Renting a car in Madrid is a great way to get around the city, and a great way to explore the cities outer parts that you may otherwise not get to see.
No matter if you are here for a few days or a longer period of time, if you have the option to do so, renting a car in Madrid can be a great idea, especially if you are visiting with family. Lugging the kids on long distance trips can be a little taxing, and a car can help make that a lot easier.
I will do my best to give all the information I think useful for you to make the best choice if you do decide to rent a car in Madrid when you visit.
A complete guide to renting a car in Madrid
Even before we lived here in Madrid, with three kids it was always a little difficult to get around some parts of the city using public transport, and although Madrid has really good public transport, sometimes only a car will do.
When we travel to the city center we will normally use public transport, or even walk, but sometimes we like to go further out to the countryside for a picnic, or to visit some of the beautiful villages and mountains surrounding Madrid, and the best way to do this is by car.
After many years of living here and having rented cars on so many occasions, I would like to let you know some of the things to take in to consideration if you too decide to rent a car if you come to Spain.
So how much does it cost to rent a car in Madrid?
Depending on the season you will be visiting, this of course is going to vary, so it will always be cheaper to rent a cart in the winter, and more expensive in the high season of the summer.
Within this there will also be variations depending on the size, make and model of the car. To give you a rough idea, during the summer from June-August renting a car in Madrid will cost you €50+ per day, and in the winter season, and most of the rest of the year about €35+ per day.
These prices are usually for trips where pick up and drop off in the same city, but if you are going to renting a car in Madrid and dropping it off in another city, the price can increase as one way rentals tend to have added fees.
In comparison to other major cities the prices are pretty reasonable so you wont put too big a dent in your budget.
What is it like driving in Madrid?
When it comes to driving, Madrid, like any other city has rules, and they may be a little different but are pretty much the same as every other major city. By following all traffic rules while driving your cheap car rentals in Madrid you will avoid getting in trouble with the law.
For example, you must drive on the right side of the road. When approaching an intersection, give way to vehicles approaching from the right. Also, make sure you always have the necessary paperwork as this is a legal requirement over here.
If you are driving on a secondary road, you must yield to vehicles approaching main roads. In addition, when driving your rental car in Madrid, you must display the environmental disc at all time. Follow these simple rules, drive carefully and you will be just fine.
Are the roads safe to drive on in Madrid, Spain?
In Madrid, cyclists share the road with cars and they drive on the right side of the road. I feel like cyclists are not as experienced as say in London, so you need to be really careful.
On the roads, cyclists and motorists enjoy the same privileges. Hence, it’s important to take extra care not to endanger their lives or hurt them when you drive your rental car in Madrid alongside them.
Just be cautious and leave a little extra space when passing by the cyclists and you should be just fine. I have also found that driver in Spain can drive a little too close when on motorways, so where possible try and stick to the middle lane and let whoever wants to fly past do so.
But over all, driving in Madrid is safe as long as you are careful and the traffic rules are adhered to from what I have seen. That said, like driving anywhere in the world, just take extra care when driving.
Renting a car at Madrid Airport
If you are in a pinch, and you need to rent a car as soon you land, or if you are unorganized like me and leave everything to the last minute, then you can rent a car at the airport in Madrid.
The main international airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid – Barajas Airport, is located 8 miles from the city center. The airport has two car rental locations in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4.
Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, and Sixt, 4 of the largest car rental providers have counters at both terminals; however, it is best to confirm the pickup location with your chosen company after assessing your rental options as the prices will vary.
Once you have your rental car, it will only take you about 40 minutes to drive to the center of Madrid with moderate traffic; and the best routes to take are the M14 and M40 bypass roads. Most of the cars come with built in navigation so don’t worry about getting lost.
Can I use my driving license in Spain?
Before renting a car in Spain or anywhere else in the world, you must obtain and carry an International Driver’s License; this license is designed to provide a common form of identification that is legally valid. Please keep in mind that it can take several weeks to receive your license in the mail following application, so plan ahead of time, and never drive in Spain without a license.
In places like England, you may not have your license on you physically and the police can verify this with a call to headquarters, but in Spain it is a legal requirement to have identification on you at all times.
FAQs about car renting in Madrid
Although it seems pretty simple to just rent a car, grab the keys and just take off on your journey, you may still have a few doubts you need answering beforehand, so I have put together a list of questions you may be asking yourself and I know I wanted to know when we were renting cars in Madrid.
What is the speed limit in Madrid?
The standard city wide speed limit for Madrid is 50 kph (31 mph), but lower in residential areas reducing to 30 kph (20 mph). The national speed limit on the motorways is between 100 – 120 kph (60 – 75mph).
What is the best type of car to drive in Madrid?
