Car hire Alicante airport

Search, compare and book your rental car

Pickup location
 Different return office?
   Driver age: 25-70
   I live in: United States
Search Now
Popular destinations: Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga
Customers love us

Over 1 million customers trusted us to book the best car rental deal for them

Customers love us
Amend for free

Up to 48 hours before pickup

Amend for free
No extra fees

We don’t charge extra fees such as credit card or reservation fees

No extra fees

Cheap Car Hire Alicante airport

Cheap Car Hire Alicante airport

About Car Hire in Alicante

Alicante, which means 'city of lights' in Arabic, is a popular tourist destination in Spain's Costa Blanca region in the country's east. It's recognised for its infinite stretch of white sandy beaches. During the summer months, you may enjoy sailing, sunbathing, and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea on one of the city's many public beaches, which are open to the public year-round. Seafood, tapas, drinks, and wine are served till the early hours of the morning in many restaurants, taverns, and pubs along Alicante's waterfront. In addition to its historic centre, castle, beaches, shopping, and restaurants, the city of Alicante also has a vibrant cultural and nightlife scene.

Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) is the fifth-busiest airport in Spain in terms of passenger traffic, and it serves the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. The airport is situated in the municipality of Elche, approximately 9 kilometres southwest of Alicante. The airport serves as a hub for Air Nostrum, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, and Vueling. The majority of travellers come from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Sweden. Popular domestic destinations include Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona.

Hiring a vehicle at Alicante Airport is a great way to go around Costa Blanca. All the car hire agencies have counters in the Arrivals lounge of the airport. Currently, Alicante Airport is home to 11 car hire companies, each with its own dedicated desks. These include: Avis, Budget, Centauro, Europcar, Firefly, Goldcar, Hertz, Inter Rent, Record, Go, Sixt, and Thrifty. Simply walk up to the dedicated desk of your chosen company and the representative will arrange for you and your luggage to be taken to the car park where your automobile will be waiting for you in a shuttle bus. To avoid hassle at the airport, make sure to pre-book your vehicle by comparing the options online.

Downtown Car Hire in Alicante

There is no need to be concerned if you missed the opportunity to hire a car at the airport. There are also a number of pick-up points in the city centre. You'll often have more choices if you hire a vehicle in Alicante's city centre than if you do so at the airport.

Driving in Alicante

The significant differences between driving in Spain and your home country may be a source of anxiety. But don’t worry! Before you get behind the wheel for the first time in Spain, be sure you know the ins and outs of driving here. A quick study of the most important driving laws is always a good idea, even if you are a frequent traveller to Spain.

Here are some helpful driving tips for Alicante:

Car Hire Agencies in Alicante

Many well-known local and international car hire companies can be found in Alicante. Going with a big group? Hire a minivan or intermediate SUV with plenty of baggage space. For a short business trip, a Toyota Fortuner or Ford Focus will ensure you arrive in style. Wi-Fi is already standard in many cars, enabling you to work while driving. The Peugeot 5008, Citroen C4 Picasso, and Nissan JUKE Digt are all fantastic choices for a road trip with your friends. When looking for a car, it's important to shop about and compare your options.

Top Road Trips in Alicante

Perhaps after a few days in Alicante, you're ready for a change of pace.

Altea is a whitewashed coastal town full of small cobblestoned alleys, back street tapas restaurants, and attractive squares where you may have a cup of coffee or a bottle of wine. There's no better day excursion from Alicante than this for getting a taste of the real Spain. Artists and photographers have long drawn inspiration from the town's natural beauty. The hilltop town's antique structures and panoramic vistas inspire them.

By car, Valencia is about two hours from Alicante. If you want to get a taste of Spanish culture, lifestyle, and cuisine, this is the best spot to visit. It's a wonderful mix of the old and the new. The ancient area has a lot to offer, including the UNESCO-listed La Lonja de la Seda, the 13th-century Cathedral, and the central market, which is a foodie's dream come true. The biggest aquarium in Europe, as well many other attractions, can be found there.

Frequently asked questions about car rental Alicante airport

What’s the best area to stay in Alicante?
The best area to stay in Alicante completely depends on why you’re going to visit. If you’re going to see any of the famous sites like Barrio de la Santa Cruz or Castillo de Santa Bárbara, make sure to book somewhere central that has good access to these places.
What is the cheapest time to go to Alicante?
The cheapest time to visit Alicante is from January to March.
What is the best time to go to Alicante?
Alicante has great weather throughout the year but the peak tourist months are June-August.
Can you get around Alicante without a car?
If you plan on staying in the urban areas, it is possible to rely on public transport. But if you want to explore further afield and see more of Alicante and the surrounding areas, then you most definitely need a car to do so.

