The practical guide to choosing the right car

Our take
A bigger car is rarely a problem when you’re driving in Mallorca. The problem is almost always parking. Before you opt up in size, ask yourself: how often will I be parking in tight spots, old town streets, or beachside car parks? That question, more than anything else, should drive your decision.

Tip
Two-door cars: If you’re three or more people, avoid two-door models. Getting in and out of the back is uncomfortable, especially in tight parking lots where you can’t open the front doors fully. It sounds minor until day four of your trip.

Practical tip: Use the comparison site to browse, but once you’ve identified the right category, check whether booking directly with the rental company offers a better rate or more flexibility. Our rental guide covers the best companies at Palma airport in detail.

Driving a larger car in Mallorca is rarely the problem. Parking it is. The island has a mix of modern car parks where a mid-size SUV fits fine, and old town streets, beach car parks, and village squares where the spaces are genuinely narrow.

In Palma’s old quarter and in villages like Valldemossa, Deià, and Pollença, parking spaces are sized for the cars that were common when they were built — not for modern SUVs. Manoeuvring in and out of a tight space, with a rental car you’re not used to and drivers on both sides who don’t think twice about flinging their doors open, is how most minor damage happens.

Bumps and scrapes in parking lots are by far the most common damage claims on rental cars in Mallorca. Kerb damage to alloy wheels is also surprisingly common — the island has raised kerbs in many car parks and road edges, and catching one with an unfamiliar car is an easy mistake. Damage to the front spoiler and underside from steep-angled driveways and high kerbs is another regular issue.

If you don’t have full coverage insurance: A larger, more expensive car means a potentially higher damage excess and more expensive repair costs if something goes wrong in a tight spot. This is worth factoring into the car size decision. See our full insurance guide and our guide to zero excess coverage before you decide.

5. Recommendations by trip type

Book early if you need automatic. Automatic cars are still a smaller proportion of most rental fleets. During July and August they can be fully committed weeks in advance. If you need one, secure it when you book — not as an afterthought.

Practical note: If you do this, make sure you book with a company that has an airport location and is flexible on pickup date, or check whether any Palma city-centre pickup options make sense for your hotel location. See our guide to rental companies for details on where each company operates.

Bigger isn’t always better — and it’s definitely not always cheaper.

There’s a dimension to car choice that rarely gets mentioned: the relationship between the car you rent and your financial exposure if something goes wrong.

A larger, newer, or more premium car carries a higher repair cost if it’s damaged — and a higher potential damage charge. The excess on an SUV or estate can be meaningfully higher than on a compact. If you’re renting without zero-excess coverage, the category of car you choose affects how much you could be asked to pay in a worst-case scenario.

10. Before you book: checklist

• ✓ How many people? If 3 or more, don’t go smaller than category C
• ✓ How much luggage? Be honest — most people underestimate this
• ✓ Spending time in Palma old town or mountain villages? Consider going smaller rather than larger
• ✓ If automatic is what you drive at home, stick with what works — book one early, especially in summer
• ✓ Travelling in July or August? Book earlier and confirm your car category is guaranteed
• ✓ Convertible? Check the season and your luggage situation first
• ✓ Spending the first days in Palma? Pick up the car on the day you leave the city
• ✓ No full insurance? Factor the car category into your damage exposure calculation
• ✓ Scroll past the cheapest results on comparison sites — the step up is usually small

VIMA — a new favourite on Mallorca

VIMA staff at the Transport Meeting Point

This is a genuinely local, family-run company with roots going back to 1963, when four friends started a small rental operation in the south of Mallorca with just two Seat 600s. Today, VIMA operates across the island with pick-up points atPalma Airport, Colonia de Sant Jordi, Ses Salines, Portopetro, Cala Llombards, and more.

Worth knowing: Parking G has limited covered spaces — most of the car park is open-air, which is the one downside if it’s raining on arrival. Don’t expect much in the way of facilities either: a few benches and a vending machine is about it.

The Transport Meeting Point

Pay station at the exit of Parking G.

Good to drive, comfortable, and reasonably fuel-efficient — though if you’re used to a more powerful engine, don’t expect fireworks. A notable plus is the infotainment system with Google Maps built in. Whether that’s standard across the fleet we can’t say for certain, but Apple CarPlay is available as an add-on at the time of booking.

