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Original poster

Hire car company from Malaga

21 replies

IWasFunBeforeMum · 18/02/2023 20:17

Was on the verge of booking a hire car through rentalcars.com and thought I'll just check trust pilot and they're all horrendous.

So back to square one. Anyone actually used a hire car company in Spain which was ok? Am I better using a 'big' name like Hertz etc?

Any advice appreciated!

OP posts:
BridetoBee · 18/02/2023 20:19

We’ve used MalagaCar before and they were great.

wagnbobble · 18/02/2023 20:20

We always used Helle Hollis , but more of a walk from central airport but always great service even when we lost the keys

Meandthemoggies · 18/02/2023 20:21

We've used doyouspain in the past - they were fine. Was a few years ago mind you.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 18/02/2023 20:35

Helle Hollis are great. There's a shuttle from the airport - it's basically out of the airport and across the roundabout, but not really walkable with cases.

Original poster
IWasFunBeforeMum · 18/02/2023 20:36

BridetoBee · 18/02/2023 20:19

We’ve used MalagaCar before and they were great.

Thanks, on their site now but can't see an option to NOT use a shuttle..was your car in the airport car park itself?

OP posts:
fretaway · 18/02/2023 20:47

We used MalagaCar a few years ago as well. You have to use a shuttle to get to the office, as it’s out of the airport.
It’s less convenient but of course miles cheaper.

Anything with a car at the airport is going to be more expensive as it costs a premium there.

Radiatorvalves · 18/02/2023 20:50

No advice re Spain, but do get cover with Insurance 4 Car Hire. You can then decline the car hire’s ridiculous additional fees. I’ve claimed twice abd they were fabulous.

Makemetry · 18/02/2023 20:50

I’ve used HelleHollis twice. Very quick and easy pick up and drop off. 2 minute shuttle ride from the airport. No problems at all and will use again.

shinynewapple22 · 18/02/2023 22:01

The majority of car hire companies in Malaga are just outside of the airport and use a shuttle bus - they are all very close though - about 5 mins on the bus.

As a warning you need to be very clear exactly what you are paying for in terms of insurance/collision waiver and how the service works with regard to fuel payments (ie do you collect / return with full or empty tank. From memory, I think DoyouSpain was problematic in this respect .

There is a company we've used several times which has been good but I can't think of the name at the moment (sorry).'

LivingOnAPrayerYes · 18/02/2023 22:04

We've used malagacar too. Very easy. Shuttle wasn't really an issue - it's just outside the airport. Very regular shuttle

Chelsea26 · 18/02/2023 22:08

Malagacar are the best - been going to Spain for 40 odd years - yes it’s a shuttle but it is literally less than 5 mins drive and very regular.

The system at the airport has changed in the past couple of years and you walk down to a kind of free-for-all pick up area to get the car rental shuttles and Malagacar buses are easy to identify even at night.

Once you’ve picked up your car you have to immediately negotiate the ‘roundabout of death’ but once you’ve done that you’ll be reet!

GenerallyGreenerGrass · 18/02/2023 22:10

Malaga car here as well…..
Shuttle is usually waiting right outside arrivals and the actual hire place is literally minutes away.
We go over a couple of times a year and wouldn’t use any other firm.

christmascalypso · 18/02/2023 22:24

Used CarGest before - really good. Very reasonable price inclusive of full insurance and short wait for shuttle bus to take to car (3 mins) . On way back we returned it and bus was waiting to take us to airport. Couldn't fault them.

Babyenroute · 18/02/2023 22:45

Centuro have been good when we used them in the past

Original poster
IWasFunBeforeMum · 18/02/2023 22:50

Thanks for all your helpful replies! Will book malaga cars as some of you have mentioned shuttle is often and not far. We'll have 2 small kids and 2 large cases hence wanting one at airport but seems like shuttle isn't an issue.

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 18/02/2023 22:54

We hada bad experience with Malaga cars as they refused to accept payment using our Spanish bank card, insisting on an English one. We have used Autos Lido in the airport

Lochroy · 18/02/2023 23:09

Haven't used the Malaga branch but we've used other branches of Centauro for more than ten years and are very happy with them. They are off airport so you have to get a shuttle but it means they are a bit cheaper. Be prepared that fellow travellers aren't as obedient in the art of queueing as the Brits when waiting for a shuttle or the car rental queue, but apart from that, no issues.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 19/02/2023 12:43

We had a poor experience with Malagacar a few years ago. There were not enough seats on the shuttle bus but they threw our luggage in anyway and insisted DSS could sit on one of our knees. Totally unacceptable and will never use them again.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 19/02/2023 12:45

Lochroy · 18/02/2023 23:09

Haven't used the Malaga branch but we've used other branches of Centauro for more than ten years and are very happy with them. They are off airport so you have to get a shuttle but it means they are a bit cheaper. Be prepared that fellow travellers aren't as obedient in the art of queueing as the Brits when waiting for a shuttle or the car rental queue, but apart from that, no issues.

I’m not shilling for Helle Hollis, honest, but they have a ticket machine like you get at deli counters. Really organised.

BarbaraofSeville · 20/02/2023 04:14

IWasFunBeforeMum · 18/02/2023 22:50

Thanks for all your helpful replies! Will book malaga cars as some of you have mentioned shuttle is often and not far. We'll have 2 small kids and 2 large cases hence wanting one at airport but seems like shuttle isn't an issue.

Using one at the airport isn't necessarily quicker. Some of the queues are very long for the on airport ones because of going through all the upselling and arguments about how the price ends up being far more than originally booked at.

We've used Centauro before without any issues. In any case, you need to understand the fuel policy and think about how much driving you will do, also the excess.

Get insurance separately but you then need a credit card as you will have to leave a large deposit - at least 1000 euros.

shinynewapple22 · 20/02/2023 22:05

The one that we've used a few times that was OK was Del Paso.

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