Record go Mobility – hassle-free car rental at competitive prices.
My pulse goes on a rollercoaster as we rush from baggage claim to Record go’s office at the airport. We land in Mallorca after a two-hour delay, and the arrivals hall is packed with people.
There’s a long queue at the rental car desks, something I was really hoping to avoid. But to my great relief, I soon realize that Record go uses the same “do-it-yourself” system the airlines introduced years ago.
Provided you have chosen full insurance in connection with the booking, it is fine to use the “Just Go Box” machines and skip the queue. When the registration is complete, which only takes a few minutes, all that remains is to retrieve the car key from the parking garage.
Record go Mobility is a Spanish company that was founded in 2005 but has its roots in Record Rent a Car, a company that, after spectacular growth from the 1980s to the 2000s, was bought by Northgate. The company has grown steadily and today has offices in many important tourist destinations in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece.
Car Fleet and Vehicle Options
Record go’s car fleet includes most of what customers usually look for, smaller cars (where the Fiat 500 is by far the most popular), family cars, SUVs, minibuses and motorbikes.
As usual, you book a car based on class, which means that the vehicle waiting in the parking lot is not always of the same model that the website shows at the time of booking. Unless you choose a Premium car, then the model is always guaranteed (e.g. the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia, Lexus and Ford Mustang Mach-E).
Making a Reservation and Check-in
Simplicity seems to be a priority, which is already noticeable when you visit the website. Stylish and stripped down, easy to navigate and unlike other car rental companies, free of clutter and unnecessary information. A search delivers quick results that are easy to understand. The fact that there are only two price categories makes it easier: “Just Go” which includes full insurance and everything that goes with it and “Go Easy” with a basic insurance where a deposit fee must be paid.
To avoid scrolling down through the search results or selecting a certain type of vehicle, you can click on the icons at the top, which is easy to miss (the only “negative” detail about the website, by the way).
The reservation is made with a few clicks and as soon as it is ready, a message lands in your inbox with all the details. I think that “Thank you! Your booking with Record go has been confirmed. The Booking No…” email could serve as a template for other car rental companies that have not understood the importance of being clear in their communication with customers. A summary of everything you need to know, comprehensibly formulated and easily overviewed. Also included is a QR code to be used in the Just Go Box machines if you want to skip a possible queue. For those who are not familiar with Palma airport “Collect and leave info” the brochure as an attached file will come in handy.
Furthermore, the terms of use (General Terms and Conditions) are also unusually clear and easy to read.
Insurance Options and Deposit Policy
The conditions are not significantly different from other car rental companies, unlimited mileage, the car must be returned with a full tank (alt. a fee of €35 is added), free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, deposit fee from €900 for “Go Easy” bookings.
There are two types of insurance:
– Go Easy with excess and deposit from €1100
– Total Comfort Coverage, no excess and protection in the event of a collision, theft and the most common negligence
One thing that I like is the 10% discount you get when you become a member of the Record go club. It is added to any already discounted offer. The advantages of becoming a member are few but useful, a good overview of made and upcoming bookings and, if you choose, newsletters via email with information about various campaigns.
Pick up and return – what to Expect
The car is picked up and returned at the airport. The car park is on the first floor of the building opposite the terminal, it is well signposted and the risk of going wrong is small. Record go has chosen a different solution than its colleagues when it comes to key management. These are picked up at the office which is right next to the car park, then you have to go on a journey of discovery to find the vehicle. Expect tight parking spaces!
Returning the car was a short and smooth procedure for us, as it was fully fuelled, with no visible (or invisible, for that matter) blemishes and after a normal mileage there was nothing to complain about from the staff. Still have to admit, without full insurance, one always expects a more thorough review and a possible discussion about small damages that have appeared all of a sudden…
Pricing – Is Record go Mobility Worth It?
Compared to its industry colleagues / competitors, Record go stands out perhaps primarily through its prices. It is sometimes possible to find cars in the MBMR category (e.g. Fiat 500) for €22/day during high season. During low season when the demand drops, the same car can cost from 10€/day.
So how does Record go stack up in terms of price compared to the competition? In fact, the price I found for a 6 day rental in August 2022 was among the absolute lowest. A car in the MBMR class (in this case it was an Opel Corsa) including full insurance ended up at €164 or €27/day. A good price considering it was high season and there was a shortage of vehicles at many car rental companies. In addition, the reservation was made 1 week before arrival!
Even on the next rental occasion in April 2023, the price was roughly the same, €227 for 8 days’ car rental, or about €28/day, but only with basic insurance and a deposit of €1,100. This time an “upgrade” awaited, the Italian-Chinese creation DR, an unusually boring car that I wouldn’t want to drive again.
Pros and Cons
In summary, I found Record go to be slightly better than several competitors on a few points:
Pros:
– Not the cheapest but often low prices ✅
– User-friendly website (on par with Wiber’s) ✅
– Smooth registration via the Just Go Box machines ✅
– Good information via email and clear terms of use ✅
Cons:
– Long queues at the check-in counter
Tips
– Compare the prices from comparison sites with Record go’s own. Keep in mind that the prices shown almost always apply to rental cars in the Full/Full category.
– For more results, change the pick-up time in the search. For example, 11.00 instead of 12.00 can sometimes make a difference.
– The rental car must be returned with a full tank of fuel. There is a gas station (Repsol) very close by, which makes things easier. The staff fills up the car and you pay by card or cash at the cash desk.
Frequently Asked Questions – Record go Mobility Mallorca
Yes. Record go is a Spanish car rental company founded in 2005 with a strong presence in popular tourist destinations. Based on my experience, the booking process is smooth, pricing is transparent and the overall service is reliable.
Record go is often among the cheaper options, especially when booked in advance. Prices can be very competitive during both high and low season.
Record go offers two main insurance options:
Total Comfort Coverage – full insurance with no excess and no deposit
Go Easy – basic insurance with excess and a deposit from €1100
Yes, if you book the Just Go option with full insurance. You can then use the Just Go Box self-service machines at the airport and avoid the regular check-in queue.
A deposit is required only if you choose the Go Easy option. With full insurance (Total Comfort Coverage), no deposit is needed.
No, bookings are made by car category, not a specific model. The exact car may vary unless you book a Premium vehicle, where the model is guaranteed.
Yes. The car must be returned with a full tank of fuel. There is a nearby gas station (Repsol) close to the airport, which makes this easy.
Yes. Membership gives you a 10% discount, access to your bookings and optional email offers. It’s free and easy to sign up.
OK Mobility – a similarly priced alternative to RecordGo for those who want to pick up their car at the airport. If taking a shuttle bus isn’t a problem, take a look at Centauro.
