Barcelona airport - how to rent a car

Whether you are a travel guru or you have no experience at all with car hire, this step-by-step guide will help you easily solve several questions that every person who plans to book a car online at the airport of the largest industrial and tourist city in Spain - Barcelona - asks themselves. We will remind you about the basic principles, sort out the mistakes and where the unfortunate experiences come from, seemingly in such a simple direction and how not to get it.

Within a radius of just over 100 kilometers from Barcelona there are 3 airports: Girona, Reus and El Prat. We will talk about the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, where we are carrying out car rental activity at the moment of this guide, we will describe the conditions of car rental and how to find our representatives at the airport.

Frequently asked questions about renting a car at Barcelona Airport:

Let's look at them all in order.

1. What is the best way to rent a car at Barcelona Airport?
2. Is it cheaper to book online or still take it locally?
3. I want to get a car in Barcelona and return it elsewhere, how do I do it?
4. I am afraid that I will be charged after the rental if something happens. What kind of car and insurance package should I choose?
5. What is more profitable: Rent a car without deposit or with deposit?
6. I'm flying in with a baby, I need a baby seat.
7. We have 2 or even 3 drivers, do I have to pay for that?
8. Minimum age and document requirements, what to bring with you
9. I have booked a car online, what should I do next? Where and how do I get the car on arrival?

It seems simple and it really is! Follow the simple instructions and get the best deal on car rental, enjoy your vacation in Barcelona using the tricks and secrets of a profitable rental, which is used by thousands of tourists every year.

What is the best way to rent a car at Barcelona Airport?

It all starts with a few simple clicks in the search form, why stand on arrival at the airport, waste time and study prices on the spot, when you can do it in advance and for free? Save the link I've provided below, it will come in handy for researching car rental prices at El Prat airport - you can always follow it and research prices for the rental period you're interested in.

Link: Car rental at Barcelona Airport

I will answer 2 questions in this paragraph:
- How to rent a car cheaper and on the best conditions?
- How to return a rented car elsewhere if you booked it at Barcelona Airport?

In the booking form, the pickup location is already Barcelona Airport. If you plan to rent a car with pickup and return at the airport, just specify the period and time you are interested in and click the search button. (Attention! - after clicking the search button you will get the search results and leave this page, so just duplicate your browser tab so that you have both search results and instructions in front of you).

The million dollar question:

What is the best and cheapest way to book a car?

Online or still on-site?

Yesterday (let's be more precise - it was Monday - 30/09/2024) I stood in a queue of 2 people for almost 40 minutes at the car rental counter at Asturias airport to be given the contacts of the commercial department of this representative (you can't find such information on their website). Believe me, it was an ordeal. I watched the process as a family with small children in a neighboring, the same not numerous queue, tried to listen to the conditions of car rental, all the nuances of the rental and at the same time tried to keep an eye on the children. Another elderly couple was clearly dissatisfied with neither the price nor the huge deposit that they had to leave with the rental company, clearly emphasizing that they saw cheaper on the website, why is it more expensive now and on different terms?

In the rental world, this is called leasing a car at the last minute. The most expensive and unprofitable process. Therefore, answering the question above, whether it's better online or on-site - I will answer without a shadow of a doubt - Renting a car online at Barcelona Airport is definitely cheaper and more profitable!

• First of all, it is profitable and cheap! You know in advance the conditions, prices and can guess the moment, the most favorable fares, that is, in advance.
• Second - Smart! You will carefully and quietly study the issue and get exactly the car and on the terms you booked.
• Third - Save time! You have all the instructions, you fly in, you get it. You don't have to run around on the spot, you don't have to study everything in a combat situation.

* Brokers will not tell you about it, but I will share a trick. Booking a car in Spain for the summer, the best prices are better to look for in the months of February - the end of April. Prices still do not have time to reorganize under the shortage of supply after winter, and therefore, having a fleet of 5000 cars that have not yet been booked, renters are trying faster and at a wholesale price to rent them.

If your rental is planned for the second half of the fall - book closer to the rental date, but not too much. There are 2 nuances: First, let's call it "saturated" after a successful tourist season, when 2 or 3 cars remain in the parking lot and are rented at the highest rate, rental companies have not yet had time to move away from the successful season and keep the prices to the last high. What do we start to observe by the middle to the end of October? Reduction of prices, and sometimes colossal and more favorable rates for car rental at Barcelona airport. This is the moment when you should book a car with a profit (as in the advertisement of one broker?) up to 70%. Why I noted that it's not worth procrastinating. Because Christmas holidays are ahead, and in Spain they already start celebrating from the middle of November, sales, hot offers (remember what a renting company does when almost the whole parking lot is full of unrented cars) - during this period the goods are quickly dispersed and the remaining offers there is a risk to get the same price for renting a car at the last moment. Therefore, the optimal solution is to book in advance, online (did you keep the link?).

How do I rent a car at Barcelona Airport and return it elsewhere?

It's simple, using the same search form check the box labeled "Another place of return” - and you will have a whole list of airports and cities in Spain where you can return your rental car. It is very convenient when you plan your journey across several cities in Spain, plan to visit many cities along the way and end your journey at a different airport. It is important to know that the service of return in another place is not free, so for those who want to "win in the price of a taxi", renting a car at Barcelona airport for 1 or 2 days with return in another place, I hasten to disappoint - you will not win much in the price. But still compare transfer rates - taxi in Barcelona airport, our service also provides transfer services in Spain and compare the cost of rental, perhaps you will find a suitable offer. This format is most beneficial for large groups, with a lot of suitcases, and simply if you have planned your trip!

Not for all, but in almost 90% of cases one-way rentals are available. You can try it yourself by setting the search parameters to Barcelona airport and return to Madrid airport for example.

