Our Top 10 Car Hire Tips

There are many broker websites available all promising this that and the other.  Be aware that some brokers guarantee the cheapest price, however have they included all COMPULSORY fees and charges that you will have to pay on arrival?  Some companies will only permit up to a certain number of kilometres per day – consider if you will go over this – the price difference between limited and unlimited is not huge.

Don’t be fooled thinking the more expensive big brands are going to have shorter queues.  Whilst this can be the case, remember they are the big brands and as such they offer various companies significantly cheaper deals than they advertise to the public.  Some car companies have contracts with some airlines and therefore your entire aircraft may be collecting a car from that big brand company!

Consider an annual insurance policy purchased in your own country of residence. 

Virtually all car hire companies in Spain will provide the basic minimum legally required insurance which is effectively 3rd party only in the hire fee you have paid.  This will cover damage to other people and their property/car, but no cover to you, your passengers, the hire car or the contents.

Most countries, particularly the UK, have annual policies that you can pay in advance for a fraction of the price you would pay directly to the hire company on arrival to give you full insurance.  This can be as little as £40 per year.  Paying this top up insurance to the car hire company on arrival can run into the hundreds.

With annual policies, or top up insurances you pay to your broker to cover you, you will still need to have a block for the excess on your CREDIT card on arrival.  Any damages etc. will be taken from your credit card.  You will then need to reclaim that from the insurance provider on your return to the UK.

Be aware of the Spanish driving laws and speed limits.  There are a number of fixed speed cameras between the Airport and La Roca, and vice-versa, and of course on many other roads.

The Spanish also enforce speed using helicopters, hand held radar, and mobile radar.  You will receive a speeding ticket if you are caught speeding on any of these devices.

All car hire companies WILL pass your details on to the Spanish Traffic Authorities and the WILL send you a fine through international post.  The car hire company will also charge your credit card an administration fee for EVERY time they give your details to the authorities.  3 speeding tickets, 3 admin charges from your car hire company.

Consider paying the extra for on airport car companies.  Whilst most off airport car companies are just a 5 minute drive from the airport and provide a courtesy bus to get you there, in the high season these buses are very frequent but very busy – you could wait for 3 buses before you and your luggage finally get picked up, and then once at the car company warehouse, you will still have to queue.  In low season, the buses will be less frequent and you could wait 30 minutes.

On Airport car hire companies have the cars in the car park, which is a couple of minutes walk longer than the trek to the courtesy bus, you will still have to queue, but you won’t have to lug your cases on and off a courtesy bus and you will be in the air con of the airport! 

Some car companies offer to meet you with your hire car in the car park.  I have never done this, but I believe it is considerably more expensive and I have heard stories of people waiting for an hour or two for the car to arrive.

Remember, if you picked up off airport – you will return the car off airport, is the saving of a few euros really worth the hassle of getting a bus to and from?

Be prepared to QUEUE!  In high season you WILL queue for your car – regardless of on or off airport. 

With some companies you can pay to go through their fast track – YOU WILL STILL QUEUE, it will just be a shorter one.

Some companies now offer keyless access to cars.  You can complete all the paperwork online prior to arriving at Malaga Airport and you will be able to collect your key either using your mobile phone, or from an automated kiosk in the car park.  This service is primarily offered from Goldcar and is considerably more expensive than having to check-in at a desk, but it is considerably quicker! 

You have to consider how much you value your holiday time!

Make sure you have your documents.

The person named on the booking will be considered the main driver.  It is crucial therefore that the booking is made in the name of the person that will be hiring the car.  Likewsie the main driver must provide a CREDIT card in their own name at the Check-In desk.  It is this card that will be used to block off the excess amount, this card will also be used for payment of fuel and other surcharges.  If you book in the wrong name, or the named person does not have a credit card in their name, the car hire company may insist that you forfeit the booking (with no refund) and book another car at the “on Arrival” rates which are significantly higher than pre-booked rates.

Please ensure you have:

1. Pre Booked.
2. Driving License (including DVLA print out – not all companies will insist on this but its worth taking it with you) for ALL drivers.
3. Passport for ALL drivers.
4. CREDIT CARD in the name of the booking.  You MUST have a CREDIT CARD.  Most companies will not allow payment with Debit or Prepaid credit cards.  Most companies do not accept American Express.  The companies that permit payment by debit card will only do so if you pay them for their FULL TOP UP INSURANCE.

Did I mention queues!  OK, so TOP TIP – Only drivers need to go to the car hire check-in desk.  Everyone else should, if you have luggage, head to the luggage carousel.  Drivers, head straight to the car hire desk.  This will save you time.  Arrange to meet at the luggage carousel once the drivers have the car keys and the others have the luggage.  This WILL save you valuable holiday time.

So here is the Queue!  Relax – do NOT let it wind you up.  Getting wound up about the queue won’t get you served any quicker.  Remember you are in Spain and there is nowhere the word ‘mañana’ is more appropriate than at the car hire desks.

