What you need to rent a car in Spain
To rent a car in Spain you need four things: a full driving licence held for at least one to two years, a passport or ID card, a payment card in the main driver's name, and your booking confirmation. The driver normally has to be at least 21. Everything else - the kind of insurance, the deposit, extra drivers - is set when you book.
Don't forget your documents
Carry these to the pickup desk. A missing card or licence is the most common reason a booking is refused on the spot.
Driving licence
Full, valid, and usually held for at least one to two years. Bring the photocard and, if asked, the paper counterpart.
Passport or ID
A passport for non-EU visitors, or a national ID card for EU citizens, to confirm identity at the desk.
A payment card
In the main driver's name. A credit card on standard rates; a debit card works on a no-deposit rate.
Booking voucher
The confirmation with your reservation number, printed or on your phone, plus your flight details if relevant.
UK and EU licences
A UK photocard licence is accepted across Spain with no extra paperwork - Brexit changed nothing here, and you do not need an international permit for a holiday rental. EU licences are accepted as they are. The one thing worth doing before you fly is a quick check of your own licence for any restrictions and that it has not expired.
US and other non-EU licences
Yes, an American can rent a car in Spain on a US licence - this is one of the most common questions and the answer is straightforward. Bring the physical licence; a photo is not enough. Spain technically requires an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside any licence not issued in an EU language, and while many companies rent to US drivers without one, the police can ask for it and some desks insist on it. An IDP costs little, is issued in a day at home, and removes the risk - so for a US, Canadian, Australian or other non-EU licence, get one before you travel. The same applies to licences in a non-Latin script, where an IDP is effectively required.
Each driver must be registered
Only the named drivers on the agreement are insured. If two of you will share the wheel, add the second driver at booking - it is cheaper than at the desk, and an unregistered driver voids the insurance if anything happens. Each additional driver brings their own licence to the counter.