Goldcar car hire Spain - overview
Goldcar is the largest dedicated budget car rental brand in Spain. Founded in 1985 in San Juan de Alicante by brothers Juan and Pedro Alcaraz - originally operating as "Europe Rent-a-car" before adopting the Goldcar name in the mid-2000s - the company was acquired by Europcar Group in 2017 for approximately €550 million. It now has 80+ offices across Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece and the Canary and Balearic Islands, making it the most geographically distributed budget operator in Southern Europe.
For car hire in Spain - particularly at Alicante, Malaga, Palma, and the Canary Island airports - Goldcar consistently appears at the bottom of price comparison results. Daily rates of €5-8 for economy cars in low season are genuine, not bait. The challenge is what happens at the counter and on return.
Goldcar reviews Spain - ratings across platforms
| Platform | Score | Reviews | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot (goldcar.es) | 1.3 / 5 | 53,512 | 52% one-star reviews |
| Google Maps - Malaga Airport | 3.6★ | ~10,100 | One of the most-reviewed branch listings in Spain |
| Auto Europe aggregator | Varies | Post-rental surveys | Higher than Trustpilot; post-rental self-selection |
Ratings checked June 2026.
The Goldcar counter - what the reviews describe
With 53,000+ Trustpilot reviews and 52% at one star, Goldcar has the most documented complaint record of any car hire company in Spain. The pattern across negative reviews is consistent enough to treat as structural rather than anecdotal: cheap base rate, counter pressure to upgrade to "Super Relax" or similar full-cover products (~€8-15/day), a deposit of approximately €1,400 placed on the credit card if you decline, and disputed damage or fuel charges on return.
A specific issue that appears repeatedly: Goldcar rejects prepaid cards and virtual cards (Revolut, Wise, N26) as security deposit instruments. If you arrive with only a prepaid card and haven't booked the full cover rate, the desk may add mandatory cover. This is not in the standard booking terms from third-party aggregators - it catches people at the counter.
The 3.6-star Google Maps rating at Malaga Airport (from ~10,100 reviews) is a more balanced view. It reflects the reality that the majority of Goldcar rentals do not end in a dispute - they're just unremarkable transactions. The Trustpilot score captures the outcome for customers who had a problem.
If you decline Goldcar's additional cover at the counter, expect a security deposit hold of approximately €1,400 on your credit card. This is released after return (usually 3-10 business days) if no damage is found. Debit cards and virtual cards are frequently rejected. If booking Goldcar, either book the full cover rate upfront, or confirm the deposit amount and card requirements directly with the company before arriving.
What the positive reviews say
The three-star and above reviews for Goldcar in Spain share a pattern: cheap rate, no problem at the counter (usually because the customer bought the full cover rate or had their credit card ready), clean car, straightforward return. Customers who approach Goldcar knowing what to expect and prepare accordingly often have an uneventful rental. The issue is that most first-time Goldcar customers don't know what to expect.
Goldcar car hire Spain - key facts
When to choose Goldcar - and when not to
Goldcar is a reasonable choice in two scenarios. First, if you're booking the full cover rate directly on their site - this eliminates the counter friction and the deposit. Second, if the price difference versus alternatives is €60+ for the trip and you're an experienced renter who photographs everything and knows not to show up with only a virtual card.
It's a poor choice for first-time Spain renters, anyone arriving on a late flight without a physical credit card, and anyone booking through a third-party aggregator without reading the small print on deposit and card requirements. For island holidays in the Canaries or Balearics where Goldcar has near-monopoly pricing at some airports, bringing a physical credit card and photographing the car at pickup is non-optional.
Goldcar car hire Spain - common questions
Goldcar's 1.3 out of 5 Trustpilot score from 53,500+ reviews reflects a business model common to budget Spanish car hire operators: low headline rates with margin recovery at the counter through insurance upselling, large deposits for customers who decline cover (around €1,400), and disputed damage charges on return. Most negative reviews describe one or more of these three issues. Customers who book full cover rates and arrive with a physical credit card tend to have uneventful rentals - as reflected in the 3.6-star Google Maps rating at Malaga Airport from over 10,000 reviews.
Goldcar's policy in Spain requires a credit card in the lead driver's name for the security deposit. Prepaid cards, virtual cards (Revolut, Wise, N26) and debit-only cards are frequently rejected at the counter. If you present one of these and haven't booked an full cover rate, the desk may add mandatory cover to the booking. Check the current card policy directly with Goldcar before travelling, as policies can vary by location.