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The short answer: best overall, budget, best value
We think a car is the best way to see Andalusia’s countryside, white villages and coast, but you don’t need one in the big cities. Plan it like this:
- Pick up at an airport: Málaga (the most choice and the lowest prices), Seville, or Granada.
- We’d collect the car when you leave a city, not when you arrive. Parking in old towns is expensive, and centres are closed to traffic.
- Compare on a broker such as DiscoverCars to see fuel policies, deposits and company ratings side by side.
Comparison table: where to pick up
| Pick-up | Choice and price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Málaga airport | Most companies, lowest prices | Road trips, the coast, Ronda and the white villages |
| Seville airport | Good choice | Starting a road trip after Seville; Cádiz and Jerez |
| Granada airport | Fewer companies | The Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada |
| Train stations (Seville Santa Justa, Málaga María Zambrano, Córdoba, Granada) | Limited | Arriving by train |
Each option in detail
Round trip or one way?
A round trip from Málaga is the cheapest. A one-way rental (for example Málaga to Seville) adds a fee but can save half a day of driving. We think it is often worth it on a 7–10 day road trip.
Train plus car
Seville, Córdoba, Málaga and Granada are well linked by train. We suggest you travel between the cities by train and hire a car for 2–4 days for the countryside: the white villages, Ronda, the Alpujarras or the Cádiz coast.
Driving in Andalusia
- Roads are generally excellent and quiet away from the coast. Motorways are mostly free; the main toll road is the AP-7 along the Costa del Sol. The AP-46 (Málaga–Las Pedrizas) is also tolled, but the free A-45 runs beside it.
- Speed limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on most other roads, in towns 50 km/h on streets with two or more lanes per direction, 30 km/h on many other urban streets and 20 km/h on single-platform streets.
- Alcohol: the limit is lower than in some countries (0.5 g/l, and 0.3 g/l for new drivers). The safest rule is not to drink and drive.
- Old towns: the historic centres of Seville, Córdoba, Granada and many villages are closed to non-resident traffic and watched by cameras. We’d park outside and walk in. If your hotel is inside, ask it to register your number plate.
- Low-emission zones: Málaga has had one since November 2024, Granada has been fining since October 2025, Seville’s Cartuja zone applies on weekdays, and Córdoba’s historic centre is restricted by permit. Málaga’s rules depend on where the car is registered (vehicles not registered in Málaga without the right label can be barred), and a court ruling in June 2026 partly annulled the ordinance, which is still being reviewed. Ask your rental company: fines go to the rental company and are passed on to you.
- White villages: streets are narrow and steep. We’d leave the car in the car park at the entrance to the village.
- Summer: we’d keep water in the car, and never leave anything visible when you park.
- Maps on the road: we’d download offline maps before you set off. EU plans roam at no extra cost in Spain; if your plan is from outside the EU, an eSIM for Spain gives you data for navigation.
How to choose
- City break only (Seville, Córdoba, Granada): we’d go without a car and use trains and buses.
- Coast and villages: hire from Málaga airport.
- Western Andalusia (Cádiz, Jerez, Doñana): hire from Seville.
- A full loop: see our 7- and 10-day road trip.
Work out your own total with our Andalusia trip cost calculator.
FAQ
Do I need a car in Andalusia?
Not for the cities, which are linked by fast trains. A car is the best way to see the white villages, Ronda, the mountains and the smaller beaches.
Where is the cheapest place to hire a car in Andalusia?
Usually Málaga airport, which has the most companies and competition.
Are there toll roads in Andalusia?
Few. The main one is the AP-7 on the Costa del Sol, which has a free alternative (the A-7). The AP-46 (Málaga–Las Pedrizas) is also tolled, but the A-45 runs beside it for free.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Spain?
A UK photocard licence is accepted without an International Driving Permit (IDP), according to GOV.UK, but check with your rental company. EU/EEA licences are valid. If your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA (including the US), we’d carry an IDP (1949 convention, valid one year) with your licence and passport: Spain’s DGT advises it and the US State Department says it is required to rent a car. Paper licences and licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man may also need an IDP.
Is it easy to drive in Andalusia?
Yes. Roads are good and signposted. The difficult parts are the old town centres and the narrow streets of the villages, where we think it is best to park and walk.