Car hire in Mallorca: the excess explained
Standard hire in Mallorca comes with an excess of roughly 900 to 1,800 euros, which the desk will offer to remove for 15 to 35 euros a day, while an independent excess policy bought beforehand costs about 40 to 80 euros for a year.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 6 August 2026
The short version
- The excess is the amount you carry yourself before the included insurance responds.
- The desk waiver costs 15 to 35 euros a day, so a two week hire adds 210 to 490 euros.
- An annual independent excess policy costs 40 to 80 euros and reimburses you after the event.
- Tyres, glass, roof, underbody and the wrong fuel are excluded from most basic cover.
The rate you booked online and the amount blocked on your card at the desk rarely match. The gap is the excess, and how you handle it decides whether the hire costs 180 euros or 600.
What the excess actually is
Spanish hire cars come with third party cover by law, plus collision damage waiver that limits your liability to a fixed amount. That amount is the excess. Typical figures on the island run from 900 euros on a small car to 1,800 euros or more on a large or premium model. The company blocks it on a credit card as a deposit.
| Option | Cost | What happens after damage |
|---|---|---|
| carry the excess yourself | 0 € | up to 1,200 € charged to your card |
| waiver at the desk | 210 to 490 € | nothing to pay, no deposit blocked |
| independent annual policy | 40 to 80 € a year | you pay, then claim it back |
| credit card benefit | included with the card | varies, often excludes hire in your country of residence |
What is usually excluded
- Tyres and wheels, a common charge on unsurfaced roads to coves.
- Glass, including windscreen chips.
- Roof and underbody, the classic claim after a low wall or a rock.
- Interior damage, lost keys and lost documents.
- Misfuelling, which alone can run to 500 euros or more.
- Driving on unpaved roads, which many contracts prohibit outright.
The handover matters more than the paperwork
- Photograph all four sides, the roof, the wheels and the windscreen before leaving the bay.
- Film a slow walk around with the date visible, it takes 90 seconds.
- Open the boot and check the warning triangle and vest are present.
- Photograph the fuel gauge and the odometer.
- Have every existing mark written on the check out sheet, not just pointed at.
- Repeat the photographs on return, before handing back the keys.
An independent excess policy pays you back, it does not stop the company charging your card. You still need the deposit available, so the credit card limit matters as much as the policy.
Fuel and extras
Full to full is the fair policy: you collect a full tank and return it full. Full to empty means you buy a tank at the desk price, often 15 to 25 per cent above the pump, and any fuel left is lost. An additional driver runs 6 to 12 euros a day, a child seat 5 to 9 euros a day, and a second seat quickly costs more than buying one.
Frequently asked
+Do I need a credit card?
For the deposit, almost always. Debit cards are accepted by some companies only if you take their full waiver, which is exactly the expensive option.
+Is my home car insurance any use?
No. It covers your own vehicle. Only a dedicated excess policy or a credit card benefit covers hire car excess.
+What licence do I need?
An EU or EEA licence is accepted directly. Licences from many other countries need an international driving permit alongside the original.
+Can they charge me weeks later?
Yes, damage found after return can be charged, which is why the return photographs matter. Ask for the damage report and an itemised invoice before accepting any charge.
+Is the airport pickup cheaper than in town?
Not usually. Airport locations carry a surcharge of around 10 to 15 per cent, but off airport pickup costs you a shuttle and time.
Sources
- 1Dirección General de Tráfico, Ministerio del Interior (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)