Now for that envelope: wind down the window just enough to fit the envelope through, lock the car, place the key and parking ticket inside the envelope you were given at pick-up, and drop it into the car. And yes — check you haven’t left anything behind before you do. Then head straight to the check-in hall.

A couple of fair questions do spring to mind: what happens if someone damages the car while it’s sitting there? Or if it gets stolen (small chance, but still…)? We were in a rush to catch our flight and didn’t dwell on it — we took a photo of the car, the parking ticket confirmed the return time, and it all felt fine. If you have concerns, VIMA staff are on site between 08:00 and 21:30. Btw, returns outside those hours are possible but carry an additional charge.

Tip! Read the booking confirmation email carefully — it includes instructions on how to find the Meeting Point, useful both on arrival and when returning the car. We’ve come across reviews from customers who had trouble locating it. They had most likely not opened the attachments.

What you need to know before you book

Our take
We’ve visited Mallorca 50+ times and rented a car every single time. Never once regretted it. The freedom to leave when you want, stop where you want, and avoid shared transfers is worth every cent of the rental cost.

Tip
Book with free cancellation as soon as your flights are confirmed. Prices only go up. If something cheaper appears later, cancel and rebook. Most reputable platforms allow this.

Note!
At the rental desk, they will offer to reduce your excess to zero for an extra €10–20/day. It’s a hard sell. Some counters are aggressive about it. You do not have to accept — but you should understand your options before you say no.

Your five options

1. Book a fully inclusive rate from the start. Some companies — especially local ones — offer a genuine all-in price that covers everything. This is the cleanest option: you know exactly what you’re paying, and there are no conversations to be had at the desk. Look for this when comparing.
   
2. Accept the excess and self-insure. Fine if you’re a careful driver and comfortable with the risk. Scratches on narrow Mallorcan roads happen to everyone eventually.
   
3. Buy the full waiver at the desk. Convenient, instant, but usually the most expensive option. Prices vary enormously between companies.
   
4. Buy excess insurance separately beforehand. Companies like Questor or RentalCover.com offer this for £3–8/day — significantly cheaper than the desk rate. Buy it before you travel.
   
5. Check your home insurance policy. Some home insurance packages include coverage for excess charges on rental cars abroad. Similarly, some premium credit cards include CDW, but check the small print carefully as coverage conditions vary.

On tyres and glass
Standard CDW often excludes tyres, windscreen, and the undercarriage. On Mallorca’s mountain roads, this matters. Check what your policy covers — and if you’re driving the Tramuntana regularly, make sure you’re covered for those.

• Film the entire car on your phone before you drive away. Walk around it. Open the boot. Look underneath. Get it on video, time-stamped.
• Check for existing damage that isn’t on the condition sheet. Point it out and get it noted — in writing, by a staff member.
• Confirm the fuel level matches the paperwork.
• Make sure you know your excess amount. Ask if you’re unsure.
• If the car is new or unfamiliar, take a few minutes to go through the basics before driving off — gear shift, touchscreen controls, indicators. It sounds obvious until you’re on a roundabout trying to find the windscreen wipers.

From experience

We once picked up a car that had clearly lived a full life — scratches and dents in places we hadn’t expected. We were methodically filming every scratch and dent — there were quite a few — when a staff member came out smiling and told us not to worry: “We don’t look at individual scratches, we look at areas — and on this car, they’re pretty much everywhere.” We drove away considerably more relaxed. The lesson: don’t panic about a well-worn car. But film it regardless — reassuring words at pickup don’t count for much if something goes wrong at drop-off.

• Return in daylight if possible. Damage is harder to dispute in a dark car park.
• Fill up at the last petrol station before the airport rather than on the airport complex — it’s consistently cheaper. There’s a station in the Son Oms industrial area, just before the airport turn-off.
• Insist that a staff member is present when you hand over the car. Do not leave keys in a drop box if you can avoid it — see below.
• Ask for a written confirmation of return. Some companies email it, others don’t. Follow up if you don’t receive one.

It happened to us

We returned a car one evening to a chaotic car park — crowds, no staff to be seen. On the company’s instruction, we dropped the keys in a box and left. Two days later, €560 appeared on the credit card for two damage claims we had no knowledge of and no way to disprove. No video of the return, no staff signature, no recourse. Film the car on the way out and on the way back in.

