Ibiza caps tourist cars and caravans to control crowds this summer

Holidaymakers using hire cars will face new restrictions in Ibiza this summer amid an island crackdown on overtourism.

From 1 June to 30 September, the daily number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,000.

Consell Insular d’Eivissa, the Ibiza Island Council, confirmed to The Independent that 16,000 of the 20,168 vehicle permits will be given to rental cars operating on the island.

Another 120 permits will be allocated to residents of Formentera.

The remaining permits are reserved for private tourist vehicles arriving via ferry from ports including Barcelona, Palma and Valencia.

These vehicles will need to apply for a permit – €1 (84p) per day – online before they travel to Ibiza during peak season.

People who purchased a ferry ticket on or after 1 January 2025 will have their permits handled by their ferry company.

Caravans are also included in the new rules, with travellers required to show proof of a campsite booking before they enter. The vehicles will no longer be allowed onto the island for wild camping or unauthorised parking.

Consell Insular d’Eivissa introduced the cap in line with the Balearic government's goals to promote more sustainable tourism.

Last October, the Balearic parliament passed a law to regulate the flow of vehicles in Ibiza.

As it stands, motorcycles are exempt from Ibiza’s seasonal vehicle restrictions.

The popular Balearic island has around 160,000 residents but welcomes more than 3.6 million tourists annually.

As of 2023, there were 160,835 vehicles on the island – over a vehicle per person – which is a 78.1 per cent increase since 2003, according to the Ibiza Sustainability Report 2023.

A spokesperson for Consell Insular d’Eiviss said: “We view this law as a long-term opportunity for the future of tourism on the island. Ibiza is committed to a model that prioritises quality over quantity.

“We strongly believe that sustainable and well-managed tourism is the best way to safeguard both the wellbeing of our residents and the experience of those who visit us.”

They added: “The goal is to strike a balance: allowing visitors to enjoy the island while ensuring a good quality of life for residents, avoiding an excessive number of vehicles that would be detrimental to both.”

Ibiza isn’t the first Balearic island to show a red light to rental vehicles.

Tourists visiting one of Mallorca’s most popular towns will no longer be allowed to drive through its historic centre after “residents only” traffic zones were introduced.

The local council in Soller aims to ease traffic with designated areas exclusively for vehicles registered to residents across 12 of its busiest streets.

This means no hire cars can drive into Soller, with tourists advised to park on its outskirts and walk in or use public transport.

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