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: the capital of the island of Mallorca, with Palma Airport (PMI) about 8 km to the east.
Is a Car Worth It in Palma?
Palma's old town, cathedral and promenade are walkable, and buses and taxis cover the city. Parking is regulated and access to the old centre is restricted.
A car pays off for the island. Book it for the days you explore, and ask the agency to deliver it to your hotel or to a garage on the edge of the old town.
Drive Times from Palma
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Palma Airport (PMI) | ~8 km | 15–25 min |
| Valldemossa | ~18–20 km | about 30–40 min |
| Sóller | ~28–30 km | about 35–50 min |
| Port d'Andratx | ~30 km | about 35–45 min |
| Alcúdia | ~55 km | about 50–65 min |
| Pollença | ~55 km | about 50–65 min |
| Cap Formentor | ~75 km | about 1.25–1.5 hours |
Old-Town Access, Parking and the Mountains
Palma's old centre has restricted-access streets with cameras, and street parking is regulated (ORA) with blue and green bays. Use a garage or a car park outside the old centre. Outside the city, the Ma-13 and Ma-11 lead to the mountains and the Sóller tunnel, which may charge a toll. Mountain roads are narrow, used by coaches and by road cyclists in spring and autumn.
- Do not enter restricted old-town streets; cameras issue fines
- Give cyclists generous room, and never overtake on blind bends
- Fines from cameras and police are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Palma, or collected at Palma Airport (PMI). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
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
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.
Driving in Palma de Mallorca: Roads and Habits
The Ma-19 and the ring road around Palma are busy at rush hours and on summer weekends. In the Tramuntana, stone walls and tight bends make a small car much easier. Road cycling is strong in Mallorca, so expect groups on climbs.
- 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