Rental Car
A rental car is almost indispensable on Mallorca if you want to see more than Palma and a single beach resort. The island is small, but the public buses do not reach all attractions — and the most beautiful calas, Tramuntana villages, and wine fincas are off the bus routes.
Prices by Season (Small Car, e.g., Seat Ibiza)
| Period | Price/Day | Price/Week |
|---|---|---|
| Off-season (Nov–March) | 12–20€ | 70–120€ |
| Shoulder season (Apr–May, Oct) | 20–35€ | 120–200€ |
| High season (June–August) | 40–80€ | 250–500€ |
| Peak (Holiday Weeks July/Aug) | 60–120€ | 400–700€+ |
Providers
International: Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise — reliable standard, more protection in case of problems, more expensive.
Local (often cheaper): Goldcar (beware: aggressive insurance upsells!), Record Go, OK Rent a Car, Hiper Rent a Car, Centauro. Read reviews beforehand!
Comparison Portals: CHECK24, billiger-mietwagen.de, rentalcars.com — here you will find the best prices. Always book with full insurance without excess!
Important Tips
- Full insurance without excess is mandatory: Either through the comparison portal (billiger-mietwagen.de often has the best packages) or through a travel credit card (Barclays Visa, Advanzia Mastercard Gold). The roads in the Tramuntana and the narrow old town alleys take their toll — scratches happen quickly.
- Parking in Palma: Avoid the old town by car! Parking garages: Parc de la Mar (2.50€/h), Plaça Major (2.20€/h), Avinguda Gabriel Roca (2€/h). Blue zones (ORA): Max. 2h, approx. 1.50€/h. Free: at the Porto Pi harbor (weekend).
- Tramuntana Roads: Narrow, steep, hairpin bends without guardrails. Take a small car, not an SUV. The road to Sa Calobra (Ma-2141) is legendary but not for beginners. Tip: Drive in the morning when the tour buses are not yet on the road.
- Fueling: Petrol approx. 1.50–1.65 euros/liter (2025). Gas stations everywhere, even inland. More expensive on highways. Cheapest: Cepsa and Repsol at supermarkets.
- Speed Limits: In town 30–50 km/h, country roads 90 km/h, motorway (Ma-1, Ma-13, Ma-15, Ma-19) 120 km/h. Speed cameras are frequent, especially on the Ma-19 near the airport and the Ma-13 to Alcudia.
- Automatic or Manual: Automatic is significantly more expensive and quickly booked out. Those who can only drive automatic must book especially early.
Achtung
The major rental car portals at the airport (especially Goldcar, Firefly, InterRent) are notorious for aggressive insurance upsells at the counter. Do not be intimidated — if you have booked through a comparison portal with full insurance without excess, you do not need additional insurance on site. Insist politely but firmly.