Firstly, the following companies have their desks in the main luggage hall between carousels 28 and 31:

• Avis/Budget
• Sixt
• Europcar
• Record Go
• Goldcar
• Hertz/Firefly

Other companies may have their desks in the car park.  The Off Airport companies generally don’t have a desk on the airport, you will need to get a courtesy bus.

For those companies listed above, most have ticket kiosk machines to help the queue process remain less agitated.

1. Once you clear passport control, drivers head to the Car Hire area between carousel 29 and 31
2. Find your car hire company desk and locate their Ticket Kiosk, select the appropriate booking option and grab your ticket.  It is NOT worth pressing the button for a fast track booking if you haven’t booked this already.  When you eventually get to the counter they will either charge you an extortionate fast track rate, or tell you to go get a normal booking ticket and wait again!  They are generally very strict about this process.
3. Wait for your Number to be displayed on the screen for your car company.
4. As soon as your number is displayed, head to the counter position indicated on the screen.  Please do this as quickly as possible – they don’t wait for more than a minute or so for you to get to the counter.

At Last, you’ve got to your counter and are now faced with the paperwork!

Firstly, you will find that the person serving you will speak good English so don’t worry about any language barrier.

1. Present the agent with your Passport, Driving Licence, Credit Card and Booking Voucher.
2. The agent is likely now to tap away on their PC without saying much at all.  Don’t worry, they will ask you any questions necessary for them to upsell shortly.
3. You will likely be asked firstly about Insurance upsells.  If you have an annual policy, let the agent know you don’t want any additional insurances.  Some agents will use tricks like ‘Your home insurance doesn’t include tow fees if the car breaks down’, or ‘you will have to have your car checked when you return which could take a long time’  Whilst you will need to check your own policy if you have an annual insurance so that you know what is and isn’t covered, the promise of a long quese to return the car is indeed true, but in my experience, you can simply drop the keys in the safe box at the car hire return desk and not have to wait for the car to be inspected.  In fact, often they will insist you just drop the keys and will refuse to check the car.
4. Now to the upsells of GPS, Wi-Fi etc.  None of these are compulsory.  Most mobile phones these days have a map service on them and are likely more up to date than the GPS offered by the car company.  If you have an EU phone contract (at the time of writing the UK is a member of the EU – the following is Brexit dependent) You will be able to use your phone with no roaming charges.  Therefore if you have data free in the UK, you will be able to use that data in Spain at no additional cost.  I would never take any of these extras.
5. Another upsell – You have limited mileage, do you want to increase this or make it unlimited.  Hopefully you have already done your homework on this and you booked the car accordingly.  If you didn’t and chose limited mileage, consider changing this unless you are confident you will stick below the mileage you have chosen.  The additional charge per kilometre on your return is massive.
6. Finally, you may also be offered an upsell on car make/model.  Its totally up to you, the rate will not be particularly good value, but if you booked a tiny car, and feel you want something bigger, then give it a thought.
7. So now comes to paying!  If you do not take out any additional insurances, your card can be used up to 4 times now!
   • Hire Charge – if you did not Pre Pay your booking
   • Excess Block – if you do not take out their insurance
   • Petrol Charge – you will likely be charged a full tank of petrol at an extortionate rate, along with a refuelling fee of around £30.  Most companies will refund your unused petrol on return but the refuelling fee is non refundable.  Consider this an extra you can’t avoid and you should add that to the price the company quoted when you booked.
   • Taxes & Fees, some will charge this to your card as a seperate transaction, some will roll this in with one of the other transactions and it depends on the agent on the day! 
8. The agent will now ask you to sign all the paperwork, this includes signing the damage sheet for a car you still haven’t seen – very Spanish!  Just sign it and relax…see below.
9. The agent will now direct you to the car park and generally give you a sheet of paper telling you where to find your car.  At the time of writing this, head towards the luggage carousel 35 passing the Duty Free shop on your left.  You will see a travelator on your right.  Head down here and follow the corridor to the end.  This will take you through the current building site.  Eventually you will be in the car park.  Once you pass this security agent you will not be permitted back inside the terminal unless you have your boarding pass.
10. Follow the directions given to you by the agent to the correct floor of the car park and find your car.

Carry out the following Checks:

1. Unless you have taken out fully comprehensive insurance through the car hire company, always take a photo of any damage on the car and check this against the car damage sheet you have already signed.  Most companies do not make any comments about scratches under about 20mm., but check with your company. If you wish, take the time to find an agent for your company (they will be uniformed with your car company uniform – if in doubt go to their desk in the car park)
2. Make a note of or photograph your mileage, some companies provide restricted mileage. 
3. Check the fuel is at full.  Most car companies provide you a full tank of fuel which you will pay for on collection of the car…check it is full (or at the level your hire company has advised you). 
4. Suggest that others load the people and luggage in the car whilst the driver takes a few minutes to familiarise with the car.  Pay particular attention to how you reset the odometer as you will need to do this fairly soon on your journey to La Roca to enable you to follow the directions easily.
5. Take your time to drive off out of the car park.  The exits are marked ‘Salida’ however these signs are not very clear and can be confusing particularly as Malaga airport is still in the process of a 10 year development and rebuild project.