Rent a Car in Soller and Port de Soller

There are two ways to hire in the area. Picking up in Palma, at the airport or in the city, gives you more brands and more cars, and it is the usual choice if you fly in. Picking up in the Port de Soller makes sense if you are already in the valley and only want a car for a few days, or if you come back from a boat trip or the tram and need to explore the Tramuntana.

Comparison sites list most Soller offices in the Port. Addresses change and not every company has its own website, so the list below only includes companies we could check on their official site.

Croauto Rent a Car (croauto.webcar.rent) is a local company, registered as Sun Car Port de Soller SL, based at Paseo de la Playa 7 in Port de Soller. According to its website:

• Delivery in Port de Soller, Deia, Valldemossa, Palma airport and points in the Serra de Tramuntana.
• Soller centre: it says its fleet can enter the village centre. Confirm this when you book if you will drive in the restricted zone.
• Booking through its own website. Social: Facebook.

It is the simplest choice if you want to pick up in the Port without going to Palma. A hotel in the area recommends it as a local supplier.

The large chains operate from Palma airport, where the car rental offices are in the car park building opposite the terminals.

Several of them also appear for Port de Soller on comparison sites. We could not confirm their addresses or opening hours on their official websites, so we do not list them as offices. Before booking in the Port, check on the brand's website that the office exists and when it opens.

If you land late or leave very early, picking up at the airport is usually more practical than taking a transfer down to the valley.

• Driving licence valid for the whole rental. Many companies ask for a licence held for a minimum period.
• Minimum age: varies by company and car group. Comparison sites show 21 in some cases and 25 in others. Ask before you book.
• Credit card in the main driver's name, for the deposit. Debit or prepaid cards are not always accepted.
• ID or passport. If you come from outside the EU, bring an international permit or your national licence, depending on the company.

The daily rate is not the total cost. Always check these four points:

• Excess: the amount you pay if the car is damaged. Comparison sites put it between roughly 2,500 and 3,800 euros, depending on the company.
• Reduced excess cover: usually sold separately. It can cut your risk a lot, but compare it with the cover your credit card already gives.
• Fuel: return the car with the same fuel level you picked it up with, to avoid a refuelling charge.
• Vehicle check: photograph any dents and scratches when you collect the car and make sure the damage report is signed.

The mountain roads are narrow and full of bends. A small or compact car is easier to park in the villages and to pass buses. If you plan to drive up to Sa Calobra or Lluc, a car with decent power makes the climbs easier.

In summer the villages fill up and parking gets scarce. Read parking in Soller before you decide, and the taxi and transport guide for the stretches where a car is not worth it.

The centre of Soller is a low-emission zone. Before you enter, check whether your vehicle may circulate and which hours apply. If the company delivers the car to the centre, ask whether its fleet meets the rules.

The Port has paid parking along the promenade. Biniaraix and Fornalutx are easy to reach by car, but the mountain roads are narrow, so a large car is not a good idea there.

If you only need a car for one day, or do not want to drive in the mountains, there are other options:

• Taxi or private transfer for longer stretches: taxi and transport in Soller.
• Bike and e-bike: cycling in Soller.
• Scooter or Vespa: local companies in the Port and in Soller, listed in the transport guide.
• Tram and TIB bus inside the valley, with no parking worries.