By Sunny
A hire car turns the Costa Blanca from one beach into a coastline. Alicante airport sits midway between the beaches to the south and the coves to the north, and the motorway runs the whole length of it. This guide covers the paperwork for UK licence holders, picking up at the airport, and where to actually drive.
UK licence holders: what you need
With a UK photocard licence you do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in Spain. That is the GOV.UK position. If you still hold a paper licence, update to a photocard or get an IDP before you travel. Some hire companies ask for an IDP whatever your licence, so check the supplier’s terms when booking rather than at the desk. Bring your passport: Spanish suppliers ask for photo ID, and the card you pay with must be in the main driver’s name.
Picking up at Alicante Airport
Alicante-Elche Airport is 21 km from the city centre, about 35 minutes on the N-340 or A-70. The hire desks sit in the terminal; most of the shuttle-lot operators cluster on the airport perimeter, a five minute ride away. Check which type you have booked, because the shuttle operators add time at both ends.
One piece of good news for this coast: the AP-7 motorway tolls between Alicante and the north were scrapped when the concession expired in January 2020. The fast coastal motorway is now free, which makes the drives below cheaper than older guides suggest.
Choosing the right car
A compact handles Alicante city and the old town’s tight parking. Families spreading along the coast each week should take an estate or SUV for luggage and beach kit. Convertibles are popular here for obvious reasons, but check the boot space with the roof down if you are travelling with suitcases. In August, book whatever you want early: the airport’s fleet sells out for the peak fortnight.
Where to drive from Alicante
Drive times below are measured from Alicante centre.
Benidorm (about 40 minutes). The obvious one, and 46 km of motorway makes it easy. Skyscrapers, two big beaches and, if that is not your scene, the old town behind the church is a different world. Terra Mítica and the water parks sit on the edge of town if children are aboard.
Altea (about 55 minutes). The white-washed old town on its hill, a church square with sea views, and pebble beaches without Benidorm’s crowds. Street parking at the base of the old town is free in the off streets; the public car park at the top saves the climb.
Calpe (about 55 minutes). Dominated by the Rock of Ifach, a 332 metre limestone crag you can climb on a well-made path in about an hour. The fishing port and the promenade sit below. Central parking is paid, as it has been since 2015, but the residential streets ten minutes out are free in the quieter months.
Guadalest (about 1 hour). The village clinging to a rock needle an hour inland, with a castle on top and a turquoise reservoir below. The drive itself is the attraction: the final stretch threads through pine mountains. Park in the paid car park at the entrance and walk in.
Dénia (about 1 hour 15). The northern end of the coast, 20 km of sandy bay, a ferry to Ibiza if you fancy it, and the food scene of a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Free parking is easier here than in the resort towns south of it.
Driving rules that actually catch people
Spain drives on the right, limits are posted in km/h (120 on motorways, 100 on dual carriageways, 50 in towns, and often 30 in city centres), and radar cameras are common on the coast road. Children under 135 cm must use an appropriate child seat, which your supplier will provide if you reserve it. Use dipped headlights in poor visibility, never a phone in hand, and indicate when changing lane; fines arrive at your hire company, who passes them on with an admin fee.
For deposits, insurance wording and fuel policies in plain English, see our car rental guide, and for the same practical detail on Spain’s other big airport, our Malaga guide. Ready to compare rates? Search live Alicante car hire prices on the homepage.