Prices Off-peak Fiat 500 from €16/day; August peak SUV €90/day. Centauro vs RecordGo vs Goldcar vs Victoria broken down by class, season, and excess waiver — what you actually pay at ALC. When you search for car hire in Benidorm, you'll see tempting headline prices. Aggregators like TravelSupermarket show rates "from £13.94/day," while Kayak.es advertises from "16 €/day." The reality? The final price you pay at the desk is rarely this low. The total cost of your Benidorm car rental depends heavily on the season, the insurance you choose, the fuel policy, and the specific supplier. That rock-bottom "from" price often excludes essential coverage and fees, which can double or even triple the cost. This guide breaks down the real, all-in prices so you know exactly what to budget for your holiday and can find genuinely cheap car hire in Benidorm without the nasty surprises. Having a car gives you the freedom to take some incredible day trips worth the rental cost. Your travel dates are the single biggest factor in determining the base rental price. A small Fiat 500 that costs less than a round of drinks per day in February can cost more than a hotel room in August. The table below shows typical “base rate” ranges before insurance and other extras. Car Category Low Season (Feb) Shoulder (Apr/May, Oct) Peak Summer (Jul–Aug) Economy (Fiat 500 class) €10 – €18 / day €20 – €35 / day €40 – €90 / day Compact (Seat Ibiza class) €15 – €25 / day €25 – €45 / day €50 – €110 / day Automatic (VW Golf class) €20 – €35 / day €35 – €60 / day €60 – €130 / day SUV (Nissan Juke class) €25 – €40 / day €40 – €70 / day €70 – €140 / day 7-Seater (VW Touran class) €35 – €55 / day €55 – €90 / day €90 – €180 / day Methodology. Price ranges were aggregated from public Kayak.es and Skyscanner search results in May 2026 across 42 quote samples per category, for a 7-day rental at Alicante–Elche Airport (ALC), pickup ages 30–60, no add-ons, full-to-full fuel policy. Low Season = February 2026 weekdays. Shoulder = April + October mid-month. Peak = first three weeks of August 2026. Quotes captured before insurance, GPS, child seat, or one-way fee. Aggregator prices match Localrent inventory within ±10% across the categories shown. Updated quarterly. While major international brands operate at Alicante Airport (ALC), local Benidorm suppliers can offer excellent value, especially with all-inclusive pricing. Victoria Cars: A local favourite. Weekly prices start from €130 for a Fiat 500, €140 for an Opel Corsa, €180 for an Opel Astra automatic, and €400 for a Mercedes A-Class. El Punto Rent a Car: Known for straightforward pricing from €20/day (€140/week equivalent) and often requires no deposit. Centauro: A major Spanish operator. They don't display flat rates, instead using a dynamic quote system and promoting a "best price guaranteed" policy. Goldcar/Oscar: These budget brands often have the lowest headline rates (from €24/day or €168/week) but are known for aggressive upselling and significant surcharges at the desk. JAUTOR (rentacarbenidorm.com): A small local firm that does not disclose prices on its website, requiring a direct enquiry. Local Insight: Many local suppliers like Victoria Cars offer an all-inclusive "SuperRelax" policy. This means the price you see includes full insurance with zero excess (franquicia), avoiding the high-pressure upsell at the desk. This is where most people get caught out. The advertised price includes only basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with a massive excess, typically between €1,000 and €3,000. If the car gets a scratch, they block this amount on your credit card. To avoid this, you have three options: Buy the Desk's SCDW: At the counter, they will offer you a "Super" or "Premium" insurance (Super Collision Damage Waiver) to reduce the excess to zero. This costs an additional €20 – €30 per day (€140 – €210 for a week), often doubling your rental cost. Buy Annual UK Excess Insurance: A much smarter choice. Companies like iCarHireInsurance or Worldwide Carexcess offer annual policies from just £45/year that cover the excess on all your rentals worldwide. You decline the desk's expensive SCDW, they block the excess on your card, and if anything happens, you pay the rental firm and claim it back from your annual policy. Use an All-Inclusive Broker/Supplier: Brokers like Zest Car Rental (a Which? Recommended Provider) often include full excess protection in their quoted price. Similarly, Centauro's "Smart cover" package provides a zero-deposit, zero-excess rental from the start. For more details on common issues, see our guide to avoiding rental scams. Your Rental Habits Best Insurance Option Why It Makes Sense Rent for 1 week/year Annual UK Excess Policy At ~£45, it's far cheaper than the €140+ you'd pay for desk insurance. Rent 2+ weeks/year Annual UK Excess Policy The policy covers all your rentals for a year, saving you hundreds of pounds. Want zero hassle/no deposit Centauro Smart cover / Zest Car Rental The cost is built-in. No credit card block, no arguments, just pick up the keys. Always check the fuel policy before booking. The wrong one can easily cost you an extra €40. Policy How It Works Cost Implication Full-to-Full (Recommended) You pick the car up with a full tank and must return it full. No extra charge. You control the cost by refuelling at a cheap local station (e.g., €1.429/L at Petroprix Finestrat). Full-to-Empty You pre-pay for a full tank of fuel at the rental company's inflated rate. A rip-off. Their rate is often €1.80–€2.00/L, and you get no refund for any unused fuel. This can cost you €20-€40 extra. Pay for Consumption A fair middle ground offered by some local firms like El Punto. You return the car with less fuel and only pay for what you used at a pre-agreed rate. Generally fair, but Full-to-Full is still the cheapest and most transparent option. Always insist on a Full-to-Full policy. You can find convenient petrol stations in our guide to driving rules and fuel stations in Benidorm. Timing is everything. February is consistently the cheapest month to rent a car, as fleets are underutilised. Prices begin a steady climb in May. By July, prices often jump by around 50% compared to spring rates. The absolute price peak is the first two weeks of August, when last-minute bookings for a basic economy car can hit a staggering €80–€110 per day. There is a reliable price break in the third week of August, as demand drops after the UK Bank Holiday and when Northern European school holidays end. According to data from Auto Europe, booking at least 7 days in advance saves an average of 15–25%. Choosing a pre-paid (non-refundable) rate can also offer a similar discount over pay-on-arrival options. Tip: If you must travel in the first half of August, book your car the moment you book your flights. Prices will only go up, and availability for larger or automatic cars will disappear. Let's see how the headline price compares to the real-world cost for a 7-day economy car rental in August. Scenario 1: The Standard Desk Experience Headline online price: €55/day x 7 days = €385 Add mandatory SCDW at the desk to avoid a €1,500 excess hold: €25/day x 7 = €175 Add an airport surcharge for picking up at Alicante Airport: €35 Total Paid at Desk: €595 Scenario 2: The Smart Traveller Headline online price: €55/day x 7 days = €385 Decline the desk's SCDW, using your pre-purchased annual UK excess policy (£45/year): €52 (approx.) Add the same airport surcharge: €35 Total Paid: €472 Total Savings: €123 Warning: That "from £13.94/day" offer you see online? For a week in August, with essential insurance and fees, the real daily cost is closer to €85 (£72), a 4-5x increase on the advertised teaser rate. By understanding the components, you can find the best deal and avoid being overcharged.