For most visitors: a small car. An Ibiza, Polo, or Fiesta-sized vehicle handles 95% of Mallorca driving easily, parks in spaces a larger car won’t fit, and costs less to rent and fuel.

The exception is the Tramuntana mountains. The roads up there are narrow, the bends are tight, and meeting a tourist coach on a single-track road is a rite of passage. A small car is actually better here, not worse.

Consider upgrading to a medium car if you’re travelling with more than two people and luggage, doing longer road trips, or planning to spend time on motorways where the extra comfort matters.

We’ve seen this more than once

A family of four, luggage piled in laps, crammed into a Fiat 500 because it was the cheapest option on the list. Nobody on that trip was winning any awards for planning. If you’re travelling with people and bags, size up. The price difference between a city car and a compact family car is rarely worth the discomfort.

Rules that catch visitors off guard

Spain takes driving conduct seriously in ways that aren’t always obvious. You can be fined for driving shirtless, wearing flip-flops or high heels, or resting your arm out of the window. Using your phone without a mount is illegal — not just inadvisable. In residential zones and near hospitals, honking or playing loud music can also result in a fine. None of this is aggressively enforced on quiet country roads, but in towns and city traffic it’s worth knowing. When in doubt: put the air conditioning on and keep the windows up.

1. Lost items — If a customer leaves something behind in a returned vehicle, how is it handled, and how can they retrieve it?
2. Vehicle complaints — During a previous rental, the windscreen washer fluid was empty and the radio didn’t work. How are these types of complaints handled, and is there any form of compensation or goodwill gesture for future bookings?

Best Hotels of Palma

Hotel Basilica – Palma de Mallorca

★★★★

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Boutique hotel in Palma’s Old Town, housed in a 17th-century building. Great location, lovely staff, rooftop pool and rooms full of character.

Read more and book »

I think of the desk at one of the larger rental companies where, on two separate occasions, I had emailed in advance to ask whether it would be possible to get the same car model we’d rented before — and both times, they made it happen. Or the agent who, late in the evening with his shift already over, stayed behind to sort out a change to our rental contract. Or simply the warm welcome at the counter: “Thank you for choosing to rent with us — we’d like to offer you an upgrade to a premium car at no extra charge and with the same terms.”

Why the island is at its best before the crowds – and the heat – arrive

Even Palma, busy with visitors year-round, feels lighter somehow. More open. A little more like itself, and genuinely welcoming.

Best Hotels of Palma

Hotel Basilica – Palma de Mallorca

★★★★

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Boutique hotel in Palma’s Old Town, housed in a 17th-century building. Great location, lovely staff, rooftop pool and rooms full of character.

Read more and book »

And then there are the pomelo trees in bloom. On warm evenings the scent spreads around the whole house – you notice people walking past slowing down slightly – it’s quite obvious why.

Lemon trees in flower aren’t bad either, but there is something special about the pomelo blossoms. That smell, drifting through an open window on a mild evening in April, is one of those things that makes you glad to be exactly where you are.

Best Hotels of Palma

Hotel Basilica – Palma de Mallorca

★★★★

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Boutique hotel in Palma’s Old Town, housed in a 17th-century building. Great location, lovely staff, rooftop pool and rooms full of character.

Read more and book »

So, to sum it up: did Hotel Basílica live up to our expectations? Absolutely. With a location that’s hard to beat, a unique building full of character, and service that makes you feel genuinely looked after, it’s an easy choice. Would we stay here again? Without hesitation.

One small minus worth mentioning, for those who care about such things: there’s no proper espresso machine at the bar. For most guests this may be a minor footnote. For those of us who consider a well-pulled espresso or a proper cortado to be a non-negotiable part of any good morning – well, you’ll know what I mean. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is a gap worth filling, Hotel Basílica! ☕

Have you stayed at Hotel Basílica or have your own favourite spots in Palma? Drop your recommendations in the comments, I’d love to hear them!

• Neapoletan Pizza: Santa Chiara
• Burgers: Raimundo Burgers
• Italian: Osteria de Plaça Sant Francesc
• Café & Bakery: Forn de Sestació

• Best for Quality – for travellers who want a premium, stress-free experience from start to finish
• Best Price – for those who want genuine zero-excess coverage at the lowest possible cost
• Best Value – the sweet spot: solid service, good coverage, and a fair price

What is “Excess” and “Zero excess”?

