Mallorca (not Majorca!) is one of the most beautiful and romantic places we’ve ever seen, with quaint villages, an azure ocean, and stunning mountains. It’s the perfect spot for couples who like adventure, couples who want to unwind on the beach with a cocktail, or couples who want a little of everything!
The best way to experience all this Spanish island has to offer in terms of adventure, beauty, and romance is to rent a car in Mallorca and drive about, which is exactly what we did for more than a week. It’s an excellent approach for couples to maximise their holiday time!
We will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know to have an unforgettable Mallorcan driving vacation, as well as things we wish we had known before we had ours!
Here’s a video I shot on day one before we got a rental car from the bus, so you can see how narrow the roads are, how close the cars pass, and some of the amazing landscape in store for you!
The “Too Long Didn’t Read” Essential Driving Information In Mallorca
This is a lengthy post because I want you to feel more confident driving around Mallorca than we did, as we just learnt as we went. If you don’t have time to read the entire essay, here are the top 10 things to remember while driving in Mallorca:
- You drive on the right side of the road and pass on the left, much as in the United States.
It is prohibited to drive while wearing flip-flops, so plan accordingly. - While locals are used to tourists driving slowly, they sometimes grow annoyed, and tailgating and overtaking are common. You will be OK if you drive defensively.
- Cyclists are extremely common, especially on mountain roads. Slow down while approaching blind corners.
- To drive an automobile, you must be at least 18 years old, and you must be 21 to rent one. You must also have a valid credit card.
- The roads are rather narrow, and the Ma-10 is perched on the edge of a big cliff, so you want the smallest vehicle possible.
- The number to call in case of an accident is 112.
- When driving, you must display your rental agreement on the windscreen. We do recommend covering it when parking so you don’t shout, “I’m A TOURIST, STEAL MY STUFF!”
- The speed limit on highways is 120 km/h, however, in other areas, it ranges from 30 to 90 km/h. Metropolitan regions are frequently assigned speeds ranging from 30 to 50 km per hour.
- There are a lot of speed bumps and roundabouts (without signals).
Is Driving Safe in Mallorca? Is it simple?
We always want to be honest with you, so we’ll say it: we didn’t enjoy driving in Mallorca. Driving in Mallorca isn’t tough, but the roads are very different from what we’re used to in the US.
While it didn’t appear like we were going to die the entire time, driving over mountain ranges, beside a wide cliff with little barrier to tumbling into the ocean, and around hairpin turns was a bit unsettling.
Best Driving Locations in Mallorca
Overall, the roads are in good shape, and some major routes appear to be identical to those in the United States.
You will be entirely secure if you stick to the main routes outside the mountains, such as the Ma-1 or Ma-19. It’s rather flat and straightforward to travel..
Mallorca’s Worst Driving Spots
On the other side, as you reach the Serra de Tramuntana, things become dangerous. There are hairpin turns and extremely tiny roads on the edge of cliffs. This is especially true on the Ma-10, the island’s most dangerous road, which runs to Valdemossa, Deià, and Soller.
If you proceed a little farther to Sa Calobra, where the MA-10 turns into the Ma-2141, this is known as the “Snake Road” and may be dangerous, but it is a must-do for certain island visitors!
Peak Tourist Season vs. Shoulder Season Driving
Driving during the peak tourist season, which lasts from June to August, differs significantly from driving at other times. Tourists flock to Mallorca during these months, and there are many more cars on the road.
Driving gets slower and more risky as more people on the road are unfamiliar with how to navigate the roads. If you can visit Mallorca in the spring or fall, driving will be simpler.
Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Mallorca
Now that we’ve cleared everything up, let’s look at all of the fundamental laws and limits that govern driving in Mallorca because driving about will allow you to experience everything that makes Mallorca worth visiting!
Driving Requirements in Mallorca (Spain)
The driving requirements in Mallorca are the same as in the rest of Spain and much of Europe.
To drive in Mallorca, you must be 18 years old, however, many car rental companies need you to be 21 or older; otherwise, they may levy a “young driver fee.” A valid driver’s licence from your own country is also necessary. You’ll also need a valid piece of identification, which most rental car companies need to be your passport. Finally, to rent a car, you must have a valid credit card.
