BCN · In-terminal vs shuttle
In-terminal vs shuttle car hire at Barcelona Airport
At Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, 13 of the 19 car rental desks we rate are inside the terminal and 6 are off-site, reached by shuttle bus.
The desks inside the terminal average 4.6/10 and the shuttle desks 5.0/10, so the difference is small: choose by desk, not by location. The best-rated desk inside the terminal is Sixt T2, at 6.7/10 (Mixed); the best-rated shuttle desk is Alquicoche, at 8.9/10 (Great).
Shuttle ride times are not confirmed yet. Recent traveller red flags mention the shuttle at Autounion, Centauro, Click&Rent, NIZA Cars and Drivalia: allow extra time, especially for the return.
Last updated · reviewed by our editor on · How scores work · All 19 desks at Barcelona Airport
In the terminal vs shuttle at Barcelona Airport: side by side
| Measure | In the terminal | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Desks rated | 13 | 6 |
| Average score | 4.6Poor | 5.0Poor |
| Best-rated | Sixt T2 (6.7) | Alquicoche (8.9) |
| Median starting deposit | €200 (9 of 13 known) | €200 (1 of 6 known) |
| No credit card needed | 6 of 13 | 0 of 6 |
| Getting there | Desk in the terminal | Shuttle (ride time not confirmed yet) |
Desks inside the terminal
Ranked by Counterwise Score.
| Desk | Score | Location | Deposit | Credit card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Sixt T2 | 6.7Mixed | In terminal | €300 | Not required |
| 2.Sixt T1 | 6.5Mixed | In terminal | €300 | Not required |
| 3.Enterprise | 6.1Mixed | In terminal | €200 | Not required |
| 4.Budget T1 | 4.9Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 5.Europcar T2 | 4.5Poor | In terminal | €100–€500 | Not required |
| 6.Budget T2 | 4.4Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 7.Europcar T1 | 4.4Poor | In terminal | €100–€500 | Not required |
| 8.Avis T2 | 4.3Poor | In terminal | €200 | Not confirmed yet |
| 9.OK Mobility | 4.3Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 10.Avis T1 | 4.1Poor | In terminal | €200 | Not confirmed yet |
| 11.Goldcar T1 | 3.4Poor | In terminal | €0–€950 | Not confirmed yet |
| 12.Hertz | 3.0Poor | In terminal | €200–€700 | Not required |
| 13.Firefly | 3.0Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Required |
Shuttle desks (off-site)
Ranked by Counterwise Score. Ride times exclude the wait for the bus.
| Desk | Score | Shuttle ride | Deposit | Credit card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Alquicoche | 8.9Great | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 2.Autounion | 7.3Mixed | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 3.Centauro | 5.2Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet |
| 4.Click&Rent | 4.1Poor | Shuttle | €200–€1,000 | Required |
| 5.NIZA Cars | 2.5Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
| 6.Drivalia | 2.0Poor | Shuttle | Not confirmed yet | Required |
In-terminal vs shuttle at Barcelona Airport: questions and answers
Are in-terminal or shuttle car hire desks better at Barcelona Airport?
At Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, the 13 desks inside the terminal average 4.6/10 and the 6 shuttle desks 5.0/10, so the difference is small: choose by desk, not by location. Scores vary a lot within each group, so compare the desks themselves.
Which car hire desks are in the terminal at Barcelona Airport?
13 desks are inside the terminal: Sixt T2 (6.7/10), Sixt T1 (6.5/10), Enterprise (6.1/10), Budget T1 (4.9/10), Europcar T2 (4.5/10), Budget T2 (4.4/10), Europcar T1 (4.4/10), Avis T2 (4.3/10), OK Mobility (4.3/10), Avis T1 (4.1/10), Goldcar T1 (3.4/10), Hertz (3.0/10) and Firefly (3.0/10).
How long is the shuttle to the off-site car hire desks at Barcelona Airport?
Shuttle ride times at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport are not confirmed yet. Allow extra time for the ride and the wait.
What is the best-rated shuttle car hire desk at Barcelona Airport?
Alquicoche is the best-rated off-site desk at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 8.9/10 (Great). It is followed by Autounion (7.3/10) and Centauro (5.2/10).
What is the best-rated car hire desk in the terminal at Barcelona Airport?
Sixt T2 is the best-rated desk inside the terminal at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 6.7/10 (Mixed). It is followed by Sixt T1 (6.5/10) and Enterprise (6.1/10).
More about car hire at Barcelona Airport
Ranking is by Counterwise Score only (or by deposit where stated). Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. Facts marked “Not confirmed yet” have not been verified: we never guess them.