Driving in Spain

Documents & car equipment

What do you need to hire a car in Spain?

While the minimum legal driving age in Spain is 18, most car hire companies will require drivers to be at least 21 years of age before they consider hiring them a car. In addition to meeting the age requirement, you will need to have a full UK driving licence, an International Driving Permit (if your UK licence was not issued by mainland UK authorities such as Gibraltar, Guernsey or the Isle of Man), and your valid passport or National ID card for EU citizens for identification. You will also need a credit card to pay for the car hire deposit, though a few car hire agencies will also accept debit cards. As a minimum requirement, you will need to have third-party liability insurance in order to hire a car in Spain.

Tips for hiring a car in Spain

When picking up your car hire, make sure you inspect it well and note down any existing marks and scratches. Then, when you return it, take some good photos of the outside and the inside of the car as proof of its condition. If you don’t have your own external insurance policy, make sure you double-check that insurance is included in the hire contract, and if you do have external insurance, make sure that you’re not paying twice for the same coverage.

If you plan on crossing the border and driving into other countries, you must tell the agency beforehand as they need to ensure you have adequate insurance for all the locations you’ll be visiting. Make sure you try to negotiate unlimited mileage to avoid paying money for driving a few extra miles, and if you’ve been asked to return the tank full, check that it is also full when you pick it up. Upon returning the car, stop at the closest petrol station to the agency to refuel it.