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The short answer: best overall, budget, best value
Málaga airport (AGP) is the main gateway to Andalusia and one of the cheapest places in Europe to hire a car. Prices are lowest in winter and highest in July, August and at Easter, so compare prices for your dates.
- Best overall: we’d pick a well-rated company with a full-to-full fuel policy. Aena lists these companies with desks in the terminal basement, but some low-cost brands then take you by shuttle to a lot outside the airport, so check where the car is collected in your booking.
- Cheapest: usually a low-cost brand. Fine if you read the fuel, insurance and deposit rules carefully.
- Best value: compare everything on a broker like DiscoverCars, which shows the fuel policy, the deposit and the rating of each company before you book, and sells cheaper full cover than the desk.
We’d book early for summer and Easter. Cars can sell out and prices rise in the last weeks.
Flying from the UK? Check your passport’s dates first with our passport checker.
Comparison table
| Big international brands | Low-cost brands | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples (desks in the Terminal 2 basement, per Aena) | Avis (Budget), Europcar, Hertz (Firefly), Sixt | Goldcar, Record Go, OK Rent a Car |
| Pick-up | Desk in the terminal basement; check in your booking where the car is collected | Desk in the terminal basement, but you may be taken by shuttle to a lot outside the airport |
| Price | Higher | Lowest headline prices |
| Queues | Usually shorter | Can be long in summer |
| Watch out for | Upsells at the desk | Fuel policies, insurance upsells, strict damage checks |
Proa also has a desk in the Terminal 2 basement. Enterprise and Centauro are not Aena-listed at Málaga, so check where their cars are collected.
Each option in detail
Big international brands
Aena lists Avis (Budget), Europcar, Hertz (Firefly) and Sixt with desks in the Terminal 2 basement. Prices are higher, but the terms are usually simpler. Check in your booking where the car is collected, especially with children or a late arrival.
Low-cost brands
Aena also lists Goldcar, Record Go and OK Rent a Car with desks in the terminal basement, but some low-cost brands then take you by shuttle to a lot outside the airport. Their headline prices are often the lowest in Europe, but they make money on extras: expensive full insurance at the desk, “full to empty” fuel policies, and charges for small scratches. If you choose one, we’d book full-to-full fuel, bring a credit card with enough limit for the deposit, and allow extra time on arrival and return.
Insurance and deposits
- The basic price includes insurance with an excess (the amount you pay if the car is damaged), which can be high.
- You can remove it with the company’s zero-excess cover at the desk (the most expensive way), or buy full cover from the broker or a standalone excess insurer before you travel (cheaper). In that case the company keeps a deposit hold on your credit card.
- Most companies require a credit card (not debit) in the main driver’s name.
Fuel
We’d always choose full to full: you collect the car full and return it full. With “full to empty” you pay for a full tank at the company’s price and get no refund for fuel you don’t use.
Only staying in Málaga or along the train line? You may not need a car at all: see Málaga airport to the city centre for the train, bus and taxi.
Driving times from Málaga airport
| To | Time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Málaga city centre | 15 min |
| Marbella | 45 min |
| Nerja | 1 h |
| Ronda | 1 h 30–1 h 45 |
| Granada | 1 h 30 |
| Córdoba | 2 h |
| Seville | 2 h 15 |
| Cádiz | 2 h 45 |
The fastest road along the Costa del Sol is the AP-7 toll motorway; the free A-7 runs alongside it, slower and busier. See our Andalusia road trip for routes.
How to choose
- Short trip on the coast: any reputable company; a small car is easier to park.
- Road trip with white villages: we’d take a small or compact car. Village streets are narrow and steep. See the white villages.
- Ending in Seville: a one-way rental to Seville airport costs extra but saves a return drive. See car hire in Seville.
- Families: we’d book child seats in advance, and check that they are included in the price.
Tips for pick-up and return
- We’d film the car all round, including the wheels, the roof and the fuel gauge, before you drive off.
- Check that the car has the connected V16 emergency beacon (it replaced warning triangles in Spain on 1 January 2026; the rental company must supply it) and a reflective vest.
- Fill up at a petrol station near the airport before returning; keep the receipt.
- Return with time to spare: if your car is collected at a lot outside the airport, allow 20–30 extra minutes.
FAQ
How much does car hire at Málaga airport cost?
It depends on the season: prices are lowest in winter and highest in July, August and at Easter, before extra insurance. Compare prices for your dates; booking early is the biggest saving.
Which company is best at Málaga airport?
There isn’t one best company. Big international brands are usually simpler; low-cost brands are cheaper on paper but stricter on extras. We’d compare ratings and fuel policies on a broker before you book.
Do I need a credit card to hire a car in Málaga?
Almost always, for the deposit. A few companies accept debit cards if you buy their full insurance.
Can I drive a hire car from Málaga to Gibraltar or Portugal?
Usually yes, but tell the company when you book: some charge a cross-border fee or require extra insurance.
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.