Do I need a credit card to hire a car?
A credit card is used to hold the deposit (the security hold).
How it works: at pick-up the hire company freezes the deposit amount on the card. The money isn't charged - it's released once you bring the car back undamaged.
No credit card? The catalogue has cars that take a cash deposit, and a few with no deposit at all - though those are limited.
Can I hire a car without a credit card?
Yes. Some cars in the catalogue take a cash deposit instead - choose the "Cash" payment option in the filter. With those, nothing is held on a card.
What is a deposit on a car hire?
The deposit (security hold) is money the hire company holds as a guarantee for the car. Traffic fines or repair costs for any damage can be taken from it. Bring the car back with no issues and the deposit comes back in full.
How big is the deposit at pick-up?
It depends on the car class and the hire company - you'll see the exact figure on each car's card.
The deposit is a guarantee: fines or damage costs may come out of it, and it's returned in full if the car comes back fine.
You can set a maximum deposit right in the filters and the catalogue will show only matching offers. Bear in mind the lower you set it, the fewer cars are left.
Can I hire a car with no deposit?
Yes, there are no-deposit offers - just not many.
To see them, tick "No deposit" in the filter. If nothing suitable comes up, contact our support team.
There are also cars with a small deposit and a cash-payment option - a handy fallback if no zero-deposit car is free on your dates.
Deposit vs excess - what's the difference?
The deposit (hold) is money the company takes at pick-up - frozen on a credit card or paid in cash. It's a guarantee, not a charge: bring the car back intact and you get it back in full.
The excess is the part of any damage you pay yourself, even with insurance. Anything above the excess is covered by the insurer; anything below it is on you.
How they link up in practice: if you damage the car, the company keeps the repair cost from the deposit, but never more than the excess. That's why the deposit often matches the excess, or sits just above it.
Example. The excess is €800 and the deposit is held for the same amount. Scratch a bumper and the repair is €300 - you're charged €300. Dent a wing for €2,000 and you're only charged the €800 excess; the insurer covers the rest.
How to get rid of the excess: take extra cover with zero excess (Full Insurance or Super CDW). Then you pay nothing towards damage, and the deposit is often waived or only a token amount.
You'll see the deposit and the insurance with its built-in excess on the car's card before you book. You can switch the cover - from basic to full - and the insurer then handles almost everything, with nothing taken from the deposit.
What does the insurance cover?
Hire insurance comes in a few tiers:
TPL (Responsabilidad Civil) - compulsory third-party liability, always included. It covers damage you cause to others: another vehicle or property.
CDW (Seguro a Todo Riesgo) - covers damage to the hire car itself, even when the accident is your fault. It's optional and handles most situations, apart from glass and tyres.
Super CDW (Todo Riesgo sin franquicia) - reduces or removes the excess and also covers what CDW doesn't, such as glass and tyres. With it the car is usually handed over with no deposit, or only a token one for possible fines.
You'll see the available options on the car's card when booking and can pick one.
If nothing suitable comes up, contact our support team.
Minimum, basic and full cover - what's the difference?
It comes down to what's covered if something happens to the car.
Minimum cover. Covers only the damage you cause to other cars in an accident. Damage to your hire car, plus glass and wheels, is on you. The riskiest option - fine if you're confident behind the wheel and want to save.
Basic cover (CDW). Adds partial cover for damage to your car in an accident. Glass and wheels still aren't covered - and those are among the most common knocks on the road.
Full cover (Super CDW). Covers all damage to the car, glass and tyres included.
If you'd rather not think about the deposit or excess, go for full cover (Super CDW). Even after a prang, nothing is taken from the deposit. It's the easy-life option: pay once and forget about damage.
Can I pay cash for the hire?
Yes - the catalogue has cars you can hire and pay for in cash. You put down a small advance online with any debit or credit card - usually 15-20% of the hire - and settle the rest in cash at pick-up.
To find them, choose the "Cash" option in the catalogue filter.
Can I pay with cryptocurrency?
Yes, paying for a car in cryptocurrency is possible - just contact our support team to arrange it.
Can I drive into Andorra, Portugal, France or elsewhere in the EU?
Crossing the border has to be agreed with the hire company in advance. A small service fee and extra insurance may apply. To show cars that are allowed to leave Spain, tick the relevant option in the filter, or contact our support team.
Don't cross the border without clearing it with the hire company first.
Can I return the car in a different city?
Yes. In the search bar, set a pick-up point and a separate drop-off point. By default the car is returned to the same place you collected it.
What documents do I need to hire a car?
To collect the car you need your passport, driving licence and the booking voucher - the voucher can be shown straight from your phone or tablet. It locks in the final price with your chosen options and insurance, so the amount due at pick-up won't change.
Where do I pick the car up?
Our hire companies operate at airports and in town.
How you're met at pick-up varies by which company supplies your car. Some have a desk right inside the airport, others hand the car over at a parking bay nearby, and some run a shuttle from the airport to their office. A few have offices in the city centre.
Once you've booked, your voucher lists the hire company's contacts (email, phone, plus WhatsApp and Telegram), so you can check the hand-over details with the manager directly.
We also offer city car delivery. The hire company can bring the car to your hotel or anywhere in town. To arrange it, contact our support team.
What's the minimum driving experience required?
To hire through our companies, you need to have held your licence for at least 2 years.
What are the driving licence requirements in Spain?
Most visitors drive in Spain on their home licence. From outside the EU, also bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) - it's quick and cheap to get, and some rental chains ask for it at the counter. Carry both, as the IDP isn't valid on its own.
A UK photocard licence is accepted in Spain for visitors, so you don't need an International Driving Permit. Bring the card itself. Old paper licences, or licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, may still need one.