Renting a car in Mallorca: a practical step-by-step guide
Before you book
Start with the basics: dates, pick-up place, number of passengers and bags. Mallorca is busiest from June to September and around Easter. Cars, and especially automatics and larger vehicles, sell out early, so booking several weeks ahead usually gives you more choice.
Look beyond the daily rate. Check the fuel policy, mileage limit, the excess (the amount you can be charged if the car is damaged or stolen), the deposit, the extra-driver fee and any young-driver surcharge. A low headline price with a high excess and a large deposit is often not the cheapest option once extras are added.
Mallorca Car Deals is a discovery website. It helps you find rental providers and pick-up locations on the island, but it does not rent cars itself. Your rental contract is always with the provider, and the provider’s conditions apply.
Documents and age requirements
Bring a valid driving licence, your passport or national ID card, and a credit card in the main driver’s name. Many providers require the licence to have been held for at least one year, some for two. Licences issued in EU/EEA countries are accepted in Spain. For licences from other countries an International Driving Permit may be required as well. Rules depend on the issuing country, so check official guidance and the provider’s terms before you travel.
The minimum age is commonly 21, sometimes 23 or higher for larger or premium cars, and drivers under 25 often pay a young-driver fee. Some providers also apply an upper age limit or ask for extra documents. Every additional driver must be named in the contract and be present at pick-up with their own licence.
At pick-up: read the contract and inspect the car
Read the rental agreement before you sign. Check the amount blocked on your card, the fuel policy, the excess and which insurance you are accepting. You can decline optional products you do not need, so do not let queues or pressure at the counter rush you.
Before driving off, walk around the car with the agent and make sure every scratch, dent, scuffed wheel and stain is written on the check-out form. Take date-stamped photos or a video of all sides, wheels, windscreen, roof, interior, fuel gauge and mileage. If something is missing from the form, have it added before you leave. Also check the lights, air conditioning, spare wheel or repair kit, and where the warning triangles and high-visibility vests are.
Fuel, extras and fees
Full-to-full is usually the fairest fuel policy: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full. With pre-paid fuel you buy a tank up front, often at a higher price per litre than at a petrol station, and unused fuel is generally not refunded. Keep the receipt from your last fill-up near the return point.
Typical extras are an additional driver, child seats, out-of-hours pick-up and location surcharges. Your phone usually replaces a paid sat-nav. Almost all roads in Mallorca are free of charge, but the Sóller tunnel on the Ma-11 is a toll road. Most rental terms do not allow driving on unpaved tracks or taking the car on a ferry to Ibiza, Menorca or the mainland without written permission, so ask first.
Returning the car
Plan to arrive early, especially at the airport in peak season. Refuel close to the return point, take your belongings out and park in the designated return area. Ask a member of staff to check the car in your presence and get a signed return form or a confirmation e-mail.
If you return the car out of hours, photograph it on all sides together with the fuel gauge and mileage. Keep your paperwork for a few weeks: fines or charges can arrive later, and providers may pass on traffic fines together with an administration fee. How quickly the deposit is released depends on the provider and your bank.