Driving In Tenerife, Spain: First Timers Ultimate Guide

Driving in Tenerife is the best way to discover the largest gem of the Canary Islands. A Tenerife road trip will take you to the most spectacular regions of the island.

You can experience lush Anaga Rural Park, Santa Cruz, Costa Adeje and the mighty Teide National Park under your own speed.

This post contains all the things you need to know when driving in Tenerife, including:

Is it difficult to drive in Tenerife?
Are the roads in Tenerife safe?
Hiring a car in Tenerife and what you need to know
Parking in Tenerife
The best Tenerife driving routes

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Contents Of Article:

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR DRIVING IN TENERIFE
TENERIFE MAP WITH DRIVING DISTANCES BETWEEN PLACES
TENERIFE DRIVING RULES
DRIVING CONDITIONS IN TENERIFE
POTENTIAL DANGERS FOR TENERIFE DRIVERS
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A ROAD ACCIDENT
PARKING IN TENERIFE
PETROL STATIONS
RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE
TAKING YOUR RENTAL CAR TO ANOTHER ISLAND
SCENIC ROADS AND ROUTES IN TENERIFE
MORE POSTS ON TENERIFE

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR DRIVING IN TENERIFE

road through a national park in Tenerife

Whether your Tenerife driving route takes you on main roads, side roads or through towns, these tips will help you prepare.

DO YOU NEED A CAR IN TENERIFE?

If your trip involves staying in a resort and spending days on the beach then you won’t need to hire a car.

However, for many visitors, having access to your own vehicle gives you greater flexibility to:

Explore more remote areas off the beaten track
Adjust your itinerary around the weather
Enjoy sunrise and sunset at popular places like Mount Teide

Driving around Tenerife is the best way to discover the island and explore the best things to do in Tenerife. Plus, you can experience all the hidden gems located in tucked away corners.

WHERE WE RENT OUR CARS

We always compare prices on Discovercars.com, which is one of the best customer-rated comparison sites on the market.

We always find great prices and the platform is extremely user-friendly and easy to use. You can use several filters to narrow your search and we always take the “extra cover” option for peace of mind and nil excess.

Click to check out the current deals in Tenerife.

If you are looking for more help renting a car in Tenerife, read our tips for a worry-free experience.

IS IT EASY TO DRIVE IN TENERIFE?

Overall, driving around Tenerife is safe and relatively straight forward. With both locals and tourists from many different countries sharing the roads, patience is key.

Most roads are in good condition, with good signage and visability.

TENERIFE MAP WITH DRIVING DISTANCES BETWEEN PLACES

Below is a map of Tenerife, with some driving distances between popular places.

Tenerife South Airport to Santa Cruz De Tenerife – 65 kms
Santa Cruz De Tenerife to La Laguna – 11 kms
La Laguna to Puerto De La Cruz – 28 kms
Playa De Los Cristianos to Teide National Park – 64 kms
Puerto de la Cruz to Adeje – 65 kms

TENERIFE DRIVING RULES

The following are rules and regulations you need to be aware of.

1. DRIVING LICENSE

To drive in Tenerife, ensure that you have a valid drivers license. Driving in Spain without a license can result in a ban or jail sentence.

You must be 18 years of age
Nationalities outside the EU must have an international drivers license

DRIVING IN TENERIFE AFTER BREXIT:

You can continue driving in Tenerife on a UK license for up to 6 months per year.

2. COMPULSORY DOCUMENTATION TO CARRY IN YOUR VEHICLE

The police in Spain require that you carry the following documents with you:

Insurance policy
Valid drivers license
Passport
Green card (Ficha Tecnica) detailing technical specification of vehicle
Permiso de circulation (log-book in the UK)
2 warning triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, 2 reflective jackets (inside car)

DRIVING CONDITIONS IN TENERIFE

cars along a road in Tenerife — Approaching a roundabout anti-clockwise

1. TENERIFE DRIVING SIDE

Driving in Tenerife is on the right hand side of the road with the steering wheel on the left of the vehicle. Passing is on the left. Yield to all vehicles coming from your right.

