Finding Car Hire Desks at Alicante
Alicante is one of Spain’s largest charter flight airports. Car hire desks can be found at the front of the airport. Experienced staff are ready to help you at the many car hire company desks at Alicante Airport. In case your Spanish is not good, remember that most airport staff at Alicante will speak English and will be more than happy to help you and point you in the right direction.

General Facilities at Alicante Airport
Facilities at Alicante Airport are excellent. Twenty airlines fly in and out of this airport which has thirty eight check-in desks and eleven gates. Facilities include a sports shop, jewellery shop, gift shop and a bakery. There are payphones throughout the airport as well as restaurants. Should you need it, there is a round-the-clock first aid service. Hopefully your luggage will arrive safely but, in the unlikely event of it being lost, you can request a survival pack which includes your basic necessities.

Choosing the right kind of car
You need to decide what type of car you will need. Choose from economy, estate, luxury or mpv. Hired cars are clean, serviced, fully checked and usually under 6 months old. Normally the tank will be full and should be returned to the hire company with a full tank.

Booking in advance
For peace of mind it is a good idea to book as far ahead as you possibly can. You do not want to arrive at the airport and have to wait around trying to organise your vehicle. If booking and paying over the internet, it is a good idea to print off all paperwork and keep in a folder for easy reference. Also save this information on your computer to be doubly safe. You will be given a booking reference number. Always keep this to hand. If your flight is late, the hire desk will hold your car if you have supplied your flight number when booking. The make and model of your car cannot always be guaranteed. However, your hire company will almost certainly provide a model similar to that requested or you may be upgraded at no extra cost.

Information and Documentation Needed
You will need two forms of identification, your passport (photo ID), UK drivers licence and a valid credit card preferably in the driver’s name.

Driving in Spain
The first thing to remember is: Drive on the right! Take special care when leaving service stations on the left hand side of the road. Spanish drink driving laws are strict. Only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood is allowed. Front and rear seat belts are obligatory. Speed limits are rigorously enforced and subject to on the spot fines.
You will be fined if you do not indicate before overtaking and pulling back to the nearside lane. Also, make sure you do not cross the white solid line as you join the motorway from the slip road. Wait till the line is broken.
Children are not allowed in the front of a car unless there is a suitable restraint system. In the rear seat, passengers who are less than 135cm in height must use safety devices and restraints that are specially adapted for their size.
Remember always to carry driving licence V5 (vehicle registration document) and insurance certificate. Carry your passport at all times to validate the licence. The minimum age to drive with a UK driving licence is 18.
Leaded petrol no longer exists in Spain. All grades of unleaded are available (benzin), diesel (gasoleo A) and also LPG are available. You are allowed to carry petrol in a can. Lunch time in much of Spain is from noon until 3pm so, away from the Autoroutes, be aware that pumps are often closed during these times.
Use dipped headlights in poor daytime visibility. If you visit Spain in winter, it is advisable to carry snow chains in the Pyrenees and mountainous areas. Visibility Vests are compulsory in Spain. You will not have a problem if you carry one for every occupant. A warning triangle is also compulsory. Your hire company will undoubtedly be aware of these regulations but check if in any doubt.
In the event of an accident or breakdown, contact the rental company for authorisation for repairs for a replacement vehicle. Write down all details and exchange contact details with other parties involved. Make a sketch of the accident and take photographs. Find witnesses and alert the police in exactly the same way as you would at home.