Car Rental

Car rental comparison with the best rates so you can move freely.

Many trail races take place in remote valleys, mountain villages or islands where public transport is scarce or non-existent. A rental car doesn't just get you to the start line: it gives you the freedom to collect your bib, explore the area in the days before, and move between start and finish in point-to-point races. It's an investment that especially pays off when travelling in a group and splitting the cost.

When do you need a rental car?

Races in remote areas: Valleys like Benasque (Gran Trail Aneto-Posets), Canfranc or Zubiri (Nafarroa Xtrem) have no train station and no frequent bus routes. Without a car, you depend on the organiser's shuttles — which often only run on race day — or on coordinating with other runners. With your own car you control the schedule and can reach your accommodation without waiting.

Island races: In the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands a car is almost essential. The islands are large, races cross them end to end (Tenerife Bluetrail, Transgrancanaria) and inter-urban transport is limited. What's more, rental prices on the islands are very competitive — from €15–20/day in low season.

Point-to-point races: When the start and finish are in different towns (Ultra Sierra Nevada, Tenerife Bluetrail, Transvulcania), you need a way to get back to the start to collect your things. A rental car combined with a companion who drops you at the start is the most flexible solution.

Where to pick up and drop off

Airport vs city: Picking up at the airport is usually more expensive (airport surcharge of €10–30) but far more convenient if you're flying. If you arrive by train or bus, city offices offer better prices. Compare both options — sometimes the difference is minimal and it's worth saving time.

One-way rental: Some companies let you pick up at one office and drop off at another (e.g., pick up in Lleida and drop off in Huesca). This is ideal for point-to-point races, but usually carries a surcharge of €30–80. Check whether it's worth it versus returning to the pickup point.

When to pick up: Collect the car the afternoon/evening before the race. That way you can drive to the village, have a relaxed dinner and sleep without rushing. Return it the day after if possible — after an ultra you'll need to rest before driving. Never drive right after finishing a long race: your reflexes after 10–20 hours of running are those of someone who hasn't slept.

Driving on mountain roads

Mountain roads: They're narrow, with sharp bends and sometimes no hard shoulder. In the Pyrenees (Canfranc, Benasque, Val d'Aran) and Sierra Nevada the roads are well maintained but demand attention. Drive calmly, use your lights even in daylight and respect the speed limits — speed cameras are common on national roads.

Race-day parking: In small villages, parking fills up fast on race day. Arrive with plenty of time or ask the organiser if there's a dedicated car park. Some races (Zegama-Aizkorri, Val d'Aran by UTMB) set up parking in outlying areas with a shuttle to the centre.

What type of car? For most races a small or compact car is enough. You don't need an SUV — the roads are paved. Just make sure the boot is big enough for backpacks, poles and race bags. If there are 3–4 of you with all the gear, consider a mid-size car or compact MPV.

Savings and insurance

Always compare: Use comparison sites like DiscoverCars, RentalCars or AutoEurope to find the best price. Booking 4–6 weeks ahead usually gets the best rates. In high season (summer in the Pyrenees, winter in the Canaries) prices rise and availability drops — don't leave it to the last minute.

Car insurance: Basic rental includes third-party and own-damage insurance with an excess (deductible). The excess can be €800–1,500 — if you have a bump, you pay that amount. Options: 1) Buy the 'excess waiver' from the rental company (€10–15/day extra). 2) Use an external excess insurance (like iCarhireinsurance) for €3–5/day. 3) If your credit card includes rental car insurance, check the terms.

Fuel: Pick up the car with a full tank and return it full — the company's 'prepaid fuel' option is always more expensive. Find petrol stations before reaching mountain areas: in remote valleys like Benasque or Canfranc the nearest petrol station can be 30–40 km away.

Car rental necessity per race

Indicative classification based on public transport accessibility and the location of each race.