You must also have your vehicle registration documentation and display your rental agreement on your car’s windscreen while driving to alert the police. You may remove it when parked, but remember to reinstall it!
Do You Require An International Driving Permit (IDP)?
Americans who want to drive in Mallorca and Spain must acquire an International Drivers Permit. This is in addition to your US driver’s licence and passport. The rental car company may not request to view your IDP, but this is illegal, so keep one on hand just in case.
PRO SUGGESTIONS In the United States, acquiring an International Drivers Permit is straightforward, quick, and affordable. We usually get ours at any BCAA shop before heading on vacation. They cost around USD 20, and you must produce two passport-sized photos to acquire an IDP in the United States. Even if you’re not sure if you wish to drive in Mallorca, get an IDP.
If you are from the EU, you will not require an International Drivers Permit for your Mallorca road trip and may simply use your regular licence.
Mallorca Speeding Penalties
If you are a non-Spanish resident and you are caught speeding in Mallorca, you will most likely have to pay your fine on the spot. Your rental vehicle business will be contacted if you are caught speeding on a camera rather than by a civil guard.
Fines can vary from €100 to €600, depending on how much you exceed the speed limit.
In Mallorca, which side of the road do you drive on?
In Mallorca, people drive on the right side of the road. There are some single-lane roads on the island, so keep to the right and give way.
General Traffic Regulations
The general driving rules in Mallorca are similar to those in the United States:
- Seatbelts are necessary.
- Using a mobile phone while driving is strictly prohibited.
- Overtaking is only feasible on the left.
- Slow traffic should stay in the proper lane.
- When driving, flip-flops are not authorised.
Driving While Intoxicated
Drinking is unavoidable when on vacation in Spain, and the legal limit for driving in Mallorca and Spain is 0.05%. Driving under the influence is a serious offence in all countries, therefore we recommend not drinking at all if you’re driving. You also want to have your wits about you on the winding roads.
Insurance is required.
Driving in Spain requires unlimited third-party liability insurance.
Highway Conditions
We found the roads in Mallorca to be in good condition, with well-defined lanes. Of course, once you get into the mountains, things become more perilous, but if you drive during the summer, you should have no problems with road conditions.
Highway Signs
The traffic signs in Mallorca aren’t that different from what we’re used to, which made us a bit perplexed. Here are several pain road indications to watch out for:
The speed limits are shown on circular signs with a number and a red border.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SPEED LIMITS ARE IN KILOMETRES PER HOUR, NOT MILES.
- Brown signs represent sites of interest.
- Other signs, such as roundabouts, no-passing zones, and no U-turns, are self-explanatory.
- Sometimes traffic lights are installed in strange locations, such as on a pole immediately beside your vehicle rather than in the air in front of you. If you don’t see your light, look to the side!
Here’s a graphic I made with some of the traffic signs you should and shouldn’t know if you want to drive safely and confidently in Mallorca!
Roundabouts
Mallorca enjoys roundabouts, especially on main roads. It is not uncommon to encounter a roundabout on a road. We found them to be slightly more chaotic than American roundabouts since no one signals while exiting the roundabout, as we do here.
So enter the roundabout with caution, yielding and going slowly. As I have indicated, drive defensively and you will be OK.
Speed Limitations
One of the most important things for us Americans to understand is that speed limits are measured in kilometres, not miles. Your car’s speedometer should display kilometres, therefore no calculations are necessary.
Highways have a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h, whereas all other sites have limits ranging from 30 km/h to 90 km/h. Metropolitan regions are frequently assigned speeds ranging from 30 to 50 km per hour.
Tolls
There are no tolled highways in Mallorca! Yay!
Driving in Specific Locations
Driving in Palma de Mallorca
Driving in Palma de Mallorca’s metropolis is best described as chaotic. This was our least favourite driving spot since the traffic was almost always congested and things might turn unpleasant.
Driving Outside The Mountains On The Mainland
The roads are completely good after you leave Palma and drive throughout the island outside of the North Mountain region. They are tranquil, serene, and beautiful. This was our favourite driving destination.
