Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol should be top of your agenda when visiting the coast. Even though the people living here say the coast "feels" relatively small and easily accessible, it isn't always.

There are buses but as my mother found out after a 2 ½ hour wait, they are rather "sporadic". We also have taxis, but with the distances you are likely to travel, it would be more cost effective to hire a rental car in the first place when visiting the Costa del Sol.

Malaga car hire and car rental on the Costa del Sol is highly recommended as there are many places to visit and things to do, and especially important if you have golf clubs to lug around. You may wish to visit the Sea life centre in Benalmadena and also go Duty-Free shopping in Gibraltar, and the distance between the two is a good 1 to 2 hours drive.

Most companies have the pick up and drop off facility at the airport which makes life so much easier.

So how do you choose a reputable car hire or rental company and is it better to collect from a Malaga airport car hire company or from a car rental company in the town where you are staying? I would personally suggest renting a car at Malaga airport. For one, you are going to save between €60 and €100 Euros on a taxi from the start.

If you have flown into Malaga airport before, you will have noticed the incredible amount of Malaga car hire companies that there are. Hertz rent-a-car, Niza, Crown car hire, National car hire, Avis, Budget the list is endless so how do you choose?

Well, take it from us; the difference in prices can vary so much that the amount you save from one company to another could pay for your accommodation during your stay on the Costa del Sol. We have cut to the chase and found the best and cheapest car hire and rental in Malaga for you. There is no hidden agenda for us, the companies we have chosen genuinely offer the best deal all round and you can collect the car as soon as you have your luggage…easy!

Heard of lastminute.com? The following car hire company is part of the same group so not only are they reliable, but they will get you the best deal too...I got a brand new, air-conditioned Corsa for £12 per day! (I was 38 at the time of writing).

Useful Information

If you have never driven in Spain before, or are a bit rusty, here are a few tips to guide you on your travels whilst here on the Costa del Sol.

If you are hiring a vehicle for the duration of your stay there are a couple of things that, by law, you need to have in the vehicle:

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - Reflective Jackets. There must be at least one of these approved style jackets available for you to put in the car. They must be kept within the passenger section itself (not the boot space) and in case of a break-down must be put on before you leave the vehicle. If you are stopped by the police without a jacket in the car YOU will be the one to be fined.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - Spare Lamp Bulbs. There must be a spare lamp bulb kit, plus the tools to change them in the boot of the car.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - Warning Triangles. There must be TWO approved warning triangle sets in the boot of the vehicle.

It is possible you may have to leave a cash deposit with the company for the above mentioned items.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - Glasses. If drinking and driving, please ensure that your pint glass is well out of sight…only joking! If you do wear glasses when you drive, then you will need to keep a spare set in the car. A policeman is quite within his rights to ask to see an extra pair if you are stopped.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - ID. You MUST have your driving licence and ID with you at all times. Not having them could mean an instant fine, regardless of what you’ve been stopped for.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - Wheel Trims. Because these are easily stolen, o just fall off, most hire companies now remove the wheel trims off the car as standard. The one thing this does mean unfortunately is that you are obviously in a hire car and therefore a possible target for thieves. So it’s not a good idea to go leaving the family jewels in the car while swanning off round the local market.

Other things worth noting straight away on picking up the vehicle is the running of the engine, does it belch out any black smoke? Also tyre pressure and engine oil...are there any warning lights that stay on after you’ve switched on the ignition?

Finally make a note of the fuel level. If you pick the car up and the tank is full, you will be expected to bring it back full. You will be charged extra if you don’t remember to do this. Likewise, if the tank is nearly empty.

In this event, just as a precautionary word, when at a service station near the airport fill up with the car locked and the keys in your pocket as a ‘newbie’ you will stick out to any would be thieves. Also don’t stop if anyone starts flashing you, or suggesting you have a flat tyre on your outward trip from the airport. These sort of crimes are rare and my best advice would be to pretend to use your mobile phone to call the police (usually enough to scare them off) or make your way into Torremolinos or Malaga city itself in search of a real policeman/station to report the incident to.

Finally, during your car hire and rental on the Costa del Sol, if you are unfortunate enough to be caught up in a prang or crash firstly keep your wits about you. In the first instance call your hire-car company. They should be able to help you through the situation and ultimately call a Grua (breakdown lorry) to come and retrieve the vehicle if necessary. If you have a camera, photograph any damage and surrounding circumstance. This could prove helpful when later explaining what happened. DON’T be forced to sign anything, even if it is the police instructing you to do so. Again, call your car-hire company for help.

Car Hire and Rental on the Costa del Sol - The Police and Driving in Spain