Renting A Car In Tenerife: Everything You Need To Know

Renting a car in Tenerife is the best way to explore this wonderful Canary Island. From quaint colonial-era towns, epic mountains, lush forests and great scenic roads, Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, is ripe for exploring.

Here is our complete guide on how to rent a car in Tenerife, in which we tell you:

which type of car is best for your needs
deciding which car rental companies are best for you
vehicle insurance recommendations
rules and regulations you need to know to avoid getting fined

Follow this guide so that you will feel confident renting a car in Tenerife. Because let’s face it, you want freedom, flexibility, and to be able to explore independently.

What You’ll Find in this Article:

WHY SHOULD YOU HIRE A CAR IN TENERIFE
HOW TO RENT A CAR IN TENERIFE
BEST RENTAL COMPANIES WHEB RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE?
WHERE SHOULD YOU PICK UP YOUR CAR RENTAL IN TENERIFE?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE?
DO YOU NEED TO BOOK ANY EXTRAS?
IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE
HOW MUCH DOES RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE COST?
PICKING UP YOUR RENTAL CAR IN TENERIFE
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE
RETURNING YOUR RENTAL CAR
MORE POSTS ON TENERIFE

WHY SHOULD YOU HIRE A CAR IN TENERIFE

winding road in Tenerife — Renting a car in Tenerife to drive this road!

I’m guessing that you plan to spend as little time as possible in one place, and explore as much of the island as you can. While public transport is great, and choices of excursions from Tenerife plentiful, you don’t want to limit yourself to others timetables.

Renting a car in Tenerife enables you to:

have the greatest flexibility to go anywhere
have the ability to visit more remote areas of the island
possess ultimate freedom to independently plan your own road trip

With your own car, you can enjoy breakfast in Adeje, drive to Masca and look down into a volcanic gorge and finish the day visiting Teide.

You don’t want to miss Anaga Rural Park and all the other incredible things to do in north Tenerife.

Plus, renting a car in Tenerife is easy, inexpensive and reliable. Roads and motorways are in excellent condition and the scenery you will encounter is amazing.

You may feel wary about renting a vehicle for your trip. What are the roads like in Tenerife? Is it safe to drive in Tenerife? Before you rent your vehicle, especially if this is your first rental, check out our article on driving in Tenerife.

HOW TO RENT A CAR IN TENERIFE

The booking platform that we use regularly is Discovercars.com which we find very competitive in price. They include all the top rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget etc) in their search results and the interface is very clear and easy to use.

REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO RENT A CAR IN TENERIFE

The following elements are required when renting a car in Tenerife:

A Valid Driver’s License

If you hold a valid EU driver’s license you can legally drive in Spain
UK license holders are permitted to drive for up to 6 months in the country
Foreign drivers outside the EU must also obtain an International Driving Permit

A Valid Credit Card

To cover such things as damage to the vehicle, returning the vehicle with less fuel than was specified.

You Must Be 21 Years Of Age

Be aware that for certain cars with a few rental companies, you are required to be 23 years of age

You Must Have More Than 2 Years Driving Experience

BEST RENTAL COMPANIES WHEB RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE?

You will find most of the big-name car rental companies throughout Tenerife, such as Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Budget and Europcar.

If you want to help support the local economy you can hire your vehicle through local companies such as Cicar, PlusCar, Canarias and Autoreisen.

Things To Consider Before Choosing Your Rental Car Company:

What are the cancellation fees?
Is the pick-up location favourable to your needs?
What if any, are the geographical restrictions?

We use Discover Cars to find the best competitive car hire prices when booking a trip. The comparison site searches all the best car rental companies at once, using any filters that you apply.

WHERE SHOULD YOU PICK UP YOUR CAR RENTAL IN TENERIFE?

If you are flying into Tenerife, then the easiest place to pick your vehicle up from is the airport. Both Tenerife North and Tenerife South Airports have all the main car rental companies.

