Costa del Sol car rentals

Though Spain has great train and bus links across the country, the area of Costa del Sol is much more accessible by car via its array of coastal roads and well-connected mountain roads. Between the major coastal urban areas of Malaga and Marbella you have a stunning drive ahead of you, both with sea views and mountain views depending on your preferred routes. Hiring a car is a great way to explore this region, you have plenty of freedom and you can save time not having to rely on train or bus schedules, which can become expensive depending on how many trips you take. The coastal road A7/N340 or the alternative AP-7 toll road can take you from Malaga city all the way to Manilva on the border with Cadiz in around one hour and 20 minutes.

Like most countries, there can be a knack to driving in certain areas and drivers new to the roads may need to get accustomed to the driving style of the locals. Around the Costa del Sol this is no different, but don’t be alarmed as the roads in this part of Spain are of a high standard and are not too dissimilar to major roads in the UK. One thing to keep in mind are Spanish roundabouts, which are a relatively new concept in Spain. Local drivers tend to drive on the outside lane of roundabouts, regardless of whether they’re turning off or not. Also, many drivers forget to give way to traffic on the roundabout, so be careful of any cars turning onto the roundabout without allowing you past first. In addition, take note of the new speed limits that came into force in 2021. Urban roads are 20kmh (12mph) for one-way single lane roads and 30kmh (19mph) for roads with a lane in each direction. For motorways and dual carriageways, the speed limit is 120kmh (75mph).

If you’re looking to rent a car on the Costa del Sol, you’ll need to be at least 21 years of age, and for some car hire companies you must be 23 years old or older. In most circumstances, drivers under the age of 25 will need to pay an additional fee known as a ‘younger driver’ surcharge. Normally this would be a daily charge that is added onto the cost of the entire rental period. To ensure you’re aware of your chosen car hire company’s policies, make sure to check their terms & conditions when booking your vehicle online through KAYAK.

Economy (Seat Ibiza or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Costa del Sol.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Costa del Sol are Málaga (86% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Costa del Sol) and Marbella (14%).