When does a rental car make sense?
Mallorca has a well-developed bus network around Palma, but as soon as you venture off the main routes, having your own vehicle becomes almost essential. Especially for trips into the Serra de Tramuntana, to remote coves or to weekly markets in small villages, a rental car saves you a huge amount of time.
For residents who do not yet have their own car, a rental is a flexible interim solution. And when guests come over from Germany, a second vehicle is often more practical than coordinating schedules.
Tip: Book early
In high season (June to September), affordable rental cars on Mallorca sell out fast. Booking 4-6 weeks in advance often cuts the price in half compared to last-minute rates.
The main providers at a glance
On Mallorca you will find both international chains and local rental companies. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
International providers
Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise and Avis have a presence at Palma Airport and in the tourist centres. The advantage: standardised processes, often good insurance cover and German-speaking customer service. The downside: they tend to be more expensive than local providers in high season.
Local providers
Hiper Rent a Car, OK Rent a Car and Roig are well established on Mallorca. They often offer better prices, especially for longer rental periods. The vehicles are generally just as well maintained, but dealing with complaints can be a little more complicated.
What to look out for
Whichever provider you choose, always check these points:
- Is fully comprehensive insurance without excess included or available as an add-on?
- Which credit card is accepted for the deposit?
- Is there a mileage limit?
- How much does an additional driver cost?
Where to book
Comparison portals
Portals such as CHECK24, billiger-mietwagen.de or ADAC Mietwagen compare prices from different providers and show clearly what is included. The big advantage: you can see straight away whether fully comprehensive cover and unlimited mileage are included.
Directly with the provider
Booking directly on a provider's website can also be worthwhile. Local companies like Hiper or Roig in particular sometimes have special offers on their own site that do not appear on comparison portals.
At the airport vs. in the city
At Palma Airport (PMI), prices are generally a little higher than at pick-up points in Palma city or other locations. If you are being picked up from the airport, it can be worth collecting the rental car the next day in the city instead.
Watch out for teaser offers
Extremely cheap offers below 10€/day often include no meaningful insurance. Always read the fine print. The excess in the event of a claim with such offers can be 800-1,500€.
Insurance and deposit
Types of insurance
Third-party liability (Seguro obligatorio) is required by law in Spain and is automatically included in every rental agreement. It covers damage to third parties.
Fully comprehensive with excess (CDW/LDW) is included in the base price with most providers. Note: the excess is often 800-1,500€. In the event of a claim, you pay that amount yourself first.
Fully comprehensive without excess (SCDW/Super CDW) is the recommended option. You pay 8-15€ extra per day, but in the event of a claim you have zero liability. On Mallorca's narrow mountain roads and in car parks, this is worth it.
The deposit
When you pick up the car, a deposit is blocked on your credit card - usually 800-1,500€. Important: it must be a genuine credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Debit cards are not accepted by most providers.
The deposit is released within 7-14 working days after return. Check this on your credit card statement.
Tip: Check your credit card insurance
Some credit cards (e.g. ADAC credit card, Barclaycard Platinum) include rental car fully comprehensive cover as a card benefit. This saves you the expensive add-on insurance from the rental company. Check the exact conditions in advance.
Fuel policy and pick-up
Fuel policies
Full-to-full is the fairest option. You receive the car with a full tank and return it full. This way you only pay for the fuel you actually use.
Full-to-empty means: you receive a full car and return it empty. It sounds convenient, but it is more expensive because the fuel surcharge included in the price is above the normal pump price.
At pick-up
Take your time when collecting the vehicle:
- Walk around the car with the rental agent and note all existing scratches and dents on the handover form
- Take photos of all four sides, the roof and the wheels
- Photograph the odometer reading and the fuel gauge
- Check that the warning triangle, high-visibility vest and spare wheel are present (compulsory in Spain)
At return
Return the car on time. Late returns are often charged by the hour. Fill up the tank beforehand (with a full-to-full policy) and take photos again as proof.
Costs and money-saving tips
Realistic prices
Prices vary significantly by season. In low season (November to March) you can get a small car from 12€ per day. In high season (July/August) you can easily pay 35-40€ for the same car.
How to save money
Book early: 4-6 weeks' notice gives the best prices, especially in summer.
Longer rental periods: From a week onwards the daily price drops noticeably. Two weeks often costs only 20-30% more than one week.
Choose your insurance wisely: Check your credit card cover. If it includes rental cars, you save 8-15€ per day.
Go down a vehicle class: A Seat Ibiza or Fiat 500 is perfectly adequate for most purposes on Mallorca. Large SUVs are actually a disadvantage on the narrow mountain roads.
Fill up away from the motorway: Petrol stations on the motorway and at the airport are more expensive. The best prices are at Repsol and Cepsa stations in the villages.
Avoiding common mistakes
Mistake 1: Bringing a debit card instead of a credit card Most rental companies do not accept debit cards for the deposit. Without a genuine credit card you will not get a car. Check this in advance.
Mistake 2: Not documenting the vehicle Without photos at pick-up, you have no proof in the event of a claim that a scratch was already there before. This can be costly.
Mistake 3: Booking too late in high season In July and August, affordable cars are often fully booked weeks in advance. Anyone who wants to rent spontaneously at the airport will pay double or more.
Mistake 4: Booking add-on insurance at the desk The insurance offered at the counter is almost always significantly more expensive than options booked online in advance. Do not let yourself be talked into it.
Mistake 5: Not budgeting for toll roads Mallorca has no traditional toll roads, but the Soller Tunnel charges a fee (around 4€ per pass). The tunnel now uses automatic number plate recognition and the charge is billed retrospectively by the rental company to your credit card.
Tip: Use a navigation app instead of renting a sat-nav
The rental companies' sat-navs cost 8-12€ per day and are often out of date. Google Maps or Waze work perfectly on Mallorca and are free. Just bring a phone mount with you.