Car rentals at Alicante Airport (ALC)

Part of our guide to car hire in Alicante.

Reviewed by the eCarBookers Editorial Team. Last updated 25 October 2026.

How to Find Your Car Hire Desk at Alicante Airport (ALC)

• Book through eCarBookers first: Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.
• Where the airport is: Alicante-Elche Airport sits at El Altet, about 8 to 9 km south-west of Alicante city and about 20 km from the centre of Elche. It has one main terminal over four levels, so there is no choice of terminal to make on arrival.
• Finding the car hire area: Follow the car hire signs from the arrivals hall. One guide places the desks of on-airport suppliers on the ground floor of the arrivals hall, another describes the car hire area as reached through the car park structure, and arrangements differ from one supplier to another.
• Where your desk is: Surprice lists its Alicante branch under an airport address without saying whether the desk is in the terminal or off the airport site. Suppliers based off the site use a shuttle, and one guide places the shuttle stops on Level -2 of the terminal, with some meeting points at the Parking Express area. Your booking voucher shows the exact meeting point for your hire, so check it before you travel and follow it on arrival. Do not assume a desk in the arrivals hall unless your voucher says so.
• Opening hours: One Surprice listing shows the branch open 09:00 to 20:00 every day. Hours across the airport vary by supplier and season, with many desks open from about 07:00 until midnight. Choose a flight that lands comfortably inside the hours for your supplier, and confirm them in your booking confirmation.
• What to bring: The main driver should carry a valid driving licence, a passport or photo identification, and a credit card in their own name with a limit high enough to cover the excess hold. Drivers with a licence issued outside the EU should also carry an international driving permit where required.

Pick-Up, Drop-Off, and Refuelling at Alicante Airport (ALC)

• Returning the car: Follow the Car Rental Return signs as you approach the airport, and use the return point named on your booking voucher. Suppliers based off the site give the return address in the booking confirmation, and most run a shuttle back to the terminal, so allow extra time at busy hours. One guide recommends arriving two to three hours before your flight.
• Out-of-hours returns: A key drop box for out-of-hours returns has not been confirmed for your supplier, so ask at collection what arrangement applies if your flight falls outside the branch hours. Suppliers based off the site may need advance notice for late pick-ups or returns and may charge an out-of-hours fee, so check your booking confirmation.
• Nearest petrol station: A Repsol station on Avenida de Cartagena in El Altet is listed as open 24 hours a day, with petrol and diesel pumps. Stations nearest the terminal can be crowded at busy times, so refuel earlier on your route to the airport if your flight is early.
• Fuel policy: Confirm the fuel type shown on your booking confirmation before you refuel, and ask at collection which fuel policy applies to your hire, so that you return the car as the supplier expects.
• Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received.

Top Car Hire Agencies at Alicante Airport (ALC)

Car hire at Alicante Airport (ALC) is available through Surprice.

Every booking through eCarBookers shows the excess amount and full price before you confirm, and the balance is paid on arrival at the desk. Optional extras — such as additional drivers, supplemental tyre and glass cover, child seats, or out-of-hours fees — may be available at the desk if required.

Getting from Alicante Airport (ALC) to Key Destinations

• Alicante city centre — about 8 to 9 km north-east via the A-7 and the N-332, in roughly 15 minutes, and up to 30 at rush hour. Park in one of the underground garages rather than the old town, which has controlled access for residents and authorised vehicles.
• Elche — about 20 to 22 km to the south-west, in roughly 20 minutes. The A-7 and the N-340 are among the roads serving the city, and the Palmeral palm grove is the main reason to visit. Leave the car at the edge of the centre, where parking is easier.
• Benidorm — about 58 km to the north by the AP-7, in 45 minutes to 1 hour, and up to 1 hour 30 minutes in summer. One guide describes the AP-7 on this stretch as toll-free. Leave before 09:00 or after 18:00 for lighter traffic.
• Torrevieja — about 44 to 63 km to the south, depending on the route, in 40 to 55 minutes. One guide recommends the A-7 inland over the coastal N-332, which is congested in summer. The AP-7 toll sections lie further south, around Orihuela Costa, so check the signs.

How Payment Works for Car Hire at Alicante Airport (ALC)

Payment is made in two steps. A rental prepayment confirms your booking online, with Instant Confirmation from the supplier. You then pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival, when you collect the car.

The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk, and cancellation is free. The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card at collection, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit.