Car rental in Seville

How to pick up your car at Seville airport

Seville's San Pablo airport is about 20 minutes from the center and has a single terminal, so it's easy to find your way. The rental desks are in the arrivals area and you collect the car from the airport parking lot.

Some rental companies have their office just outside and take you there on a free shuttle bus. Your voucher says where yours is and how to get there.

One thing we get asked a lot: we don't offer a meet-and-greet service at the terminal door. We only work with official rental companies, which is what guarantees the car is there, the contract is right and you have backup if something goes wrong.

Picking up at Santa Justa station

If you arrive in Seville by train, for example on the AVE high-speed train from Madrid, you can pick up the car at Santa Justa station, where several rental companies have offices.

It's also the best option if you're spending a few days in the city first. Seville is best explored on foot, and picking up the car on the day you leave saves you rental days and parking.

What you need to pick up the car

Three things, and all three are mandatory. Without any one of them, the rental company won't hand over the car.

A credit card in the main driver's name. That's where the rental company blocks the security deposit. Debit cards, cash and a family member's card are not accepted.

A physical, valid driver's license. Digital licenses, photos and copies don't count. It has to be the card itself, valid for the whole rental.

A valid passport. The minimum age is 19, although it can vary by rental company or car category, and drivers under 25 pay a young driver surcharge. There's no maximum age. That's why we ask for the driver's age before quoting.

In Spain you don't need an International Driving Permit: your license from home is enough.

The historic center: better without a car

Seville's old town, with the Santa Cruz quarter, the Cathedral and the Alcázar, is a maze of narrow streets, many of them pedestrian. Several areas have camera-controlled restricted access: only residents and authorized vehicles can enter.

If your hotel is inside, ask beforehand whether it has a garage or can register your plate so you can drive in. If not, leave the car in a public garage on the edge of the center and walk.

Fines for entering without authorization reach the rental company weeks later, and it charges them to your card with an admin fee.

The summer heat

From June to September Seville is one of the hottest cities in Europe, and afternoons above 40 °C are normal. Every rental car has air conditioning, and you'll use it.

For long drives, set off early in the morning and bring water. Don't leave phones, sunglasses or anything heat can damage in a car parked in the sun, and look for shaded or covered parking.

Parking in Seville and keeping your things safe

On the street, much of the city has paid parking (blue zone) with a time limit. You pay at the meter or with the app. For overnight or several hours, the easiest option is a public parking garage or the hotel's garage.

As in any tourist city, leave nothing in sight inside the car, especially suitcases and backpacks. If you'll stop with luggage, put it in the trunk before you arrive.

Driving around Andalusia

Seville is the perfect base for exploring Andalusia. Less than two hours away you have Córdoba, with the Mezquita, and Cádiz and Jerez, with their beaches and sherry wineries. Ronda, with its bridge over the gorge, is about two hours away.

Between Ronda and Cádiz are the white villages: Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, Setenil de las Bodegas. Their streets are very steep and narrow, so it's best to leave the car at the entrance of the village and walk up.

Granada and the Alhambra are about three hours away. Alhambra tickets sell out well in advance, so book them before you plan your route.

Almost all roads in Andalusia are toll-free highways (autovías). The electronic toll device is an optional extra at the counter and usually not needed for this trip.

One-way rentals and crossing into Portugal

Many Andalusia road trips end in another city, like Málaga, Granada or Madrid. You can drop the car off there: the rental company charges a one-way fee, higher if it's in another country. We include it in your quote.

The Algarve and Lisbon are close. If you'll cross into Portugal, let us know when you book: your advisor confirms the rental company allows it and has it written into the contract. In Portugal several highways have electronic-only tolls, and the rental company explains how to pay them.

Which category to choose and the most expensive mistakes

For two people, a compact: easy to park and it fits the streets of the white villages. For four with big suitcases, a midsize or a station wagon, because the trunks of small European cars are a surprise. For groups, a minivan. Most cars are manual: if you want an automatic, ask for it from your first message. We guarantee the category, not the exact model.

Putting in the wrong fuel. Pumps say gasolina (unleaded 95 or 98) and gasóleo or diesel. Check the fuel cap before filling up.

Returning the car without a full tank. The rental company charges for missing fuel at a much higher price than a gas station.

Signing for extras without looking. Whatever you sign for at the counter (roadside assistance, GPS, toll pass, child seat) is paid there and isn't refundable. If something doesn't match your booking, message us before you sign.

And remember that fines and tolls are on you even if they arrive after you return the car: the rental company charges them to your card and adds an admin fee.