Renting a Car in Spain
If you are traveling to Spain, you will want to rent a car to visit all the sites. The easiest way to do this is to rent a vehicle. There are many places where you can rent a car in Malaga. Many of them are even at the airport to make things easier for you.
Renting a vehicle is the best option if you want to enjoy some of the hidden gems of Malaga. It is also good for visiting places early before the crowds get there. It also allows you to be flexible due to the weather.
There are many places around Malaga that you can rent an auto. You can go to https://www.leiebilguiden.no/spania/malaga/ to see what they have to offer. They can help you to get the vehicle that you need. They have been helping people find cars for quite some time now.
This article will give you some tips and tricks for hiring a rental agency in Malaga. It will help you to see what you need to know to be successful at renting a vehicle. You can also do more research to find the information that you need.
Renting a Car in Malaga
- License to Rent – You will need a valid driver’s license to rent a vehicle in Malaga. If you have a license from the European Union, that is all that you need in way of a license. If you are from somewhere else, you will also need an IDP.
An IDP is an international driver’s permit. It is basically a translation of everything that is on your driver’s license, translated into several different languages. You will need it as well as your national driver’s license.
2. Extra Requirements for Age and Years of Driving – In Spain, you must be at least eighteen years old to drive a car. However, you need to be twenty-one years old to rent a car. The best rates are for those that are over twenty-five years old.
There may be extra charges for you if you are between twenty-one and twenty-five years old and if you are over sixty-five years old. There are platforms where you can check the restrictions and the charges that you might run into. This will tell you which rental agencies that will charge you extra.
3. Credit Card – You will need a credit card to reserve the auto of your choice at most rental companies. It is best if you have a travel card with a large limit. The limit needs to be at least enough to handle the hold charge. This is to help cover any damage that you might have on the vehicle. This amount is locked on your car until you return it with no damage.
Another option for you would be to take out the extra insurance at the rental company. This could lower the amount that your credit card would be responsible for. You need to have full coverage insurance with zero excess charge.
4. Best Time to Rent a Vehicle – If you want a good price for an auto in Spain, you need to book early, especially if you are coming in the summer. Summer is a popular time for tourists and there will be no last-minute special deals for rental vehicles. You should book your car as soon as you know that you are coming to Spain.
If you are coming during off-peak times, you might be able to get a better deal. You might be able to save money even the day that you need the car without booking in advance. It is still better to book in advance to get the exact type of car that you want.
5. When and Where to Rent a Car – There are rental agencies all over the country. You can stop at the airport, or at any of the many agencies around the cities nearby. You can also rent near any of the ports.
You can call or do an internet search to find the nearest agency to you. This will help you to find one close to you. Remember that while it may be more convenient to rent at the airport, it might be less expensive to rent at an agency in town.
6. Size and Power of the Vehicle – You need to get a vehicle that is big enough for you and your passengers as well as your luggage. You also need to see if you can get on that is not too wide if you want to drive through some of the towns and cities. The roads there are narrower and could cause you trouble with a wide car.
The power depends on where you want to drive the auto. If you want to drive in the mountains, you will want one with more power. If you are staying away from the mountains, any power will do.
7. Transmission Type – In Spain, you have a choice of transmissions that you can choose from. You can choose an automatic transmission – which is what most Americans drive. You could also choose a manual transmission if you know how to drive one of those. These are also commonly called a stick shift.
If you really need an automatic transmission, expect to pay more. You should also book early to get the one that you want. Manual transmissions are easier to come by. They are also less expensive than an automatic.
8. Fuel Choices – You have three basic choices for fuel for your rented vehicle. The most common two are gas, or petrol, and diesel. You can also get an electric car if that is what you desire.
In Spanish, a gas station is estacion de servicio and the gas pumps are green. The diesel pumps are usually on a black pump and say gasoil on it. You can find electric charging stations at places around the country.
9. 4WD Vehicles – It might be useful to have a 4WD vehicle in some situations. Most of these situations are not covered by the insurance that you will take out at the rental agency. You need to think about that before you ask about a 4WD.
Most roads to the attractions are paved so there is no need for it, anyway. Most beaches and viewpoints are accessible by 2WD vehicles. This can save you some money because you don’t really need a 4WD.
10. Vehicles with Sleeping Options – If you are planning on sleeping in your vehicle, consider a vehicle with sleeping options. You can ask when you book your car to see if it has sleeping options. There are many SUVs that have these, so ask.
You need to be careful when camping, though. Wild camping is not allowed so you need to know where you can camp. There are places where you can camp that are legal as long as you don’t put out stabilizers or awnings. There are also legitimate campsites all over Spain.
11. Cost in Spain – You need to compare the costs of renting a car in Spain. There are huge variations throughout the year, but the averages are between thirteen and fifty-five dollars per day. The least expensive are usually during January and February.
It is easy to compare prices across the agencies. You can also use one platform to compare the prices at many agencies. Search the internet or call different agencies to get prices.
12. Things to Consider – The first thing that you should do when you compare agencies is to make sure that they have the car that you want. Next, check cancellation fees – if there are any. You should also take mileage allowance into consideration.
Mileage allowances can differ from unlimited mileage to defined allowances. Unlimited mileage will probably cost you more but will allow you to go to more places. If you aren’t planning on going too far, a defined allowance might be good for you.
13. Read Reviews –Make sure that you read reviews carefully before choosing a rental agency. Be careful that you are reading all the reviews and not just the good ones or the bad ones. Remember that on some sites, anyone can leave a review even if they haven’t used the business.
14. How to Save Money – You can save money in several ways when renting a vehicle in Spain. The first thing that you should do is to book early. The earlier that you book, the better prices you will be able to get. You might even get special deals that you won’t get if you book the day that you need it.
You can also save money if you return the vehicle to where you picked it up. Booking smaller cars will also save you money. You can also book a car that has limited miles. If you need to rent for six days, see if there is a special for a week.
15. Crossing Borders and Using Ferries – Be careful when crossing borders or using ferries. This may be against the rules to do this, so make sure that it is okay before you do it. Many agencies don’t allow you to use the ferries at all, so check before you do.
Crossing borders can be tricky, so you need to ask about that, too. Some companies want you to stay in Spain, while others will allow you to go to some places but not others. A simple call to your rental agency will tell you if it is allowed.
Conclusion
There are many things that you should know before you rent a car in Malaga. Some of these things can keep you out of trouble, while others will help you to save money. You also need to know all the rules about renting in a foreign country.
