Car Hire Alicante-Elche Airport

If you’re planning a trip to Alicante, you’ll find booking an Avis hire car from Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) - often known as Alicante Airport - is the best way to explore this enchanting port city and Spain’s Costa Blanca.

Alicante-Elche Airport (officially called Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport in honour of Spanish poet Miguel Hernández) is the busiest airport in the south eastern Spanish province of Valencia with the widest choice of routes to all the popular Costa Blanca destinations. Offering easy access to the cities of Alicante and Elche plus favourite resorts like Benidorm and Torreviejo along the Mediterranean coast, flying into Alicante is the perfect start to your sunshine break.  

Picking up your Avis hire car at Alicante Airport means you are free to go beyond the visitor hotspots and discover hidden gems; historic coastal towns, breathtaking natural parks, and enchanting inland villages, all at your own pace.

Book direct with Avis and you’ll benefit from flexible booking with free cancellation, a fleet of quality rental vehicles and speedy collection to get you on the road quickly plus we’ve a free loyalty programme with a host of travel benefits you’ll love.

Wherever you’re heading, you can choose how you start your car hire journey with Avis. For Avis Preferred members, this means bypassing the counter with our self-service key kiosks. There’s always the option of choosing QuickPass for faster pickup with minimal paperwork or you can simply check-in at the desk, where a friendly welcome and best local advice on your trip is waiting.  

• Self service collection 

Want to skip the queue without the extra cost? At certain destinations we operate a self-service key collection service option for members of Avis Preferred our free loyalty scheme. Just sign up to join and benefit from our key kiosk collection service as well as 10% discounts on your booking plus a range of partner offers. 

• Cut the queues with QuickPass 

To cut the wait to collect your car, get the booking admin done before you travel with QuickPass our free pre-registration service. Just add your driving licence and payment details via our secure portal on the Avis website or app ahead of your trip. You’ll then be able to pick up your keys with minimal paperwork.  

• Check-in at the desk 

You can always choose to simply check in at the desk when you arrive at your destination. Perfect if you’re looking for a friendly welcome and best local advice on your trip, ideal for anyone who’d rather have their questions answered in person before hitting the road. 

You’ll find our Avis counter at Alicante-Elche Airport in the arrivals hall of the terminal building where our team offer a fast and efficient check-in and return drop-off. Our Avis rental car park is a short walk from the terminal buildings.

Our Alicante-Elche Airport car hire service offers a wide variety of rental options along with an Avis Preferred service and an out-of-hours key drop at the return office.

Our range of Alicante Airport rental cars have got you covered with compact vehicles for tight turns and easy parking; practical economy vehicles (e.g. Volkswagen Polos that are compact yet spacious); mid-size automatics for day trips and holiday adventures; hatchbacks that are comfortable and stylish with plenty of space for the kids; as well as large cars, estates and people carriers with room for the extended family, plus all their gear. For the full range of Alicante car rentals, see our Avis car rental fleet.

Can I cancel or amend my booking?

Yes, you can cancel, amend or extend your Alicante Airport car hire with us via the manage your booking section online or on our Avis app. Avis offers free cancellations up to 48h before pick-up.

What are the age requirements for hiring a rental car at Alicante Airport?

The minimum age to rent a car with Avis from Alicante Airport is 21. In Spain, a young driver surcharge will apply to drivers the age of 25. Age restrictions also vary by vehicle and some selected car groups are not available to drivers under the age of 25.

There is currently no maximum age for hiring a rental car but you’ll be told if there are any age restrictions for the vehicle you request on booking.

What documents do I need to hire a car from Alicante Airport?

To hire a car at Alicante Airport, you just need to bring your:

• Driving licence - held for at least 1 year from the date of pick-up.
• The credit card used for your booking.
• Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred card),
• Photo ID such as a passport or driving licence taken in the last 10 years.

Can I pick up my rental car at Alicante Airport and return it at another location?

One-way car rental with Avis makes it easy to go from A to B without driving full circle. That means you can collect your Avis hire car from Alicante-Elche Airport and then return it to another Avis office whether that’s in Spain or even another country in Europe. When you are ready to book, just specify your destination in the booking panel.

Is it worth hiring a car in Alicante?