Airports near Alicante airport

Tips and experiences for Alicante airport

Our customers rated Alicante airport with an average of 8.7 based on 74 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.

28-10-2021

says:
Research your vehicle type/size beforehand and then book it. Check thoroughly your insurance requirements when booking and don't be drawn in to the 'extras' when collection of your hire car
27-10-2021

says:
Car hire directly at airport. Easy to return car. Airport modern and easy.
21-10-2021

says:
There are a couple of desks in Alicante airport to use , one is on the left as you come out of arrivals which you can miss.!!
16-10-2021

says:
if your British aloe a bit more time for waking round to departure gates B31 to 33 as that are the furthest from the entrance to departures, You also have to go through passport control.
06-10-2021

says:
For this trip the arrival at the airport and the departure later in the day working pretty well. I was on a Vueling flight back to the UK and loading of the passengers onto the plane was a bit of nightmare, but I don't see that being the airport's fault - it was more to do with airline allowing passengers to board the plane at both end without anything to guide them on which entry they should use. As a result there was a bit of a melee in the aircraft with people trying to make their way the their seats from different directions.
02-08-2021

says:
Book you car hire well in advance to get the best deal, and ask for full email receipts on your return. Also take photos of the car before you take the car and when you drop it off, especially If returning out of office hours, just incase someone bashes it in the airport car park
25-07-2021

says:
Lovely airport with good facilities. Give yourself plenty of time to hand your car park though as if there’s an event on next door to the airport then there’s a massive traffic jam. Thrifty/Hertz only had one person to receive the cars back too so lots of queuing time at handover!
21-07-2021

says:
Make sure to take more than one credit card. Says they accept American Express but actually they don’t. Very high deposit charged to my credit card if I didn’t take insurance
14-07-2021

says:
Take out a private car insurance in UK not the rental car companies insurance Take out a Firestick if you have one as most TV's have HDMI port and if you have Prime it opens up TV viewing abroad Rather than buying loads of travel plugs, buy one and take a gang plug with 4 plug connections, plug devises directly in to gang plug saving the requirement of many travel plugs Use a phone app such as WAZE if driving as a Sat Nav (as opposed to renting expensive Sat Nav Always pay in local currency exchange when using Credit Cards/Debit Cards For mosquito bites, dip a spoon in to boiling water, after approx 10 secs apply the spoon to the bite (test gently to prevent burning) but press hard at a point that you can handle the heat - this takes away the sting/itch from the bites
29-06-2021

says:
Prepare documents required and any pick up instructions in advance. Familiarise yourself with the car i.e. Lights etc before you drive off. Adjust seat and mirrors. Set sat nav or study directions to your destination. Be aware of speed limits and warning signs. Stay in slow lane until you are confident. Don't drive if tired.
11-06-2021

says:
Book in advance. Choose Wiber for an efficient and relaxing car hire process. Organise passports, boarding cards and car hire vouchers for a straightforward transition through the airport and car hire process. Have car hire company phone number on your mobile phone for easy contact if necessary. Plan your journey and determine the directions to your destination in advance. Keep a bottle of water to hand in case if delays.
18-05-2021

says:
Organise all car hire in advance including having sufficient credit card deposit funds and do not be pressured into buying other products.
16-05-2021

says:
Book car hire before you travel. Print off your driving data from DVLA just incase (especially due to Brexit). Check your car over carefully and be careful with it like it was your own. Do your bit and take it to the car wash and/or hoover it out if its sandy beofre returning it, it all helps!
08-05-2021

says:
When picking up NOT from an inbound flight(admittedly unusual, but that was my circumstance) you need to go to the Goldcar desk INSIDE the arrivals terminal, not the Goldcar office where the cars are, in the parking garage.
02-04-2021

says:
Alicante airport is great. Interrent should be dropped from the airport and it sould make the facility the best in Europe!
19-03-2021

says:
Do give a map of how to access car rental when reapproaching airport. Do remember to check in early with a view to getting seated together on aeroplane without having to pay extra to sit together Do make a note of area in car park you’ve chosen to park at airport and don’t forget to ring bell on shuttle bus to indicate you are approaching that area and need bus to stop Don’t bring every pair of sandals you have as you’ll generally wear the same pair day after day Don’t forget to check your cabin baggage size with your airline Don’t forget to relax, chill out, and enjoy your holiday !!
22-12-2020

says:
altijd een goed advies en zoekt de auto''s die je wilt.
13-12-2020

says:
The airport itself was ok. It maybe isn’t the most amazing. But it did have a selection of quick food. There are a few bars. The shops do offer quite decent shopping. The airport is quite big and you have to see where you are going but it is well signed.
20-10-2020

