Traveling by car in Spain has many advantages. This is both freedom of movement, which allows you not to depend on carriers and avoid crowds of tourists, and the opportunity to see the real Spain, stopping where you like. That is, having a driver's license can make your trip, for example, to Valencia, even more unforgettable. It is also a way for a company or a family of several people to save money on the trip. There is only one but: to get to Spain by your own car, you need to cross the whole of Europe. The solution is to fly to Spain in three hours by plane and then rent a car in Valencia.
Car rental in Spain: the main points in brief
It is not difficult to rent a car in Spain. This can be done both upon arrival in the country, and you can book a car while still in Russia. The second option is more preferable, especially during the high season, when the demand for car rental, and with it the prices, increase sharply.
In addition, the traveler receives guarantees that the right car will be selected for him, as well as a discount. To rent a car in the kingdom, you must have a driver's license, driving experience and a certain amount of money on the card. The algorithm for further actions is simple:
- decide on the desired class of car and rental time;
- choose the best from the proposed options;
- sign a contract and receive a car;
- return the car on time.
With the right approach to business, the possible risk of financial losses is easy to minimize - for this, you should contact only trusted companies, carefully study all the clauses and conditions of the lease agreement, pay special attention to drawing up an insurance policy.
Renting a car in Valencia: where to find the best option
There is no single correct recipe for how to find the best rental option, so a few of the most common ones should be considered.
Advance booking
The most popular way is to pre-book a car on the sites:
- international car rental companies: Hertz, Dollar, Sixt, Alamo, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car. These companies have offices in almost all major cities in Spain, including Valencia;
- nationwide Spanish companies: Cicar, Goldcar, Centauro;
- small local car rental companies directly in Valencia: My Valencia, Valencia auto and others, many of which also have a Russian-language version of the site - myvalencia.ru, valencia-auto.ru.
Since browsing and comparing different offers takes a lot of time, you can speed up and facilitate the search process by using special car rental aggregators. Based on the specified parameters, such an aggregator will in a matter of seconds compare the data of hundreds of companies and thousands of rental locations and display search results. Among these services, the most popular are rentalcars, cars-scanner.
After the preliminary booking has been paid, a detailed instruction and a voucher will be sent to the client's mail, which must be printed out, and then presented upon receipt of the car at a previously agreed place: at the airport, in the city, etc.
This rental method has several advantages. In particular, it makes it possible to:
- compare, calculate and weigh everything without haste;
- choose exactly what you want, and not take from what is left;
- keeping confidentiality, collect on forums on the Internet as much information as possible about the degree of reliability of the company that interests you;
- guarantee yourself a car rental at the right time, including in the midst of the tourist season;
- get discounts.
In addition, some companies provide a free transfer from Valencia Airport to the pick-up point (for example, EconomyCarRentals).
Rent at the airport, at the hotel, from private traders
The second popular way is to rent a car directly at the airport after the plane arrives.
Another option for renting a car is to use the services of the hotel where the tourists are staying. Unlike bike rental, which is offered in almost every hotel in Valencia, car rental is usually provided only by large hotels that have signed contracts with companies:
- three-star: Hotel Kramer, Ad Hoc Monumental and others;
- four-star: Silken Puerta Valencia, Hotel Dimar, Vincci Lys, Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace, etc .;
- five-star: Hospes Palau de La Mar, Las Arenas Balneario Resort, The Westin Valencia, etc.
The downside of this method will be the higher rental cost, and the plus is that in the hotel where you are staying, you can rent a car for one or two days, for example, on weekends, when the payment is lower. In addition, the hotels have car parks that can be used.
The riskiest way to rent a car in Valencia is to use small private car rental companies.
On the one hand, this option is the cheapest and requires fewer formalities, but on the other hand, you should beware of fraud so that you do not have to pay later, for example, for damage or scratches that were not specified in the contract.
Advance car rental booking in Valencia
Booking a car in advance allows you to guarantee car rental in Valencia even in high season, as well as to choose the model you want and the company that rents the cars. In addition, you can always cancel your reservation free of charge: no less than 24 hours (in some companies, 48) before the rental date.
