Nowadays, renting a car so you can travel much further and visit new places can be easy. With the help of the internet, you can find companies that are offering these kinds of services at an affordable price. However, navigating the laws and regulations in a new country can be quite tricky.
If this is your first time going to Spain, where do you find a legitimate company that will not leave you hanging at the airport? Fortunately, below is an in-depth guide that you may find helpful so you can explore a lot of cities like Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and other historic areas. Find info about Spain on this webpage here.
Why Should You Rent a Vehicle in the First Place?
If you plan for a leisurely trip that involves going into a lot of places within a space of a week, you’re better off renting a car because it can be time-consuming and expensive to commute. After all, this might be your chance to see some of the best resorts and monasteries, and it might take another year or two before you come back to Spain.
Tourist spots are simply too crowded, and you can get a chance to explore the small towns at your own pace and become more adventurous. It can be tricky when you’re traveling with an entire family, so it’s definitely more comfortable to have a trusty car that can take all of you and your luggage to different places.
Another plus side is hitting the coast of Spain because no vacation is complete unless you go to the beach. There are delectable fishes that are waiting for you, and you can avoid the urban areas and take pictures of the uninhabited sceneries that the country has to offer. There are unique locations like the city of Bilbao and Zarautz where you can bring home delicious tapas.
After a visit to the famous spots and museums, you might also want to go to the mountains and find breathtaking hiking trails. They are very scenic, and you can also spend a day or two with nature. There are also must-see destinations like the ancient city of Toledo, where it’s considered to be an all-in-one destination. This can be a side trip on your way to Madrid, and you can take amazing photos as well.
There’s also the old part of Cuenca where houses tend to hang off the cliff. Moorish King’s House is an entry to the castle’s floating gardens and water mine and enjoy a gastronomic adventure while you’re there.
Tapas tours are also what you don’t want to miss, and there are bars that offer a quintessential experience for tourists. The oldest tavern in Madrid can serve you wines, and staying fed in the cities shouldn’t be an issue.
Visiting museums can also be a good idea, and there’s the Royal Family’s private work collection that includes thousands of prints, paintings, and sculptures. If you’re interested in history and painters, you can view paintings by Pablo Picasso, Francisco de Goya as well as Raphael.
Finally, a live Flamenco performance during the Suma Flamenco Festival can be a year-round occurrence. They are available at the theaters, and having a car is going to be more convenient because some shows are going to have late-night schedules.
What Should You Expect When Driving Around?
Most of the roads in the country are well-maintained and paved. However, expect that they are going to be rough, especially if you decide to try a different off-the-grid route or go to an old city. Some of the areas are gnarl because they are a part of the mountain zones, so extra care should be observed when driving in the winter. Snow and ice are common, as well as frost, so you might want to join a guided tour just in case.
What are the Requirements for Tourist Drivers?
People who are 18 years old and above are generally allowed to drive in Spain. However, many rental companies require their customers to be at least 21 years old to prevent extra charges. The surcharge can be applicable for those who are below 25, and this can be different from one company to another.
When you live in the UK, EU, and other countries included on a specified list, everything can be hassle-free, where all you need to present is a driver’s license. Also, regardless of whether your driving record is clean, or you passed your tests with flying colors, you need to be able to hold your driver’s license for at least a year before they allow you to drive.
However, if you’re from the US or Canada, you need to buy an additional International Driver’s Permit before you leave your country. They can also be available through post offices or specific websites, and they are only available where your driver’s license was issued. What this means is before your trip, you need to obtain this beforehand to prevent headaches.
Fortunately, if you book early, the right car rental company in Spain can provide you with helpful instructions about this. Check this site https://www.leiebilguiden.no/spania/ for more information about the requirements and the available companies out there. For those who don’t have the photocard ID type, an IDP is also necessary before one can hire an automobile in another country.
Rentals also require credit card deposits, and you need to qualify for one before you can book. Debit cards don’t do well when covering surcharges and extra days, as well as deductibles, so this is why many companies prefer credit cards instead.
About the Insurance
One of the other requirements that you can’t miss out on is third-party insurance where which has already been included in the package price of your car rental. It can be a deductible hold charge, and it can go through in an instance of an accident. Collision Damage Waiver can also be applicable, but this is optional.
What are the Types of Vehicles that you Can Hire?
There are a lot of options when it comes to automobiles, and you will never really run out of them. However, most of the choices are manual cars, and automatic ones are not so common. If you plan to visit some rural regions, expect costly prices if you really want to drive them. Hybrid and tech ones are common, but the cheapest are the ones that still use petrol. Plan ahead before booking and be early so you’ll have an automatic reservation under your name when you arrive in the country.
Laws also dictate that you need to include two warning triangles, some spare tires, high visibility vests, and repair tools inside the trunk at all times. Most of them are already provided by the car rental company, but you still need to check them just in case.
There are also small and large automobiles, and what you hire is going to depend on the number of people who will be traveling with you. Larger cars are often required to accommodate your suitcases and other stuff. Also, since Spain has a world-class network of motorways, it’s possible to get to a lot of cities in just one trip.
What are the Rules that You Should Adhere to?
Driving on the right is a must, and this is applicable to all tourists and residents in Spain and other countries in Europe. However, there’s an exception where you might be required to drive on the left-hand side of the road when you’re in Cyprus, Malta, Ireland, and the UK.
Be wary of the speed limits to avoid being stopped by the police. The country utilizes the decimal system instead of miles, and this is often set at 120 km/h (74.5 mph) when you’re in autovias or highways, and when in carreteras nacionales and comarcales minor motorways, it’s set at 90km/h (56 mph).
You should wear a seatbelt at all times, and the children under the height of 135 cm should be at the rear. They might need a child car seat to be safer. You’re also prohibited from sending text messages or taking phone calls while on the road. When you really need to check the maps manually to make sure that you’re on the right route, you can pull over at the side of the road instead of continuing your drive. Bluetooth devices and hands-free call options are allowed, but any ear attachments are prohibited.
Also, as in other countries, you should never drive while being intoxicated by liquors. Sure, a nice cold whiskey is going to be a good addition to any vacation but know that you’ll land yourself in hot waters with the authorities if you’re not careful. You need to have no more than 0.5 g/l of alcohol when the police stop you, and it’s advisable to have another driver if you know that you’re in for a night of partying.
Red simply means stop, and that means no turning right. You need to stay put and wait for the light to turn green before proceeding to prevent violations. Also, keep most of your documents in handy and never leave any of them at the hotel because routine checks are common in certain parts of the country. When driving, give way to the cyclists because there are a lot of them on the road.
The countryside is very uncomplicated, and there are hilly areas and coastal roads. You might want to slow down, especially if you’re going to the gnarly countryside roads because they are often reserved for experienced drivers. Google Maps can be handy if you don’t have a printed map, and Waze can even be a great alternative. Also, don’t forget to carry cash when you need to go through the toll booths.
