Wait. What? I can rent a car for €20 per week? There has to be a catch. Right? Well, yes, sort of. Let us explain.
If you fly into Spain for your holiday with Under Spanish Skies, you are going to want a car to get the most from your time in this amazing area. Sure, you can get the bus from the airport to Competa but, trust us, having a car will enable you to see so much more. And, yes, on the face of it there are plenty of bargains to be had – especially at quieter times. So why are prices so low?
Firstly, prices are generally lower in Spain compared with most of Europe or the USA. The cost of living is lower and that is reflected in rental car prices. Also, the market in Spain is saturated with available rentals and companies prefer to have their cars on the road and earn less money than to have them all stuck in their parking lots.
But the biggest thing to know about your €20 car rental is that there will likely be extra costs at the desk. Let’s examine these.
Things to Watch For
When you rent a car in Spain, the price can look cheaper because other parts of the cost of renting are not always included in that basic price. Look out for these…
Insurance
Basic insurance is compulsory in Spain and built into the basic car rental cost. However, there are large excesses to pay with the basic insurance in the event of even a minor issue. As a result, the rental companies will attempt to sell you an excess waiver policy. Often referred to by the car rental companies as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), these policies exempt you from liability for any damage to the vehicle, provided you’re not grossly negligent. These policies can be way more expensive than the basic car hire itself.
So, do you need CDW or LDW? That’s really up to you. The liability is ofter around €1000 or more. If you decline CDW the company will likely insist on a deposit to be secured against your credit card for the amount of the liability. If this isn’t a problem for you, you may decide to go without. Be aware though, expect pressure at the desk and do not expect your deposit back immediately after returning the car. Also note, drivers in Spain are not as precious about their cars as those in northern Europe and scrapes and prangs are not uncommon. If you’re unlucky enough to be a victim of this, it could cost you a tidy sum.
You should also expect delays both when renting and returning if you decline the CDW. You will need to carefully check the condition of the car before you leave the airport against the documented damage, and go back to the desk if you note any discrepancies – not what you’re looking to do after getting off the plane at the start of your holiday. Likewise, you should expect to have to wait for an available staff member to check the condition of the car when you return it.
Fuel Charges
Don’t get burned here. We recommend you always book ‘full to full’ rentals. This is where you collect the car full of fuel and return it full of fuel. This way, you both only pay for what you use and also pay the right amount. Beware of any deals whereby you pay the rental company – they will charge you up to three times the price per litre.
Don’t worry about finding a fuel station. There are several close to the airport so you’ll be able to fill up before you hand back the car with no issues.
Which Company To Choose
There are several companies to choose from at Malaga airport. Some are on-airport, right in the arrivals lounge, whilst others offer a free shuttle bus to a local off-airport location. Frankly, we’ve heard good things and bad things about most of the companies, so it’s difficult to make a recommendation.
If you’re planning on taking out the CDW policy, they are all going to be fine. If you’re planning to decline this, your choice may be more important. On-airport, we’ve heard generally positive feedback about Firefly, whilst off-airport we here MalagaCar offer good service and value.
One tip we do have is to consider using an aggregator to find the best prices. We’ve used DoYouSpain in the past and managed to grab some good deals.
Whichever way you go, we hope to see you really soon, under Spanish skies.