Standard car rental insurance (CDW) covers damage to the vehicle, but most policies include an excess (also called a deductible) – a fixed amount, typically €900–€2,000, that you’re liable for if anything goes wrong. For example, if the excess is €1,000 and the damage costs €300, you pay €300. If the damage costs €2,000, you only pay €1,000.
Zero excess coverage eliminates this liability entirely, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket in the event of damage, theft, or accident. It’s always cheaper to book this in advance rather than upgrading at the counter.

💡 One thing to keep in mind: K10 currently holds a Trustpilot rating of 1.4/5, which is low and worth taking seriously. That said, low ratings on Trustpilot for car rental companies in Mallorca are not unusual — and they often reflect a small number of unhappy customers rather than the typical experience. If you book with K10, document the car carefully at pick-up, take photos before you drive away, and keep a copy of your rental agreement. That advice applies to any rental company — but it’s especially relevant here.

What about Clickrent? With an average price of €271, Clickrent is technically the cheapest option on our list. However, their coverage is a reduction rather than genuine zero excess — meaning you could still face out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong. If price is your absolute priority and you’re comfortable with that trade-off, Clickrent is worth considering. Just make sure you read the full contract carefully before you sign. [See our note in Things to Watch Out For ↓]

💡 Worth knowing: Because Autos Mallorca is a smaller, independent operator, availability can be limited during peak summer weeks. Book early — especially for August.

• Slow down before entering and always give priority to traffic already inside the roundabout.
• Choose your lane early based on your exit.

• Keep a steady, normal pace.
• Stay right if you’re driving more slowly.
• Avoid unnecessary overtaking games.
• Allow faster vehicles to pass without feeling pressured.

Exploring Mallorca’s small villages is one of the true highlights of the island. Stone buildings, quiet squares, and narrow streets create a timeless atmosphere.

However, many of these streets were designed centuries ago and were not intended for modern vehicles. One-way systems, tight corners, and resident-only zones are common.

Whenever possible, look for signposted parking areas at the edge of the village and walk into the centre. The short stroll allows you to enjoy the surroundings properly and avoids unnecessary stress — or accidental scratches.

Also, watch for signs that say “Area residents” or indicate resident-only parking — these spaces are reserved for locals.

If many cars are parked outside the village, there may be a market or festival happening. Be flexible with your schedule and enjoy the local atmosphere.

Rental car insurance in Mallorca is one of those topics that sounds straightforward until you’re standing at the counter, someone is pointing at a form, and your flight landed 45 minutes ago. This guide explains exactly what the different coverage types mean, what you’re actually protected against — and what the small print takes away.

Worth knowing:
CDW is a waiver, not insurance in the traditional sense. It means the rental company agrees to waive their right to charge you — up to the excess limit. It is not a policy that pays out. The distinction matters when things go wrong.

Debit cards and the excess block: Some companies in Mallorca do not accept debit cards for the deposit, or charge a higher deposit if you pay by debit rather than credit card. Check the payment terms before you book — not at the counter.

• Mallorca roads have specific risks. Narrow village streets, rocky mountain passes, and busy beach car parks in August are all genuine hazards. Minor scrapes happen to careful drivers.
• The dispute process is stressful. If a rental company claims damage you didn’t cause, the burden of proof is on you — and sorting it out from home is a frustrating process that can drag on for weeks. Zero excess removes that conversation entirely.
• The price difference is smaller than you think. Booked in advance, zero excess coverage often adds €5–€15 per day to the base rental price. The same upgrade at the counter can cost two to three times as much.
  

Book zero excess in advance. This is consistently the most reliable way to save money on car rental insurance in Mallorca. Upgrading at the counter is almost always more expensive — sometimes significantly so.

Undercarriage damage is the most common unexpected charge.
Taking a rental car down a rocky track or scraping the bottom on a steep entrance is not covered by any standard policy. Mallorca has plenty of both. Be especially careful at rural fincas, beach access roads, and mountain car parks.

