Q: Is it recommended to book a car at El Prat in advance?

A: It is not especially advantageous to wait for a last minute deal when renting a car. Ordering a vehicle in advance is cheaper, however it takes time to find the most suitable offer for you among the wide selection of rental companies.

You need to take into account numerous parameters, such as the price, the reputation and size of the company, their fuel policy, the type and size of the car, the number of the doors, the location of the stalls where you pick up the vehicle, the type of insurance provided (if it is provided at all), the availability of different extra facilities (such as, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, etc) (for additional information – Car Rental at Barcelona Airport, Car Rental in Barcelona and Car Rental in Spain).

Only several companies will allow you to return the rented vehicle to a different stall. This is why, in order to find these exact companies, a previous online research is required.

You can certainly do a quick research at the airport, however your time will be limited and it is not guaranteed that you will find all the information you need. Furthermore, on the Internet, you can read the opinions and ratings of other tourists who previously used the different rental companies in Barcelona. It is even possible to compare your options using online car rental catalogs.

You also need to take into consideration that it will be difficult to find a good car during the high season. Additionally, during the summer, the prices are much higher than the rest of the year (for additional information – Summer Vacation in Barcelona and Winter Vacation in Barcelona). Therefore, it is advised to book the vehicle 4-5 months before your trip.

If you rent the car from a small, local company, their office could be located outside the airport and they could not have parkings available at Terminal 2. In this case, online booking is particularly important because, this way, the company can arrange your transfer and take your car to the pick-up point you agreed on.

It is very important to book the car in advance if you have mobility problems, because the number of wheelchair-friendly vehicles is quite limited (for additional information – Car Rental at Barcelona Airport – Accessibility and Accessibility in Barcelona).

Booking a car in advance is a straightforward process. After you do your research and choose the company you prefer, you need to make the reservation and pay for the vehicle. You will receive a voucher which you will need to show later, at the airport.

When you arrive at El Prat, you need to visit the rental office and show the following documents:

• driving license; depending on the destination of your trip, sometimes an international driving license is required; if you register more than one driver, you need to show their additional certificates;
• a credit card;
• the voucher you previously received.

Although these requirements are accepted by the vast majority of companies, there could always be an exception (mainly among the small companies). Therefore, it is recommended to get informed about this process in advance. Moreover, it is advised to carry your ID card or passport, your online order confirmation and the phone number of the rental company, as well (it is good to have with in case of an unexpected issue).  

Tips and Recommendations

• It is suggested to pre-book a car online rather than via phone because their phone lines are usually busy.
• It is also recommended to check in which terminal your flight is landing before you book your car online. This way, you can order your car there and not make an additional journey from one terminal to the other.
• You can order the vehicle via online intermediary reservation companies because they have a stronger negotiating power, which results in lower prices than those offered by rental companies.

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