We picked our car up from Tenerife South Airport and the location was easy and straightforward to find from the Arrivals Hall. Paperwork was sorted quickly and we loaded up our luggage and were ready to start our trip.

Be mindful if picking up your vehicle from a town, that the office opening times will be more limited than at the airport. This could require an overnight stay at the start of your trip and an extra days hire at the end.

Check current deals at Tenerife South Airport

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE?

If this is your first time renting a car, Tenerife is a great place to start.

DO YOU NEED TO BOOK YOUR CAR IN ADVANCE?

The answer to this question is a resounding YES. Tenerife is a very popular destination year-round, especially during the summer months.

If you want to have the widest choice of vehicles at the best prices, you have to book in advance. This will also mean that you can cancel your booking free of charge and also ensure that you have the vehicle you want.

Don’t leave booking till the last minute as demand is very high in Tenerife. You can’t go on an epic road trip with no car!

WHAT TYPE OF CAR SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

While this ultimately depends on the number of passengers, the amount of luggage you have and your budget, here are some considerations to bear in mind.

Manual versus Automatic transmission – Some scenic roads are winding with hairpin bends, so an automatic, though more costly will be a huge bonus.
Diesel, Petrol or Electric? – The majority of hire cars are unleaded.
Size And Model – Ensure that you have the power to get up hills and steep roads. It is important to have all luggage out of site when stopping. If you are road tripping around the island, you don’t all want to be crammed into a smaller vehicle, just to save money.

DO YOU NEED TO BOOK ANY EXTRAS?

GPS in a car — If you can, why not take your own GPS system with you

When you are booking your car, you will be able to book some additional features including the following. Here are our tips on whether these are required.

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

This can be a good idea, especially if the extra charge is minimal.

GPS

You will certainly need some way of navigating your way from one hotspot to another around the island, and especially to those off the beaten-track places. You have several options.

Pay For GPS – This is always expensive and not recommended.
Use Your Phone – Download maps beforehand so that you can navigate without wifi. Be aware that roaming charges abroad can be very expensive.
Use Your Own GPS – This is by far our favourite way to navigate. We are used to using the device and can also pre-enter several destinations beforehand which is ideal.

CHILD SEATS

Children under the age of 12 years must sit in the rear seats of the vehicle, while small children must be in child seats. When booking your vehicle you can stipulate via a filter whether or not you require a child seat, which are often free.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Not actually insurance and included by some rental agreements, coverage can include things such as:

Flat tyre
loss or damage of car keys
rental vehicle failing to start

IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE

Included in the car rental price is unlimited Third-Party Liability Insurance, which is required by law in Spain.

As to what extras you might need, it is up to you. However, we definitely recommend that you pay the extra for full coverage insurance or rent a car where full coverage is already included in the rental price.

It can be extremely confusing understanding the wording when it comes to insurance, so here is a general guide.

Theft Protection (TP) – This waiver limits your liability up to the vehicle’s deductible/excess amount in the event the car is stolen. You usually need to provide the police report as well as the car keys. TP is frequently included in the car rental price.
Third Party Liability (TPL) – Covers things like personal and material damage caused to other people’s vehicles, medical expenses and more.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) -This waiver limits the customer’s responsibility during the rental period and sets the maximum amount of money the customer will have to pay for potential damages. This is the cover we always take out for peace of mind.

Whether a CDW is included in your rental agreement or not depends on the type of car you select and in which country you rent the car. To see if a CDW is included, check the Rental Conditions section or refer to the list next to the picture of the car.

HOW TO PURCHASE INSURANCE

Purchase When Booking Your Car – This is the easiest way to ensure the best price paid. Discovercars.com have an option for Full Collision Damage Waiver when you book a vehicle.
At The Rental Company Counter – This should be your last resort as you will definitely pay a higher price. However, this is still a viable option if you havn’t already bought full insurance cover.
Travel Insurance Policy or Your Personal Car Insurance – Always check and read the fine print to establish what if any cover for rental vehicles is included.

