VIMA — a new favourite on Mallorca
VIMA Mallorca – car rental review
Overall rating
VIMA has quickly become a firm favourite of ours on Mallorca — thanks to the price, the location, and the customer service. How we hadn’t come across them before is honestly a bit of a mystery.
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.
Booking
We made our reservation just one week before arriving in Mallorca. Not much of a lead time, but sometimes travel dates simply can’t be pinned down further ahead. We also needed to make a change after booking — which the team handled quickly and without any fuss.
So why VIMA? Finding a good deal on such short notice, right before Easter, was no easy task. VIMA came up in our search at €588 for 12 days. With a 10% discount available when you pay the full amount online upfront, that came down to €529 — around 20% less than our next best option, and with Premium insurance already included.
Customer service
As mentioned, we already had a good experience with VIMA’s customer service before this trip. See our article Customer Service at Car Rental Companies in Mallorca. VIMA was one of the few companies that responded quickly to our questions, with clear, no-nonsense answers.
This time was no different. When we got in touch about picking up the car a day earlier than planned, it was sorted without any trouble — a smooth solution, fast and clear from start to finish. A copy of the contract with all the need-to-know information arrived in the inbox straight away.
Car pick-up
No glamorous entrance to Parking G, but it’s clearly signposted.
Unlike the competition, which operates out of offices either inside the terminal or just outside at Son Oms, VIMA has gone for a setup we think is genuinely clever: the Meeting Point right next to the car park. You pick up and drop off at the same spot — just a couple of minutes’ walk from the arrivals hall (it’s clearly signposted inside the terminal, so just follow the signs).
You collect the keys from a VIMA agent on site. Any extras can be paid by card. In our case, we signed an updated contract and received a copy along with an important envelope — more on that later.
One thing that works a little differently here: you pay the parking fee yourself when you exit. It might seem odd at first, but the logic is sound — the fee reflects your actual time in the car park. In our case it came to €1, and VIMA guarantees it will never exceed €15.
Parking G is easy to find, and in our experience considerably smoother for both pick-up and drop-off than the multi-storey terminal car park. Anyone who has returned a rental car there on a chaotic Saturday afternoon will know exactly what we mean.
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.
The car
We went with Group C2 — the price difference between B2 and C2 was minimal, so it was an easy call. The car turned out to be a Renault Captur with just 47 km on the clock. Essentially straight from the factory. A model that would work just as well for a family of four with a few smaller bags.
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.
Families travelling with young children should also know that VIMA offers a range of baby seats and booster seats with isofix as add-ons.
The fleet
The fleet covers all the most popular categories — from compacts to minivans, with both manual and automatic gearboxes. Nothing flashy, but everything you’re likely to need. According to VIMA, the fleet is renewed every year, so you can count on getting a new car when you rent.
The website
One thing we genuinely appreciate is the website — clean, simple, and easy to navigate, with no clutter or advertising. Making a booking is straightforward and it’s easy to see exactly what’s included in the price.
It might sound a little nerdy to scrutinise the terms and conditions of every car rental company, but we think they should always be easy to find and easy to read. A company shouldn’t be able to hide behind rules that are buried or hard to follow. VIMA passes that test.
Insurance
VIMA offers three tiers of insurance: Basic, Standard, and Premium. There are good reasons to go with Premium — the price difference is only a few percent, but what you get in return is considerably more peace of mind:
One thing none of the tiers cover is a lost key. If you want that peace of mind, there’s an optional Extra Insurance add-on for around €2/day. This also covers the handling fee for traffic fines — parking tickets, speeding, and the like. VIMA charges €30 for that service. One thing to be clear about: it’s the handling fee that’s covered, not the fine itself. That one still lands with you, unfortunately.
Trustpilot
VIMA holds a 4.1 rating on Trustpilot — a strong score, though the number of reviews is surprisingly low given how long the company has been operating. The nearest competitors have anywhere from 800 to nearly 50,000 reviews. Why that gap exists is hard to say, but the rating itself does the talking.
Drop-off
Returning the car is simple enough, even if the process is a little unconventional. From the roundabout just outside the airport, follow the signs for Parking G. Take a ticket at the barrier and park up — we didn’t spot any dedicated VIMA bays, so we parked roughly where we had collected the car.
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.
Summary
Were we happy with VIMA? Absolutely. Good price, smooth pick-up and drop-off, friendly staff, and a brand-new car — hard to ask for more. Being able to return the keys and walk straight to check-in is a real bonus too.
Any downsides? The fuel policy is the one thing that falls short of a clean full-to-full arrangement. You need to note the fuel level at pick-up and match it on return — something to keep in mind if you want to avoid any extra charges.
✓ Pros
- +Competitive pricing, especially with the 10% online discount
- +Fast, clear customer service before and during the rental
- +Brand-new cars — fleet renewed annually
- +Smooth pick-up and drop-off at Parking G
- +Premium insurance is excellent value
- +Quick drop-off — no waiting around
- +Clean, easy-to-use booking website
✗ Cons
- −Fuel policy is not full-to-full — you need to match the level at pick-up
- −Lost key not covered — requires an add-on
- −Returns made before the agreed return time will incur a fee of €80
FAQ’s
Where do I pick up and drop off the car at Palma Airport?
At the VIMA Meeting Point next to Parking G, a few minutes’ walk from the arrivals hall. It’s clearly signposted inside the terminal. Detailed instructions are also included in the booking confirmation email — make sure to open the attachments.
Do I need a credit card?
Yes. A valid physical credit card is required at the time of signing. Debit cards are not accepted as a guarantee. If you have Premium insurance but no credit card, an alternative arrangement of €5/day applies. Without Premium, the car will not be handed over without a credit card.
Is the parking fee included in the rental price?
No — you pay the Parking G fee yourself when exiting on arrival. The maximum charge is €15, and in practice it’s usually far less. Ours came to €1.
What does Premium insurance cover?
Damage to the body, windows, wheels, tyres and rims; a replacement car and roadside assistance; no excess; no deposit; and a second driver at no extra cost. It does not cover a lost key — add the Extra Insurance (approx. €2/day) if you want that included.
What is the fuel policy?
Not a simple full-to-full policy. Check the fuel level at pick-up and make sure the tank is at the same level when you return the car. Note it down or take a photo to avoid any confusion later.
What are the opening hours at Palma Airport?
Staff are on site from 08:00 to 21:30. Returns between 21:30 and 06:30 carry a €39 surcharge; between 06:30 and 08:00, a €29 charge. Early returns before the agreed time and without prior notice can attract an €80 fee.
Are there any age restrictions?
Drivers under 25 or over 78 are subject to a surcharge of €9 per day.
How do I return the car?
Follow the signs for Parking G from the roundabout near the airport. Take a ticket at the barrier and park up. Check the car for any belongings, then place the key and parking ticket in the envelope provided at pick-up and drop it back into the car through a lowered window. Head straight to check-in. Staff are available until 21:30 if you have any questions before leaving.
Can I pick up or return the car at locations other than the airport?
Yes. VIMA has several locations in the south of Mallorca including Colonia de Sant Jordi, Santanyí, Cala d’Or, Ses Salines, Portopetro, Cala Santanyí, Cala Figuera, and Cala Llombards. Non-airport returns go to Calle La Marina 25, Cala Figuera — and VIMA will arrange a private transfer back to your hotel.
