Formentera is close enough to be a day trip and far enough to need a real boat.

Driving licence

An EU or EEA licence is accepted as it stands. Licences from outside that area are usually accepted alongside an International Driving Permit, and some desks insist on one even where the law does not. Bring the physical card — a photo of it will not open the barrier.

Boat licence

As across the Balearics, small low-powered craft can be taken out on a briefing alone, and anything larger needs a recognised certificate. The island-specific point is where you may anchor: much of the seabed here is protected posidonia seagrass, anchoring over it is restricted, and a charter contract will usually make the renter responsible for any penalty. Ask for the current anchoring guidance with the boat.

Age limits

Car and scooter hire generally opens at 21, with surcharges into the mid-twenties and some categories closed below 25. Buggies and quads often carry their own higher minimum and a specific licence category — check which one before you book, not at the counter.

Deposits

August deposits are higher than the same booking in May, for cars and boats alike. Boat deposits are commonly held as a card authorisation and released after a return inspection that includes the hull below the waterline. For villas, the security deposit and the damage terms are set by the owner rather than a platform, and can be substantial.

Pickup and return

The airport sits on the flat southern plain by the salt pans, and most rental collection is off-terminal by shuttle. In high season the return queue is the part people misjudge — build in an hour before you need to be at check-in.

Events in rented places

Whether a rented villa may host an event, with amplified sound and how late, is governed by local rules and by the property's own licence, and both have tightened in recent years. Never assume a listing that mentions "events" carries a permission. Get it in writing from the owner and verify the current local position.

Licence categories, age limits and what may be taken out without a certificate change, and operators set stricter terms than the law requires. Treat everything above as orientation and confirm it with the operator and the local authority before you book.