Campervan rental requirements in Spain
To rent a campervan in Spain you need four things: to be 26 or over, a category B driving licence held for at least 2 years, a valid ID card or passport, and a credit card in the driver's name for the security deposit. No special licence and no paperwork in advance: the Volkswagen California Ocean T7 we rent out is driven on an ordinary car licence.
We are a one-van business based in Mataró (Maresme), half an hour from Barcelona. Prices run from €85 to €140 per day depending on the season, with a three-night minimum, and you book online with a deposit that secures your dates. Below is every requirement, one by one, exactly as we apply it on pick-up day.
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Minimum age and how long you have held your licence
The minimum age to rent the campervan is 26, reached before the first day of the rental. On top of that, the driver must hold a category B licence issued at least 2 years earlier, counting from the issue date printed on the licence itself. Both conditions apply together: being old enough is not sufficient if the licence is too recent, and vice versa.
No special or upgraded licence is needed — the California is driven on a category B car licence. If your licence was issued outside the European Union and is not valid in Spain, you must also carry an International Driving Permit, always together with the original licence.
Documents to bring on pick-up day
When you collect the van we need to see three original documents belonging to the driver: a valid ID card or passport, the category B driving licence, and a credit card in their name. We take a copy for the rental contract and hand everything straight back. Photocopies and photos on your phone are not accepted.
All three documents must be in the same person's name — the person who signs the contract as the renter and is responsible for the vehicle. If someone else is going to drive, they must be declared as an additional driver and bring their own ID and licence too.
The €1,500 deposit and how the pre-authorisation works
The security deposit is €1,500 and is held as a pre-authorisation on the driver's credit card. A pre-authorisation is not a payment: the bank sets the amount aside, but the money never leaves your account and you are not charged for it. You simply have €1,500 less available credit for the duration of the rental.
When you bring the van back we check its condition and, if everything is in order, we release the pre-authorisation and your credit limit is restored — how quickly depends on your own bank. This is why we ask for a credit card rather than a debit card: debit cards cannot hold this kind of authorisation.
Insurance and the excess
The campervan is covered by a fully comprehensive policy including third-party liability, legal defence and 24/7 travel assistance, all built into the rental price. There is nothing for you to arrange separately and no extra cover to buy before setting off.
The damage excess is equal to the deposit: €1,500. In practice, if there is a bump or damage, the insurer covers it and the most you are liable for is €1,500 — precisely the amount already pre-authorised on your card. If the damage costs less than that, only the corresponding part is deducted.
Additional driver and travelling around Europe
You can declare one additional driver so you can share the wheel. They must meet exactly the same conditions as the renter: 26 or over, with a category B licence held for at least 2 years. Only the renter and the additional driver named in the contract are allowed to drive the campervan.
You can travel anywhere in Europe at no extra cost; all we ask is that you tell us before you leave so we can note it down. Dogs are welcome too, so nobody in the family has to stay behind.
Booking, deposit payment and cancellations
You book online from the booking page (/reservar), paying a deposit that locks in your dates. Prices range from €85 to €140 per day depending on the season: low from November to March, mid from April to June and from September to October, high in July and August. The minimum stay is three nights.
Cancellations are free up to 30 days before pick-up. Between 30 and 15 days before, 50% of the booking deposit is retained; with less than 15 days to go, 100% is retained. If anything is unclear before you book, write to hola@campervan.cat or message us on WhatsApp at +34 669 91 20 57.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age to rent a campervan?+
26. At CamperVan.cat the driver must be 26 or over and must also hold a category B licence issued at least 2 years earlier. Both requirements are mandatory and are checked on pick-up day.
Can I rent with a foreign driving licence?+
Yes. A licence from any European Union country is accepted as it is. If your licence is from outside the EU and is not valid in Spain, you must also bring an International Driving Permit together with the original licence.
How much is the deposit, and will I actually be charged?+
The deposit is €1,500, held as a pre-authorisation on the driver's credit card: the amount is blocked but never actually charged. It is released after the van comes back, once the condition of the vehicle has been checked and provided there are no incidents.
Can I leave the deposit with a debit card or in cash?+
No. A credit card in the driver's name is required, as it is the only way to place the €1,500 pre-authorisation. We do not accept cash or debit cards for the deposit.
Who is allowed to drive the campervan?+
Only the renter who signs the contract and the declared additional driver. You may declare one additional driver, who must meet the same requirements: 26 or over, with a category B licence held for at least 2 years.
Can I take the van outside Spain?+
Yes, you can travel throughout Europe at no additional cost. The only condition is that you let us know before you set off so it can be recorded in the contract.
What happens if I have to cancel my booking?+
Cancelling more than 30 days before pick-up is free. Between 30 and 15 days before, 50% of the booking deposit is retained; with less than 15 days to go, 100% is retained.