Driving Through The Villages
While not terrifying, driving through the little villages exposes you to many narrow roads and speed bumps. Mallorca is preoccupied with roundabouts and speed bumps.
Driving Through the Mountains
The Serra Tramuntana Mountain Range is to the north and northwest of Mallorca, with the Ma-10 (mentioned above) serving as the main road through it.
The Ma-10 is winding and a little treacherous, so drive gently and give way to buses driving around hairpin turns.
One surprising advantage of mountain driving was that there was one lane in each direction; these are not one-lane roads. The lanes are also clearly delineated, which makes it less terrifying.
Mallorca Car Rental
Renting a Car Requires Insurance
To rent a car in Mallorca, you must have unlimited third-party liability insurance, which is included in the rental rate.
We recommend getting a credit card with secondary insurance, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, so you don’t have to pay full coverage while renting a car.
Where Can I Rent a Car?
The airport in Palma, PMI, is the best place to rent a car in Mallorca. This is the most convenient choice because you will need to fly into this airport, pick up your car, and then drive into town immediately.
If you don’t want to rent in PMI, you may rent a car at Palma Beach or any of the other major beach settlements on the island.
We rented a car from Click and Rent through Discover Cars, and while it was outside the airport, there was a shuttle, and the process was simple and quick. We felt at ease renting there because the personnel spoke English.
If it helps you feel better, other well-known rental companies include Sixt, National, Alamo, and Enterprise.
What Kind of Car Should I Rent?
One thing you’ll notice in Europe is that manual cars are far more popular than automatic vehicles, therefore the majority of rental cars will be manual. We did, however, encounter an autonomous car.
When renting a car in Mallorca, we recommend obtaining an automatic if possible, even if you are used to driving a manual and feel comfortable with it. You want to make driving on mountain roads as easy and stress-free as possible.
Car Rental Costs
We learned that hiring a car in Mallorca was far more affordable than we had anticipated! Keep in mind that automotive rental costs vary by season; hiring a car in the summer will be substantially more expensive than in the winter!
Renting a car in Mallorca typically costs between $15 and $60 per day, with the cheapest months being January through March.
The Cash Deposits
If you opt out of full coverage with the rental company directly (even if you bought it from a third party), they will want you to produce a credit card for hold charges if you damage the car.
You should be aware that hold charges might be rather substantial. It cost us $1,000! You’ll get this back if you return the car in great working shape! Simply check your credit card to ensure that it has been returned.
NOTE: If you want to acquire full coverage with the rental car provider directly, you will not be required to conduct the hold.
Picking Up and Returning Your Rental Car
The process of picking up and returning your rental car is rather easy. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for the greatest experience:
- We prefer renting cars at the airport since they are frequently open during the same hours that planes are.
- If you hire a car outside of the airport, keep in mind that it may be closed at specific times. Make sure this will not interfere with your flight time.
- Dropping off your rental car may be in a different location than picking it up, so always double-check with the supplier before taking it.
Is it necessary to book a rental car ahead of time?
We did not reserve a rental car ahead of time; we did so on the day of. We visited Mallorca, however, during the shoulder season, when fewer people rented cars.
We recommend renting a car ahead of time if you are travelling during the busy summer season. If you’re travelling during the shoulder season, you should be OK waiting if you’re not sure whether to rent a car in Mallorca.
What If You Get a Ticket While Driving a Rental Car?
If you obtain a rental vehicle ticket, you must pay it, most likely immediately if it is issued by a police officer.
If you receive a ticket from a camera, it may take months for the rental car company to report it and then transfer it to you for payment.
What Happens If You Have An Accident In A Rental Car?
If you are involved in an accident, call 112 for help.
This is why we prefer Google. We chose this phone service provider since they provide mobile coverage in almost every nation on the earth! This ensures that you have service (and safety) while travelling without WiFi. We’ve been in love with it ever since we switched from Sprint!
If you contact emergency services, please alert your Mallorca rental car provider as well.
Tips We Wish We Had Known Before Renting a Car in Mallorca
While renting a car in Mallorca is straightforward, there are a few things we wish we had known beforehand:
- When you pick up your car, take pictures of everything – inside, outside, top, bottom, and so on. Driving on Mallorca’s steep roads often results in scrapes and scratches, and you don’t want to get penalised for something you didn’t cause.
