Car Hire at Palma Intermodal Station

Yes, you'll need both your UK photocard licence AND an International Driving Permit (IDP). Since Brexit, your UK licence alone is no longer sufficient in Spain. The IDP costs around £5.50 from the Post Office and takes minutes to obtain. Carry both documents at all times—police fines for missing paperwork start at €200. An IDP is essentially a multilingual translation of your licence, so officers can read it regardless of language.

Yes, drivers under 25 typically face a young driver surcharge of €20-€35 per day from most rental companies in Mallorca. The minimum age is usually 21, though some premium insurers drop this to 19 with additional fees. Drivers over 70 may also face a senior driver surcharge of roughly €10-€25 daily with certain companies. Budget an extra €140-€245 weekly if you're under 25 before comparing quotes.

The Serra de Tramuntana is a UNESCO-listed mountain range with spectacular but demanding roads—sharp hairpin bends, sheer drops, and narrow lanes are common. Hire a compact car rather than a large saloon; smaller vehicles handle the bends more safely and are easier to pass on single-track sections. Speed limits on these roads often drop to 40-60 km/h. If you encounter a coach or bus coming the opposite direction, often the larger vehicle has priority on bends—exercise caution and be prepared to reverse to a passing point.

Speed limits in Spain: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on conventional roads, and 120 km/h on autopistas (toll motorways). Speed cameras are prevalent and fines are issued automatically—overspeeding by 1-20 km/h over the limit incurs fines from €100, with higher penalties for greater violations. Fines can be deducted directly from your credit card pre-authorisation, so ensure your card has sufficient available funds. The tolerance is typically minimal, so stick to the limit precisely.

Spain uses unleaded petrol (gasolina sin plomo 95 and 98) and diesel (gasóleo). Most hire cars in Mallorca run on petrol—confirm before you fill up. Fuel policy is typically 'full-to-full': collect the car with a full tank and return it full to avoid inflated 'empty tank' charges from rental companies. Unleaded 95 costs roughly €1.55-€1.70 per litre. Diesel is usually €0.10-€0.15 cheaper per litre. Avoid returning the car without topping up unless you accept the rental company's refuelling charge, which can be 50% more than pump prices.

If you park illegally or commit a traffic violation, the fine is typically attached to your car via numberplate recognition. Rental companies actively monitor this and will charge your credit card for the fine plus an admin fee of €30-€50 on top. Parking in Palma's blue zone costs €1-€2 per hour with a maximum stay, and cars without a ticket are clamped or towed at your expense (release fee: €100-€150). Always use official ticket machines—fake parking tickets have been reported in tourist areas.