Important: the deposit gap. 
Even with existing coverage, be aware of how the process actually works. When you pick up the car, the rental company will block the full excess amount — typically €900–€2,000 — on your credit card. If damage occurs, the company will charge some or all of that amount directly from the blocked sum. Your insurance policy then reimburses you — but that reimbursement takes time. In practice, there can be a period of days or weeks where the money has left your account and the refund hasn’t arrived yet. Make sure you have sufficient available credit to cover the blocked amount without it affecting your holiday spending.

• Primary or secondary coverage? Secondary policies only pay out what the rental company’s insurance doesn’t cover — you deal with the rental company first, and claim back afterwards. Primary coverage is simpler and cleaner.
• Does it cover the same exclusions? If your policy excludes tyres and glass, you still have a gap — regardless of which insurer you’re using.
• Does the rental company accept it? Some companies in Mallorca require you to take their own CDW regardless of external coverage. This is in their rental terms — worth checking before you arrive.
• Are you comfortable with the claims process? Filing a claim after you’re home, dealing with foreign repair invoices, and waiting for reimbursement takes time. It works — but it’s not the same as zero excess at drop-off.

Use your phone to film a slow walk-around video before you leave the car park. Thirty seconds with the camera running gives you a timestamped record of the car’s condition. It’s the single most useful thing you can do at pick-up, and it costs nothing.

• ✓ Confirm the insurance type on the contract matches your booking
• ✓ Know your excess amount (or confirm it’s zero)
• ✓ Know how much has been blocked on your card, and how long the release takes
• ✓ Document pre-existing damage — take photos or a video
• ✓ Check whether tyres and glass are covered
• ✓ Note the emergency contact number — you’ll need it if anything goes wrong on the road
• ✓ Check the fuel policy — most Mallorca rentals are full-to-full; confirm before you leave

Best Hotels of Palma

Hotel Basilica – Palma de Mallorca

★★★★

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Boutique hotel in Palma’s Old Town, housed in a 17th-century building. Great location, lovely staff, rooftop pool and rooms full of character.

Read more and book »

La Terrazza is the kind of restaurant where the surroundings could easily steal all the attention. But instead of competing, the food and the view work side by side, bringing out the best in each other.

We have a “bad” habit when we’re in Mallorca. Yes, we eat out often and we have many favorite restaurants all around the island, but the ones closest to us somehow tend to be forgotten. Can Simoneta is exactly that kind of place. We pass it almost every day, without ever really getting to know it or giving it the attention it deserves.

Can Simoneta is set on a plateau high above the sea, between Canyamel and Costa de Canyamel, with wide open views and a real sense of space. It’s a resort that feels different from many others in the area. The buildings are scattered among lush greenery, some of them more than 140 years old. Everything here feels calm and unhurried, as if time slows down a little.

Sitting outside on a beautiful summer day felt like the obvious choice, and once we sat down it was easy to relax and just enjoy being there.

There was light shade from the roof, protecting us from the sun. A calm and relaxed atmosphere, perhaps also because we were the first guests of the day.

The staff were friendly, calm, and made us feel welcome right away.

The lunch menu focuses on lighter dishes, and we quickly found our favorites: a Caesar salad and a black risotto with scallops and baby squid. I have a real weakness for a well-made risotto, and here I had a good feeling I was in exactly the right place.

The lemon pie for dessert was outstanding. In a different mood, we could easily have tried every dessert on the menu, everything looked tempting!

After lunch, we took a slow walk through the surroundings. It feels more like a park than a hotel area. A small path leads all the way down to the beach. On the way back, one thought stayed with me: we really should come back and try the dinner menu soon.

The price for a light lunch for two, including dessert, wine, water, and coffee, came to 75 euros. Definitely worth it, considering the location and the atmosphere, but above all the quality of the food.

Best Hotels of Mallorca

Can Simoneta

★★★★★

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Can Simoneta is an exclusive five-star hotel on the north coast of Mallorca in Canyamel, housed in beautifully restored 140-year-old buildings. With only 26 rooms, private beach access and stunning sea views, it offers a truly unique and intimate luxury experience.

Read more and book »

More info: https://www.cansimoneta.com/en/restaurant

Can Simoneta is part of the Torre de Canyamel Group, which also includes its neighbour, Pleta de Mar and Restaurant Porxada de Sa Torre wellknown for its traditional Majorcan cuisine.