- If you don’t have Google, you may consider getting a GPS device for your car to avoid getting lost. You don’t want to be driving the Ma-10 in the middle of the night with no idea where you are.
- Only the main driver is protected. If you wish the other person in your pair to drive sometimes, let the rental car company know ahead of time.
Parking on the island of Mallorca
Parking in Mallorca, particularly in the capital city of Palma, can be challenging due to traffic congestion. The parking limitations themselves are rather straightforward and color-coded:
- Parking is free in the white zones.
- Blue zones indicate paid parking.
- Parking is not allowed in yellow zones.
Street parking may need specific permissions, and it is famously difficult to find. We recommend parking in a public garage. We like parking in Palma’s SABA parking garage because it is conveniently located in the city centre and easily accessible from several locations.
IMPORTANT: While the parking garage made parking convenient, it wasn’t as cheap as we had planned. Parking in a garage costs about $35 per day.
Many of the little villages offer free public parking. If you have to park in a paid lot, be sure you have some change with you. While they usually take credit cards, we observed that the credit card option was frequently malfunctioning.
Purchasing Gas in Mallorca
When you pick up your rental car, double-check if it runs on gasoline (gasoline) or diesel (oil).
How to Go About It
When filling up at a service station, remember that the green pump is for petrol and the black pump is for diesel. However, there is always a fuel station attendant there, so the easiest answer is to simply ask them to fill up the car or you. This ensures that you don’t do it incorrectly and ruin the car!
Petrol Prices
Remember that gas prices in Europe look cheaper than in the United States because they are quoted per litre rather than per gallon. However, once converted, the cost is significantly higher. You could expect to pay around $1.70 per litre or over $7 per gallon.
Tips for Driving in Mallorca Based on Our Own Experience
Here are some driving advice we learned while driving throughout Mallorca:
- Rent a tiny car to fit into tight areas and navigate narrow highways.
- As previously said, parking is costly if you want to park in garages for convenience.
- Cycling is really popular in the mountains, and they are constantly coming around the curves, so you must pay attention and travel even slower than you think.
- Turn signals appear to be suggestions.
- Stop signs can be placed in strange positions, so look about if you don’t see one right in front of you!
Making the Most of Your Driving Experience – Travel Tips
Most Beautiful Drive
The Ma-10 coast road from Palma to Port de Soller is one of the most scenic roads to take. If you’re comfortable driving winding roads along the brink of cliffs, you won’t want to miss the views of the Mediterranean in the Alps!
If you’re looking for a bit extra excitement, the Sa Calobra Road (MA-2141) is known as the “snake road” because of its hairpin turns. We strongly advise you to only do this if you are a very experienced driver who is used to driving in the highlands.
Visit the Most Beautiful Villages
Mallorca boasts an almost infinite amount of lovely villages. Our favourites, however, were:
- Valdemossa
- Santanyí
- Deià
Soller was also gorgeous, but much more touristy and less magical and romantic than the other three villages! Here’s a map of the four cities and the path that connects them; Santany is best done on its own because it’s apart from the other three villages.
Is a Car Necessary in Mallorca?
So, do you need a car to experience Mallorca to its fullest? Here is the solution:
YES if you want to remain in Mallorca for more than three days, want to explore everything the island has to offer, or want to do more than just relax on the beach and see places outside of the main town. There are countless attractions to see that are more difficult to get without a car!
No, if all you want to do is relax on the beach or spend a day or two on the island. Then you may just take a different method of transportation from Palma airport to the city and remain there.
Conclusion
Guys, we have finally arrived at the finish line! Driving and renting a car in Mallorca is simple if you know the ins and outs and are aware of some of the more risky roads so they don’t surprise you.
When determining how many days to stay in Mallorca, we strongly advise you to rent a car if feasible, as this will allow you to fully experience the island’s diversity, from the stunning, lush green mountains to the turquoise-blue beaches and attractive villages.
We hope our Driving and Car Rental in Mallorca tutorial has adequately prepared you for a road trip to Mallorca!
