With regard to car hire, a Spanish Airport is much the same as most other airports: you have a choice of car hire firms at a choice of prices. However, whichever Spanish car hire firm you use it is wise to make sure you understand the driving laws in Spain and also become familiar with some other aspects of driving in this part of the world.
Here are some tips to help make your visit to Malaga in particular as enjoyable as possible and to avoid making any of the mistakes that many others tend to make when driving for the first time in this country.
1. The minimum age for hiring a car in Spain is 21 and you must have held your license for at least one year. You may be charged extra if you are aged below 25, and the age limit might be greater if you are hiring a more powerful car. This is same is true of an extra driver, but some car hire firms in Spain offer that option free of further charge, so check out what the cost is for an extra driver.
2. Check whether or not one-way hire is possible. For example, you may want to collect the car at Malaga Airport and drop it off in Madrid or even Bilbao. Lots of people like the attraction of the beaches at Malaga for example, and stop there first before driving on to their next destination from where they frequently fly back home.
3. Be certain to be conversant with the driving laws in Spain. Breaking the local speed limit by more than 60% constitutes a criminal offence so make sure you understand the speed limits for the roads you drive on. If you are driving on a freeway with a speed limit of 100 Km/Hr and are caught driving at 160 then you could face a prison sentence of 6 months.
4. Parking at a yellow kerb will normally result in a hefty fine and your car being towed away. When you see a blue kerb, you need a parking ticket, so look around for a machine.
5. Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, with seat restraints for your children.
6. Be certain that the vehicle is in good condition before you leave the airport. With car hire a Spanish Airport is the same as any other location in Spain: Because you are responsible for any damage to the car once you drive it from the parking area, you should make sure that you have checked it over thoroughly for any scratches and dents and have any you see marked down on the hire form.
7. Make sure you know where the light switches, wipers, washers, indicators, horn and hazard lights are situated. Check that the power socker (lighter) is functional because if not then your Satnav will give you problems when the battery runs out and also bring to their attention anything that you feel isn't right. You are also responsible for that after you have signed the form and driven away.
8. You must make yourself aware of what your car insurance covers and what the procedure is if you have an accident. Car hire at a Spanish Airport is no different to any other in this respect, and if you fail to report an accident in time, or follow the wrong procedures, your insurance might give you problems. Is collision waver included, whereby you have nothing to pay if you cause a collision? Although CDW can be expensive, it is very worthwhile?
9. Check the fuel situation: you will normally start off with either a full or a half tank, and will have to pay their charges for filling it up to the same level unless you do it yourself first. But check!
10. Try to get unlimited mileage, although that is usually standard in Spain. You should have full roadside emergency assistance as part of your car hire fee, and if you get the choice to pay on booking or when you arrive. Another aspect of airport car hire is that when arranging your car hire airport taxes should be included in the advertised cost, and not be charged as an extra.
Most Spanish airports such as Barcelona or Malaga Aiport offers a good choice of firms offering car hire Malaga being one of the main holiday airports in Spain. You must therefore take steps to satisfy yourself that you get the best hire agreement from your choice of car rental firm. If you want to have a nominated second driver then some hire companies will offer the other driver free of any further charge so ask about it.
If you take all of the above into consideration when booking your car hire at a Spanish airport, you should offer a good start to your vacation or business trip, and you will avoid the various traps and pitfalls that many come across who have never previously hired a car in Spain.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/car-hire-at-spanish-airports-2878067.html
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