Car rental in Tenerife and other Canary Islands. Features of car rental, personal experience, reviews, car rental prices. Additionally, driving features in Tenerife, roads, and parking.
In every country, we rent a car. The flight plus rented car format is optimal for travel. It provides more freedom, less time spent on transfers, and more on relaxation. Moreover, not every interesting place can be quickly reached by bus, even on such a well-developed island like Tenerife.
In countries like Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Thailand, we have long been using a trusted car rental service that brings together local car rental companies.
The Canary Islands are no exception because it is part of Spain, and our favorite service, LocalRent – Tenerife, operates here.
What you need for car rental in Tenerife
Renting a car in Tenerife is even easier than buying a plane ticket.
I could write a long article describing confusing details and unnecessary details. But I won’t do that.
Because for car rental in Tenerife, you only need three things:
- Regular national driver’s license
- Visa/Mastercard
- Money or credit limit
- Your desire
Should you take full insurance
Often I decline full insurance, especially in European Union countries, especially in Spain – a country where, in my opinion, the best and most careful drivers in Europe are found.
In the case of Tenerife, rental companies have solved the insurance problem for us. It is already included in the rental cost.
Considering that the mountain roads in Tenerife can be quite narrow and winding, minor scratches are possible – so it’s better to take full insurance and not worry about the worst. Trust a person who has had 100+ rental car outings in 19 years of traveling.
How much does car rental cost in Tenerife
Naturally, the price depends on the car class. My principle is to try not to take the cheapest option. Everything else is budget-friendly.
I never rent a car from low-budget rental companies like Gold Star. Behind the low rental price hides a draconian cost of full insurance and very picky managers. In general, it’s your choice, but I try to avoid them.
The price also depends on the number of days of rental. The more days, the lower the cost per day of rental.
So how much does a car like Ford Focus or Fiat 500 cost in Tenerife for a week or more? Our Fiat 500x cost us 22 euros per day with full insurance.
Fuel policies of rental companies
Different companies practice different fuel policies. For those who are not aware, let me explain. You receive the car with a full tank, with an empty tank (just to reach the gas station), and return it with the same amount of gas.
Honestly, I don’t care, but I prefer to take a car with a full tank and return it the same way. I refuel before returning the car, approximately 10-20 km before, so the fuel gauge has not dropped by one division.
When receiving a car with a full tank, I leave a deposit for the gas, which is returned to me when returning the car (also with a full tank). If I return it with half a tank, only half of the cost is refunded. Everything is very clear and suits us.
Choosing a car
A matter of preference, of course. And keep in mind that in Tenerife, there are many mountain roads, and the most interesting places are in the mountains and beyond the passes. So, if the total weight of your company is more than 200 kg, it’s not worth taking low-power “belly cars.” You will regret it. A mid-range like Ford Focus, Fiat 500x, or something similar is sufficient.
This time we took a Fiat 500x in Tenerife and a small Opel Corsa in Gran Canaria. Both cars coped well with mountain passes, the Fiat was brand new, only a few thousand kilometers on it. The Opel was a bit older but in excellent condition. For two people, it was enough, although the Fiat 500X was more comfortable but equally more fuel-consuming. Take this fact into account.
If the budget is a priority, take a cheap Opel Corsa, which consumes only 5-6 liters per hundred even in the mountains. Off-road vehicles are NOT needed in Tenerife, unless you just love jeeps.
Parking in Tenerife
In Tenerife, all municipal parking lots were free. There were many parking lots, and there were always spaces available, although in popular cities like Los Cristianos or Las Americas, we had to park the car 10-15 minutes walk from the sea.
Paid parking lots are also available, we used them only once when leaving the car in the marina – 1.50 euros. But on Gran Canaria, most parking lots are paid – up to 6 euros per day.
Roads in Tenerife
All roads are free.
Except for a small part from Los Gigantes and further north to Puerto de la Cruz, a luxurious highway runs around the perimeter of the island. Other roads are of excellent or very decent quality, including those leading to remote villages. Choose any settlement or attraction and go.
The most challenging and most beautiful road is the one leading to the village of Masca. Many hairpin turns, blind turns, and single-lane intersections. But beautiful! Just plan your trip to the village of Masca early in the morning, and there will be no problems.
One of the most beautiful roads is to the Teide volcano. It is straightforward to drive, but the views are luxurious. I liked the road more than the volcano itself.
Be sure to drive through the Anaga National Park. It is easy to reach from the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, in less than 30 minutes. There are beautiful views and an endless number of viewpoints.
Small Conclusions and Reviews
A car in Tenerife is a necessity if the goal is not just beach recreation. Missing the opportunity to see more beauty is a crime against oneself.
Renting a car is easy to book in a few clicks through the LocalRent website.
You can easily get a car immediately upon arrival at the airport or at one of the rental company offices. There is almost always an option to deliver the car to the address you specify. This is for an additional fee, of course.
You can take a car and travel around the Canary Islands; ferries operate between all the islands. But it is much more profitable to return the car and take it again on the next island.
Car rental prices in the Canary Islands are among the lowest in Europe. Car rental here is cheaper than in continental Europe, such as Spain, Italy, or France.
How to Save on Hotels While Traveling
We only look for accommodation on Booking.com. It’s proven, convenient, a large selection of options for any budget.
Where to Buy Cheap Airline Tickets for Travel
For several years, I have been using the Aviasales website – reliable, convenient, always low prices – cheaper than on Skyscanner. The site also searches for tickets on low-cost airline flights. I also search for tickets directly on the websites of low-cost airlines – Ryanair, Wizzair, EasyJet, and others.
Where to Rent a Car for Traveling Around the Canary Islands
I choose a car on LocalRent — a reliable site, a guarantee of quality and ease of use. I can confidently recommend it. In case of the need for a rental deposit, I have a card with a credit limit; in this case, there are no problems or inconveniences. The site offers options without a security deposit. No hidden fees, and everything is honest. The price of a rental car in the Canary Islands is around 20-25 euros per day for a good new car.
Useful Links for Travel Planning
- Aviasales — budget airline tickets worldwide
- Booking.com — a familiar and convenient site for searching and booking accommodation worldwide
- LocalRent — a site for searching and renting cars worldwide with the possibility of free cancellation of reservations
