News
Hiring a car for the Barcelona eclipse can cost €1,300
The 12 August eclipse has driven demand for hire cars in Barcelona during peak season. Some companies have barely any vehicles available, and two-day bookings of around €1,300 have been found, far above usual rates.
The pressure began months ago, when many travellers booked vehicles in advance to travel to areas where the eclipse will be total. Now, those who have waited until the last minute face a very limited supply and prices that can range between 800 and 1,300 euros depending on the vehicle, company and length of rental.
Companies acknowledge exceptional demand. Centauro, for example, has reinforced its fleet in Barcelona with around fifty additional vehicles and nevertheless continues to have difficulties responding to every request. At other companies, availability is also minimal for these dates.
The profile of customers has also changed compared with a usual August. Many of those looking for a car are residents of Barcelona and its metropolitan area who want to travel south through Catalunya, especially to Tarragona and the Terres de l'Ebre, where the Sun will disappear completely for a few moments.
Among international visitors, some have instead chosen to travel to Zaragoza, another city within the band of totality. Sector workers explain that many foreign tourists made their reservations several months in advance, while much of local demand has concentrated in recent days.
The eclipse also coincides with one of the summer’s busiest tourism periods and with the proximity of the 15 August long weekend. The combination has pushed fleets that already tend to operate at very high occupancy during these weeks to the limit. Some companies say the shortage of vehicles could continue until the end of the month.
The problem will not only be getting a car. Catalunya expects a significant increase in journeys towards Tarragona, Ponent and the Terres de l'Ebre on Wednesday afternoon, and Trànsit has prepared a special operation to manage traffic. The authorities recommend leaving sufficiently early and using public transport whenever possible to avoid being trapped on access roads to the main viewing points.
For those still considering renting a vehicle solely to see the eclipse, doing so at the last minute may therefore become a particularly expensive and complicated option. The fever to witness totality has disrupted for a few days one of the sectors most used to working at its limit in August, and anticipates an afternoon of heavy traffic on the roads leading south from Barcelona.