Why is it so expensive to rent a car in Spain?

The price typically depends on a few things; the time of the year that you're visiting, the duration of your trip, and the type of car that you want to rent. During the summer months, there's always an increased demand to rent a car in Spain, which drives up the prices.



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The price rises are mainly caused by car rental companies having sold off much of their stock of vehicles during the pandemic as demand collapsed. Now, with people taking holidays again, they are trying to rebuild their fleets, but a global shortage of semi-conductors means they are paying more for new vehicles.

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But, do you need to rent a car during your trip to Spain at all? It actually depends on your agenda and where exactly you're planning to travel. If your main goal is only to spend time in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Seville or Málaga, you don't need a car. In fact, having one will make your life harder.

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1 | Booking your rental car We've rented cars in most European countries and have always found Spain to be very easy and straightforward for renting a car. From booking our cars to pickup and driving around the country, we have found Spain a great country to explore by rental car.

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Rent a smile The legal driving age in Spain is 18 years old. To be able to rent a car, however, most rental car companies in Spain require you to be at least 21 years old. Some might also ask that you have had your license for at least one year, and some might require you to be 23 or over.

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Compared to long road trips and all of the inconveniences of short flights, it's easy to get around Spain by train. Instead of sitting on a cramped bus or spending your time going to and from airports, the trains offer a quick and comfortable way to enjoy the ride to Spain's dazzling cities.

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What are the most important rules? In Spain, we drive on the right, safety belts are mandatory for all the occupants of the vehicle and there are speed limits on all roads. These are 120 km/h on dual carriageways and motorways, 90 km/h on all other roads and 30 km/h in built-up areas.

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Uber in Spain operates in exactly the same way that it does in every country. Therefore, if you already have the app downloaded and an active account – away you go. However, if you haven't used the platform yet you will need to download the app from your app store (find it for Android here and Apple here).

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Use public transportation, but skip the tourist ticket Public transportation in Spain is affordable, clean and as relatively reliable as anywhere else in the world. Whenever possible, opt for the bus or metro over a cab, but think twice before you buy that unlimited multiday pass.

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