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Date Published: 07/11/2023

How to know if airport transfer companies in Spain are legit

Hiring an illegal taxi in Spain could cost you both time and money

With the price of flights and accommodation on the up and up, there’s no doubt that holidays are becoming more expensive, so it’s only natural for tourists to try and shave off a few euros where they can. For this reason, many people visiting Spain unwittingly opt for illegal taxis and airport transfer companies; but while the fare price might be cheaper, this often ends up costing a lot more time and money in the long run.

When you arrive at the airport, or if you simply need a drive to get from A to B while on holiday, only fully legal companies who have a valid public transport licence can offer this service. These legit taxis and transport vehicles are easily identifiable as they always have a blue number plate on the back.

In order to secure this licence, drivers must pay for expensive unlimited liability insurance to cover their passengers and luggage in case of an accident, something which so-called pirate taxis won’t have.

Unfortunately, there’s a serious shortage of legitimate cabs all across Spain and hundreds of these ‘cowboy’ drivers have sprung up as a result. They can be found on the internet offering such services as:

Airport runs
Airport transfers
Holiday transfers
Courtesy van
Pick-up service
Golf tours etc…

While these companies and individuals may manage other businesses, like holiday accommodation, golf packages and car rental, their primary economic activity isn’t public transport, so they can’t legally charge extra for airport transfers or local runs.

On the other hand, it’s perfectly fine for legit businesses to offer an airport pick-up and drop-off service, or to ferry you around once you’re in Spain, to view properties, for example, once the cost in included in the overall price. In other words, any driving must be offered for free.

Spanish police are constantly cracking down on car rental companies, holiday lets and estate agents offering airport transfers for an additional fee, a service which they absolutely cannot legally offer under the Transport Law and which is punishable with a fine of at least 3,000 euros.

But how does this effect you, the customer? Well, if the police stop your driver and discover that he isn’t fully licenced, they can impound the vehicle on the spot, leaving you stranded and out of pocket to boot.

Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

Image: Barcelona Airport

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