We do not recommend exploring the city by car. The public transport has a close meshed subway and bus network which is well developed. However, in case of emergency, taxis are always available and given Central European standards, they are very favourable.

For trips into the close or more distant vicinity or an airport transfer with plenty of baggage, a car however, gives a pleasant flexibility.

The biggest choice of car rentals are available at the airport El Prat de Llobregat. Here are all the great players. Also at Sants station.
Also at the airports of Girona and Reus you find cars station of the major carriers. The desk of distributors are directly in the arrivals hall.

You should consider the lease conditions, e.g. most distributors have the drivers in surcharges less than 21 years or if more than one person shall drive.
However, if you only need one person to drive, a car can be quite pricey.

Also, you should always take out a comprehensive insurance package, which avoids some trouble and high costs. In case of an accident, always call the police and make sure that the protocol is handed out to you and that the damage is reported immediately to the lender. Here you will find the emergency numbers.

A rental in advance and from home is usually significantly cheaper and the car has guaranteed availability.  Likewise, you should compare various pick-up centres. Often, a collection at Sants station is cheaper than at the airport.

Barcelona.de has been working with Avis for years. This accounts for its good service, reliable cars, which were examined via independent tests, and a dense network of rental stations in Barcelona. Not least, because of the favourable price, we recommend Avis.