Hiring a Car at Palma Airport
Upon arrival at Palma Airport, what could be better than to find your hire car waiting for you? The airport at Palma is out of town and so it makes good sense to hire a car from the airport rather than from the town itself. You can book in advance of course and, done this way, your holiday can go smoothly from the start!

Finding Car Hire Desks at Palma
Car hire companies are situated in the main terminal building at Arrivals at Palma Airport. There is a nearby motorway which provides fast connections to Palma and all roads are signposted clearly. From the airport into the centre of Palma (8 kilometres away) takes around 20 minutes by car.

General Facilities at Palma Airport
Palma is the third largest of Spain’s busiest airports and, in the summer, one of the busiest. The airport handles 25 million passengers a year. There is only one terminal, with the Arrivals hall downstairs and Departures upstairs. At this modern airport you will find banks, bureaux de change, restaurants, cafes, jewellers and florists as well as fashion and gift shops. There are telephones, computers, internet access and conference rooms. There are excellent facilities for the disabled.

Choosing the right kind of car
Decide in advance the size and model of car you will need. Does it need to be 4-door or will 2-door be sufficient? You will need to decide how much room you and your party need for yourselves as well as for all luggage. Do not try to cut corners by hiring a car that is too small, you will only regret it. All hired cars will be fully checked and serviced. The cars should be returned to the hire company with a full tank of petrol as this is how they will be supplied to you.

Booking in advance
It is a good idea to book as far ahead as you can. You do not want to arrive and then have to wait around trying to organise a vehicle. Booking over the internet is the usual method of booking these days using secure websites. Make sure you print off all paperwork and keep a note of any reference numbers given to you. Take this information with you on your holiday in case of any unlikely misunderstandings. Do not worry if your flight is late. If you have given the hire company your flight number in advance, they will be aware of your delayed arrival. You will normally get the make and model of car requested. However, if the hire company is unable to provide exactly the type of car requested, they will either provide you with a similar model or upgrade you free of charge.

Information and Documentation Needed
Two forms of identification will be required: your passport (photo ID) and your UK driver’s licence. You will also need a valid credit card.

Driving in Spain
Driving is on the right in Spain so your hired car will be left-hand drive. You must remember to be especially aware when leaving service stations on the left hand side of the road. Also take care at roundabouts. It is easy to let your concentration slip when driving on the right. Be aware of the rigorously-enforced Spanish drink driving laws which are that only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood may be consumed (less than in the UK). Seat belts must be used and on-the-spot fines will be issued for breaking this rule. You will also be fined if you do not indicate correctly when pulling out when overtaking and then again when pulling back.
Children are not permitted to sit in the front seat unless there is a restraint system in place. In rear seats, safety devices and restraints must be used for passengers less than 135cm in height. Remember always to carry a driving licence V5 (registration document) and insurance certificate. Always carry your passport. The minimum driving age in Spain is 18.
All grades of unleaded petrol are available as well as diesel and LPG. Carrying petrol in a can is permitted. Leaded petrol is no longer available in Spain. Away from the main Auto-routes, lunchtime can be 3 hours long in Spain. Just be aware that petrol pumps may be closed at these times.
In poor weather, use dipped headlights. If visiting Spain in the winter, it is advisable to carry snow chains in your vehicle if driving in mountainous areas.
You will also need to carry Visibility Vests; one for every occupant. A warning triangle is also obligatory. Your hire company will be aware of this but check if in doubt.
Should you break down or have an accident, exchange contact details with the other parties. Take photographs and make a sketch. Find witnesses and alert the police. Contact your rental company immediately. In other words, do everything in the same way as you would if at home. Remember to carry the phone number of the rental company on your mobile phone.