Do I Need to Prepay for Car Hire?

No, there is no general rule in Spain requiring you to prepay for a rental car. Whether you pay when booking, before arrival or when you receive the vehicle depends on the individual car rental company’s payment policy. Some companies require full payment in advance, some take a partial payment, and others allow you to reserve first and pay later.

With Blanca Cars, you do not normally have to make an online payment at the moment you submit your reservation. For local Costa Blanca deliveries, payment is made when you receive the rental car in cash. For Alicante Airport and Valencia Airport bookings you prepay when booking the car online.  Blanca Cars currently ask for prepayment for bookings at Alicante and Valencia Airport during booking process.

This distinction is important: making a reservation and paying for a rental car are not necessarily the same transaction.

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026
Reviewed by: Blanca Cars Operations Team
Applies to: Car hire in Spain, with specific payment information for Blanca Cars customers

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Quick Answer: Do You Have to Pay for a Rental Car When You Book?

Not necessarily.

Car rental companies in Spain can set their own payment policies.

Depending on the company and rate you choose, you might:

  • Pay the entire rental price when booking
  • Pay part of the price when booking
  • Provide card details but make no immediate payment
  • Pay shortly before arrival
  • Pay when collecting the vehicle
  • Pay when the vehicle is delivered to you

There is no single payment system used by every Spanish car rental company.

Before booking, check three things:

  1. When will I be charged?
  2. How much will I be charged?
  3. What happens if I cancel or change the booking?

Spain’s European Consumer Centre advises rental customers to examine the terms and conditions carefully at the time of reservation, including the final price and any additional charges.

 

What Does Prepayment Mean in Car Hire?

Prepayment means paying some or all of the rental cost before you receive the vehicle.

For example, imagine your rental costs €500.

A rental company might require:

Full prepayment

You pay the entire €500 when making the reservation.

Partial prepayment

You might pay €100 when booking and the remaining €400 later.

Payment before arrival

You reserve without paying immediately but receive a payment request before travelling.

Pay on collection

You reserve the vehicle and pay the €500 when you receive it.

All four approaches are possible.

This is why seeing the words “booking confirmed” does not automatically tell you whether the rental has been paid.

 

Is Prepayment Required by Law in Spain?

No. Spanish law does not require every customer to prepay for a rental car.

When and how payment is made is normally part of the commercial agreement between the renter and the rental company.

A rental company can decide to require advance payment as one of its booking conditions.

Another rental company can allow customers to reserve without paying immediately.

This is therefore primarily a rental-company policy, rather than a Spanish traffic rule.

 

Why Do Some Car Rental Companies Require Prepayment?

There are several reasons why a company may ask customers to pay before receiving the vehicle.

To Secure the Reservation

The rental company is reserving a vehicle that cannot then be offered to another customer for the same dates.

This becomes particularly important during:

  • July and August
  • Easter
  • Christmas
  • School holidays
  • Major events
  • Other periods of high demand

To Reduce No-Shows

If customers can reserve vehicles without any financial commitment, some may simply fail to arrive.

Prepayment can reduce this risk.

To Offer Different Rate Types

Some rental companies offer several prices.

For example:

€350 – prepaid and non-refundable

versus:

€395 – flexible payment and cancellation

The cheaper option may therefore come with stricter conditions.

To Simplify Collection

If payment has already been completed, there may be less administration when the customer receives the car.

Is Prepaid Car Hire Cheaper?

Sometimes, but not always.

A rental company may offer a lower price in exchange for advance payment.

However, the important question is not simply:

Which rental has the lowest price?

You should ask:

What do I receive for the total price, and what happens if my plans change?

A prepaid €300 rental may not necessarily be better value than a €330 rental if the cheaper booking:

  • Cannot be cancelled
  • Cannot be modified
  • Has a large excess
  • Requires a substantial deposit
  • Excludes an additional driver
  • Adds fees at collection

Always compare the total rental conditions, not just the initial price.

