Car Hire in Barcelona

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Barcelona, Spain
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500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Hire Rates

Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Mini
Citroen C1 or comparable
Citroen C1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Man.
Drivalia
£ 6.55 / per day
Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Economy
Peugeot 108 or comparable
Peugeot 108
  • 4
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Ok Mobility
£ 7.12 / per day
Barcelona Railway Station Car Hire
Compact
Ford Focus or comparable
Ford Focus
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Centauro
£ 11.24 / per day
Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Intermediate Crossover
Ford Kuga or comparable
Ford Kuga
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
Record-go
£ 13.82 / per day

Most Popular Car Hire Deals

Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Compact Elite
Mercedes Benz A Class or comparable
Mercedes Benz A Class
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
Alamo
£ 19.69 / per day
Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Standard
Opel Insignia or comparable
Opel Insignia
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
Enterprise
£ 20.51 / per day
Barcelona Airport Car Hire
Economy Elite
Audi A1 or comparable
Audi A1
  • 5
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Europcar
£ 23.17 / per day
Barcelona Railway Station Car Hire
Full-size Van
Ssangyong Rodius or comparable
Ssangyong Rodius
  • 7
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Thrifty
£ 45.01 / per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 16:04 on 2023-12-04.

Travel Information

Languages
Spanish, Catalan
Currency
EUR
Drive on
Right-hand side
Dialing code
+34
Average car hire price
£ 18 per day
Average car hire length
7 days
Speed limit within city centre
20 - 50 km/h or 12 - 31 mph
Speed limit out of city centre
90 - 120 km/h or 56 - 75 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Score
8.8 / 10
Average gasoline price
£ 1.56 per litre or £ 5.91 / 1 gallon
Lowest gasoline price
£ 1.35 per litre or £ 5.10 / 1 gallon
Highest gasoline price
£ 1.80 per litre or £ 6.82 / 1 gallon

Why hire a car in Barcelona?

The capital of Catalonia and Spain’s second-largest, Barcelona is not just politically important, it is also one of Europe’s most exciting cities to visit. More than La Rambla and Gaudi, the city is a true cultural metropolis, and also offers access to a wealth of interesting Catalan day-trip destinations.

Barcelona Car Hire

One-way Car Hire in Barcelona

The most popular one-way car hire options for pick up in Barcelona and drop off in another city include:

  • From Barcelona to Madrid - 361 offers from £ 5.98 per day
  • From Barcelona to Malaga - 467 offers from £ 5.98 per day
  • From Barcelona to Valencia - 376 offers from £ 5.98 per day
  • From Barcelona to Alicante - 225 offers from £ 5.98 per day
  • From Barcelona to Seville - 438 offers from £ 5.98 per day

Top ways to enter Barcelona

  • Barcelona Airport. Serving over 50 million travellers annually before the pandemic hit, Barcelona El Prat is one of the busiest airports in all of Southern Europe. The airport is just 15 km (9 miles) southwest of the city centre, a trip that can be made in about 25 minutes.

Top destinations and activities

  • Architecture of Gaudí. Love it, loathe it, or simply remain deeply perplexed by it, there’s no denying that the buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí are a big part of the Barcelona experience. Naturally, the Sagrada Família is the most famous work by the Catalan visionary, but there’s also La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and many other imaginative buildings to explore.
  • Gothic Quarter. The oldest area of the old town of Barcelona, El Gòtic is one of the most distinctive parts of the city. The area has plenty of famous landmarks, not least the Palau Reial Major complex (the former residence of Aragonese kings) and La Mercè Basilica, but the main draw of the quarter is its timeless ambience.
  • Camp Nou. Barcelona is a city very rich in architecture and art, but one of its main jewels is, in fact, its largest football club, FC Barcelona. Although having acquired an increasingly global face over the last two decades, it started out as a symbol of Catalanism and solidarity, and as such retains an important place in the local culture. It’s a great idea to go to a match at Camp Nou, the home stadium which is the largest in Europe, but a visit to the club’s museum is also worth it.

