Car hire reviews
Car hire in Barcelona is a classic case of timing mattering more than the vehicle itself. If you are staying in the city, you probably do not want a car straight away because parking is expensive, traffic is dense, and the metro covers most of what visitors need. But for trips into Costa Brava, Montserrat, Tarragona, or a longer Catalonia route, renting a car becomes very useful. Barcelona Airport pickup is usually the best arrangement if you are leaving the city quickly, thanks to greater supplier choice and easier logistics. If you plan to stay in town first, delaying the rental until departure day can save both money and stress. Drivers should expect toll roads, tight urban parking, and the usual premium attached to airport inventory. The reviews below focus on the real experience: fleet quality, queue times, return efficiency, and which suppliers are easiest to trust when Barcelona is your launch point.
Counter intelligence
17 min
Best: Enterprise (7 min)
63% low
5%
1 of 19 reviews
83%
Got car they booked
Based on 19 reviews across 29 locations and 19 suppliers. Average rating: 3.6/5 · Typical wait: ~17 minutes
Quick insights
Quick research insights on suppliers and pickup locations in Barcelona.
Locations in Barcelona
Barcelona Airport
Airport
Barcelona Centre
City / downtown
Centre De La Vila
City / downtown
Barcelona Badalona
Other location
Barcelona Barceloneta
Other location
Barcelona Ciutat Vella
Other location
3.6
Good
19 reviews
Lars Bergman
27 Feb 2026
I know Goldcar has a rep and yep, fair enough. Whole counter interaction felt like a sales funnel. By the end of it I couldn't even tell what we'd agreed to without reading the paperwork twice.
Lars Bergman
27 Feb 2026
I know Goldcar has a rep and yep, fair enough. Whole counter interaction felt like a sales funnel. By the end of it I couldn't even tell what we'd agreed to without reading the paperwork twice.
Sarah Mitchell
31 Dec 2025
Fast desk, polite staff, and the car looked basically new. We were on the motorway toward Girona in no time. Exactly how airport pickup should be.
Catalonia C.
22 Nov 2025
Budget brand but received a nearly new Peugeot. Staff didn't push extras hard. Solid value for Catalonia.
Emma W.
18 Nov 2025
We were in the car within 18 minutes with a clean Opel Corsa showing 14,000km, though the return lane backed up badly after 7pm and photoing the bumper saved time.
Catalan T.
8 Nov 2025
Competitive rates and clear terms. The compact handled Sitges day trips well. Return near terminal was easy.
Priya Sharma
2 Nov 2025
The base price looked terrific until a 45-minute queue, a €1,500 deposit hold and repeated prepaid-fuel pressure turned pickup into a patience test before we even reached the A-2.
Sarah Mitchell
29 Oct 2025
Fast desk, polite staff, and the car looked basically new. We were on the motorway toward Girona in no time. Exactly how airport pickup should be.
George Dean
20 Oct 2025
We booked with Goldcar for our honeymoon road trip starting in Barcelona, and honestly, it went better than I expected after reading some mixed reviews online. We arrived at the desk around 10:00 AM and there was a bit of a queue, but it moved relatively quickly. The staff member did ask about extra insurance coverage, which I know is standard practice, but once we declined and showed our own policy, he didn't push it any further. We were given a Fiat 500 which was perfect for zipping around the Costa Brava and parking in tight spots. It wasn't brand new, but it was clean and reliable. The return process at the airport was seamless, and we got our deposit back without any issues. For the price, it was a solid experience.
Barcelona D.
18 Oct 2025
Quick pickup and the Seat León was perfect for Costa Brava. Staff warned about Barcelona parking zones.
Alex Petersen
9 Oct 2025
A 12-minute queue and a spotless Peugeot 2008 made a strong first impression, but the desk still pushed €19/day super cover three times after explaining the standard CDW excess sat at €1,400.
Lucy Hart
28 Jul 2025
Hired a car from Goldcar at Barcelona Airport for a road trip with friends. We arrived at the desk around 9 AM and the queue was already massive. The staff spent ages trying to upsell us their extra insurance, even though we already had full coverage. When we finally got the keys for a Fiat 500, we noticed a scratch on the rear bumper. The agent marked it, but the paperwork was confusing. When we returned the car, they claimed the scratch was fresh damage and tried to charge us for it. We ended up arguing for an hour and they threatened to keep our deposit. It really put a damper on the trip. Not worth the small savings.
Thomas Hill
24 Jun 2025
I rented from OK Mobility at Barcelona Airport for a solo trip. The price was competitive, but the pickup process tested my patience. I waited in line for nearly 45 minutes, which wasn't a great start after a tiring flight. The staff member at the counter was polite enough, but the upsell pressure for their 'full coverage' insurance was relentless. I had my own policy, but she insisted on a €1,200 deposit if I didn't upgrade. Once that was sorted, the actual car—a white Toyota Yaris—was clean and drove perfectly fine throughout Catalonia. If you have time to spare and can handle the hard sell at the counter, it's an okay budget choice.
CataloniaCar
22 Nov 2025
Budget brand but received a nearly new Peugeot. Staff didn't push extras hard. Solid value for Catalonia.
BarcelonaDrive
18 Oct 2025
Quick pickup and the Seat León was perfect for Costa Brava. Staff warned about Barcelona parking zones.
CatalanTrip
8 Nov 2025
Competitive rates and clear terms. The compact handled Sitges day trips well. Return near terminal was easy.
Alex Petersen
9 Oct 2025
A 12-minute queue and a spotless Peugeot 2008 made a strong first impression, but the desk still pushed €19/day super cover three times after explaining the standard CDW excess sat at €1,400.
EuroWanderer
18 Nov 2025
We were in the car within 18 minutes with a clean Opel Corsa showing 14,000km, though the return lane backed up badly after 7pm and photoing the bumper saved time.
Priya Sharma
2 Nov 2025
The base price looked terrific until a 45-minute queue, a €1,500 deposit hold and repeated prepaid-fuel pressure turned pickup into a patience test before we even reached the A-2.