Car hire in Madrid

The perfect hire car will soon be yours

With pick-up points across the Spanish capital, our Madrid car hire services are conveniently located at the airport and main train and coach stations to facilitate an easy arrival and departure.

A charismatic city of grand palaces and busy shopping boulevards, Madrid is a cultural and culinary hub that’s within an easy drive of central Spain’s World Heritage walled cities, cliff-hung towns and rich rural landscapes.

Whether you arrive by air, train or bus, rest assured there is an Avis office nearby to collect your vehicle, with each location offering a 24-hour drop-off facility.

Those arriving by air will find our Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport car hire services in the arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 4. Elsewhere, you’ll find our car hire services in Madrid’s Atocha and Chamartín train stations and main coach stations, as well as in popular shopping and business precincts across the city.
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Popular car hire locations in Madrid

Exploring Madrid

The Spanish capital is infused with history. A city that has seen many different rulers, it wasn’t until 1561 that it was chosen by Philip II as the official capital of Spain. Today, its barrios are woven through with atmospheric streets lined with boutique shops and 19th-century apartments, while the Royal Armory dates back to the 16th century.

Madrid is famed for its art galleries, including the colonnaded Museo del Prado, the nearby Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Reina Sofía. Post-culture fix, watch the busy city drift past from one of the cafés in the airy Plaza Mayor, lined with colourful frescoes (a leftover from the city’s title as 1992 European Capital of Culture) and crowned with Herrerian spires.

Madrid’s lively foodie scene has its heart in Mercado de San Miguel, where rich and wholesome pork stews simmer and traditional tapas are within easy reach. Wash them down with Cava, or opt for local favourite, red vermouth. The Spanish capital is rumoured to house more bars per capita than any other European city, and with 3.2 million residents, it’s unlikely you’ll go thirsty here. Calle de Ponzano bristles with buzzing bars as does the medieval maze of La Latina. This fortified barrio is a compelling stronghold of art galleries, the open-air El Rastro flea market and atmospheric Moorish architecture.

Madrid after dark sparkles with flamenco shows, and the distinctive twang of a Spanish guitar is common parlance in its live music venues. The tapas bars are cheerful, and there’s always a ubiquitous thick hot chocolate served with a heap of crunchy churros for a satisfying midnight snack.

Beyond Madrid

Madrid is certainly not short of spectacular scenery and picturesque picnic spots. Former royal hunting ground Casa de Campo is five times the size of New York’s Central Park and is a mere 20-minute drive from the city centre. Parque del Buen Retiro, affectionately known as El Retiro, is even larger, with 60 acres of woods, manicured lawns and immaculately tended gardens. Post-stroll, hire a rowing boat for a real taste of peace and quiet at the centre of the park’s lake.

Hikers and wildlife-spotters can hire a car in Madrid to bask in raw, rolling wilderness in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, an hour’s drive out of the city. For something more civilised, journey to the grandiose site of El Escorial, just 45km northwest of the capital, where you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of King Philip II’s palace and monastery.

Toledo’s hilltop Alcázar fortress and Segovia’s magnificent Roman aqueduct are also within easy reach when you hire a car in Madrid.

Driving rules in Spain

Which side of the road?
In Spain, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

Mobile phones may not be used at all whilst driving
Do not use headphones when driving (except hearing aids)
Dipped headlights must be used in poor daylight visibility
Always use indicators, you will be fined for not using indicators when needed
Cyclists have right of way, at all times

Speed limits
All speed signs will be in km/h.
For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:

Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
Rural areas: 90 km/h (55 mph)
Motorways: 120km/h (74mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
Children aged under 12 and less than 135cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size
Children aged under 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seat

Please note - It is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.