Mallorca is bursting at the seams: car limit for tourists is coming!

Mallorca is bursting at the seams: car limit for tourists is coming!

The Balearic island of Mallorca is facing increasing challenges due to the sharp increase in car traffic in recent years. The island council is now planning decisive measures to regulate the number of vehicles in order to preserve both the quality of life of the locals and the tourist attractiveness of the island. More than 379,000 rental cars were brought to Mallorca in 2023 - an increase of 108 percent compared to 2017. This development was reason enough for the island council president Llorenç Galmés to present the plans for future car restrictions in a plenary session and to point out the problem.

A central point of the planned mobility law is that property owners who do not live permanently on Mallorca will in future only be allowed to own a car that is registered for tax purposes on the island. This measure could, for example, mean that the Ochsenknecht family can no longer travel to the island with a second car. The island council also wants to introduce a cap on rental cars to control the increasing number of vehicles.

Background and planned measures

As early as 2023, the traffic volume on the roads of Mallorca was classified as critical. Experts estimate that there are between 90,000 and 120,000 too many cars on the island. In high season, especially on peak days in August, up to 1.3 million trips are recorded, including up to 75,000 rental cars. With the new law, the Island Council is planning a consultation to involve various associations and private individuals in the process before it can be passed in the Island Council and Balearic Parliament.

The initiative is based on a comprehensive traffic study from summer 2023 that defines the framework conditions for the new regulations. Following the example of the neighboring island of Formentera, Mallorca is not only aiming to reduce the number of vehicles, but also to introduce a tax for vehicles not registered in Mallorca. In a peak phase, these actual measures could come into force from summer 2026, but still have to go through various instances before the exact details are determined.

Political reactions and challenges

The proposal to introduce a car limit has found both support and resistance in the political landscape. The right-wing Vox party in particular has expressed concerns and opposed restrictions on vehicle imports. This means that no auto limit can be introduced in 2025. Despite these political hurdles, the majority of parties in the island council and state parliament show their support for the regulation of car traffic and the associated challenges.

Insum, Mallorca has taken clear steps to promote more sustainable and efficient transport on the island. With the planned law, traffic conditions on Mallorca could noticeably improve and at the same time the concerns of the locals could be taken seriously. The coming months will show whether the island council can successfully implement its plans.

For a detailed overview of current developments and planned measures, we refer to the articles by Watson and The island newspaper.