Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Has anyone rented a car at the airport in Madrid and have any advice/ companies they recommend? I have a US driver’s license and international driving permit.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“Europcar is my recommendation”
“Honestly, I had an excellent experience with firefly in 2019, they are quite cheap, although people are complaining recently”
“I’ve tried many and they all seem the same. I recommend using Booking.com as they have the lowest rates I’ve seen, or at least it’s easier to compare prices.”
“We frequently use AutoEurope for booking cars in Europe. At least it is a great place to check pricing. Recommended by Rick Steves, which is how we first found them. You have to prepay when booking but 100% refundable if cancelled before 24 hours before the start of the rental. We had to cancel a car in Germany last summer (we had to switch to Switzerland because Spain wasn’t vaccinating teenagers yet and Germany wanted them to isolate for 5 days upon arrival), and they immediately cancelled and refunded when I called. Unlike in the US we tend to opt for the full insurance option with absolutely 0 deductible. Usually we choose Europcar over the other companies.”
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Explore Cities →“We also like Centauro if we are renting in Valencia. They do have locations in Madrid.”
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