How to book a car: practical steps
Booking a car in Valencia while still in Russia is quite simple - for this you should use the websites of individual companies or aggregators. The algorithm of actions is about the same everywhere. Let's take a closer look at how this can be done using the example of the aggregator http://www.orangesmile.com/:
- on the main page of the aggregator, select "Russian" from the list of languages, then on the top line of the menu "Car rental";
- in the opened tab "Search for a car" you should enter the necessary data: "Valencia Manasis" (if you want to get a car at the airport) and the planned date of arrival. Here you can also select another return point for the car by checking the box “Return elsewhere” and specifying the desired address. Then click "Search for cars";
- an interactive map will open, which will display the offers found with an indication of prices. For more detailed information, please click on Valencia airport;
- in the tab that opens, all the offers found (in our case there are 19) will be shown, indicating the car model, rental cost, rental company, its rating for various indicators, etc. They should be viewed and the most suitable option should be selected;
- After the choice is made, you should click on the green button "Select" and go directly to the process of booking a car;
- on the tab that opens, you can familiarize yourself with the rental conditions, as well as order additional services, for example, a seat for a child under 4 years old. After that, you should click on "Continue";
- the next step is to enter information about the main driver: name and surname, e-mail address, phone number (select "Russian Federation" from the list), address, city, postcode, country, flight number (required for meeting), driver's age. After the data has been entered, click "Continue";
- the next step is to choose a payment option: in full or make a deposit of 25 euros. You must select the option you want and enter the bank card details. Please note that the rental voucher will only be sent after full payment;
- after all the data has been entered, click "Select". The data will be verified, after which the website will display information about the booking number, the amount paid, the list of necessary documents for the registration and signing of the rental agreement, etc.Within 15-20 minutes, a voucher / receipt for car rental will be sent to the specified email address.
Required documents
The list of papers required to complete a car rental agreement includes three main documents:
- driver's license (Russian or international). The license must be issued no later than a year ago. Some companies require a driving experience of two years or more;
- valid credit card;
- photo ID or passport.
In case of pre-booking a car, you will also need to present a receipt / voucher for the rental.
Signing a contract and receiving a car
The receipt of the car and the signing of the corresponding document on its rental takes place at the representative office of the rental company. When renting a car from a company that has an office at Valencia Airport, this can be done directly at the Floor 0 terminal.
If the car was booked in advance, you can use the transfer or drive yourself to the place specified when booking.
After checking the documents and agreeing on all the details, the amount specified in the contract will be blocked on your card, and in return you will be given the keys to the car in the parking lot.
Before you start using the car, it should be inspected together with an employee of the company and all dents and scratches more than 5 cm found found should be included in the damage sheet (it is advisable to also photograph them).
This is especially important if you do not take out full insurance with the landlord. In addition, you should pay attention to the presence of a spare wheel, emergency stop signs, a reflective vest, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in the car.
How to return the car to the lessor
You can return the car at the same point in which it was received, or at another place, agreed in advance, where the representative office of the rental company is located.
Arriving at the parking lot, you must invite an employee of the company to inspect the car. After comparing the marks in the damage sheet with the results of the car inspection, the employee must sign or stamp the absence of claims in the contract.
This completes the procedure, after which you can go to the office to hand over the keys. When you walk up to the counter, you don't have to stand in line: just shake the keys and employees will quickly pick them up.
If you have taken out full insurance, you should just leave the car in the parking lot and return the keys at the counter.
It should be remembered that the unit of rental time in Spain is a day. Therefore, it is better to return the car at the appointed time or a little earlier. If you delay the delivery of the car for one or two hours, you will have to pay an additional day.
Rental price: what you should pay attention to
The cost of renting a car depends on many different factors and includes:
- insurance - most often it is:
- CDW - coverage of car damage in the event of an accident;
- TPL - compensation for damage caused to third parties;
- TP - coverage of losses in case of car theft. (The amount of the deductible can be from 600 to 1200 euros (the amount will be blocked on the credit card));
- airport tax (when renting at Valencia airport) - from 20 to 60 euros, depending on the car model and the rental period;
- road and other local taxes.
The price is also influenced by:
- car class (A, B, C, D, E, etc.), make, modification, mechanic or automatic machine, age, etc. The more expensive the car is, the higher the rental cost and the more expensive the insurance;
- lease terms. The shorter the rental period, the more expensive the rental. The average cost of renting a car in Valencia per day is 30 euros for an economy class car and 75-80 euros for a business class car. Three-day rental will cost 50 and 120-130 euros, respectively, seven days - 95 and 180-200 euros;
- high or low season. The high season in Valencia is from June to September, when car rental prices can go up from 30 to 100%;
- driver's age. Young drivers from 21 to 24 years old, as well as older ones from 75 to 95 years old, are charged an additional fee of 11.64 euros per day (but not more than 116.40 euros for the rental period);
- place of lease. Higher rental cost at the airport, at the railway station;
- mileage limitation (for example, 300 km / day). Each kilometer in excess of the limit will cost an additional 0.48 to 0.60 euros, so it is better to take unlimited mileage.