Race	City	Pickup	Necessity
GTPE Picos de Europa	Benia de Onís	Pick up at Asturias Airport (OVD) or in Oviedo	Essential
Trail Tierra de Ibias	San Antolín de Ibias	Gas stations are scarce in the area: fill up before heading out	Essential
Travesera Picos de Europa	Potes	—	Essential
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo	Caín de Valdeón, León	Also available from Oviedo or Santander airports	Essential
Desafío Urbión	Covaleda	—	Essential
Neveros Vertical	Ágreda, Soria	Pick up in Zaragoza or Soria	Essential
Ultra Montaña Palentina	Camporredondo de Alba, Palencia	Pick up in Palencia, León, or Santander depending on your origin	Essential
Ultra Trail Gredos	Hoyos del Espino, Ávila	Pick up in Madrid, Ávila, or Salamanca depending on your origin	Essential
XI Carrera del Espárrago 51	Alcalá del Valle	Pick up your car at Málaga or Jerez airport	Recommended
CxM Alfarnat Trail	Alfarnate	Pick up your car at Málaga Airport for maximum convenience	Recommended
CxM Villa de Casares	Casares	Pick up the car at Malaga or Gibraltar airport	Recommended
Kilómetro Vertical Media Legua Gruesa	Purchena	Pick up the car at Almería or Granada airport	Recommended
Trail Loja - Abades Stone Race	Loja, Granada	—	Recommended
EDP DesafiOSOmiedo	Pola de Somiedo	—	Recommended
Kangas Mountain	Cangas de Onís	—	Recommended
Trail Tierras Pésicas	Cangas del Narcea	—	Recommended
Ibiza Trail Maratón Festival	Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza	—	Recommended
Mallorca by UTMB	Sóller, Mallorca	—	Recommended
Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls	Ciutadella de Menorca	—	Recommended
Anaga Maratón	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	—	Recommended
Entremontañas Paralelo 28	La Aldea de San Nicolás, Gran Canaria	—	Recommended
Gomera Paradise Trail	San Sebastián de La Gomera	—	Recommended
Mazucator Sky	Villa de Mazo, La Palma	—	Recommended
Reventón Trail	El Paso, La Palma	Pick up the car at SPC airport	Recommended
Santa Cruz Extreme	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	—	Recommended
Subida a Tágara	Guía de Isora, Tenerife	—	Recommended
Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB	Puerto de la Cruz	Pick up the car at TFS or TFN airport	Recommended
Transgrancanaria	Las Palmas de Gran Canaria	Pick up the car at LPA airport	Recommended
Transvulcania	Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma	Pick up the car at SPC airport	Recommended
KM Vertical Fuente Dé	Fuente Dé, Camaleño	Parking available at the cable car station	Recommended
Trail Cabo de Ajo	Ajo, Bareyo	Santander es el mejor punto de recogida	Recommended
Alto Rey Trail	Bustares, Guadalajara	—	Recommended
La Osera	Paterna del Madera, Albacete	—	Recommended
Petaca Trail	Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Ciudad Real	—	Recommended
Trail Santuario de Consolación	Iniesta, Cuenca	—	Recommended
Arganza Trail — Cañón del Río Lobos	San Leonardo de Yagüe	—	Recommended
Riaño Trail Run	Riaño, León	Also available from Santander or Oviedo airports	Recommended
Trail Vielha-Molières 3010	Vielha	Pick up the car in Toulouse (closest) or Barcelona	Recommended
Ultra Pirineu	Bagà	—	Recommended
Ultra Trail Muntanyes Costa Daurada	Prades, Tarragona	—	Recommended
HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB	Vielha	—	Recommended
Volta Peramola	Peramola	—	Recommended
Costa Blanca Trails	Finestrat, Alicante	—	Recommended
Marató dels Dements	Eslida	—	Recommended
UltraMediterrània	Alcoy, Alicante	—	Recommended
XVII CxM Carrera Pencona	Aldeanueva de la Vera, Cáceres	—	Recommended
X CxM Deportes Parra Hervás	Hervás, Cáceres	—	Recommended
VII Trail e Andaina Ribeiras do Tambre	Ames, A Coruña	Aeropuerto SCQ tiene todas las grandes compañías de alquiler	Recommended
Foncea Trail	Foncea	—	Recommended
Isasa Trail Xtrem	Arnedo	—	Recommended
Trail Picos de la Demanda	Ezcaray	Valdezcaray ski station is just 15 min from Ezcaray	Recommended
V Trail Nieva de Cameros	Nieva de Cameros	—	Recommended
