Why rent a luxury or convertible car in Spain
The Costa del Sol gets more than 300 days of sun a year, the coastal roads were made for an open top, and the premium fleets in Marbella, Barcelona and Ibiza are some of the deepest in Europe.
A long convertible season
Southern Spain stays warm from spring to late autumn, so a cabrio is worth the rental for far more of the year than in northern Europe.
Automatic as standard
Almost every premium and convertible model comes with an automatic gearbox, so there is no manual to worry about on unfamiliar roads.
Marbella and Barcelona hubs
The densest luxury fleets sit on the Costa del Sol and in Barcelona, with delivery to the airport, your hotel or a villa.
Right car for the occasion
From a discreet executive saloon for business to a roadster for a coastal weekend, the premium fleet covers every kind of trip.
What you can rent in the premium class
Luxury car rental in Spain spans four broad groups. Availability is widest at Malaga, Barcelona and Ibiza, and the exotic end is concentrated in Marbella and Puerto Banus.
Convertibles
Mini Cabrio and Fiat 500C at the affordable end, then the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 Cabrio, BMW Z4 and Mercedes E-Class Cabrio.
Executive saloons
Mercedes E-Class and S-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 - comfortable, automatic and at home on a long autovia run.
Luxury SUVs
Range Rover Sport, Mercedes GLE and similar - space for a family and golf clubs with a premium finish.
Sports & exotic
Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG and, through specialist desks in Marbella, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.
Where to hire a luxury car in Spain
Luxury car hire concentrates in a handful of places. Marbella and Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol are the centre of the high-performance and convertible market, fed by Malaga airport (AGP) an hour away. Barcelona has the largest premium fleet of any Spanish city - it is also the single biggest search for luxury rental in the country - and Ibiza adds a strong seasonal convertible market in summer. For all of these, the practical option is delivery: most premium suppliers bring the car to the airport, your hotel or a villa rather than asking you to collect it from a desk.
The requirements are stricter than for a standard car
Premium and exotic rentals carry higher minimums than the economy groups. The driver is usually 25 to 30 rather than 21, must have held a full licence for two to three years, and a credit card in the driver's name is normally required for the deposit - the hold can be large on a high-value car. The most exclusive models can ask for age 30+ with three years of experience. Check the specific car's terms before you book, because they vary by supplier and by vehicle value.
Roads worth the open top
A convertible earns its keep on the right road. From Marbella, the climb up to Ronda through the mountains is the classic drive, and the coast road west towards Estepona is an easy cruise. Out of Barcelona, the coastal route north into the Costa Brava strings together cliff-top corners and small bays. Inland from any of the southern cities, the white-village routes of Andalusia reward an unhurried pace far more than outright speed.
Timing and price
- Cheapest in winter - convertible rates fall sharply outside summer; January is often the lowest point of the year.
- Tightest in July and August - the best models book out early on the coast and the islands.
- Events drive demand - the Barcelona and Valencia race weekends and the summer season in Marbella spike prices, so reserve ahead.
- Delivery is normal - factor in that most premium suppliers deliver rather than run an airport desk.