Additional costs should also be considered:
- fuel cost. Depending on the car, you will need to buy unleaded petrol: 95th for 1.34 euros per liter and 98th for 1.49 euros per liter. The current fuel prices in Spain can be checked at Gasofa.es. Less often in the rental car come across diesel fuel (1.26 euros per liter) and gas (0.70 euros per liter).
When renting, it is more profitable to take the "full tank" service. In other words: he took a fully fueled car and returned it with a full tank. Otherwise, you will have to pay an inflated price for fuel;
- payment of travel on toll roads. For example, travel on the AR-7 Barcelona - Valencia (347 km) will cost 36.55 euros, on the Valencia - Alicante highway (178 km) - 17.15 euros;
- payment for parking;
- payment for additional services. These costs can be quite sensitive. So, for the second driver you will have to pay 48 euros, for a child seat - 48 euros, for a GPS - 72.80 euros, etc.;
- in case of violation of traffic rules, in addition to the amount of the fine, an additional 37 euros will be debited from the credit card, etc.
You can save on rent if you take advantage of various special or promotional offers from the company, promotional codes.
Car rental comparison chart in Valencia for four days in high and low seasons (in Euros)
| Car rental company | Vehicle class | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (Peugeot 107, Ford Ka, Kia Picanto, etc.) | V (Peugeot 208, Skoda Fabia, Opel Corsa, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Getz, Ford Fiesta) | WITH (Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, Opel Astra, Kia Ceed, Ford Focus, Renault Megane) | D (Volkswagen Passat, Audi A4, Jaguar X-type, Ford Mondeo, Mercedes-Benz C, BMW 3) | L (Volkswagen Transporter, Opel Zafira, Nissan Quest, Renault Kangoo, Mercedes V) | |
| High season | |||||
| Cicar | 243.64 | 263.48 | 307.48 | 652.72 | 396.36 |
| Goldcar | 160.00 | 181,17 | 230,81 | 394,24 | 475,07 |
| Sixt | 196.98 | 236.98 | 279.98 | 459.96 | 759.98 |
| Alamo | 195.97 | 209.96 | 232.71 | 404.24 | 356.37 |
| Low season | |||||
| Cicar | 194.00 | 220.28 | 247.92 | 396.40 | 268.80 |
| Goldcar | 147.83 | 155.99 | 177.74 | 305.24 | 198.50 |
| Sixt | 131.99 | 154.96 | 170.96 | 380.97 | 383.95 |
| Alamo | 120.90 | 129.57 | 143.60 | 249.45 | 393.25 |
What you need to know about traffic rules in Spain
Traffic rules in Spain correspond to the Vienna Convention of 1968 and practically do not differ from the traffic rules of other European countries. At the same time, in 2021, a new Spanish law on traffic rules came into force, which will be useful for Russian drivers to know so as not to get into unpleasant situations:
- it is possible to use the included dipped headlights during daylight hours only when driving through the tunnels;
- conversations on a mobile phone in the car are allowed only in hands-free mode without a headset. Switch off mobile phones at gas stations;
- security cameras - on almost all roads;
- prohibition of radar detectors - a fine for violation of 600 euros;
- speed limit in settlements - 40 km / h;
- compulsory seat belts for all passengers and the driver. Penalty for violation - 200 euros;
Interesting fact. A modern three-point seat belt saves six human lives on Earth every minute. The first company to invent and use such belts was Volvo. The Swedish company allowed all automotive companies to use their invention free of charge.
- the maximum allowable percentage of alcohol in the blood is 0.5%. Fine - EUR 500;
- high fines: for speeding - from 100 to 600 euros, parking in the wrong place, incorrect overtaking - from 200 to 400 euros, etc.
- for paying a fine on the spot to a policeman - 50% discount.
Parking spots in Valencia: how to find and how much to pay
The problem with finding parking is also relevant for Valencia - the number of parking spaces, especially in the central part of the city, is limited, and at the peak of the tourist season, their deficit is even more noticeable.
Most of the parking lots are paid. Parking requirements in Spain, including Valencia, depend on many factors: season, day of the week, calendar date - odd and even numbers, time of day. For more information on the peculiarities of parking in the country, see the article "Parking in Spain".
