Car rentals in Almeria

Part of our guide to car hire in Spain.

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

Driving and Parking in Almería: What You Need to Know

• Getting around: The A-7 Mediterranean motorway runs parallel to the coast, and the section between Almería and Mojácar is listed as toll-free. The A-92 leads north towards Tabernas and on to Granada, and the AL-12 leads east from the city and the airport towards Retamar and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. Almería Airport (LEI) is listed at about 15 minutes from the city centre.
• City centre driving: The old town, the Casco Histórico, has narrow streets and limited space, and it is easier to explore on foot from a car park nearby. Allow extra time on weekday mornings and evenings, when the streets around the centre are at their busiest.
• Low emission zone: Almería's low emission zone (ZBE) covers the Pescadería and Casco Histórico areas, bounded on the east by the Cerro de San Cristóbal and Calle de la Reina. It applies Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 20:00, and restricts vehicles without a DGT environmental label. A recent hire car carries a label and can enter. One listing gives the fine for entry without the required label as 200 euros, and the sources differ on when enforcement began, so check the signs at the access points and confirm the current position with the city council.
• Car parks: The La Rambla car park (Parkia) on Avenida Federico García Lorca is listed with a 2.1 m height limit and round-the-clock opening. The APK2 Rambla car park on the same avenue is listed with a 2 m limit and also opens 24 hours. A roof box or a larger people carrier may not fit under either limit, so check the height of your vehicle on the barrier.
• Tolls: The A-7 between Almería and Mojácar carries no toll, so the main day trips can be made without a toll tag or cash.
• Park roads: Inside the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, motor vehicles are not permitted on a small section of the old coast road, and a barrier stops traffic beyond the Cabo de Gata headland. The legs to Las Negras and Agua Amarga include a narrow paved country road, so drive these at a steady pace and keep the fuel tank well filled before leaving the city, because the park has few fuel stations.
• Best time to drive: Early morning is the coolest and quietest time to drive in summer, when temperatures often pass 35°C in the city and inland. The roads towards the coast are busiest in the last two weeks of August.

Top Places to Visit from Almería by Car

• The Tabernas Desert — about 30 km north of the city, roughly 30 minutes by the A-92 and the N-340a. The desert is known for its film sets, and the Oasys MiniHollywood park can be reached from the N-340a at km 464, from the A-92 at exit 376 or from the A-7 at exit 514. Bring water and plan the visit for the morning in summer.
• Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park — east of the city, reached by the AL-12 to Retamar and then the AL-3115. For San José, turn left at the roundabout before Ruescas onto the AL-3201, then right onto the AL-3108. One itinerary lists the stretch from Cabo de Gata village to San José at 21 km and about 27 minutes. A car park at the cape and lighthouse gives access to the Arrecife de las Sirenas viewpoint, and another at the Mirador Punta de los Muertos leads down to Playa de los Muertos. Playa de los Genoveses lies close to San José, with the nearest road listed as the AL-3108 and an easy walk to the sand from the marina, so leave the car at San José and continue on foot.
• Mojácar — about 90 km north-east on the A-7, in roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Parking in the village is listed as limited, so use the designated car parks and walk up to the old town.
• Granada — about 200 km to the west, roughly 2 hours by car on one guide. The Alhambra works best as a full day, and the route runs along the coast and the southern road towards the Sierra Nevada foothills.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Almería?

Peak season: June to August is the busiest and hottest period, with the highest prices and the most visitors on the coast. The Feria y Fiestas de Almería fall in the last two weeks of August, adding to demand and to the activity in the city. The Virgen del Mar procession takes place on the Saturday before the last Sunday of August, with a boat trip from the lighthouse to the dock, and on the night of 21 June the Noche de San Juan brings bonfires and fireworks to the beaches. On 16 July the Virgen del Carmen celebrations send decorated boats out along the coast. Streets near the waterfront can be slow on these dates, so plan to collect the car early in the day.

Shoulder season: March to May and September to November bring comfortable temperatures, with about 20 to 25°C in spring and 25 to 30°C in September and October. These are the most pleasant months for Cabo de Gata and the Tabernas Desert. Holy Week processions, with dates that change each year, are noticeable in the city, and Carnaval falls at the end of February or the beginning of March, so allow a little more time for city-centre drives on those dates.

Low season: December to February is mild, with daytime temperatures of about 16 to 20°C and little rain, and the coast is quieter. It suits longer drives to Granada, though daylight is shorter.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for July and August and for Holy Week, and earlier for automatic cars or larger vehicles. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Almería

A rental prepayment confirms your booking online with Instant Confirmation, and you 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, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit.

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Almería

Green Motion supplies car hire in Almería through eCarBookers. Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the car rental desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Zero-excess cover is an option you can select from the supplier at the desk, and you should always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys. Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, so that you hold a dated record of its condition.

• Almería Airport (LEI) — your booking voucher shows where and when the car is collected and returned, and it is the definitive source for the meeting point.