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THE NEW SPANISH TOURIST TAX WILL BE ENFORCED IN A POPULAR HOLIDAY SPOT FROM JUNE 1 AND WILL APPLY TO ALL THOSE WHO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO THE ISLAND, INCLUDING UK TOURISTS HANNAH AHMED
15:17, 27 May 2025 UK holidaymakers planning to take their cars to Spain have been warned about a new tourist tax rule. From 1 June, anyone intending to bring their car to Ibiza will not
only need permission but will also be charged a daily one Euro fee for their vehicle. Those wishing to hire a car will also be affected by the new charge, as the rules could result in an
increase in rental costs. This is due to the impact the tax will have on car hire firms, who will face additional expenses depending on the number of vehicles they own. The new regulations
will be in force from 1 June to 30 September and have received mixed reactions, reports Birmingham Live. While some have opposed it, the Balearic Government has dismissed protests against
it, aiming to tackle the congestion problem on Ibiza's roads. However, there are some exceptions to the rules, including those classified as non-residents with a home in Ibiza (one
vehicle per owner with tax domicile in Ibiza), residents in Formentera, Menorca or Mallorca for work reasons, people with reduced mobility or vehicles in transit to/from Formentera can also
access an exemption with "prior accreditation." Motorhomes and other cars that are not exempt must also purchase a place to transport the vehicle onto the island. According to the
ibizacircular.es website, where tickets can also be purchased to secure vehicle space, you are permitted to take your car abroad as long as the quota of 4,168 vehicles on the island has not
been "exceeded,". The measures will limit the number of rental cars in Ibiza to 16,000, a significant reduction from the nearly 28,000 that car hire companies had requested. The
National Federation of Car Rental Companies (Feneval) has issued a warning to Ibiza council about the potential for a substantial liability claim if a court deems the new regulations
unlawful. In a statement discussing the measure, the association expressed concerns about legal certainty, sector competitiveness, and the right to free movement of people and goods. It
criticised the limitation for causing "generates direct harm to car rental companies," according to the Daily Express. Juan Luis Barahona, executive president of the association,
stated that the law "breaks market equity, limits competition, and creates clear legal uncertainty." Feneval further argued that the car rental industry constitutes no more than 10
per cent of the vehicles on Ibiza's roads, thus it cannot be the central issue of the island's congestion. According to the association's president: "The rental car
industry is being singled out as the main culprit of road congestion, and we are forgetting that the industry itself does not generate demand on its own, but rather caters to the tourists
who decide to come. Therefore, we are attacking the consequence and not so much the cause." Article continues below Feneval has voiced its concerns to public administrators, urging them
to consider implementing quotas. The association also warned that these regulations might not only harm businesses but also tourists and locals, who risk having their mobility restricted. A
spokesperson for rent-a-car companies countered, stating that their actions are driven by "responding to the general interest of the island and its citizens, who are demanding control
and limitation measures to preserve balance and sustainability." The spokesperson added: "This complaint from rent-a-car companies only demonstrates that the limitation is real.
"Before the season has even begun, nearly 12,000 rental vehicles have already been eliminated, and they will not be on the island's roads this summer. We have set a firm roadmap
and threats will not intimidate us," as reported by the Express.