For car hire at Alicante Airport, compare live prices, then check the desk location, the deposit and whether the company accepts your card. Goldcar, Centauro, Sixt and Avis say they have desks in or near the arrivals hall. Deposits run from a few hundred euros to over €2,000. Debit card rules differ a lot between companies.
Terms were checked on 18 October 2026.
Alicante-Elche serves Benidorm and the Costa Blanca. According to Aena, it handled 19,950,394 passengers in 2025, up 8.5% on 2024. Expect queues at the desks in summer, and book early.
Rental prices change every hour, so we don’t quote daily rates. To see current offers from many suppliers, compare prices for Alicante Airport on Discover Cars.
Where the car hire desks are
At Alicante, more of the big names are in the terminal than at Malaga. This is what each company says on its own Alicante page.
| Company | Desk location (company’s own page) |
|---|---|
| Goldcar | Close to arrivals, “no shuttle needed” |
| Centauro | Counter in the airport terminal |
| Sixt | Arrivals hall of the main terminal (“Zona rent a car – Llegadas”), cars on parking level 4 |
| Avis | In the arrivals hall |
| Europcar | Not confirmed |
| OK Mobility | Not confirmed |
Centauro is worth noting. At Malaga it is off-airport with a shuttle, but at Alicante its conditions and Alicante page list a counter in the terminal. Station rules vary even within one company, so always check the location on your voucher.
Deposits
The deposit is the amount blocked on your card at pick-up. It comes back after you return the car without damage. These are the published figures for direct bookings in Spain:
| Company | Deposit (official terms) |
|---|---|
| Goldcar | €950 (Small–Mini) to €2,000 (Full size, Premium) without Goldcar cover; €300 with “Relax”; €0 excess deposit with Super Relax or Mega Relax Plus (fuel deposit still applies) |
| Centauro | €1,200 to €2,200 without Smart cover, equal to the excess |
| Sixt | €300 for most groups, €500 or €750 for larger cars, €2,000 for sports and luxury |
| Avis | Rental price + €200, minus anything prepaid |
| OK Mobility | Varies by category; amount not published on the pages we read |
Sources: Goldcar terms dated 25 September 2026, Centauro conditions V06JUN/2026, Sixt Spain conditions version 16.10.2026, Avis Spain FAQ. Broker bookings can come with different terms. Our car hire deposit guide explains how blocks and charges work.
Debit cards at Alicante
This is where Alicante companies differ most.
- Avis. Its Alicante Airport page says Visa and Mastercard debit cards are accepted, with exceptions for some higher-value cars. Prepaid cards are not accepted at the counter.
- Sixt. Its Spanish terms accept debit cards. The deposit is then charged, not blocked, and refunded later.
- Goldcar. Its terms accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards and charge the deposit, returned within 15 days. Its Malaga page says the opposite, so ask the Alicante desk before you rely on it.
- OK Mobility. It holds the excess only on a credit card. With a debit card, you must buy its OK Premium Cover.
- Centauro. Prepayment can be by debit card. If you pay at the desk, the excess deposit must be on a credit card, “NOT DEBIT”, according to its conditions.
CEC-España, the Spanish European Consumer Centre, notes that you can often pay the booking by debit card, but a credit card in the driver’s name is usually required at pick-up. It recommends checking the deposit or card pre-authorisation before you sign.
Fuel and extras
Full to full is the simplest fuel policy: you pay only for what you use. The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) says fuel should not be prepaid unless the terms made it clear before booking. OK Mobility’s Alicante store page describes a Full/Full policy. Goldcar charges the missing fuel plus €50 if you return the tank short, according to its terms. See our fuel policy guide and excess insurance guide.
Which company to compare
-
Discover Cars
- Broker
- Refund-based Full Coverage
- Free cancellation
- Up to 48 h before pick-up
- Full Coverage
- Pay the supplier, claim back within 90 days; up to €5,000
- Deposit
- Supplier's deposit still applies, even with Full Coverage
- Card at the desk
- Most suppliers want a credit card in the main driver's name
-
Goldcar
- Rental company
- In terminal
- Fuel policy
- Full to full; Smart Return option €14.95
- Deposit
- €950–2,000 without Goldcar cover; €0 with Super Relax
- Minimum age
- 21, licence held 1 year; surcharge 21–24
- Debit cards
- Accepted (deposit is charged, refunded within 15 days)
- Málaga, Alicante, Faro
- Desk in the terminal
-
Centauro
- Rental company
- Shuttle
- Fuel policy
- Fuel paid at pick-up, unused fuel refunded
- Deposit
- Spain €1,200–2,200 (equals the excess); none with Smart cover
- Minimum age
- 19, licence held 1 year; surcharge 19–24
- Debit cards
- For prepayment only; desk payment needs a credit card for the deposit
- Málaga, Faro
- Off-airport, shuttle every 10–15 min
- Alicante
- Counter in the terminal
-
Avis
- Rental company
- In terminal
- Fuel policy
- Return as delivered; prepaid tank or pay on return
- Deposit
- Rental price + €200, minus any prepaid amount
- Minimum age
- 21, licence held 1 year; surcharge under 25
- Debit cards
- Visa and Mastercard debit at Alicante Airport
- Málaga, Alicante, Faro
- Desk in the arrivals hall
Prices checked on 18 October 2026. They change often; check the final price before you pay.
A broker shows many suppliers at once. We compare the two biggest in Discover Cars vs Rentalcars.
Before you sign
- Read the deposit amount on the contract.
- Photograph the car, the fuel gauge and the mileage at pick-up and at return.
- Keep the fuel receipt if you return the car full.
- Refuse extras you did not ask for.
CEC-España also reminds renters that the contract is normally with the rental company, not the broker, and that you can ask your bank to refund an improper charge.
Also flying into Malaga or Faro? See car hire at Malaga Airport and car hire at Faro Airport, or browse all our airport guides. We may earn a commission on some links; see our affiliate disclosure and how we research.
Frequently asked questions
Which car hire companies have desks inside Alicante Airport?
According to their own pages, Goldcar, Centauro, Sixt and Avis have desks in or close to the arrivals hall of the terminal. Sixt says its cars are on parking level 4. We could not confirm desk locations for Europcar and OK Mobility.
Can I hire a car at Alicante Airport with a debit card?
Some companies accept it. Avis says its Alicante Airport branch accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards, with exceptions for some higher-value cars. Sixt's Spanish terms also accept debit cards and charge the deposit to them. OK Mobility takes the deposit only on a credit card.
How big is the deposit at Alicante Airport?
It depends on the company and the car. According to Centauro's conditions, the deposit without Smart cover is €1,200 to €2,200 in Spain. Goldcar's terms dated 25 September 2026 list €950 to €2,000 without its cover. Sixt lists €300 for most car groups.
What is the minimum age to rent a car at Alicante Airport?
It is company policy. According to the companies' terms, it is 18 at Sixt for small car groups and at OK Mobility, 19 at Centauro and 21 at Goldcar, Europcar and Avis. Young driver surcharges apply below 23 or 25, depending on the company.
How busy is Alicante Airport?
According to Aena, Alicante-Elche handled 19,950,394 passengers in 2025, 8.5% more than in 2024. Expect busy desks in summer.
Sources
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