While central Alicante is easily walkable and the region of Valencia has a network of buses and trains, hiring a car is the most flexible way to get around and reach out of the way places with the freedom to enjoy independent travel.

When’s the best time to go to Alicante?

While most holidaymakers choose the summer months with the promise of perfect sunny days and pristine sandy beaches, the Mediterranean’s mild winters and pleasant climate make it a year-round destination.

If you are driving in Alicante and the south of Spain for the first time or have just arrived in Europe, make sure you familiarise yourself with the road rules for driving in Spain before picking up your car. Some key road rules in Spain include driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Be aware that cars must use dipped headlights throughout the day. This is applicable all year round. Mobile phones can only be used as a built-in audio device. Children aged under 12 and less than 135cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size. Children aged under 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seat

Other country driving laws

• Always use indicators, you will be fined for not using indicators when needed
• Cyclists have right of way, at all times

Speed limits

• Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Rural areas: 90 km/h (55 mph)
• Motorways: 120km/h (74mph)

While Alicante is a top summer destination, you can still enjoy plenty to explore during the colder months. Here are five suggestions for winter activities to do in Alicante. 

Explore San Fernando Castle 

Drive up Mount Tossal, and you'll come across the ruins of San Fernando Castle, which was built to defend the city against Napoleon's troops. This is a great spot to escape tourist traffic and offers a striking perspective of the city. There's also plenty to explore, with a peaceful park surrounded by sports areas and walking paths, perfect for a brisk winter stroll. 

Enjoy a candlelight concert 

In winter, the Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) hosts magical indoor candlelight concerts. These often include a string quartet or piano tributes to legendary artists. Alternatively, the Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante (ADDA) hosts a packed winter calendar of symphony orchestras, soloists, and cultural performances. 

Tuck into traditional winter dishes 

Head to Mercado Central, the bustling indoor market, to try local cuisine, including fresh seafood, cheeses, jamón ibérico, and traditional turrón nougat. Leave room for regional comfort food, too, with local restaurants serving arroz a banda, traditional winter stews, and churros with hot chocolate. 

Visit the cliffside village of Guadalest 

Around an hour's drive inland, you'll find El Castell de Guadalest, a breathtaking medieval village accessible through a tunnel carved directly into the rock face. Winter is the perfect time to visit, as you can avoid the busy summer crowds and explore the castle grounds at your own pace. 

Witness the pink salt lakes of Torrevieja 

Drive 45 minutes south to the Parque Natural de las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja to experience the famous pink salt lakes. The water turns a bright pink shade from a blend of algae and bacteria. In winter, you can also do some birdwatching here as wild flamingos migrate to the lagoons to feed. 

From the Avis car park at Alicante-Elche Airport location in the commune of Elche to Alicante city centre is a short, easy drive north east around 20min along the N332. You’ll never run out of things to do and see in Spain’s harbour-side City of Light, from the Picassos and Dalís adorning the interiors of Museo de Arte Contemporáneo to the fragrant paella simmering in the Mercado Central.

With the sun shining, you might decide to skip past the city centre altogether and head straight to the beach in your Alicante hire car. The beaches of Costa Blanca span 15 km of Spain’s coastline. Follow the N-332 beyond Alicante to discover sunshine, sandy beaches, lively al-fresco cafes and tapas bars galore. Read more to discover the hidden beaches of Alicante and get your road-trip planning started.

With 200 km of the Costa Blanca to explore, there’s plenty to fill your time beyond Alicante, and an Alicante hire car will grant precious access to the best bits. Choose a vehicle from our Avis rental fleet and glide along coastal roads to explore the beaches of Alicante. Boundless sandy bays, such as the golden Cape of Santa Pola (perfect for paddling and swimming) await. You might prefer to head inland and experience rural Spain with its rolling countryside, terracotta-roofed villas and charming hilltop churches.

Follow the scenic highway N-332 south of Alicante to historic Torrevieja, with its unusual pink and green salt lakes, or head north to reach the beautiful old city of Altea – a labyrinth of white-washed and blue-domed buildings. If you keep driving north past the resorts in Benidorm, you’ll arrive in the sleepy town of Calpe. Here, 15th-century architecture, quiet beaches and a gigantic rock formation thrusting from the sea make for plenty to explore during your stay.