Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2026 7:07pm
I've had well over a dozen hires over the last 18 months since buying my property and have learned a few things.
The absolutely cheapest 3 or 4 companies are not working with a viable business plan and the only way they can make money is to try and fleece you for damage that you haven't done.
The absolute baseline, imo, is Goldcar, who despite the reviews are one of the few companies that haven't tried to rob me in 4 hires with them.
My extremely strong advice is to get an excess insurance policy at home. They cost about £40 a year, from memory.
Even so, you'll need to take dozens of pictures and maybe a video, showing the condition of the car, on pick up.
And even then, don't expect to be allowed to walk away without being charged hundreds, until you get chance to trawl through all the pictures and claim a refund either.
If it's a one-off hire, you might just be better paying the extortionate charges for the hire company's premium insurance or go with COYS or LARA, as suggested, which is basically just the same thing anyway.
Then, you won't have the slightest issue.
Depends if you're willing to pay more than what the hire costs, for that extra insurance, as compared to a big saving, but maybe a load of hassle.
I always went the cheapest option, often causing me grief and this is exactly why I've bought an old banger which I park at the airport.
Sadly it seems to be any Spanish hire company's way of working now.
Fwiw, about the only company I might recommend is Wiber. I've hired from them a couple of times and found them excellent.
But then I'd recommend Goldcar too, but I'm definitely in a massive minority on this site. You can only say what you see, can't you? :-)
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