The highly popular Spanish island of Ibiza has begun restricting the number of tourist vehicles and caravans allowed to enter.
Between June 1st and September 30th, the limit for non-resident vehicle usage will be set at 20,168 units.
Out of these vehicles, only 16,000 will be designated as rentals. The remaining 4,108 will be allocated for tourists wishing to bring their own cars into Ibiza via the ports located in Barcelona, Denia, Valencia, or Palma.
If you plan to travel to Ibiza using your vehicle, you must obtain a permit at a cost of €1 per day. You should verify whether you need to apply for this permit individually or if the ferry company will manage it on your behalf, then proceed to secure the required authorization through the appropriate channel.
new official website
established by the Consell de Ibiza.
Trailer homes must now also demonstrate that they have reserved a spot at a campground. If not, they will be prohibited from entering the island when intending to engage in free camping or parking alongside roads.
Currently, motorbikes are not subject to the seasonal limitations imposed on other vehicles.
Why has Ibiza imposed restrictions on tourist vehicles?
The move is intended to tackle overtourism on the island, which has around 160,000 residents but receives more than 3 million tourists a year.
The number of cars on Ibiza’s roads has quadrupled over the last 20 years, rising from 51,000 in 2002 to 207,000 in 2022. It is hoped the new cap will help ease traffic problems and support more
sustainable tourism
on the island.
In a bid to
tackle the rising anti-tourism sentimen
t, the island’s government has also imposed limits on cruise ship arrivals and cracked down on illegal short-term rentals.
Could restrictions on tourist vehicles be implemented in other Balearic Islands as well?
Each year,
the Balearic Islands
draw about 19 million tourists, which constitutes a significant part of Spain’s 94 million yearly visitors.
The Council of Mallorca is also looking to apply restrictions on tourist vehicles from next year. It is set to publish a draft law very soon and will likely introduce similar rules from summer 2026.
The President of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, has said a maximum number of vehicles will be set, with preference given to electric or non-polluting
vehicles
.
The small island of Formentera, around 20km south of Ibiza, already
restricts
The quantity of tourist vehicles increases during the summer months. During this time, quad bikes, caravans, and motorhomes are not permitted.
Between June 1st and September 30th, all visitors—whether they have personal vehicles or rent cars—are required to obtain a permit through the Formentera Eco website.
The permit fees are set at €6 per day for cars, but even if your visit lasts less than five days, there’s a minimum charge of €30. For motorcycles, the daily rate is €3, with a minimum total cost of €15 irrespective of duration. Vehicles classified as hybrid enjoy a fifty percent reduction in charges, whereas fully electric vehicles do not have to pay this fee at all.
However, since it stretches just 19 kilometers from one end to the other, exploring Formentera is easily achievable without a vehicle. Tourists have the option to hire bicycles or merely stroll along the island’s system of pedestrian-only country trails and pathways.