 

What Is the Difference Between Prepayment and a Deposit?

These are two different things.

Prepayment

Prepayment is money paid toward the actual rental price.

Example:

Your rental costs €500.

You pay €500 before travelling.

That €500 pays for your rental.

Rental Deposit

A rental deposit is normally security held during the rental.

Example:

Your rental costs €500.

You pay the €500 rental price.

The rental company also blocks €1,000 on your credit card as a security deposit.

The €1,000 is not normally part of the rental price.

Subject to the rental conditions, it is released after the vehicle is returned.

Therefore:

Prepayment = paying for the rental.

Deposit = security connected to the rental.

They should not be confused.

Read: What Is a Car Rental Deposit?

 

What Is the Difference Between Prepayment and a Booking Deposit?

This can also cause confusion because the word deposit is sometimes used in two different ways.

Booking deposit

A company may ask you to pay €100 to confirm a €500 reservation.

That €100 forms part of the rental price.

You then pay the remaining €400 later.

Security deposit

A company may require €1,000 to be blocked on your card while you have the vehicle.

That money is security and is separate from your €500 rental price.

Whenever you see the word deposit, check exactly what the company means.

 

Can I Reserve a Rental Car Without Paying Immediately?

Yes, with some rental companies.

A reservation can be accepted before payment is collected if the company’s booking conditions allow it.

This can be useful if you are arranging a holiday several months in advance.

For example, you might:

  1. Book your flights in March.
  2. Reserve your August rental car in March.
  3. Receive confirmation that the vehicle is reserved.
  4. Pay according to the rental company’s payment procedure later.

You do not necessarily need to delay making your reservation just because you do not want to pay for the entire holiday months in advance.

Read: How Far in Advance Should I Book a Rental Car?

 

How Does Payment Work With Blanca Cars?

Blanca Cars’ current payment process depends on where you receive your rental vehicle.

Local Costa Blanca Bookings

For eligible local bookings, you pay when you receive the rental car.

This means you can make the reservation in advance without having to make an online rental payment at the time of booking.

The Blanca Cars FAQ currently states that local customers pay for their reservation when collecting or receiving the vehicle.

This is particularly useful for customers arranging a holiday several weeks or months ahead.

You can secure the booking first and pay according to the agreed collection or delivery procedure.

 

How Does Payment Work at Alicante Airport?

For Alicante Airport bookings, the current Blanca Cars procedure is different from local delivery.

After your booking has been checked and confirmed, Blanca Cars sends you the appropriate booking confirmation and payment link.

The current Blanca Cars FAQ distinguishes airport bookings from local bookings: local reservations are paid when the vehicle is received, while Alicante and Valencia Airport customers receive a payment link with their booking confirmation.

This means that “no online prepayment when making the initial booking” does not necessarily mean that every booking is paid physically when the vehicle is handed over.

For airport bookings, follow the payment instructions in your Blanca Cars booking confirmation.

Read: How Does Car Hire at Alicante Airport Work?

 

How Does Payment Work at Valencia Airport?

The same principle applies to Valencia Airport bookings.

Customers receive their booking confirmation and the applicable payment instructions.

The current Blanca Cars procedure includes a payment link for Valencia Airport bookings.

Always follow the instructions in your individual booking confirmation because they relate specifically to your reservation.

Read: How Does Car Hire at Valencia Airport Work?

 

Can I Pay Cash for Car Hire?

Some rental companies may accept cash, but cash acceptance is a company policy rather than a general rule in Spain.

There is also an important distinction between:

  • Paying the rental price in cash
  • Providing a security deposit
  • Meeting any card requirements imposed by the rental company

A company may accept cash for the rental price but still require a card for security.

Another company may have different arrangements.

Cash Payments With Blanca Cars

Blanca Cars accepts cash payment for eligible local vehicle deliveries on the Costa Blanca North between Villajoyosa and Oliva.

Cash payment is not available for Alicante Airport or Valencia Airport bookings.

