Car rental prices at Bilbao Airport

Bilbao Airport car hire is around $43 a day for a Compact car like a Seat Leon in October 2026 when you book about a month ahead. A smaller Economy model such as a Seat Ibiza is around $36 a day, while a Mini is $30. Stepping up to an Intermediate like a Nissan Qashqai costs $51. Leaving your booking to the last 2 weeks drops the Compact price to $36. Across the calendar, prices range from $31 a day for a Mini in March 2027 to $115 for a high-end car in August 2027, so check our price checker for your exact travel dates.

At Bilbao Airport, booking late saves about 56%: Compact cars average $53 a day when booked 9 months before your trip against $34 2 weeks before. For October 2026 specifically, booking about a month ahead is $43 a day, while waiting until the final 2 weeks drops it to $36. If you have not reserved yet, you have missed nothing because earlier rates across the year run substantially higher. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of pickup.

Rentbycar is the cheapest company at Bilbao Airport for a Compact car, averaging $27 a day from 675 prices over the last 12 months. You give up debit card flexibility for that price, as Rentbycar accepts credit cards only and holds a $1,501 deposit. The desk is located at the airport and scores 86/100 from 95 reviews, with an average wait time of 19 minutes. Centauro and GoByCar follow at $34 a day.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

Hertz is the best-reviewed company at Bilbao Airport, scoring 87/100 from 43 reviews, with an average desk wait of 19 minutes. Rentbycar and Budget follow at 86/100, while Sixt and GoByCar score 85/100. A Compact car with Hertz costs $47 a day on average, while Rentbycar charges $27 a day for the same class. Rentbycar pairs that lower price with an 86/100 score, though it requires a credit card and holds a larger deposit.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At Bilbao Airport, card deposits range from $231 with Avis, Alamo, Enterprise or National up to $2,251 with OK Mobility, and 2 of the 17 desks take a debit card. Another 4 desks accept a debit card for some cars, while 11 require a credit card. Hertz and Goldcar take debit cards across their counters, holding typical deposits of $808 and $1,616 respectively. Filter for a debit card on the price checker before comparing rates so you only see cars you can release. Any optional extras charged at the desk are listed under each vehicle.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

Two main traps catch drivers out at Bilbao Airport: steep credit-card-only deposits and long queues at the busier desks. While all 17 desks are in the airport terminal, 11 refuse debit cards entirely, and deposits climb as high as $2,251 at OK Mobility. Desk waits vary sharply, stretching to 38 minutes at Keddy by Europcar and 26 minutes at Sixt. If you arrive without a credit card in the lead driver's name, you will find 15 of the 17 desks will not hand over keys without one.

Fuel is full tank out, full tank back on 99% of prices at Bilbao Airport, so there is no fuel charge to be surprised by.

A Compact car like a Seat Leon typically costs $43 a day for October 2026 at Bilbao Airport and gives you enough engine power for the motorway. A Compact seats 5 people but fits 3 bags, so a larger group with luggage will want an Intermediate like a Nissan Qashqai, which takes 4 bags at $51 a day. If you are travelling light, a Seat Ibiza Economy car costs $36 and holds 2 bags. Half of the cars offered are automatic, which costs $7 more a day across the year than a manual. Electric models are 1% of the fleet and hybrids 4%, so book early if you rely on an electrified engine.