In any major city, unless you have a designated parking spot, it is always going to be best to go for a compact car. Something small like a VW Golf or a Ford Ka is just perfect because you can fit it in a tight spot, and they are easy to maneuver.
Where is best to park in Madrid?
When in and around residential areas, parking is mostly free and you tend to always be able to find a good parking spot, but this is not the same for the center of the city. Parking on roads in the center requires you to pay, and they have different zones with different rates, but the amount can add up over a few hours and spaces are scarce.
Whilst using your rental car in Madrid, I would always advise using a private parking garage, and you will find these all over town and very clearly indicated. The last thing you want is someone scratching the car whilst parking, or any unwanted damage being done to the car. A problem you wouldn’t want to deal with on your holiday.
What is the best car rental company in Madrid?
Based on our own experiences, friends, and the general consensus among reviews, Hertz looks the be the most preferred company. This is not just because of the service, but also their reach, the amount of cars they have a the name is very recognizable. But this does not mean the other options are not good.
Can I rent an automatic car in Madrid?
Madrid is a major city, and most if not all companies will do their best to cater for all preferences, so in short, Yes you can rent an automatic car in Madrid. You pay have to pay a little bit more for this, but the increase in price will be negligible.
How much is petrol prices in Madrid?
Just like everywhere else in the world the gas prices in Madrid have been fluctuating wildly, so the best thing you can do is check here for the up to date live prices of gas in Madrid, and you can filter by gas type and location.
How much would it cost to rent a car for a month in Madrid?
Depending on the time of the year, you would be looking at a cost of 700-900 euros for the full month. In this case, I would say it is better to rent a car only for the days you will be needing it.
What are the main things I should know before renting a car in Madrid?
I would say the most important things would be to make sure your drivers license is valid in Spain before travelling, and you can check this on your embassies website. Then where possible, plan out any large routes you may be travelling before you get here also, and a little brush up on the local traffic rules and speed limits will also come in handy.
Do I need to get insurance when I rent a car in Madrid?
When you rent a car in Madrid, the insurance will be included. The cover will be pretty much the same no matter what car rental company you choose, but always be safe and read the fine print and make sure you do not need any extra add ons.
Driving in Madrid with us drivers license?
Driving in Spain as an American? If you are visiting Spain from the US, you are allowed to drive in Spain as long as you have a valid US permit and an international driving permit that will need to be issued prior to your arrival to Spain.
However, driving in Spain with a US license can be a little more difficult if you are wanting to stay here for longer and maybe even become a citizen. In this case, you will need to apply for a Spanish driving license, but if you are only here for a holiday then don´t worry about that.
Driving in Spain left or right ?
In all of Spain, you drive on the right side of the road.
Punishment for drink driving in Spain?
I think it goes without saying that you should never drive when under the influence of alcohol. There are usually checks on the roads around Madrid, and the punishment for drink driving in Spain can be pretty serious.
The alcohol levels and the related fines are as follows:
0.25 mg/l to 0.50 mg/l – €500 euro fine + 4 points
0.50 mg/l and above – €1000 euro fine + 6 points
Which car rental companies operate in Madrid?
There are many car rental companies to choose from in Madrid, and the list would be too long to go through, but here are few of the Main ones you will be more familiar with.
You can search car rental prices for all of the below listed companies and more directly from this link.
- enterprise car rental madrid
- hertz car rental madrid
- luxury car rental madrid
- alamo car rental madrid
- gold car rental madrid
- sixt car rental madrid
- avis car rental madrid
The list will go on an on, but you get the idea. You can rent a car in Madrid from all major providers.
Driving in Spain requirements?
In short, if you are driving in Spain as a tourist, the minimum requirements are that you need to be aged 18 or over, hold a valid drivers license and you are ok to drive for 90 days from date of your arrival. These are simple rules for all tourists travelling to Spain from the European Union or those countries with a bilateral treaty with Spain, but check this before you come to be sure.
Are there car rentals at Madrid Airport?
There are currently nine car rental companies at Madrid-Barajas airport. You will find them spread out over the terminal at both T1 and T4. The airport is only 12 Km from the center of Madrid, so renting a car is a great option and it won´t take you long to get to the city center.
You will find most of the main providers that offer car rentals at Madrid airport as soon as you come out of the arrivals gate.
Final thoughts on renting a car in Madrid
So if you have decides to rent a car on your trip to Madrid, I hope I have given you enough information to make an educated choice. Having a car in Madrid will serve you really well if you like to see as much of a city as you can when you are travelling.
We have kids, so renting a car was invaluable to us, and we discovered so much more of Madrid, all of the surrounding villages, landscapes, and got to see a lot of things you would normally not be able to without the use of four wheels.
If there is anything unclear, or if you have any further questions about renting a car when you are in Madrid, please feel free to drop me a line via the contact page and I will be more than happy to help you.