Car Rental in Lanzarote

Why rent a car in Lanzarote?

One of the two easternmost of the Canaries and located just 125 km (78 miles) from mainland Africa, Lanzarote is unique even among its sister islands. Strongly influenced by the climate of the nearby Sahara, the island is home to volcanic, desert-like landscapes and hauntingly beautiful beaches. 

Top ways to enter Lanzarote

• Lanzarote Airport: Also known as César Manrique Airport (named in honour of the local artist), it is located in the village of San Bartolomé near Lanzarote’s capital city, Arrecife. Large and modern, Lanzarote Airport is served by more than 40 different airlines that offer flights to the Spanish mainland as well as many other countries in Europe.
• Fuerteventura Airport: Also known as El Matorral Airport, Fuerteventura Airport serves the island that’s the closest to Lanzarote. Located on Fuerteventura’s northeast coast, it is located near the island’s capital city, Puerto del Rosario, which has a port with a frequent ferry service to Lanzarote. The ferry costs €20 and takes approximately 35 minutes. You pass by Isla de Lobos on the scenic journey. 
• Gran Canaria Airport: The busiest airport in the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria Airport serves the island of the same name. A hub for low-cost carriers such as Vueling and Norwegian Air, the airport served more than 13 million travelers in 2018. Sitting on Gando Bay in the eastern part of the island, the airport is located about 19km (12 miles) from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria’s largest city.
• Tenerife North Airport: Also known as Los Rodeos Airport, it is one of the fastest-growing airports in the Canary Islands. The airport served 5.5 million passengers in 2018, a 17% increase from the year before. The airport is located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, near Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz.

It is easy to reach Lanzarote from the neighboring islands, especially Fuerteventura, as there is a frequent ferry service to and from all of them (although you should check the schedules beforehand as the service is more active during the tourist season). Nevertheless, ask your rental car supplier if they permit taking a rental car on a ferry and whether it’s possible to pick up a rental car on one island and then drop it off on another - some providers permit that while others don’t. Another option is to fly to a neighboring island, such as Gran Canaria or Tenerife, then take a ferry to Lanzarote from there and pick up a rental car after arriving in Lanzarote. These ferry crossings take a minimum of 6-9 hours so if you are only there for a short time, you may prefer to fly directly. 

City facts

• Like the rest of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote has a subtropical-desert climate and has been called the “Island of Eternal Spring”. The average temperature is 25°C  (77°F) in July, the hottest month, and the temperature exceeds 19°C  (67°F) from April to November. The island has very little precipitation, with some rainfall from November to March, but practically none from May to September.
• Lanzarote’s moonlike volcanic environment is more harsh than that of other Canary islands, but unique animal and plant species have still found home here. Some of those include the dromedary, or Arabian camel; a number of lizards; the Canarian Egyptian vulture;, the Canary Island date palm, and even wild olive trees. The island is also a famous winemaking region with local specialties like the red wines made from the native listán negro grapes and the white wines made from malvasía. It’s definitely worth taking a tour that incorporates a winery visit to see how unusual this wine making process is. 

Top sights and activities

• Haria. Located in the northern part of the island, the small village of Haria is mainly famous for the stunning Cueva de los Verdes cave. Created more than 3,000 years ago when lava erupted from the nearby Monte Corona village, it served as a hiding place for locals trying to escape pirates and slave merchants. Nowadays, parts of the otherworldly cave are open to visitors, and it even has a concert hall. Back in Haria, try to visit the craft market which is open every Saturday morning.
• Teguise. A former holiday resort known for its unique royal architecture, Teguise’s buildings are characterized by impressive facades, rich ornaments, and wooden balconies. Other points of interest include the Spinola Palace and the Piracy Museum at the Santa Barbara Fort. Located in the north-central part of the island, Teguise can be easily reached from any point on Lanzarote.
• Arrecife. The island’s capital might not be the number one reason why people travel to Lanzarote, but it nonetheless offers plenty of delights, including the San Gines lagoon, the International Museum of Contemporary Art, and some of the best restaurants on the island.
• Surfing and diving. Similar to nearby Morocco, Lanzarote is a popular surfing hub. There are plenty of places to catch that Atlantic breeze, but the best among them is arguably the town of Famara on the northwestern coast where you’ll find plenty of surfing, as well as kite and windsurfing shops and instructors. If you’re more into diving, make sure to check out Playa Blanca in the far south.