Traffic and parking

  • The speed limits are 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h (56mph) on most standard roads, 100km/h (62mph) on standard roads that are either one-way roads, roads with more than two lanes for at least one direction of traffic and roads with shoulders more than 1.5m wide, and 120km/h (74mph) on motorways (called autovías in Spain).
  • The car’s documentation and proof of insurance always have to be inside a vehicle.
  • The driver and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts.
  • Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm travelling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.
  • Unnecessary use of audible warning devices (horns) is prohibited
  • The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers
  • The emergency number is 112.
  • There parking areas in Barcelona can be generally divided into three parking types: free parking, the Green Area and the Blue Area. Do note that some paid parking areas may become free at the weekend.
  • The Green Area (Àrea Verda) can be recognized by green painted lines. The price will vary depending on the location. You cannot park in the Green Area for more than 1 or 2 hours.
  • The Blue Area (Àrea Blava) is a paid parking area for everyone, with time limits varying between 1 and 4 hours depending on the place. If you want to park here, you must purchase a ticket at the machines on the sidewalk and place it in a visible area of your car.
  • There are also free parking opportunities in Barcelona. Although many are not in the city centre, you may find a lot of them convenient. Some examples are: the subterranean parking of supermarket La Maquinista (Calle Potosí, 2), the area next to Parc Ciutadella (Calle de Ramón Turro), Montjuic area close to Fundación Miro and area around Calle Icaria
  • There are also many paid car parks in Barcelona, varying in price and proximity to the city centre. Look up the one that might suit you the best on the official website.

Toll roads

Most of the roads in Spain are toll-free. Toll roads are called ‘carretera de peaje’. On maps and road signs, all toll roads have to include a letter P after the road type. The payment methods vary depending on the road, but most accept cash. Regardless of the region, the average estimated price is €9.5 ($11.25) per 100km by car. See the official website for prices and more information.

Ideas for day trips

  • Lleida. Most visitors to Catalonia tend to stay close to the coast, but the interior of the region can be just as rewarding to visit. One such fascinating destination is Lleida — a city inhabited since prehistory and later important for Romans which offers plenty of ancient landmarks and ambience, not to mention the access to the idyllic countryside that surrounds it. The drive from Barcelona will take just under two hours.
  • Girona. The capital of the northernmost province of Catalonia, Girona is so much more than just its airport which is favoured by low-cost carriers. Known for its long and varied history, it is home to the Arab Baths (now turned into a museum) and one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Located an 80-minute drive from Barcelona, Girona also provides access to the pristine Costa Brava region.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in Barcelona is the Seat Leon, followed by the Fiat Panda and the Fiat 500. The most popular car types are mini, economy, and compact.

Car Hire Prices in Barcelona

  • Convertibles - starting at £ 13 per day
  • Station wagons - starting at £ 16 per day
  • Large cars - starting at £ 15 per day
  • Medium cars - starting at £ 7 per day
  • People Carriers - starting at £ 13 per day
  • Premium cars - starting at £ 32 per day
  • Small cars - starting at £ 7 per day
  • SUVs - starting at £ 7 per day

Money-saving tips

These are some good methods to save money on your hired vehicle:

  • Compare rates of different car providers
  • Book your car well in advance
  • Plan your route before you go
  • Know your fuel and mileage requirements
  • Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Barcelona is the cheapest in January.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Top 20 Cities near Barcelona

  1. Calella Car Hire starting at £ 46.73 per day
    59.5 km / 37.0 miles away
  2. Santa Susanna Car Hire starting at £ 46.73 per day
    65.3 km / 40.6 miles away
  3. Reus Car Hire starting at £ 6.55 per day
    78.0 km / 48.5 miles away
  4. Girona Car Hire starting at £ 8.13 per day
    87.9 km / 54.6 miles away
  5. Valencia Car Hire starting at £ 5.32 per day
    295.6 km / 183.7 miles away
  6. Benissa Car Hire starting at £ 24.32 per day
    334.5 km / 207.8 miles away
  7. Benidorm Car Hire starting at £ 13.01 per day
    359.2 km / 223.2 miles away
  8. Alicante Car Hire starting at £ 3.38 per day
    403.6 km / 250.8 miles away
  9. Torrevieja Car Hire starting at £ 13.01 per day
    437.7 km / 272.0 miles away
  10. Bilbao Car Hire starting at £ 7.34 per day
    466.8 km / 290.1 miles away
  11. Murcia Car Hire starting at £ 5.19 per day
    475.9 km / 295.7 miles away
  12. Madrid Car Hire starting at £ 8.40 per day
    483.1 km / 300.2 miles away
  13. Santander Car Hire starting at £ 14.34 per day
    539.2 km / 335.0 miles away
  14. Almeria Car Hire starting at £ 13.34 per day
    626.6 km / 389.4 miles away
  15. Granada Car Hire starting at £ 11.04 per day
    680.1 km / 422.6 miles away
  16. Nerja Car Hire starting at £ 28.14 per day
    722.0 km / 448.6 miles away
  17. Malaga Car Hire starting at £ 2.24 per day
    766.0 km / 476.0 miles away
  18. Seville Car Hire starting at £ 6.04 per day
    809.3 km / 502.9 miles away
  19. Gibraltar Car Hire starting at £ 9.52 per day
    860.9 km / 534.9 miles away
  20. Jerez Car Hire starting at £ 8.02 per day
    865.7 km / 537.9 miles away

