Which car to hire in Spain
The right car depends on three things - how many of you there are, where you are driving, and whether you want a manual or an automatic. Cars in Spain are quoted by class, not by model, so once you pick the class you book "this size or similar". Below is a short guide to each class with a link to its full page, and a quick way to match a trip to the right one.
Car types you can hire
Five classes cover almost every trip. Open a class for the models, prices and the Spain-specific details.
Budget & economy
The cheapest way to drive - small petrol cars for cities, short trips and the islands.
Automatic
No clutch, the comfortable choice if you do not drive a manual. Scarce in Spain, so book early.
Luxury & convertible
Premium saloons, SUVs and cabrios for the coast, Marbella, Barcelona and Ibiza.
7-seater
A people carrier for a family or six adults, still car-like to drive in town.
9-seater & van
Up to nine seats on a standard licence - one vehicle for the whole group.
How to pick the right class
Start with the size. One to four people with light luggage fit an economy car; five to seven need a 7-seater; eight or nine travel in a 9-seater van, which in Spain is often no dearer than a 7-seater because suppliers hold more of them. A group of six who want luggage room are usually better in a 9-seater with a couple of seats folded than in a packed seven.
Then the route. In the cities and on the islands, where streets are narrow and parking is tight, a small budget car is the easy choice - and Spanish rental cars carry the DGT sticker, so even a cheap one can enter the Madrid and Barcelona low-emission zones. For long motorway runs, hilly Andalusia or the Costa del Sol, comfort matters more, which is where an automatic or a premium car or convertible earns its keep.
The transmission decides itself for many visitors
Manual is the default in Spain across every class except the premium one. If you are happy with a stick shift, you get the widest choice and the lowest price. If you are not, choose an automatic and book it early - automatics are a minority of the fleet and sell out first in summer. Premium and convertible cars are automatic anyway, so that decision is already made.
Match the trip to the class
Whatever the class, two things hold across all of them: book early for the best rate and the best availability, and take a no-deposit rate with full insurance so nothing is held on your card. When you have settled on a class, the company you book it with matters too - see how the main rental companies compare.
Quick picker
- Lowest price - budget & economy, booked early.
- You don't drive a manual - automatic, reserved well ahead.
- Family of five to seven - 7-seater.
- Group of eight or nine - 9-seater van, standard licence.
- Coastal drive or a special trip - luxury or convertible.