Cross de Cuerda Larga	Miraflores de la Sierra	—	Recommended
Cross de la Pedriza	Manzanares el Real	—	Recommended
Cross de los 3 Refugios	Manzanares el Real	—	Recommended
Trail Mina de la Plata de Bustarviejo	Bustarviejo	—	Recommended
El Valle Trail	Murcia	—	Recommended
Berroeta Mendi Maratoi Erdia	Berroeta	Pamplona Airport (PNA) 70 km away	Recommended
Betagarri Trail	Ancín	Pamplona and Vitoria have rental offices at city center and station/airport	Recommended
Camille Extreme	Isaba	—	Recommended
Aoiz Mountain Race	Aoiz	Pamplona has rental offices at the airport and city center	Recommended
Jurramendi 360	Ayegui	—	Recommended
Lakuntza-Aralar Mendi Lasterketa	Lakuntza	Recoger en Pamplona o San Sebastián y conducir por autovía	Recommended
Bera Mountain Half Marathon	Bera	—	Recommended
GR 322 Nafarroa Xtrem	Zubiri	—	Recommended
Rebecos Trail	Egüés	—	Recommended
Trail Virgen del Yugo	Arguedas	Pamplona and Zaragoza have rental offices at airports and city centers	Recommended
Xtreme Higa de Monreal	Monreal	Pamplona has rental offices at the airport and city center	Recommended
Aloñako Igoera	Oñati, Gipuzkoa	—	Recommended
Gorbeia Suzien	Zeanuri	—	Recommended
Mitxarro Bira	Araia	—	Recommended
Zegama-Aizkorri	Zegama	—	Recommended
101 Kilometres in 24 Hours - La Legión	Ronda, Málaga	—	Optional
Calamorro Skyrace	Benalmádena	Pick up the car at Malaga airport (AGP)	Optional
Subbética Trail	Zuheros	—	Optional
Ultra Sierra Nevada	Granada	—	Optional
Ultra Trail Bosques del Sur	Cazorla	—	Optional
Canfranc-Canfranc	Canfranc-Estación	—	Optional
Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets	Benasque	—	Optional
Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa	Torla-Ordesa, Huesca	—	Optional
Desafío Galayos 2026	Arenas de San Pedro, Ávila	Recoge el coche en Madrid si vienes en avión o AVE	Optional
Desafío Trail Templario	Las Navas del Marqués, Ávila	—	Optional
Festival Cavalls del Vent	Bagà	—	Optional
Costa Brava Stage Run	Blanes	—	Optional
Garmin Epic Trail Vall de Boí	Barruera, Vall de Boí	—	Optional
RunThrough Ultra Trail Girona	Girona	Rental agencies available at Girona Airport and the train station	Optional
Ultra Montseny	Viladrau	—	Optional
Xtrail Series Run Òrrius	Òrrius	Pick up your car at Barcelona airport	Optional
Penyagolosa Trails	Castellón de la Plana	—	Optional
Trail Covatelles	Oliva	—	Optional
Garganta de los Infiernos Mountain Race	Jerte, Cáceres	—	Optional
Trail Cova da Bruxa	Muros, A Coruña	—	Optional
Trail Heróica Sacra	Chantada, Lugo	Recogida en aeropuerto de Santiago o estación de Monforte de Lemos	Optional
Trail Laxe dos Bolos	Caldas de Reis, Pontevedra	Also available at Vigo or Pontevedra train stations	Optional
Trail Vila de Cuntis	Cuntis, Pontevedra	Also available at Vigo or Pontevedra train stations	Optional
Cross de Las Dehesas	Cercedilla	—	Optional
Gran Trail de Peñalara	Navacerrada	—	Optional
Kilómetro Vertical de la Barranca	Navacerrada	—	Optional
Madrid Alpine Marathon	Cercedilla	—	Optional
90K Camino de la Cruz	Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia	—	Optional
Basajaun Trail Race	Galdeano	Pamplona: rental offices at city center, train station, and airport	Optional
Haritzen Mendi Lasterketa	Unzué	Pamplona has rental offices at the airport and city center	Optional
Irati Trail	Ezcároz	—	Optional
Triku Trail	Etxarri-Aranatz	Pamplona and San Sebastián have rental offices at airports and city centers	Optional
Uharte-Arakil Beriain Km Bertikala	Uharte-Arakil	Pamplona and San Sebastián have rental offices at airports and city centers	Optional

* Indicative classification based on public transport availability, geographical location and whether the race is point-to-point. "Pickup" shows the most practical car collection point based on each race's tips.

Do you need a car for your next race?

Every race has different accessibility. Explore the Pack 360 for any event to see specific rental recommendations, or use the planner to organise your entire season.

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