If you choose cash for an eligible local delivery, payment is made when the car is delivered according to the booking arrangements.

Read: Can I Pay Cash for Car Hire?

 

Do I Need a Credit Card to Prepay for Car Hire?

Not necessarily.

Payment-method requirements are determined by the rental company.

Some rental companies require a credit card in the main driver’s name.

Others accept:

  • Debit cards
  • Bank cards
  • Online payment links
  • Other supported payment methods

A credit card requirement should not automatically be interpreted as a general Spanish legal requirement.

Spain’s European Consumer Centre notes that payment-card requirements can vary and advises customers to check them before renting.

Blanca Cars

Blanca Cars does not generally require customers to have a credit card simply to rent a vehicle.

The current Blanca Cars website states that customers can use a normal bank/debit card under the applicable payment arrangements.

Read: Can I Hire a Car in Spain Without a Credit Card?

 

Does Blanca Cars Require a Rental Deposit?

Blanca Cars does not normally require the standard security deposit associated with many traditional rental-car bookings.

The current Blanca Cars website advertises car hire with no standard deposit, subject to the applicable rental conditions.

This is separate from whether you pay for the actual rental before or when receiving the vehicle.

For example:

Rental price

€500

Standard Blanca Cars rental deposit

€0 under the applicable no-deposit conditions

The €500 rental payment and the rental deposit are two separate concepts.

Read: Can I Hire a Car Without a Deposit in Spain?

 

Does Reserving a Car Mean My Booking Is Automatically Confirmed?

Not always.

This is particularly important when booking online.

With Blanca Cars, submitting the booking form starts the reservation process.

According to the current Blanca Cars FAQ, after an online reservation is submitted, the customer receives an automatic email confirming that the booking request has been received.

The booking is initially marked as pending.

Blanca Cars then checks the reservation and vehicle availability manually before sending the booking confirmation.

Therefore:

Booking request received

and:

Vehicle booking confirmed

are not necessarily the same thing.

Wait for the actual confirmation before treating the vehicle as confirmed.

 

Should I Pay for Car Hire Before Receiving Confirmation?

Follow the rental company’s stated booking procedure.

With Blanca Cars, customers should follow the payment instructions supplied as part of the confirmed booking process.

Do not send money to:

  • An unfamiliar bank account
  • An unknown payment service
  • A person claiming to represent the company
  • A payment link from an unexpected source

if it does not correspond with your legitimate booking communications.

If anything appears unusual, contact the rental company directly using its published contact information.

 

What Should I Check Before Prepaying for a Rental Car?

Before making an advance payment, check the following.

1. Total Rental Price

Know exactly what you are paying.

Ask whether the amount includes:

  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • Airport charges
  • Additional drivers
  • Mileage
  • Required fees

2. Deposit

Find out whether a separate security deposit will be required later.

3. Insurance Excess

A fully paid rental can still have a large insurance excess.

Prepayment does not tell you anything about insurance protection.

4. Cancellation Conditions

Ask what happens if you cancel.

Will you receive:

  • A full refund?
  • Partial refund?
  • Voucher?
  • No refund?

5. Modification Conditions

Check what happens if:

  • Your flight changes
  • You arrive a day later
  • You leave early
  • You extend the holiday
  • You change airports

6. Payment Method

Make sure you can use the required payment method.

7. Driver Requirements

Do not prepay a non-refundable rental and only later discover that your driving licence or driver age does not satisfy the company’s conditions.

 

Does Prepayment Guarantee That There Will Be No Extra Charges?

No.

Paying the advertised rental price in advance does not automatically mean nothing else can ever be charged.

Possible additional charges depend on the rental agreement.

Examples can include:

  • Missing fuel
  • Traffic fines
  • Parking fines
  • Toll charges
  • Late returns
  • Lost keys
  • Smoking
  • Interior damage
  • Wrong fuel
  • Unauthorised drivers
  • Damage excluded from insurance
  • Breach of rental conditions

This is why you should read the rental terms even if the reservation is advertised as prepaid.