In Valencia you can use:
- parking lots in the so-called blue zone - payment by purchasing a ticket at the machine on weekdays from 9.00 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 21.00, on Saturdays - from 9.00 to 14.00.Sunday and night hours are free;
- underground parking lots - aparcamiento subterráneo - pay at the ticket office at the entrance to the parking lot. Payment is calculated by the minute and differs from place to place. In the Mercado Central parking lot, the first minute costs 5 cents, 60 minutes - 2.65 euros, 120 minutes - 4.65 euros, 180 minutes - 6.70 euros. At the Bioparc parking lot under the Valencia Zoo, 200 minutes of parking will cost 5 euros;
- parking lots in Ora Zona - payment with coupons for 30, 60 and 90 minutes, bought at a tobacco kiosk;
- parking at the airport. Prices are higher here - a minute of short-term parking will cost 0.66 euros, a day for long-term parking - 15 euros (up to 4 days) and 5.95 euros (over 4 days).
- free parking is sparse. For example, Ciudad de las Artes & las Ciencias, Valencia Sud, etc. However, it should be borne in mind that fraudsters often operate near such parking lots, who “provide” a place for a car for a few euros. Free parking is also possible in the courtyards of residential areas, as well as on the outskirts of the streets next to the hotel.
Pay attention to the signs: for example, a sign with a tow truck means that if the parking is incorrect, your car will be transported to the penalty area and you will be required to pay a fine of 100 euros; If you park on a sidewalk with a yellow stripe and a Vado sign or in a wheelchair accessible area, you face a fine of 200 euros.
When looking for a parking space, drivers can come to the aid of special services and sites, for example, parkme.com, parkimeter.ru.
Prices in the city center range from 1 to 6 euros per hour, from 8 to 60 euros per day.
Interesting fact. Each car spends on average about 95% of its life in parking lots. World statistics show that every passenger car driver has 18 trips of 20 minutes each week. Thus, out of 168 hours the car is in motion only 6.
FAQ
During a trip, questions often arise that are difficult to answer right away. Let's consider some of them and try to give answers.
Is it mandatory to have an International Driving License (IDP) to rent a car in Valencia
This question comes up quite often. The Russian Federation is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, and its citizens who have a driver's license issued after March 28. 2021, can freely move in their car in the European countries that have signed this convention.
Spain, although it signed the agreement, has not yet ratified it. Therefore, from a formal point of view, Russian drivers should arrange for themselves an MVP. Nevertheless, practice shows that holders of Russian driver's licenses with inscriptions in Latin characters do not experience any problems when renting a car in Spain, and rental companies do not require translation of this document into Spanish. However, many drivers still advise you to make yourself an MVP (the service costs 1200 rubles), arguing that an extra identity document, which can be left as a deposit without regret, if necessary, will not hurt abroad.
What to do when renting a car in Valencia for a client under 21
Despite the fact that according to the rules of the road in Spain, persons aged 18 and over are allowed to drive a car, most car rental companies provide their services only to customers over 21 years old, charging an additional fee for a "young driver". The opportunity to rent a car to clients under the age of 21 is only in small private firms that can provide a car to drivers aged 19 years and older, but with a one-year driving experience.
Is it legal to travel to another Spanish city or country with your Valencia rental car
There are no restrictions on movement in Spain when renting a car in Valencia. The only obstacle may be the limitation of the mileage - 1500 or 3000 km, but this can only affect additional costs.
Traveling abroad - to Portugal, France, Andorra or Gibraltar - needs to be checked with the company that provides the car.
A number of large international companies (Hertz, Europcar, etc.) are allowed to travel to the EU countries without any problems. Others, such as Centauro, do not prohibit leaving, but charge an additional 9.27 euros (maximum 92.70) for the rental period).
Which car rental companies have their offices at Valencia Airport
Currently, Valencia Airport has provided the opportunity to have offices for seven such companies: Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Goldcar and Rental. All of them are located in the “Floor 0” terminal.
Opening hours: from 07.00 to 24.00 from Monday to Saturday, from 08.00 to 24.00 on Sundays (Sixt - from 05.00 to 24.00).
However, this does not mean that you cannot rent a car from another firm or company at the airport. Many companies send special shuttles or transfers to the airport, which meet customers and take them to their offices.
Finally
Renting a car in Valencia gives you the opportunity to make your vacation in Spain an unforgettable experience. Large international and Spanish companies are represented here, as well as dozens of local firms that provide car rental services.
In a highly competitive environment, many companies make concessions, providing discounts and the opportunity to rent a car without collateral or franchise.
The guarantee of picking up the car during the high season will be pre-booking on the website of the respective company. The rental procedure is simple and requires a minimum of documents. Booking on the websites of companies, careful familiarization with the rental conditions and insurance rules will avoid unnecessary expenses.
