Europcar Car Rental Experience and Tips in Palma
I recently spent two weeks in Palma and rented a car to explore the island, choosing Europcar. After comparing several car rental companies, I ultimately went with this one, mainly because they have a counter right at the airport, making pick-up and return quite convenient. Today I’m sharing my entire car rental experience, hoping it will help those planning to drive around Mallorca.
Booking and Pricing
I booked two weeks in advance on the Europcar website, choosing an economy car with a seven-day rental cost of around 280 euros. If you book a month in advance, car rental in Palma might be even cheaper. During peak season, I recommend booking at least two weeks ahead. I opted for full coverage insurance, which cost an extra 60 euros, but it meant I didn’t have to worry about minor scratches when returning the car, giving me peace of mind. Here’s a price comparison with other companies:
| Car Rental Company | 7-Day Price | Full Insurance Add-on |
|---|
| Europcar | 280€ | 60€ |
| Sixt | 310€ | 75€ |
| Hertz | 295€ | 70€ |
| Goldcar | 240€ | 50€ |
Pick-up Process
After arriving at Palma airport, I followed the car rental company signs to find the Europcar counter. I waited in line for about 20 minutes. The staff spoke both English and Spanish, so communication was no problem. You need to present your driver’s license, passport, credit card, and booking confirmation. They’ll check everything and have you sign the contract. It’s a bit tedious but the necessary procedures must be followed.
The staff will ask if you want to upgrade your vehicle or purchase additional insurance. I didn’t add anything extra and stuck with my original booking. After signing, they give you the keys and a vehicle inspection form. The parking lot is right next to the terminal, about a 5-minute walk. Once you find the car, make sure to carefully inspect the vehicle body. Definitely take photos of any scratches. I found a small dent on the right rear door and immediately took photos and sent them to the staff for confirmation.
Driving Experience and Return
The car condition was overall good - a Renault Clio with about 20,000 kilometers on it. The tank was full, and you need to return it full as well, otherwise they’ll charge you according to their rates, which I heard are quite expensive. I used Google Maps for navigation. Driving in Mallorca is quite pleasant, with roads in good condition, though there are many mountain roads, so it’s safer to drive slowly.
Returning the car was also simple. Just drive directly to the airport rental car parking area, where there’s a dedicated Europcar zone. A staff member will come over to check the vehicle condition and fuel gauge. Once confirmed everything is fine, they give you a return receipt. The whole process took less than 10 minutes. Since I had purchased full insurance, even with some minor stone chip marks from Palma ClickRent car rental, there were no additional charges, which was quite worry-free.
Practical Tips
Based on this car rental experience, here are some suggestions: First, definitely book in advance - renting on-site will be much more expensive. Second, seriously consider whether to buy full insurance; if you’re unfamiliar with local road conditions, I recommend it. Third, carefully inspect the car during both pick-up and return, and take photos as evidence. Fourth, pay attention to refueling - make sure to fill up before returning, otherwise you’ll be charged high fuel fees. Fifth, watch for parking signs - many areas in Palma’s old town don’t allow random parking.
Overall, Europcar’s service in Palma is quite reliable, with decent car conditions and efficient staff. If you’re also planning to rent a car and drive around Mallorca, you might consider this company. Feel free to leave comments with any questions.
