Press Release - July 2026

• After growing 4% in 2025, turnover in the Rent a Car sector is expected to stand at around €2.775 billion in 2026, which would represent a further increase of about 3.5% from 2025, in a context in which tourism activity will continue to post moderately upward performance. 

• In recent years, the leading companies have strengthened their position in the market. The top ten companies held a combined market share of 76% in 2025.

• INFORMA's DBK Sectoral Observatory recently published these insights in the 'Rent a Car' Sectoral Report.

Madrid, 2 July 2026.- According to INFORMA's (Cesce's subsidiary) DBK Sectoral Observatory—a leading provider of business, financial, sectoral, and marketing information in Spain and Portugal—activity in the Rent a Car sector maintained its upward trajectory in 2025, although growth slowed from the previous year. Sector turnover thus reached €2.68 billion, up 4.1% year-over-year from 2024.

Demand from inbound tourism reaffirmed its position as the main driver of the business, with revenue up 5.2% to €1.205 billion. Domestic tourism generated revenue of €585 million (+1.7%), while the corporate/business market stood at €890 million (+4.1%).

As a result, the inbound tourism segment increased its share to 45.0% of the total market (44.5% in 2024), followed by the corporate and business segment, with a 33.2% share.

The favourable sector environment was reflected in investment by companies in the sector. Registrations of vehicles by car rental companies rose 2.3% in 2025, after increasing by over 35% in 2024, reaching 190,434 units.

Demand in the sector will continue to post positive growth rates, although the moderation trend that began in 2025 will continue in 2026, amid less dynamic economic conditions and rising customer price sensitivity. The best performance will come from international tourism demand, partly supported by the higher perceived safety of Spanish tourist destinations compared with other competing destinations.

In January 2025, the sector comprised 2,977 vehicle hire companies, including car hire, light motor vehicle and truck hire, and excluding companies with no employees. However, most of these companies have limited activity. The sector's supply is characterised by a large number of small and medium-sized companies, alongside a small number of large operators with a presence in several autonomous communities.

The sector shows a high degree of activity concentration: the top five operators held a combined market share of 48.2% in 2025, rising to 75.7% when the top ten are considered.

Data Synthesis, 2025