Transportation in retirement on the Costa Blanca
Cars, the TRAM, intercity buses, AVE high-speed trains, taxis and Alicante airport — and when it's better to be car-free.
Cars, the TRAM, intercity buses, AVE high-speed trains, taxis and Alicante airport — and when it's better to be car-free.
Do you need a car?
| Where you live | Car needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Alicante city | No | Tram, buses, walkable centre, Cabify |
| Benidorm centre | No | TRAM L1/L9 to Dénia, dense bus network |
| Albir / Altea / Calpe town | Optional | TRAM L9 connects all three; useful for inland trips |
| Jávea / Moraira / Benissa | Yes | Limited buses, dispersed urbanisations |
| Torrevieja / Orihuela Costa | Yes (or scooter) | Sprawling, bus skeletal |
| Dénia centre | No | Walkable, regular trains and buses |
Driving licences and car ownership
EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely as long as you renew on the same schedule as your home country. UK licence holders post-Brexit must exchange for a Spanish licence within 6 months of becoming resident under the current UK-Spain agreement (renewed 2024). US, Canadian and Australian retirees must take the Spanish theory and practical test — budget €600-€1,000 and 3-6 months.
Owning a car: ITV (MOT equivalent) every 2 years for cars under 10 years, then annually; circulation tax (impuesto de circulación) €60-€200/year set by your town hall; insurance from €250/year fully comprehensive for retired drivers with clean records.
The TRAM — your free coastal commuter
- ✦Line 1: Alicante (Luceros) → El Campello → Villajoyosa → Benidorm, every 20-30 mins.
- ✦Line 9: Benidorm → Altea → Albir → Calpe → Dénia, slower scenic route every 1-2h.
- ✦Senior card (Tarjeta TAM Mayor 60): €15 monthly unlimited travel, valid from age 60.
- ✦Tickets without card: €1.45-€4.55 depending on zones.
- ✦Bikes carried free off-peak; wheelchair-accessible on all newer trains.
Trains, buses and getting out
AVE high-speed rail from Alicante reaches Madrid in 2h 20m (€35-€90) and Barcelona in 5h. The new Avant fast service to Murcia is 45 minutes. ALSA runs the intercity bus network — useful for Valencia (€18, 2h 30), Granada (€34, 5h) and inland villages. Alicante airport handles 50+ direct destinations; Valencia airport is 1h 45 north for additional routes.
Taxis, Cabify, Uber and Bolt
A 20-minute taxi inside Alicante is €8-€12; Cabify/Uber/Bolt operate in Alicante, Benidorm and Torrevieja with fixed fares. For one to two retirees, dropping the second car in the household and using taxis 3-4 times a week saves €2,000-€3,500/year vs ITV + insurance + fuel + parking. Always carry the local taxi rank number — apps don't cover small towns north of Calpe.
Driving older — when to stop
- ✦Medical licence renewal is required at 65 (every 5 years) and at 70 (every 2 years).
- ✦Centros de reconocimiento (psychotechnical centres) run the test — vision, reaction, basic cognition, €50-€60.
- ✦Family-led conversation should start before the test — relocating to a town with the TRAM (Albir, Altea, Calpe) is the most common solution.
- ✦Mobility scooters (clase A/B) are road-legal up to 25 km/h, no licence needed.
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