Roundabouts are approached anti-clockwise, so be aware of overseas visitors getting confused!

2. SPEED LIMITS

Speed limit signs are circular, with a red border and a number indicating the maximum allowable speed in kilometers per hour.

Motorways – 120 km/hr
Dual Highways – 100 km/hr
Country Roads – 90 km/hr
Built Up Areas – 50 km/hr
Residential Areas – 20 km/hr

3. ROAD SIGNS

Points of interest are in brown
There are standard international pictographs such as direction and no entry signs.

4. GENERAL DRIVING RULES

Seat belts are compulsory
Using GPS devices or mobile phones whilst driving is illegal
Wearing headphones whilst driving is illegal
Children under the age of 12 years must sit in the rear seats
The legal alcohol limit is 0.05%
Mandatory insurance in Tenerife is third party liability, which is included in rental agreements

5. ROAD CONDITIONS

road in a small town in Tenerife — Driving through small towns in Tenerife

MOTORWAYS – These are toll-free and can be four-lane. Road surfaces are good, with clear road lines. Traffic moves fast and can be heavy and congested during peak times.

LOCAL AREAS OFF THE BEATEN TRACK – Smaller rural roads have less traffic but roads can have potholes.

TOWNS AND RESORTS – While road surfaces are good, they can be very busy. One-way systems are confusing and annoying and pedestrian crossings frequent.

OTHER ROADS: TF-436 to the Masca Valley is a narrow lane mountain side road, with numerous twists and hairpin bends. It is not that hard if you take your time.

However, if you are not a confident driver, we suggest starting the drive first thing in the morning before the tour buses.

Yes, public and tour buses drive this route and as some turns are difficult for longer vehicles, they can cause traffic jams.

POTENTIAL DANGERS FOR TENERIFE DRIVERS

Apart from slowing down when passing through villages and encountering the odd goat, here are some things to be aware of.

There are rush-hour hotspots into main towns including the TF-1 motorway
No use of indicators – some drivers turn left or right and never indicate. They simply turn or change lanes, leaving you guessing as to their intentions.
Using indicators – Other drivers indicate when joining a motorway then leave their indicator on for several kilometers.
Pedestrian crossings – These are everywhere and some drivers stop at them while others don’t. Plus, with some pedestrians simply walking across them without looking for traffic and totally oblivious to any traffic, you need to be alert.
Cyclists – Especially during weekends, you will encounter a lot of cyclists on the roads. Be especially careful when approaching blind bends, and allow plenty of space when overtaking.
Straying out of lanes – some drivers drive too fast around corners and veer across the middle white line, into part of your lane.

Others are distracted by the scenery and simply stop to take photos without checking in their rear mirror beforehand. Many tourists don’t know where they are going, are confused by road-signs, looking for a parking space or are just lost.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A ROAD ACCIDENT

driving in fog in Tenerife — Beware of mist and fog as you climb to a higher altitude

The emergency number in the event of an accident is 112.

Make a note of the other driver’s details including vehicle license plate number, insurance and name.
Take photos of damage to all vehicles.
Don’t admit liability, but contact your insurance company or rental provider.
Contact police or ambulance.

PARKING IN TENERIFE

cars parked in the road in Tenerife — Roadside parking in Tenerife

While a road trip is a great way to explore the island, finding available parking spaces can be a nightmare or futile endeavor.

It is not uncommon for yourself and others, to keep driving around and around hunting for an available spot.

We visited Tenerife in February and found parking in some towns, tourist locations and close to beaches a nightmare.

In fact, on several occasions we simply gave up after wasting valuable time, fuel and energy.

Add to this, that some inconsiderate drivers just abandoned their vehicles where they wanted, adding to the hassle.

cars parking illegally in Tenerife — Leaving your car wherever you choose!

We recommend the following tips when parking:

Parking on yellow or white lines is forbidden
Blue lines indicate a restricted parking zone where you are often required to pay to park
There are usually plenty of clearly marked disabled spaces
While there is free on-street parking at the major resorts, these spaces are taken quickly. Get to beaches, tourist hotspots and hiking trails EARLY.
Larger attractions have their own car parks.
Stay overnight in resort towns, where accommodation usually includes a parking space. (Check with provider before booking)
Look for the clearly signed underground carparks which are reasonably priced.

