Bilbao car rental guide
Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Bilbao
The best car rental companies in Bilbao are Sixt, Hertz, Avis. Prices start from €22/day for an economy car, the minimum age is 21, and airport pickup adds about 13%.
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Ranked comparison
Top 10 rental companies in Bilbao
Ranked by customer rating, price transparency and pickup convenience. Each opens a pre-filled search.
#1
Sixt
Editor’s pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€25/day
all-in estimate
View Sixt deal
#2
Hertz
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€24/day
all-in estimate
View Hertz deal
#3
Avis
Top ratedFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€23/day
all-in estimate
View Avis deal
#4
Budget
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €250Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€22/day
all-in estimate
View Budget deal
#5
Europcar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€23/day
all-in estimate
View Europcar deal
#6
Enterprise
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€26/day
all-in estimate
View Enterprise deal
#7
Alamo
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€23/day
all-in estimate
View Alamo deal
#8
National
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€28/day
all-in estimate
View National deal
#9
Record go
Local pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €200Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€20/day
base rate
View Record go deal
Prices are indicative market estimates · Last checked 2026-07-20 · 2 public sources (DiscoverCars + market data)
Price guide
Prices by car type in Bilbao
| Car type | From / day | Example | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | €22 | Seat Ibiza | 4 |
| Compact | €28 | Opel Corsa | 5 |
| SUV | €44 | Dacia Duster | 5 |
| Minivan (7-seat) | €60 | Volkswagen Touran | 7 |
| Luxury | €88 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 5 |
Pickup locations
Where to pick up a car in Bilbao
Airport — Bilbao Airport (BIO)
The A3247 Bizkaibus (€3, ~20 minutes, every 15 minutes in summer) is the best-value way into town. Forum complaints repeatedly describe driving out of the airport itself as confusing due to poor road signage — plan your exit route before you leave the rental lot.
Downtown — Bilbao city center (Abando / Casco Viejo)
Desks here sit at the edge of the ZBAI low-emission zone (Abando and Indautxu) — hotel guests are only exempt from entry restrictions if they park in the hotel’s own garage and register their plate at check-in.
Fees
Fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Airport surcharge | ~13% of base rate | BIO airport pickup |
| Young-driver fee (21–24) | €15–25/day | Drivers under 25 |
| Additional driver | €7–12/day | Per extra driver |
| AP-8 / AP-68 motorway tolls | ~€8–12 per 100 km | Driving toward San Sebastián/France (AP-8) or Vitoria/Rioja (AP-68) |
| Refundable deposit | €300–500 | Standard hold at pickup |
Local intelligence
Things to know before renting in Bilbao
- Bilbao’s low-emission zone, ZBAI, covers the Abando and Indautxu neighborhoods with a €200 fine enforced by ANPR cameras 24/7 — there is no tourist exemption, and hotel guests are only exempt if they use the hotel’s own garage and register their plate at check-in.
- Rental cars with foreign license plates must pre-register through Bilbao city hall’s dedicated ZBAI system before entering the zone — the same registration requirement seen in other Spanish low-emission zones.
- TripAdvisor’s Bilbao forum has a recurring complaint that getting out of the airport itself is confusing due to poor road signage — a friction point the major rental brands’ own location pages don’t mention.
- The best-value route from Bilbao Airport (BIO) into the city is the A3247 Bizkaibus (€3, about 20 minutes, every 15 minutes in summer); a taxi runs €25–35.
- A compact car is strongly recommended for Basque Country trips — several hotel underground garages and village streets are narrow enough that larger cars struggle to fit.
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (45 minutes via BI-631/BI-2101) and the Rioja Alavesa wine region (90 minutes, with Laguardia, Elciego and Haro each about 30 minutes apart) are the two day trips that make a rental car worthwhile — the city itself needs no car at all.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Bilbao
Do I need a car in Bilbao?
Not in the city itself — public transport is excellent and the center is compact and walkable. A car earns its keep for day trips: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Rioja Alavesa wine region, cider houses in the hills, and fishing villages along the Biscay coast like Bermeo and Bakio.
How do I get from Bilbao Airport to the city center?
The A3247 Bizkaibus runs every 15 minutes in summer, takes about 20 minutes and costs €3. A taxi costs roughly €25–35 and takes about 15 minutes.
What is Bilbao’s ZBAI low emission zone?
It covers the Abando and Indautxu neighborhoods. Entering without the right DGT environmental sticker risks a €200 fine enforced by cameras. Hotel guests are exempt only if they use the hotel’s own garage; cars with foreign plates must pre-register with the city before entering.
Is driving out of Bilbao airport confusing?
Local forum threads repeatedly mention it — poor signage on the way out has tripped up plenty of visitors. It’s worth checking your route on a map before you pull out of the rental lot.
Can I do San Juan de Gaztelugatxe without a car?
Organized tours exist, but driving yourself gives you flexibility — it’s about 45 minutes via the BI-631 and BI-2101 through Mungia and Bakio, with a dedicated visitor car park near the base of the climb.
Is Rioja Alavesa wine country a good day trip from Bilbao?
Yes — it’s about 90 minutes by motorway, and three towns (Laguardia, Elciego with its Frank Gehry-designed Marqués de Riscal winery, and Haro) sit close enough together to visit in a single day.
Nearby trips
