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Original poster

Car hire help please! Malaga airport

41 replies

user0243 · 26/04/2023 18:45

Hi,
We're going on a family holiday in a couple of months and flying into Malaga which is somewhere I've never been.
We're really stuck with which car hire company to use!

I'm thinking Key'n Go as they're onsite but they are more expensive. My husband is thinking take the risk and go cheap with GoldCar or RecordGo but their reviews are shocking!!
Budget, Avis etc are ridiculously expensive in comparisson.
The other option is to hire a minibus rather than 2 cars (6 of us plus lots of luggage) with Alamo which would mean transfers from the airport - the return flight is 6am and we have 2 small children so wonder if this is more hassle than it's worth?
Does anyone have experience hiring a car here that can advise on the best company to use please?
Thank you for your help :)

OP posts:
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 27/04/2023 21:16

user0243 · 26/04/2023 19:33

We're staying in Vinuela. Overlooking the lake and mountains, the views look amazing!

Just had a look on google maps . That should be gorgeous. Have visited Competa which isn't too far away (we stay in Nerja). I didn't realise there was a lake there .

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 27/04/2023 21:21

Last time we went we hired through Nizza cars through Do You Spain . We hired about a week before we traveled as we needed to upgrade our vehicle as DS and partner had decided to join us and were only able to do it via a cancel and rebook. It was unbelievably cheap - but on arrival we got screwed with a load of extras so just be wary .

Maraudingmarauders · 27/04/2023 21:45

Loads of people complain about Goldcar but we use them a lot and recently did key and go from Malaga and found it super. Just pay for full insurance and make sure to completely fill up your tank on return. Even a small amount out will have you facing an admin charge (there is a petrol station right around the corner).

Maraudingmarauders · 27/04/2023 21:48

For key and go we uploaded docs online before we went. When we go there we used a vending machine- type I'm your code, pick a car from the choice provided and key drops into the dish. When leaving we just dropped the key in the letter box. Had an email a few hours later giving us a clean sheet.

We take a video of the exterior of the car when we first pick it up go document any scratches and dings etc.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2023 21:58

Maraudingmarauders · 27/04/2023 21:45

Loads of people complain about Goldcar but we use them a lot and recently did key and go from Malaga and found it super. Just pay for full insurance and make sure to completely fill up your tank on return. Even a small amount out will have you facing an admin charge (there is a petrol station right around the corner).

But if you're paying for the extra insurance, doesn't that make it a lot more expensive than what you expected and probably not significantly cheaper than other companies that aren't going to dick you around and have huge queues at the airport?

There's a review on Trip Advisor where a rental that started off at 75 euro for the week ended up being 307 once all the extra charges had been added. They could have rented from Avis for 220 euros inclusive of all charges.

StiggyZardust · 27/04/2023 21:59

We've used MalagarCar. No problems at all and competitively priced.

KnottyKnitting · 27/04/2023 22:14

We have used Zest ( it's a broker) in a number of different countries. Fully comp insurance and usually very reasonable.

tanstaafl · 28/04/2023 09:10

You could also get the train from the airport a couple of stops to Malaga , Maria Zambriano ( sp) station which has hire car shops.
(Though it was pre covid when we hired from the station)

DeflatedAgain · 28/04/2023 09:17

DH and I rented a car through our hotel upon arrival. It was dirt cheap and came with full insurance. Much cheaper than quoted at the airport. 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you're staying at a hotel enquire with them as well just to compare.

Maraudingmarauders · 29/04/2023 09:12

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2023 21:58

But if you're paying for the extra insurance, doesn't that make it a lot more expensive than what you expected and probably not significantly cheaper than other companies that aren't going to dick you around and have huge queues at the airport?

There's a review on Trip Advisor where a rental that started off at 75 euro for the week ended up being 307 once all the extra charges had been added. They could have rented from Avis for 220 euros inclusive of all charges.

Show quote history

We paid €103 for 5 days with a fiat500 with full cover and key and go. It was pretty level with the other quotes we got from other companies without the key and go option.

GirlInTheDryShirt · 29/04/2023 09:15

I second PPs saying don’t use Goldcar. I live in Spain and have used them several times when my car’s been in for a service because they’re cheap, but they’re crooks. Use Expedia to book car hire because it has discounts, sometimes you get really good deals.

Tree543 · 29/04/2023 09:21

Not sure about Malaga but when we hired a car in Faro Trip Advisor Forum was really useful in finding out who to avoid and who are the best. I remember Goldcar were one to avoid in Faro and sounds like they are the same everywhere.

Original poster
user0243 · 29/04/2023 12:30

Hi,
thanks for all your replies.
A Fiat 500 or similar is about £150 with the likes of Goldcar, £350 with Key’n Go & about £650 with Avis etc for basic hire. So Key is the only one of those that’s fully comp and not ridiculously overpriced.
We also need bigger cars than that as we’re flying with EasyJet and now have to take no suitcases or one for every person flying! 🙄
We’re hoping the minibus comes back down in price 🤞🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
user0243 · 03/06/2023 18:12

We decided to go with Key n Go with Goldcar in the end so I'm hoping we'll be ok!!
It included fully comp insurance so they can't rip us off for that. Fuel is the only thing we need to be wary about but we'll photograph everything whe we pick up and drop off.
Only issue now is they're saing we've already uploaded documents for both card when we've only done them for one driver so I'm hoping they reply to emails fairly quickly or we're back to having to queue at the airport for ages!!

OP posts:
Iamthemoom · 11/07/2025 11:58

Wish I had read this before my holiday! Used the broker VIP cars without spotting it would be a Gold Car rental and I have been thoroughly scammed by both companies who have zero customer service. Overcharged, mis sold an unnecessary insurance, queued for 3.5 hours in 34 degree heat to get the car but they run the rental from the time you booked, not the time their understaffed office managed to provide a car! Avoid Gold Cars and VIP at all costs!

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