Budget Car Hire in Spain

Budget operates across Spain's major gateway airports — Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD), Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN), Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), and Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) — as well as city-centre offices near main train stations in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. At Alicante, the Budget office sits on the first floor of the car park rather than the terminal arrivals hall, so allow extra time to locate it. Demand peaks from June through September along coastal regions, and airport queues at popular locations can stretch significantly during these months; booking well in advance secures better availability. Spain's toll motorways (autopistas, marked "AP") require payment by cash, credit card, or electronic transponder — ask at the Budget counter about the daily toll-tag option, which simplifies passage through electronic lanes. Fuel runs around EUR 1.57 per litre for petrol and EUR 1.81 for diesel, so refuelling before returning the car is worth planning. Both Madrid and Barcelona operate low-emission zones: Madrid's covers the entire city, whilst Barcelona's ZBE applies Monday through Friday between 07:00 and 20:00 — hire vehicles must be registered to enter. Budget requires a credit card in the primary driver's name for an authorisation hold of around EUR 200. Drivers under 25 may face a young driver surcharge, and an International Driving Permit is required if your licence uses a non-Latin script.