether you’re here for a fortnight’s coastal road trip, a long weekend combining Madrid and Toledo, or a serious wine-country circuit through La Rioja and Ribera del Duero, having your own wheels makes every moment better. Compare rates from all the major suppliers above and book through 365 Car Hire — all-inclusive pricing, no hidden fees, free cancellation, and 24/7 support when you need it.

Related Destinations

Looking for car hire in a specific Spanish destination? Also explore car hire in Madrid, car hire in Barcelona, car hire in Seville, car hire in Malaga, and car hire in Valencia.