PETROL STATIONS

petrol station along a highway in Tenerife

Fuel is considered cheaper compared to the rest of Europe, and hire vehicles usually take unleaded petrol.

Main road petrol stations are often open 24 hours and some have attendants to fill your tank for you.
Petrol stations off the beaten track are less frequent. They are often closed in the evenings and on Sundays.
You may be required to prepay for fuel during night hours.
If you are driving an electric car check for charging stations ahead of time.
The green pump has petrol “gasolina” and unleaded petrol “gasolina sin plomo”
The black pump has diesel “gasoil”

RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE

Car rental in Tenerife is easy for any nationality and a great way to navigate the island. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Basic Car Hire Requirements:

You must be over 18 years of age, sometimes 21 to rent a vehicle.
You must show a hard copy of your valid and up-to-date driver’s license.
You need to provide insurance. Purchase at the time of booking as it will be cheaper.
A major credit card must be shown.

Driving tips for Americans or outside the EU:

For those from outside of the EU or have an international driver’s license, you are required to present both documents upon rental.
Most rental companies also require that you have at least 1 years driving experience before you can rent a car.
Most vehicles are manual, so check beforehand if the rental company has an automatic.

Type Of Vehicle To Rent:

Cars are generally manual transmission and automatic rentals are more expensive. We recommend an automatic as constantly changing gears on windy roads is a pain.
Choose a vehicle large enough to carry your luggage so that it is always out of sight. Never leave any valuables in sight when you leave the vehicle unattended.
Book early to get the best price and choice of vehicle.
Take out the extra cover to reduce your excess to nil, for peace of mind.

Where To Rent Your Vehicle:

There are numerous car rental companies in Tenerife, both at Tenerife South Airport, Tenerife North Airport and all major towns.

It is cheaper to hire a car before leaving home. We have used both DiscoverCars.com and RentalCars.com and have been very happy with the service given.
The largest car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty, Cicar and more.
Most visitors use the rental companies at the airport as it is easier to pick up your rental on arrival.
Don’t be fooled into taking out extra cover when you pick up your vehicle, as it is overpriced.

General Tips For Hiring A Vehicle:

Walk around the entire vehicle and take pictures and/or video coverage, before driving away.
Read the small print!
Book your vehicle early for the best prices.

Check Prices With Discovercars.com

TAKING YOUR RENTAL CAR TO ANOTHER ISLAND

cars queueing to board a car ferry in Tenerife — Waiting to board a ferry

Most rental companies do not provide roadside assistance cover on other islands. If you hire your vehicle on Tenerife and take your car on the ferry to another island, it will be your responsibility to get the vehicle back to Tenerife, where you picked it up from.

This means that if you break down or have an accident, you are on your own.

To check before renting, select your choice of vehicle then click “Rental Conditions” and “Additional Conditions”. This is where you will find the geographical restrictions for your rental agreement.

Tips For Island Hopping:

Hire a different vehicle on each island, travelling by ferry as a foot passenger.
Find a rental company that permits driving on different islands.
Check ferry times on the official website. We used Fred Olsen which we were very happy with.

SCENIC ROADS AND ROUTES IN TENERIFE

winding road in Masca, Tenerife — Road to Masca

There are some incredible drives in Tenerife. Here is a quick overview of some really nice road trip routes.

Anaga Rural Park – This route in the northeast takes you up through the mountains, and through dense laurisilva forest. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for hiking, sightseeing, and wildlife watching.
Teide National Park – the drive through the Parque Nacional do Teide takes you up to the summit of Spain’s highest mountain, and is a stunner. The speed limit inside the park is 70 kms/hr and there are viewpoints aplenty to admire this stunning scenery.

In summary, driving in Tenerife is easy and the best way to appreciate the wonderful landscapes. So hit the road and start exploring this beautiful island on your own road trip!

DRIVING IN TENERIFE: ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR FIRST TIMERS