Is that even possible?

Talking about fears that the renter will take money from you or the deposit amount will be 2000 euros. I hasten to reassure you at once, we do not have such offers, and if there are, then in the case of the most budget rent a car. For example, you are looking for a rental car at Barcelona airport for 3 or 10 euros per day. Yes, such offers are available and it is not a fairy tale, and such car rentals are more suitable for "very" careful drivers, because you don't think that the renter will give you a car for 15 euros for a week, which costs about 50 000 and that's it? Also this package is called basic, includes minimum third party coverage, mandatory deductible, which is already good and means that in case of an emergency you will not have to pay the entire cost of the car, usually limited mileage and mandatory deposit. I repeat - the offer is for the rare client who has his own insurance, in the territory of the European Union and has a positive experience.

I would still highly recommend opting for the full package:

• The difference in price is not colossal, but you get a complete insurance package with a financial liability of zero;
• No deposit or a minimum deposit of up to 300€ (for fuel and potential loss of keys through your fault) - part of the offers in our catalog contains these offers and they are in my opinion very favorable;
• No mileage restrictions - pick up your car at Barcelona airport and drive around Spain as much as you want;
• Up to 2 additional drivers for free - a very convenient option for those who plan long trips, and absolutely all members of the crew have the right to drive the vehicle and full insurance coverage.

By the way, the very same part of car rental offers in Barcelona with a small deposit already includes full coverage, so you don't even need to choose among the offered rental packages. Everything is already included!

Is renting more profitable without a deposit or with a deposit?

Not a philosophical question, but everyone has an opinion. Look at the rental season, check prices periodically. As a rule, it is always cheaper with a deposit, but it is more favorable in case of unforeseen situations without a deposit, because these offers come with full insurance coverage.

Important note - traffic violations, off-road use and of course driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are never covered by any type of insurance. Not even the Super package. You are certainly not such a person since you are reading this article, but the information on this I am obliged to burn point out.

I am arriving at Barcelona airport with a baby - child seat needed

A very common question from customers, as the regulations in all countries are different, but mostly similar, so we will announce the clear regulations for the country of Spain:

What are the requirements for child seats in a car in Spain?

"All children 1.35 meters or under must properly use a child restraint approved for their weight or height". I think such a question as saving money on a child seat is not even worth raising in this article, but what kind of seat your child needs for its safety, you can choose in the options when booking a car at Barcelona airport. We detail the height and weight for each type of seat we have in our rental catalog. Plus, in the office when you pick up the car, the staff will additionally advise you if you have chosen the right seat for your baby. You can order this option on the spot when picking up the car at the airport, if you are not sure what type of seat to use before arriving in Barcelona.

There are more than 2 of us drivers, do we have to pay for this?

It seems that somewhere above, I have already covered this question partially. I will answer it in more detail. It all depends on the car you choose and the rental offer.

• If you have chosen a car with the super package and a deposit of 300 euros, one additional driver is available to you free of charge, just provide their details when booking.
• If you choose a rental car with the extended three insurance packages, when you choose the Basic and Premium options, you have one driver free with the Basic package and 2 additional drivers free with the Super package.

The booking system does not take into account the age of subsequent additional drivers, so if any of the additional drivers fall under the age category “Young Driver” the fare will have to be paid on the spot upon pick-up. For the main driver, the fare is automatically calculated when the age is specified.

Without going away from the previous question, let's supplement it at once.

Minimum age and document requirements for renting a car at Barcelona Airport.

As mentioned above - there is a category of young driver and it ranges from 21 - 25 years old. That is, persons under the age of 21 are not allowed to drive the rented vehicle presented in our catalog of rentals at Barcelona airport. Read the terms and conditions carefully, they are in each car card and may differ depending on the place of pickup and the selected vehicle.

What documents you need to bring with you to pick up a rental car in Barcelona

The package of documents is always the same: Your ID card or passport, driver's license and a card to pay for the rental. Which cards are accepted for payment and which are not, is also described in the terms of rental on the card of each car, take one minute to study the terms of rental (they are few and divided into sections for your convenience), if you are in doubt about the method of payment or are not sure that your card will fit, because on the spot, if your card does not pass, you will simply be denied the car.

We describe all the terms and conditions of the rental car very carefully and in the most accessible way possible, without hiding the amount of the deposit or the form or amount of financial responsibility. As one of our customers said in a review on the Trustpilot platform

Great company

"Although Rentaholiday is a broker company, they've chosen the right companies to do business with. (e.g. no deposits or blockage of credit card) They're always available, even with Whatsapp and the terms & conditions are very clear. Would recommend!"

The most open and honest terms on car rental at Barcelona Airport.

And then there's the final question, what it was all about:

I have booked a car online at Barcelona Airport. What should I do next?

Where and how to get a car on arrival and how to return it?

Following the link to the car rental page at El Prat Barcelona Airport, at the very bottom of the page you will see instructions on how to get the rented car, where and how to return it. Please note that Barcelona airport consists of several terminals and depending on which of them you arrive in, such instructions should be followed, as the receipt of the car takes place in the office of the rental company in 5 minutes drive from the airport, for this you will be provided with a free shuttle-bus, which is constantly located in a specialized parking lot for these types of buses near the terminal of Barcelona airport in which you arrive. The instructions are very accessible and are duplicated in greater detail from the car rental page, where they are described in the usual narrative form, to the booking confirmation letter and voucher, where all the instructions and contact details of the persons responsible for your booking at Barcelona Airport are indicated in greater detail.

If you have any questions, you can always contact our support team directly on WhatsApp to the number listed on this site or to our support email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We always welcome any questions and are ready to provide the best service on car rental in Barcelona for you.