Breakdown in a hire car: who pays for what
Mechanical failures caused by wear, maintenance or a defect are the hire company's responsibility and it must provide assistance and a replacement vehicle, while damage resulting from misuse by the driver is billed to the driver.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- Roadside assistance is included in the rental contract.
- A replacement vehicle usually arrives within 2 to 6 hours on the island.
- Using the wrong fuel costs 400 € to 1,200 € and is never covered.
- Calling your own recovery truck turns a covered incident into a personal bill.
A breakdown on a mountain road with children in the car is far less serious if you know which number to call and what not to do.
Where the line sits
Anything that fails through wear, maintenance or a defect of the vehicle is the company's cost: battery, alternator, clutch, cooling system, electronic faults. Anything that fails because of an action by the driver is billed to them: wrong fuel, damage to the underside from driving off asphalt, overheating after continuing with a warning light lit, or a wheel damaged against a kerb.
| Incident | Responsible | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Battery failed through age | company | 0 € |
| Battery flat from lights left on | driver | 50 to 120 € |
| Engine failure through wear | company | 0 € |
| Engine damaged after ignoring a warning | driver | 1,500 to 6,000 € |
| Puncture from road debris | depends on cover | 80 to 250 € |
| Wheel damaged against a kerb | driver | 150 to 600 € |
| Wrong fuel | driver | 400 to 1,200 € |
| Lost keys | driver | 150 to 400 € |
What to do at the roadside
Stop somewhere safe, use the warning device as required, and call the assistance number printed on the contract and in the glovebox. That number is the only valid one. Calling a recovery service yourself converts a covered incident into a personal invoice, because the company only accepts the cost of services it has authorised.
The replacement vehicle
Where the fault prevents you continuing and is not attributable to the driver, the company must provide an equivalent vehicle. On an island with maximum distances of about 100 kilometres, that is usually resolved in 2 to 6 hours, longer in August and in mountain areas. If the delay forces an overnight stay, keep every receipt: some terms provide limited reimbursement, commonly 60 € to 120 € a night.
Time without a vehicle also gives a right to a proportional reduction in the rental price, and it should be claimed in writing before the contract is closed.
What is billed afterwards
Where the damage is attributable to the driver, the repair is not the whole bill. Immobilisation days at 40 € to 90 € each are added, and sometimes a loss of commercial availability charge. These items are in the contract and they are the part that surprises: a 600 € repair with 5 days in the workshop can end as an invoice of 900 € to 1,000 €.
Frequently asked
+Who pays for a mechanical breakdown?
The hire company, where the failure is due to wear, maintenance or a defect of the vehicle.
+Can I call my own recovery truck?
It is unwise. Only services authorised through the contract's assistance number are covered.
+Am I entitled to another car?
Yes where the fault prevents you continuing and is not your fault. It usually arrives in 2 to 6 hours.
+What if I put the wrong fuel in?
It is billed to the driver at 400 € to 1,200 € and is excluded from the usual cover.
+Is workshop time charged?
Yes, at 40 € to 90 € per immobilisation day where the damage is attributable to the driver.
Sources
- 1Dirección General de Tráfico, Ministerio del Interior (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)