HOW MUCH DOES RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE COST?

Car rental prices will fluctuate depending on the season you are visiting Tenerife. Low season prices will be a less than high season and holiday season.

Check prices from Discovercars.com, to give you a clearer idea.

Choosing An Insurance Policy With a Deductible

A deductible is the maximum amount of money you are liable to pay in the event your rental car is damaged or stolen as long as you follow the conditions of your rental agreement.

The rental company may block an amount equal to this deductible plus the cost of a tank of fuel onto your credit card. This could be 1,000 euros or more.

To get around this, purchase full coverage insurance with a zero excess, or use a different credit card for the hold charge.

Ways To Save Money When Renting A Car In Tenerife

Book early!
Hire a smaller vehicle
Pick up and drop off at the same location
Make a booking with limited mileage

PICKING UP YOUR RENTAL CAR IN TENERIFE

diagram of a hire car with pointers of where to check for any damage

Pick up is usually smooth and straight forward, however it pays to be mindful of a few things, namely:

Make sure that a thorough check has been made of the exterior of the vehicle. Whether the rental company employee does this with you, look out for dents and scratches on the roof and the whole of the vehicle.
Check the state of tyres, bumpers, mirrors etc.
Make a note of the mileage and fuel level.
Be sure that there is a spare wheel, tools, 2 warning triangles, and reflective vest inside the vehicle.

Ask for a map to show how to get to the nearest motorway and whether there are any toll roads or roads you are not permitted to drive on.

Keep your rental agreement in a safe place.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE

driving off a car ferry — Taking the ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A PROBLEM

Your rental agreement will have details of the steps to take in the event of an issue with the vehicle. There will be a number for breakdown assistance and with your car rental company will advise how to access a replacement vehicle.

BEING ISSUED WITH A PARKING OR SPEEDING FINE

If you are stopped and fined for a traffic offence, you will have to pay on the spot.

If however, you are unaware of the fine, the car rental company will be notified and it can take several weeks for them to notify you. They should sent you proof of the fine, the amount to be paid and sometimes an administration fee is added on top.

CHECK WHETHER YOU CAN CHANGE ISLANDS

Although you should check the geographical restrictions at the time of booking, make sure you know the cover before you drive off. Hiring your vehicle on one island and taking a ferry to another island may result in no road assistance cover, until you return.

If renting with Discovercars, if this isn’t noted under “Additional Conditions”, send an email to customer support for clear validation.

KNOW WHAT THE RETURN POLICY IS FOR FUEL

Make sure you know what the policy is regarding the fuel tank of your vehicle. Is it “same for same” or “full to full”. Keep an eye on your fuel consumption so that you don’t return your vehicle with too little or too much fuel.

TOP TIP: Top up most of the fuel a few miles out from the airport, as fuel prices will be more expensive the closer to the airport you travel.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF YOU DAMAGING THE CAR

Okay, so you have damaged your hire vehicle. What should you do? The first port of call is to notify the car rental company.

You will be responsible for damages up to your “deductible amount” if you only have basic insurance. Not a good idea!
If your booking was through Discovercars.com, contact them and provide all details within 28 days of returning the vehicle.

RETURNING YOUR RENTAL CAR

Apart from making sure you drop off the vehicle at the specified location, at the specified timeline and will the fuel level correct, be sure to:

Check the exterior and interior of the vehicle with the car company representative for any damage and get signed documentation from them of the state of the vehicle.
Leave yourself plenty of time to drop off your vehicle before your flight so you are not rushed. Take detailed pictures if you wish to.

Check out our detailed guide to Driving In Tenerife, do you know what to expect when you’ve picked up your rental car and are ready to head off on your adventure.

Hiring a car in Tenerife is cost-effective, convenient and more comfortable than other travel options. If you’ve followed this guide, chosen a reputable company and follow the rules of the road, your trip will be stress-free!

RENTING A CAR IN TENERIFE: EASY TIPS TO FOLLOW