 

Can the Price Change After I Book?

This depends on the company’s booking conditions.

A properly confirmed reservation should clearly identify the agreed rental price and relevant conditions.

Before paying, make sure you understand:

  • Whether the price is final
  • Whether extras can be added later
  • Whether changing dates changes the price
  • What happens if you upgrade the vehicle

Blanca Cars

The current Blanca Cars FAQ states that the price provided when booking online or by telephone is intended to be the final booking price, subject to the booking being manually checked and confirmed.

Your confirmed booking documentation should therefore be treated as the key reference for the price applying to your reservation.

 

Example: Booking a Rental Car Three Months Before Your Holiday

Imagine you are flying to Alicante Airport on 20 July and returning on 3 August.

Your rental car costs €650.

Company A

Requires the full €650 when booking in April.

Cancellation after a certain date is non-refundable.

Company B

Requires a €100 booking payment.

The remaining €550 is paid later.

Company C

Accepts the reservation without charging the €650 immediately.

Payment is made according to its later collection or payment procedure.

All three systems can be legitimate.

The important question is not whether one system is automatically better.

You need to compare:

  • Total price
  • Cancellation conditions
  • Deposit
  • Excess
  • Insurance
  • Payment timing
  • Included services

 

Example: Booking With Blanca Cars

Imagine you are staying in Jávea for two weeks in September.

You book a Blanca Cars vehicle several months ahead.

Step 1 — Make the Reservation

Choose your dates and vehicle and submit the booking.

Step 2 — Blanca Cars Checks Availability

Your booking request is reviewed.

Step 3 — Receive Confirmation

Once availability has been confirmed, you receive your booking confirmation.

Step 4 — Follow the Relevant Payment Procedure

For an eligible local Costa Blanca delivery, payment is made when you receive the vehicle.

For Alicante or Valencia Airport, follow the payment-link instructions supplied with your confirmed booking.

Step 5 — Receive the Vehicle

Complete the required rental formalities and start your rental.

The important point is:

You don’t need to avoid booking early simply because you don’t want to make an immediate online payment when initially reserving the vehicle.

Should I Book Early if I Don’t Have to Prepay?

Usually, yes.

If your flights and accommodation are already confirmed, delaying the rental-car reservation simply because payment is not immediately required can create unnecessary availability risk.

This is particularly true for:

  • July
  • August
  • Easter
  • Automatic cars
  • Seven-seaters
  • Large family vehicles

Early booking gives you a better chance of obtaining the vehicle category you want.

Read: How Far in Advance Should I Book a Rental Car?

 

What Happens if I Cancel a Prepaid Rental?

This depends entirely on the cancellation conditions attached to your reservation.

Possible outcomes include:

  • Full refund
  • Partial refund
  • Cancellation fee
  • Credit for a future rental
  • No refund

Never assume that prepaid automatically means refundable.

Equally, do not assume that prepaid automatically means non-refundable.

Read the actual cancellation conditions.

 

What Happens if My Flight Is Delayed?

A delayed flight does not necessarily cancel your rental, but you should provide the correct flight information and follow the rental company’s instructions.

When making an airport reservation, provide:

  • Airline
  • Flight number
  • Arrival date
  • Scheduled arrival time

If a major delay or flight change occurs, contact the rental company when necessary.

Payment and cancellation conditions can be different from flight-delay arrangements, so check both.

Read: What Happens to My Rental Car if My Flight Is Delayed?

 

Spanish Rules vs Rental Company Policy

Spanish Consumer Rules

Spanish and European consumer rules govern areas such as contractual information and consumer rights.

They do not create one universal payment timetable that every rental company must use.

Rental Company Policy

The rental company determines matters such as:

  • Whether prepayment is required
  • When payment is collected
  • Accepted payment methods
  • Whether a booking deposit is required
  • Cancellation conditions
  • Modification conditions
  • Security-deposit requirements

Always distinguish between a company’s commercial conditions and Spanish legal requirements.