Top 16 Destinations around Barcelona

  1. Barcelona Airport Car Hire starting at £ 6.55 per day
  2. Reus Airport Car Hire starting at £ 6.55 per day
    78.0 km / 48.5 miles away
  3. Girona Airport Car Hire starting at £ 8.13 per day
    87.9 km / 54.6 miles away
  4. Valencia Airport Car Hire starting at £ 5.32 per day
    295.6 km / 183.7 miles away
  5. Alicante Airport Car Hire starting at £ 3.38 per day
    403.6 km / 250.8 miles away
  6. Bilbao Airport Car Hire starting at £ 7.34 per day
    466.8 km / 290.1 miles away
  7. 475.9 km / 295.7 miles away
  8. Madrid Airport Car Hire starting at £ 8.40 per day
    483.1 km / 300.2 miles away
  9. Almeria Airport Car Hire starting at £ 13.34 per day
    626.6 km / 389.4 miles away
  10. Granada Airport Car Hire starting at £ 11.04 per day
    680.1 km / 422.6 miles away
  11. City Centre Car Hire starting at £ 13.13 per day
    761.2 km / 473.0 miles away
  12. Malaga Airport Car Hire starting at £ 2.24 per day
    766.0 km / 476.0 miles away
  13. Seville Airport Car Hire starting at £ 6.04 per day
    809.3 km / 502.9 miles away
  14. Gibraltar La Linea Airport Car Hire starting at £ 9.52 per day
    860.9 km / 534.9 miles away
  15. Jerez Airport Car Hire starting at £ 8.02 per day
    865.7 km / 537.9 miles away
  16. Santiago de Compostela Airport Car Hire starting at £ 15.16 per day
    883.3 km / 548.9 miles away

Map of Car Hire Destinations

In which month is car hire in Barcelona the most affordable?

According to our data, prices for hiring a car in Barcelona fluctuate depending on the time of year. This graph displays the average hire prices in each month in order to help you find the best bargain.
Average price for hiring a car per day in Barcelona
£ 15.85
January
£ 18.87
February
£ 17.75
March
£ 28.44
April
£ 19.95
May
£ 23.82
June
£ 30.82
July
£ 28.23
August
£ 19.68
September
£ 18.57
October
£ 13.03
November
£ 24.51
December
The best month to hire a car in Barcelona is November (when the average price is £ 13.03 per day). This is 40% less than the yearly average and 58% less than hiring in July (when the average price is £ 30.82).

This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.

What is the usual period for which people keep their hire cars, on average, in Barcelona?

Car hire lengths vary by month: in June, average hirers keep their car for 8, and in June, for 6 days.
Average number of hire days in Barcelona
7
January
7
February
7
March
7
April
7
May
8
June
8
July
8
August
7
September
6
October
6
November
7
December

What is the most favoured month for hiring a car in Barcelona?

Given the number of searches made by our customers, the most popular month for car hire in Barcelona is August, and the least popular is January.
Popularity of Car Hire in Barcelona by Monthly Searches
52%
January
56%
February
61%
March
95%
April
104%
May
129%
June
149%
July
152%
August
141%
September
123%
October
72%
November
65%
December

Car Hire Information

Car hire locations 12
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Record-go, Goldcar, Centauro, Nizacars Rent A Car, Drivalia
Popular car categories Small cars, SUVs, Medium cars, People Carriers
Lowest price £ 7 per day
Cheapest supplier Drivalia

Most Popular Car Hire Models

Hire Agency Model Doors Luggage Type
Record-go Fiat 500X 5 3 Medium cars
Record-go Opel Corsa 5 1 Small cars
Record-go Fiat 500 3 1 Small cars
Goldcar Fiat Panda 3 2 Small cars
Record-go Seat Arona 5 2 SUVs
Goldcar Volkswagen Polo 5 1 Small cars
Centauro Fiat 500 3 1 Small cars
Centauro Ford Focus 5 2 Medium cars
Record-go Ford Kuga 4 3 SUVs
Drivalia Citroen C1 3 1 Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