says:
use alicante airport for hire cars because it is so easy to locate in the airport.
03-10-2020

says:
Be prepared to que for your hire car. Have your paperwork and details ready to speed up your time spent at the counter.
21-08-2020

says:
Don’t buy the insurance from the rental company at the airport. Make sure you take lots of pictures of car. Don’t believe the prices that you see on the website. Remember to take a car phone charger. Ensure when you return the car it is checked over whilst you are there. Take your time when driving around if you are not used to foreign roads.
28-07-2020

says:
If you want cognac with your coffee go to Carlsberg. They have cheap drinks and food. But you have to be patient. A lot of people in queue. We were lucky with black friday prices. Many shops had good prices.
23-07-2020

says:
Alicante is a modern, comfortable airport that's easy to get to and find your way around. There's a great selection of shops and places to eat, plus lots of seating. Baggage collection was really quick on my flights. There are some lovely places not too far away - Altea is a delightful hilltop town, or try El Campello just the other side of the city. Alicante itself is also very nice, with lots of history, culture and good places to eat. I'll definitely visit this part fo Spain again - October-November is a good time to visit.
28-06-2020

says:
Airport busy and as nice as an airport can be
24-06-2020

says:
Getting to the airport terminal is very easy, it is well signposted from Alicante and there is good access by car and public transport. Having rented cars 'on airport' & 'off airport' I recommend 'on airport' for convenience but 'off airport' collection via the hire company buses is usually significantly cheaper. I always try to book a hire vehicle as early as possible after arranging holiday travel as the prices rise steeply during peak holiday seasons. Buy holiday car insurance before you travel as the cost is much less than insurance offered at Alicante airport when collecting a vehicle. Rental cars are offered with different fuel plans. Cars hired with a full-full fuel tank policy mean you only pay for the fuel you actually use. Bear in mind that car hire rental charges in Alicante are incredibly expensive. I always hire the smallest suitable car for our needs rather than choose one which has attributes that wil not be necessary for a limited stay in Spain.
14-06-2020

says:
The airport is clean and new. The duty free shop always seems to give a discount so don't buy everything in one go if you want to take advantage of this. Avoid Goldcard, firefly and now Cenrauro. They over charge for insurance and will find the smallest thing wrong when you return. The business lounge is tranquil. The departures lounge is better than Valencia for shopping and eateries. Passport control has changed this year so passports are scanned- be sure to take off hats when going through!
13-06-2020

says:
Book car hire with a company where the pick up is in the terminal
08-06-2020

says:
The airport is fine, no hold ups. Easy to navigate around. Staff very helpful. Car rental office or desk is close by. However the service desk is very slow. Took my wife and I 1 and 1/2 hours waiting to be served. They need to serve customers,not wonder around. Or at least let customers know what the hold up is.
25-05-2020

says:
look for car hire in airport, and take out insurance in UK Check car carefully for scratches and dents on collection Book car hire well in advance if full full get fuel receipt Always get car checked by car hire staff on return and get documentation signed as OK
25-05-2020

says:
Check very carefully what the terms of hire say. i.e. Full to Full fuel policy & mileage restriction. Buy your fully comp insurance from insurer before travel and not at the desk on arrival. These hire companies are relentless in their sale of extras and hidden costs.
24-05-2020

says:
Alicante airport has a wide choice of car rentals. There are a limited number of shops and you will find these are closed late evening and early morning. Duty free at the airport can be expensive so buy before you get to the airport. General facilities are clean. Security are quick and efficient. Generally a good small airport.
21-10-2019

says:
Take you'd own child seat for the car.
15-09-2019

says:
can take some time to get hire car may be pay for fast track
01-09-2019

says:
Transfer bus was waiting for us on the ground floor. In bay 29 as I remember. We had to wait a bit at the collection counter as there were three people before us. Returning the car was a simple matter. And we would happily rent from them in the future.
28-08-2019

says:
Don't over state your pick up time
31-03-2019

says:
Book early for everything, particularly car hire, so you can choose the size of car you really need. Choose a company with the fuel policy you want. Don't over pack for the holiday, you never use everything you take! Get to the airport in plenty of time, there are often hold ups at check in or security. Do your homework on the area so you can really enjoy your holiday from the minute you land at your destination.
30-03-2019

says:
Trip to Gibraltar, Granada w/Alhambra, Ronda and Cuenca
28-03-2019

says:
Check insurance costs as even if you have bought insurance though the booking agent, hire company will insist on theirs or a 1000 Euro deposit for any accidental damage
27-03-2019

