VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI): about 8 km east of Palma on the Bay of Palma, joined to the city by the Ma-19 motorway.
Why Rent a Car at Palma Airport
Mallorca's public transport reaches the main towns, but the island's character is in places buses serve poorly: hidden coves on the east, the winding Serra de Tramuntana, the lighthouse road to Cap Formentor and quiet inland villages such as Santanyí and Pollença.
Our advice: pick up at the airport if your hotel is outside Palma, and consider booking a smaller car, because mountain roads and old-town streets are tight. In July and August, do beach days early and avoid arriving at popular coves after mid-morning, when car parks fill.
Drive Times from PMI
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Palma centre | ~8 km | 15–25 min |
| Valldemossa | ~20–25 km | about 30–40 min |
| Sóller | ~30 km | about 35–50 min via the tunnel |
| Port d'Andratx | ~30–35 km | about 35–45 min |
| Alcúdia | ~55–60 km | about 50–65 min |
| Pollença | ~55–60 km | about 50–65 min |
| Cala d'Or | ~55–60 km | about 50–65 min |
| Cap Formentor | ~75–80 km | about 1.25–1.5 hours |
Picking Up at PMI: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
How the car is handed over depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals area, some in a car park, some at a nearby yard with a shuttle, and many deliver to a hotel. Palma Airport is busy in peak season, so enter your flight number and use the "Specify location" option in the search. Do not rely on a named counter unless it is written on the car card.
Late arrival? Many international flights land late at night. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and check that the phone number on your voucher answers messages.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Your national driving licence; licences issued in EU/EEA countries are normally accepted, while drivers from other countries may be asked for an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the licence — requirements depend on where your licence was issued and can change, so check with the agency before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at PMI
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: July and August, Easter week and the Christmas holidays are the busiest and dearest, especially on the islands and the Costa del Sol; spring and autumn are usually quieter and cheaper, and winter is lowest on the coast except in the Canary Islands
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Spain Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Toll roads, fines, parking and any fuel shortfall are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Tramuntana Roads, Tunnels and Cyclists
The Ma-13 and Ma-11 climb to the north and cross the mountains through the Sóller tunnel, which may charge a toll, so ask the agency. The old mountain road is narrow, with bends and tour coaches. Road cycling is huge in Mallorca, especially in spring and autumn, so expect groups of riders, give them space and do not overtake on blind bends. Roads to Sa Calobra and Cap Formentor are among the narrowest on the island.
- Choose a small car for the Tramuntana roads
- Start early for Formentor and Sa Calobra, as parking and the roads are crowded after mid-morning
- Fines from cameras and police are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Driving Near PMI: Roads and Habits
Roads on the plain are straightforward and well signed, with many roundabouts. In the mountains, tour coaches take the middle on tight bends and stone walls line the edge, so reduce your speed and be ready to reverse to a wider spot. Use low gears on long descents.
- Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left, and at roundabouts give way to cars already on the roundabout, which circulate counter-clockwise
- Speed limits are signed and cameras are common, including fixed, average-speed and mobile units; as a general guide towns are 50 km/h or lower, conventional roads about 90 km/h and motorways up to 120 km/h
- Spain has toll motorways (autopistas, signed AP) and many free autovías (signed A) that run alongside them; ask the agency how tolls are paid and whether a fee is added
- Many cities have low-emission zones (ZBE) with camera enforcement; rules differ by city and change, so check the current rules for your route and ask the agency about the car's environmental label
- Street parking is often regulated (ORA): blue bays are usually paid with a time limit, green bays are usually for residents or cost more for visitors, and yellow lines mean no parking
- Strict drink-driving limits apply and police run roadside tests; the safest rule is zero alcohol. No handheld phone, and seatbelts are compulsory for everyone
- Fuel policy is usually full-to-full; return the car with the same level as at pick-up and keep the fuel receipt
- Do not take the car on unpaved tracks, beaches or dry riverbeds: insurance is not valid off-road
- Island rental cars normally stay on the island; ferries to other islands or to the mainland are usually not allowed, so check the terms
- Cyclists are frequent on Mallorca's roads, especially in spring; give them generous room when passing
Best Day Trips from Palma Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Spain Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.