Traffic and parking

• Speed limits - 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h (56mph) on most standard roads, 100km/h (62mph) on standard roads that are either one-way roads, roads with more than two lanes for at least one direction of traffic and roads with shoulders more than 1.5m wide, and 120km/h (74mph) on motorways (called autovías in Spain).
• The car’s documentation and proof of insurance has to be inside the vehicle at all times.
• The driver and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts.
• Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm travelling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.
• Unnecessary use of car horns is prohibited.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
• The emergency number is 112.

Toll roads

Most of the roads in Spain are toll-free. Toll roads are called ‘carretera de peaje’. On maps and road signs, all toll roads have to include a letter P after the road type. The payment method may vary depending on the road, but most will accept cash. Regardless of the region, the average estimated price is €9.5 ($11.25) per 100km by car. See the official website for prices and more information. 

Ideas for day trips

• San Bartolomé. Located at the very center of the island, San Bartolomé is a fun little town. It is famous for its crafts which you can buy here from local artists as well as for the impressive Monument to the Peasant Farmer, a gigantic white sculpture made by Cesar Manrique, Lanzarote’s most famous artist. San Bartolomé is just 8km (5 miles) northwest of Arrecife and can be reached by car in 10 minutes.
• Timanfaya National Park. In just six years in the early 18th century, more than 100 volcanoes erupted in Lanzarote creating its unique landscape that hasn’t changed to this day. The best place to enjoy the otherworldly scenery is at the Timanfaya National Park in the southwestern part of the island where you can hike on the paths of volcanic soil or visit El Diablo (the devil) restaurant where traditional food is cooked by the heat coming from the volcano. Timanfaya is about 24km (14.9 miles) from Arrecife and can be reached in 25-30 minutes.
• Playa Blanca. A popular resort, Playa Blanca is located about an hour’s drive from Arrecife at the far south of Lanzarote. Known for its white sand beaches, the town is also known for its lighthouse from which you can see the island of Fuerteventura to the south (Playa Blanca is also just a short ferry from Puerto del Rosario, the capital of Fuerteventura, though if you want to go with a car, you should ask your rental supplier in advance if they permit such a trip).

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Lanzarote is the Fiat 500, and many travelers also go for the Peugeot 108 and the Fiat Panda. The most popular rental car types are economy, mini, and standard.

Further destinations

• La Graciosa. A small island near the northern edge of Lanzarote, La Graciosa can only be accessed by boat and you cannot bring a rental car. But it is a unique place to visit. Part of the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park with a population of only 600 and with no paved roads, it has a special, secluded atmosphere and some of the most beautifully haunting scenery in the Canary Islands. You can take a boat from Órzola, a small town just a 30-40 minute drive north of Arrecife.  Or if you prefer to see it from above, you can see the stunning view from Mirador del Rio.
• Fuerteventura. Quite similar to neighboring Lanzarote, Fuerteventura is also a stunning destination. The mineral conditions on the island have created unique beaches of many colors such as the White Beach, the Yellow Beach, and the Black Beach. Fuerteventura is also a surfing and kitesurfing mecca with many schools located around Playa de Sotavento and in other parts of the island. With a rental car you can even go into the mountains away from the coast to appreciate the unique, arid scenery and visit little villages. Ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit taking a rental car on a ferry from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura.
• Gran Canaria. The most populous of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is very popular with tourists from all over Europe and can get quite crowded, especially during the high season and at the main resorts. The island is, nonetheless, worth visiting, especially for its unique landscapes, world-class beaches, and Las Palmas, the only true city of the Canary Islands. Ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit taking a rental car on a ferry from Lanzarote to Gran Canaria.
• Tenerife. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is famous for its many beach resorts but also attractions like El Teide, the highest peak in Spain, and the national park of the same name, as well as other natural attractions like Los Gigantes cliffs and Corona Forest Nature Park. During the summer months, there is a direct ferry connection between Lanzarote and Tenerife. As always, make sure the ferry company permits taking a car with you and also ask in advance whether your rental car provider is okay with it.

Car rental prices in Lanzarote

• Small cars - from $5 per day
• Medium cars - from $6 per day
• Large cars - from $18 per day
• SUVs - from $10 per day
• Convertibles - from $38 per day
• Vans - from $13 per day
• Premium cars - from $98 per day
• Station wagons - from $23 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips to land a great rental car in Lanzarote:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting the island is the cheapest in June when renting a car is about 65% cheaper than the yearly average. Come visit Lanzarote in early summer!