Rental Traps Renting a car in Spain should be the start of a sun-drenched adventure. But for too many visitors, the experience at the airport rental desk ends in a dispute that sours the entire holiday. You arrive at the desk having booked a great deal online which included basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). The agent then informs you that your excess—the amount you're liable for in case of damage—is an eye-watering €1,500 to €2,500. They then apply heavy pressure to buy their own Super CDW (SCDW) or "full cover" policy at an inflated rate of €15–€30 per day, often doubling the cost of your rental. Your Defence: Either book with insurance-included local operators who bundle comprehensive cover into their initial quote, or purchase a standalone car hire excess insurance policy online “before you travel”. These independent policies are far cheaper (around €3–€7 per day) and provide comprehensive coverage. When the desk agent starts their pitch, calmly show them your independent policy document and refuse their expensive upsell. Many cars are now pre-fitted with an electronic toll payment device (like Bip&Drive). If you plan to drive into Barcelona's Low Emission Zone, separate registration is required via the official Barcelona ZBE portal. Agents will either gloss over this or present it as a convenience. By accepting it, you are often auto-billed a daily "gestión" (management) fee of €30–€60 for the entire rental period, “even if you never use a single toll road”. Your Defence: Be vigilant when signing the contract. Look for terms like "peaje," "telepeaje," or "toll device." State clearly and firmly at the desk: "No quiero el dispositivo de peaje" (I do not want the toll device). Ask them to confirm it's deactivated and make a note of this on your rental agreement. You can pay for tolls with a credit card at the barrier like everyone else. The most consumer-friendly fuel policy is "Full-to-Full" (lleno-lleno): you pick the car up full and return it full. The scam is to switch you to a "Full-to-Empty" policy. You are forced to pay upfront for a full tank of fuel at a grossly inflated price, plus a non-refundable "refuelling service charge" of €30 or more. You are then instructed to return the car as empty as possible—a near-impossible task. The company pockets the value of any fuel left in the tank. Your Defence: Insist on a "Full-to-Full" policy at the time of booking and confirm it again at the desk. Before you drive away, use your phone to take a clear, timestamped photograph of the fuel gauge and the car's odometer. Do the same when you return it after refuelling at a nearby petrol station. This is your proof. You return the car, the agent gives it a quick glance and says everything is fine. Weeks later, you discover a charge on your credit card for hundreds of euros for a scratch or dent that was already there when you picked the car up. Your Defence: For honest local alternatives, see our review of the best car rental companies in Tossa de Mar. Before leaving the rental car park, conduct a meticulous inspection: Take a slow, walk-around video of the entire car. Take at least 40 high-resolution, timestamped photos covering every single panel from multiple angles. Include the roof, all four wheels and alloys, the windscreen, headlights, and the interior. If you find “any” existing mark, however small, point it out to the agent and ensure they mark it on the vehicle condition diagram on your rental agreement “before” you sign and drive away. Immediately email the video and photos to yourself. This creates an indisputable, third-party, time-stamped record of the car's condition at pickup. If you get caught by a speed camera or incur a parking fine, you are obviously liable for the fine itself. However, many rental companies add their own punitive charge. This is a non-refundable "administration fee" of €30–€60 that they bill you simply for forwarding your details to the traffic authorities as the driver responsible. Your Defence: This fee is almost always buried deep in the terms and conditions, making it contractual and difficult to fight after the fact. The only real defence is to research and select an operator that either doesn't charge this fee or charges a more reasonable one. If you are renting from a major chain, assume this fee exists and drive with extra care. To cover their inflated insurance excess, companies will place a large "hold" on your credit card, typically between €1,200 and €2,500. While this isn't a charge, it freezes that amount of your available credit. The problem is that many companies are notoriously slow to release this hold, sometimes taking over 30 days after the car has been safely returned. Your Defence: First, always use a credit card, never a debit card. Credit cards offer superior consumer protection and chargeback rights. Second, check your credit limit before travelling to ensure you can absorb the hold without it impacting your holiday spending. Finally, actively seek out operators that offer "no deposit" or "low deposit" rental options, which are usually tied to their all-inclusive insurance packages. On 3 July 2025, after receiving a wave of consumer complaints, the OCU took the formal step of denouncing five major international car rental chains operating in Spain. As a matter of public interest, these companies are: Centauro Europcar Goldcar (whose practices are frequently cited in forums, with TripAdvisor users like EnricM advising travellers to "Avoid Goldcar, Firefly, Dollar at Girona") Hertz Sixt The OCU's investigation denounced the chains for patterns including: terms and conditions not being shown to the consumer until the key handover, demanding personal data before providing a final price, charging disproportionate fees for extras like child seats, and holding consumers liable for "invisible" damage to the undercarriage of the vehicle. If you are at the desk and face an unjust charge or a refusal to honour your booking terms, you have a powerful, legally mandated tool. Calmly and firmly ask for the "Hoja de Reclamaciones" (in Catalan: “fulls de queixa”). Under Spanish law (e.g., Decreto 121/2013 in Catalonia), all businesses must provide this official, three-part complaint form upon request. The simple act of asking for it often causes staff to back down immediately, as it triggers a formal process they would rather avoid. If they proceed, you fill out your complaint, they write their response, and you keep the green copy. You can then submit the white copy to a municipal consumer office (OMIC) to pursue your case. Instead of battling with the international giants at the airport, consider local, highly-rated companies that build their business on reputation, not on hidden fees. For example, if you're visiting Tossa de Mar or the surrounding area: Ganxó Rent a Car: Known for transparent pricing, Ganxó offers free delivery to many locations, letting you skip the GRO desk entirely. Their full, no-excess insurance typically costs around €30/day, and as one TripAdvisor user noted, a recent week-long rental came to €408 with no surprises. Olimpia Rent a Car: With over 30 years in business and a fleet of over 300 vehicles, Olimpia is a stalwart local provider. They offer fair pricing but do note their daily kilometre cap (usually a generous 300km/day), which is something to be aware of if planning long-distance drives. Both of these are examples of honest operators serving Tossa de Mar that don't rely on the high-pressure, commission-based airport desk model. Your Pre-Rental Protection Checklist Before you hand over your credit card, run through this final checklist. Book Smart: Prioritise insurance-included local operators or buy standalone excess cover online before you fly. Photograph Everything: Take a timestamped video and 40+ photos of the car's condition (inside and out) before you leave the lot. Reject Add-Ons: Explicitly refuse the electronic toll badge at the desk. Confirm Fuel Policy: Verbally confirm "Full-to-Full" and ensure it is marked on your printed contract. Know Your Rights: Remember the powerful phrase "Hoja de Reclamaciones." Use a Credit Card: Never use a debit card for the main security deposit. 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