United Kingdom
Fiat 500
10 November 2023
Visiting family with no unpleasant surprises
United Kingdom
Seat Arona
29 October 2023
We really like the Costa Brava out of season. Quiet, warm and beautiful scenery. However, trip started with BA leaving our luggage in London (two days out of the week spent hanging around indoors waiting for seperate deliveries), issues around car pick up, and then being told we had been bumped by BA off return flight (they then squeezed us in after a un to the gate!) Fantastic place, some poor transport issues.
United Kingdom
Opel Corsa
16 October 2023
just weather and driving around
United Kingdom
Opel Corsa
27 August 2023
The car was great, clean and easy to drive in good condition and we went all over Girona, Barcelona and tarragona as a family of 5!
United Kingdom
Ford Focus
25 June 2023
Stayed in salou and Barcelona. Good having car hire. Able to vist reus, tarades, tarragona near salou. In Barcelona the aquarium, zoo and sagrada famillia is a must.
United Kingdom
Peugeot 5008
13 April 2023
Visits to Sagrada Familiglia and Park Guell and much of our time spent in Sitges
United Kingdom
VW Polo
3 April 2023
Thraveled from Barcelona to Valencia
United Kingdom
Opel Corsa
5 January 2023
We visit all cost brava was excellent 👍
United Kingdom
Seat Leon
14 August 2022
We travelled to Costa Brava from Barcelona with its amazing coves, clear sea and beaches. Also visited Garroxa Volcanic national park, very beautiful medieval villages, old volcanoes to walk up, cool forests to walk through to waterfalls. Also great place for canyoning with the children. Finished trip with three days exploring Barcelona, Casa Battlo worth a visit, the cable car up Montjuïc mountain to watch sunset, the magic fountain, the beaches (read up and choose the best one for you).
United Kingdom
Ford Fiesta
30 May 2022
Straight forward and efficient service with friendly and helpful staff.
United Kingdom
Skoda Fabia
28 September 2021
Pleasure to drive but next time I would get an automatic
United Kingdom
Skoda Fabia
20 July 2021
Used as daily runner between marinas

Car Hire Statistics

Highest rated company
Rent a Car Smart
9.2 / 10
)
Lowest rated company
Interrent
6.3 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
133
Total rental companies
26
Average daily price
£ 18.39
Lowest daily price
£ 6.55
Total cars available
1309

Top 26 Hire Companies in Barcelona in 2023

Rent a Car Smart
Rent a Car Smart
Remarkable 9.2 / 8 reviews
1 location
£ 21 - £ 258
Olimpia Rent a Car
Olimpia Rent a Car
Remarkable 9 / 26 reviews
1 location
£ 47 - £ 341
Nizacars Rent A Car
Nizacars Rent A Car
Outstanding 8.9 / 392 reviews
2 locations
£ 18 - £ 34
SIXT
SIXT
Outstanding 8.9 / 121 reviews
7 locations
£ 25 - £ 104
Record-go
Record-go
Outstanding 8.8 / 1703 reviews
2 locations
£ 10 - £ 57
Centauro
Centauro
Outstanding 8.7 / 365 reviews
2 locations
£ 8 - £ 31
Alamo
Alamo
Outstanding 8.7 / 206 reviews
3 locations
£ 13 - £ 113
Enterprise
Enterprise
Outstanding 8.7 / 93 reviews
5 locations
£ 13 - £ 121
Budget
Budget
Outstanding 8.7 / 29 reviews
3 locations
£ 16 - £ 96
Hertz
Hertz
Outstanding 8.7 / 25 reviews
4 locations
£ 17 - £ 129
Key'n Go
Key'n Go
Outstanding 8.6 / 5 reviews
1 location
£ 23
Drivalia
Drivalia
Outstanding 8.5 / 237 reviews
2 locations
£ 7 - £ 26
Thrifty
Thrifty
Outstanding 8.4 / 39 reviews
3 locations
£ 13 - £ 45
National
National
Outstanding 8.4 / 33 reviews
3 locations
£ 14 - £ 325
Europcar
Europcar
Outstanding 8.3 / 69 reviews
4 locations
£ 18 - £ 68
Click&Rent
Click&Rent
Outstanding 8.3
2 locations
£ 27 - £ 115
Flexways
Flexways
Outstanding 8.3
1 location
£ 20 - £ 42
Ok Mobility
Ok Mobility
Outstanding 8.2 / 549 reviews
3 locations
£ 7 - £ 108
Keddy
Keddy
Outstanding 8.2 / 85 reviews
1 location
£ 14 - £ 27
Alquicoche
Alquicoche
Outstanding 8.2 / 50 reviews
3 locations
£ 19 - £ 35
Avis
Avis
Outstanding 8.2 / 17 reviews
3 locations
£ 17 - £ 96
Dollar
Dollar
Outstanding 8.2 / 15 reviews
1 location
£ 11 - £ 24
Routes Car Rental
Routes Car Rental
Outstanding 8.2 / 2 reviews
1 location
Goldcar
Goldcar
Outstanding 8.1 / 529 reviews
1 location
£ 7 - £ 8
Firefly
Firefly
Outstanding 8.1 / 145 reviews
1 location
£ 16 - £ 76
Interrent
Interrent
Satisfactory 6.3 / 63 reviews
1 location
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