Car Rental in the Canary Islands

Renting a car in the Canary Islands is certainly the best way to visit these beautiful islands in total freedom and in every corner. In fact, it is really indispensable.

In fact, public transport is infrequent but above all, it does not reach most of the natural attractions, the true pride of these islands. The landscape that each island shows to your eyes will force you to stop every 5 minutes to photograph them.

Driving a car in the Canary Islands will not be difficult or expensive, as they are on average much cheaper than other destinations.

Whether you choose to visit Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria, car hire is a service you must necessarily take into account, giving you the autonomy and independence you need to experience each island at its best.

Advantages of car rental

The advantages of renting a car in the Canary Islands are innumerable. As already mentioned, the fact that you can explore the length and breadth of the island without having to rely on buses is an unparalleled advantage in itself, considering that at every metre you will want to stop and take a wonderful souvenir photo.

A hire car will allow you to visit beaches, coves, miradores and small villages, otherwise almost impossible to reach by public transport.

Some might turn their nose up at the cost of car rental or fuel – nothing could be more wrong! The cost of renting a car is indeed very low compared to other European seaside resorts, and the fact that the archipelago enjoys a special tax regime means that the price of petrol is very low.

Moreover, the roads are all free, including the autopistas (motorways), very well paved and the signage is present and well marked. Parking is also very easy most of the time.

Traffic practically does not exist, unless you decide to visit Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which are cities in every way, about the size of Florence or Bologna. The rest of the Canary Islands are small villages and towns that are easy to get around, and doing so with a hire car will be no problem.

How much does it cost to rent a car in the Canary Islands?

A lot depends of course on the type of car you choose and the time of year you rent, but in general we can say that car rental in the Canary Islands is cheap.

The average cost of car rental in the Canary Islands is around €100/150 per week. Clearly, if you book well in advance, while if you book the car a few days before or in peak season (i.e. Easter, August and at Christmas-New Year), prices increase.

When to book a car?

Our advice is to always book online before arriving in the Canary Islands. By booking online, you can choose the most suitable type of car by comparing the rates of all companies, locking in the price without having to pay (most of the time) any deposit and with the possibility of cancelling or changing your booking free of charge up to 48 hours before collection.

Main car rental locations in the Canary Islands

On each island it is possible to rent a car, either at airports or in the main tourist centres. Certainly one of the following airports will be your point of arrival and therefore the ideal location to rent a car.

Driving in the Canary Islands

Driving in the Canary Islands follows the rules of mainland Spain. A European driving licence is required to drive, while the highway code is very similar to that of other European countries. Here are some rules to take into account:

• The use of seat belts is mandatory, both for the driver and for all passengers, including those in the back seats of the car.
• Children up to 12 years of age and less than 135 cm tall must travel in the front seat with a child seat.
• On motorways, the speed limit for cars and motorbikes is 120 km/h, on suburban roads with more than one lane it is 100 km/h, and in towns the normal limit of 50 km/h applies.
• The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% (0.01% for those who have had their licence for less than two years).
• Lights must be kept on throughout the day.
• Pedestrians always have right of way. Violation results in a hefty fine.

Fines

We advise you to pay attention to the few traffic rules. Especially in tourist areas, police checks are very frequent and strict. If you are fined, you can pay it in the following ways:

• on the website of the Dirección General de Tráfico of Spain
• at post offices or Provincial Traffic Commands
• at Caixa bank branches
• by calling 060 and paying by credit card directly over the phone.

Be aware that penalties can be reduced by 50% if paid within 20 days and that a fine can be contested within 15 days.

Boarding the rental car on the ferry

Most tourists visiting the Canary Islands tend to discover more than one island by embarking their rental car on ferries.

This is indeed a very practical and convenient solution, but it is important to know that not all car rental companies offer the possibility of moving the car from one island to another, so ask your company before booking the ferry. Usually it is the local companies that place more restrictions on moving between islands, while international companies almost always allow it.

One way between islands

There is the possibility to rent a car on one island and drop it off on another, thus making a one-way trip (one way). It is a solution that offers the undoubted advantage of not having to return, thus allowing you to land with your flight on one island and depart again from another, optimising your travel.

However, although many international car rental companies are organised to offer this service, the cost of the one way is usually very high, in fact it is around 300.00 euro, regardless of the length of the rental.

Dirt roads

Many car rental companies in the Canary Islands (but in general almost everywhere else in the world) do not cover any damages incurred while driving on unpaved roads. This is usually well indicated on the car rental contract.

On islands like Gran Canaria or Tenerife the problem does not arise as practically all roads are paved, but on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote you will often have to take dirt roads if you want to reach some of the most beautiful parts of the islands. Be very careful when driving on these roads as some of them are very bumpy, even with rocks that could cause damage to the car’s bottom or slash the tyres.

Alternatively, you could hire a car that can also be used on unpaved roads, such as a 4×4.

Parking in the Canary Islands

On-street parking is not always allowed in the Canary Islands and most are metered, often even on public holidays. Avoid parking outside the permitted lines or going over the paid time as controls are very frequent and the police are relentless.

In the Canary Islands, especially in the most popular areas, there are also some paid parking spaces that allow you to leave your car only once a day, based on your licence plate number. So when you go to pay for parking, remember to write down your licence plate number, as it must be indicated on the parking meter.

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