Car Hire in Majorca

Why hire a car in Majorca?

The largest of the Balearic islands, Mallorca is one of Spain’s most famous holiday destinations. The island is best known for its splendid beaches and all-inclusive resorts, but there’s also a surprising amount of history, culture, and mountainous scenery to explore.

Top ways to enter Majorca

• Palma de Mallorca Airport: Having served nearly 30 million travelers in 2019, this is the third-busiest airport in all of Spain. The airport is on the west coast of the island, about a 10-minute drive from Palma, but is easy to reach from anywhere on the island.
• By ferry: There is an active ferry service between Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as destinations on the Spanish mainland like Barcelona and Valencia. Most ferry companies permit taking a vehicle onboard, but the same cannot be said of all car hire companies, so you should ask them in advance. Ferry service is more active during the summer months, but booking tickets in advance is a good idea as they tend to sell out fast.

Top sights and activities

• Castell de Bellver. Located just west of Palma, this castle is arguably the most important building in all of the Balearic Islands. Dating back to the 14th century, the Gothic former home of the Kings of Majorca is located on a hilltop and offers fascinating views of the city and the sea below.
• Old Palma. Another place of impressive architecture and special atmosphere, the historic city centre of Palma is another treat for history lovers. The most important landmarks here are arguably the Cathedral of Palma, or La Seu, which took 370 years to finish, and the Royal Palace of Almudaina.
• Museum of Contemporary Spanish Art. Also located in the Old Town, but deserving special mention, this is one of the most notable museums in the region. In addition to rotating exhibitions of contemporary Spanish art, it also has a permanent collection of works by world-famous masters like Picasso and Dali.

Traffic and parking

• 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.

Toll roads

There is just one toll road on Mallorca, the MA-11 which starts in Palma and goes north to the town of Sóller. As an alternative, you can take the old MA110 which is free of charge and offers a more scenic route but takes about 30 minutes longer.

Ideas for day trips

• Beaches. The main reason to visit Mallorca, the island’s beautiful coastline attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. There are a lot of popular beaches around Palma, but getting a hire car will give you a chance to also discover the less explored coastal spots of the island, especially around its northwestern coast.
• Cuevas del Drach. It might be a surprise to some visitors, but the relatively small island of Mallorca is home to not just fine beaches, but also one of the most impressive cave systems in all of Spain. Collectively known as the Dragon Caves, the four subterranean caverns are about an hour’s drive from Palma.
• Serra de Tramuntana. Another notable natural fear, the Tramuntana Mountains are on the western coast of Mallorca. The most famous part of this region is Magaluf, one of Mallorca’s rowdiest nightlife spots which is at the range’s southern edge. Travel further north and you’ll discover idyllic hikes, olive groves, and beautiful highland lakes.

Most popular cars

The most popular car for hire in Mallorca is the Fiat 500, followed by the Ford Focus and the Fiat Panda. The most popular car types are mini, economy, and compact.

Further destinations

• Ibiza. Its name being synonymous with beach, nightlife, and frequent visits by some of the best techno DJs on the planet, Ibiza is certainly a major party hub. The island is connected to Mallorca by a ferry service (which is more active during the warmer months of the year). It might be possible to go with a car you’ve hired, but you should ask your car provider in advance if they permit it; another option is to drop off a car in Mallorca, go by boat, and then pick up a new one after your arrival in Ibiza. If you do take your vehicle with you, you will need to buy a separate ticket for it.
• Menorca. Considerably more relaxed than Ibiza and even Mallorca, Menorca is arguably the most serene of the three main Balearic islands. Having a considerably lower density of both local population and tourists certainly helps in that regard. Those who do make it to Menorca will be rewarded with lovely nature not just along the coastline, but also in the interior part of the island, as well as delicious local cuisine and interesting culture. As with Ibiza, ask your car hire provider in advance if you would like to take the vehicle with you on a boat.

Car hire prices in Majorca

• Small cars - starting at £11 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £13 per day
• Large cars - starting at £17 per day
• SUVs - starting at £14 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £26 per day
• Convertibles - starting at £26 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £23 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £27 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some good methods to save money on your car:

• Compare the rates of different car hire suppliers
• 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 Mallorca is the cheapest in March when hiring a car is about 60% cheaper than the yearly average.