 

Common Prepayment Mistakes

Assuming Every Car Rental Must Be Paid in Advance

It doesn’t.

Payment procedures vary.

Confusing Prepayment With a Security Deposit

Paying for the rental and leaving a security deposit are different transactions.

Looking Only at the Prepaid Price

Compare the complete rental package.

Ignoring Cancellation Conditions

A cheaper prepaid rate may have less flexibility.

Waiting to Book Because You Don’t Want to Pay Yet

Some rental companies allow you to reserve without immediate payment.

Assuming Paid Means Fully Insured

Payment status and insurance cover are completely separate issues.

Assuming Paid Means No Deposit

A company can require full prepayment and still block a separate security deposit.

Not Reading the Booking Confirmation

Your confirmation should explain the payment procedure applying specifically to your booking.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay for a rental car when I book it?

Not always.

Some rental companies require immediate payment, while others allow customers to reserve first and pay later.

Check the payment conditions before confirming your booking.

Is prepayment required for car hire in Spain?

No.

There is no universal Spanish rule requiring every rental car to be prepaid.

The rental company decides its own payment procedure within the applicable legal framework.

Does Blanca Cars require online prepayment when I make a booking?

For local Blanca Cars reservations, the current policy is that customers normally pay when they receive the vehicle rather than paying the rental price online at the initial booking stage. Airport bookings use a separate payment-link procedure with the confirmed reservation.

When do I pay Blanca Cars for local delivery?

For eligible local bookings, payment is made when the rental vehicle is delivered or collected according to the booking arrangements.

When do I pay for Alicante Airport car hire with Blanca Cars?

For Alicante Airport reservations, Blanca Cars currently provides a payment link with the booking confirmation. Follow the instructions supplied with your individual reservation.

When do I pay for Valencia Airport car hire with Blanca Cars?

Valencia Airport customers also receive the relevant payment link with their booking confirmation under the current payment procedure.

Can I pay cash instead?

Blanca Cars accepts cash for eligible local deliveries between Villajoyosa and Oliva.

Cash is not available for Alicante or Valencia Airport bookings.

Is prepayment the same as a deposit?

No.

Prepayment pays some or all of the rental price.

A security deposit is normally money held as security during the rental.

If I pay in advance, do I still need a credit card?

Possibly.

Some companies require a credit card even after the rental has been prepaid because they use the card for a security deposit.

Check the company’s conditions.

Blanca Cars does not generally require customers to have a credit card and accepts supported bank/debit-card payment methods.

Can I book several months ahead without paying immediately?

That depends on the rental company.

With Blanca Cars, you can make your reservation ahead of time without making the full local-rental payment online at the initial booking stage.

This makes it possible to arrange your rental early while following the later payment procedure associated with your booking.

 

The Simple Answer

If you remember only one thing from this guide, remember this:

You do not automatically have to prepay for car hire in Spain. Payment timing is determined by the rental company and the type of booking you make.

With Blanca Cars:

Local Costa Blanca delivery:
Pay according to the collection/delivery procedure when you receive the vehicle.

Alicante Airport:
Follow the payment link provided with the confirmed booking.

Valencia Airport:
Follow the payment link provided with the confirmed booking.

Eligible cash local delivery:
Cash can be paid on delivery between Villajoyosa and Oliva.

Always use your individual booking confirmation as the final reference for the payment procedure applying to your reservation.

 

Related Blanca Cars Guides

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About This Guide

This guide explains prepayment for car hire in Spain generally and separately identifies the current payment procedure used by Blanca Cars.

Payment, cancellation and deposit policies vary between rental companies and can also vary between rate types or collection locations.

For Blanca Cars bookings, your individual confirmed reservation and current rental terms should always be treated as the final reference for the payment conditions applying to your rental.

Published by: Blanca Cars
Reviewed by: Blanca Cars Operations Team
Last reviewed: 27 August 2026
Review frequency: At least annually and whenever Blanca Cars payment procedures change.

 

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