Car Hire in Tenerife

Why hire a car in Tenerife?

Home of both the prettiest beaches and loudest parties in the Canaries, Tenerife has a decades-long standing as a popular vacation destination. Those looking for more of a challenge will look into climbing El Teide, Spain’s highest peak, or exploring the national park that surrounds it.

Top ways to enter Tenerife

• Tenerife South Airport. The busiest of the two international airports serving the island, Tenerife South serves about 11 million passengers yearly. The airport has flights by more than 30 different airlines, including low-cost carriers such as easyJet and Ryanair.
• Tenerife North Airport. The smaller of the two, Tenerife North handles about 5.8 million travellers every year. The airport is just a 20-minute drive west of Santa Cruz, the main settlement of the island. 

Top sights and activities

• Santa Cruz. Tenerife is naturally all about the beach, but if you can, spare at least a day for its largest city. The co-capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz is home to a beautiful and notably diverse architecture of various styles, the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (with a large focus on the native Guanche population), and plenty of character.
• Los Cristianos. Located near the Tenerife South Airport, Los Cristianos is perhaps the most famous coastal resort on the island. In addition to having splendid public beaches, the town also serves as a convenient hub for accessing most of the notable attractions of Southern Tenerife and is a jump-off point for whale watching tours.
• El Teide. A volcano and a mountain reaching the awe-inspiring height of 3,718 m (or 12,198 feet), El Teide is the symbol of Tenerife. It’s possible to reach the mountain top (although that requires a special permit), but exploring the surrounding national park of the same name can be just as exciting.

Traffic and parking

• Spain recognizes driving licences from all the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) if they are valid and if you’re visiting for a time period that is less than six months. If you are staying for longer than six months or if you’re a full-time resident of Spain, you need to acquire a Spanish driving licence.
• Important: Sources differ on whether you need to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you’re coming from outside the EU/EEA and are on a short visit. While your rental car company might permit you to rent a car with your valid foreign license, some sources claim that the Spanish police might not recognize your home license and will require you to have an IDP. Because of this, it’s probably safer to get an IDP and carry both your original licence and the IDP with you.
• Similarly, if your driving licence doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• You must carry your driving licence, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driving licence for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Tenerife, nor on any of the other Canary Islands.

Ideas for day trips

• San Cristóbal de La Laguna. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this highland city is perhaps the most interesting historical attraction in the Canaries. Overlooking the sea and the city of Santa Cruz (from which it is only a 20-minute drive away), San Cristóbal is home to architectural gems like the Church of the Immaculate Conception and House of Salazar.
• Teno Rural Park. Located on the relatively remote (though easily accessible) western coast of Tenerife, Teno is a place for long hikes that let visitors explore the park’s marine cliffs and great avian diversity. The drive here takes 45 minutes from Los Cristianos and twice as long from Santa Cruz.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in Tenerife is the Fiat Panda, followed by the Seat Ibiza and the VW Polo. The most popular car types are economy, mini, and compact.

Car hire prices in Tenerife

• Small cars - starting at £5 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £9 per day
• SUVs - starting at £8 per day
• Convertibles - starting at £16 per day
• Large cars - starting at £11 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £16 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £11 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £40 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some good methods to save money on your car:

• Compare rates of different car providers
• Book your 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. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, our data shows that hiring a car in Tenerife is the cheapest in the month of June.