says:
Alicante airport is nice enough although food and drink is very expensive. There are great road links if you are driving and once you are on the A7 its plain sailing. If you have young kids, go past the main shopping and eating areas towards the departure gates and you'll find a small play area. The seating area is quieter here also. If you are flying in the evening you can get a great view of the sunset over the med. All and all its not a bad place to spend some time and wasn't that busy that it became uncomfortable.
12-03-2019

says:
Alicante airport is well catered for with many shops bars and eating places it has a large duty free shop with some good bargains to be had the airport lounge (payable at a cost of around €20) is worth a try if you want to relax in comfort they provide food and drink included in the price
02-01-2019

says:
Take a sat nav
24-12-2018

says:
Alicante is a very underrated city and has lots of places to eat and lovely beaches and harbour. Calle San Francisco has huge mushrooms and slides for children to play around and makes the street interesting to walk down. Great for families or even those without. La Zenia Shopping Centre on the 35km south of Alicante is a great place for shopping and eating out. Easy to get to, straight down the N332.
23-11-2018

says:
Alicante is nice, but like any other big city parking can be difficult/expensive. liked the castle and the shopping malls, and the very affordable small amousement park right next to the sea in the city. We lived near alicante in a small town, and it was excellent in offseason, free parking, cheap food/drink, accomodation and with a car you can go to where ever in when ever. lots of castles etc near by.
13-11-2018

says:
Remember to drive on the right side of the road
10-11-2018

says:
Spain is a great place I visit a lot throughout the year
28-10-2018

says:
Just use the great motorways to get to our destination
19-10-2018

says:
all alicante was worth it to visite
16-10-2018

says:
We did not stay in Alicante so cannot comment on it. We stay in Los Alcazares in the Murcia area. A nice place to visit is Cartagena for history, scenery and shopping. To go for a Menu del dia, look where the Spanish people go, you will get an excellent lunch for a reasonable price and not be ripped off.
16-10-2018

says:
Visit the island
17-09-2018

says:
I enjoyed most the cost east for Alicante, Benidorm area has a lot av interesting placed to visit.
02-09-2018

says:
I did not see anything of Alicante except for the railway station. It was nice and clean and efficient.
01-09-2018

says:
hire your car with centauro.Visit javea and denia to see the orange and lemon orchards.Go to benidorm for nightlife and lots of restaurants.Visit elche to see the palm groves
25-08-2018

says:
The destination was exactly what was expected although the weather conditions were the worst for several years.
06-08-2018

says:
Altea, Calpe and Albir, a very nice district to see, dine and enjoy! 7 fantastic days away from the cold and dark Scandinavia.
15-04-2018

says:
Although I didn't stay in Alicante, I found the airport to be very well organised, but I would advise to leave plenty of time for dropping off your rental car at the airport at busy times.
07-04-2018

says:
We stayed in Java, about an hours drive from Alicante. A lovely spot for families with a great beach and plenty of shops and facilities.
21-03-2018

says:
Explore the coastline by driving
18-03-2018

says:
Take a walk along the promenade
10-03-2018

says:
Alicante airport is a modern terminal but if you are travelling Aer Lingus, every departure gate except the one allocated to Aer Lingus has a seating area. Expect to stand for quite a while (when waiting for your plane to land in the first place).
25-02-2018

says:
Enjoy it while you can.
17-02-2018

says:
There are a lot of good restaurant near the Harbor.
09-01-2018

says:
visit the habour
09-01-2018

says:
By hiring a car it makes the holiday so much easier and relaxing as there is no waiting for taxis or buses. Can come and go as you please.
09-01-2018

says:
Not really applicable as I was visiting an ill relative so it wasn't a holiday etc and therefore no real comment re Alicante and the region etc itself as I didn;t see/experience much of it, the people etc but what I did see etc was fine.
03-01-2018

says:
Lots of sun, and very relaxing
22-11-2017

says:
Went to Javea, lovely resort with wonderful mountain trips nearby.
07-11-2017

says:
visit polop de la marina - lovely village forget busy beaches north of Alicante, but go to e.g. Santa Pola (near the airport).
09-09-2017

says:
Check beforehand for parades.
23-08-2017

says:
Dont try and pick up car at busy tome could be hour without the fastrack booking
13-08-2017

says:
golf at Nicklaus`six
30-03-2017

says:
Enjoyed the holiday.
21-03-2017

says:
visit bar willy's Torre de Horadadada Exceptional Food and lovely surroundings
28-02-2017

says:
Visit Terra Natura zoo and Las Colinas golf course
17-02-2017

says:
It is not my duty to give any recommendations on this matter.