Car rental in Tenerife

A rental car is a great way to visit Tenerife's best beaches, take pictures of scenic cliffs, see exotic misty forests, and discover lost villages — all within a short vacation. 

Travelling by car means freedom and comfort. With a car, you don’t need to get up early for the bus tour to pick up other tourists from all the hotels, you don't need to admire local wonders in a crowd of tourists according to the schedule, and you don't need to rush to catch your public transport. You will go where you want to go for as much time as you want to spend there.

Driving in Tenerife is a pure pleasure. The roads are excellent and the views are beautiful, the drivers are polite and the parking lots is spacious even near beaches and popular attractions.

Where and when is best to book a car

On Tenerife, it is best to book a car well in advance because it is full of tourists all year round. The earlier you book a rental car, the more and better options you will have.

You can choose and book a car from a reliable local rental company on our website. Simply enter a city and dates in the green search bar, and the website will show you all the available options.

Benefits of booking on Localrent.com:

• All prices are listed on the website. You know the total price of the order in advance. Once you have made the advance payment, the price will not increase.
• The advance payment is only 15-20% of the price. You pay the remaining amount after you inspect the car.
• The deposit is lower than the market average. You can rent some cars without a deposit.
• The website is user-friendly and intuitive.
• Support in several languages.
  

How many days to rent a car on Tenerife

It depends on your plans and capabilities. You can quickly visit top sights in a couple of days. And if you are planning a leisurely, action-packed tour of the sights and beaches, then the best option is to rent a car for the whole vacation.

Car rental insurance

• Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL) covers damage caused to third parties. 
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers damage to the rental car, except for the headlights, wheels, and windows.
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) also covers damage to headlights, wheels, and windows.

All of these insurances require a deposit (franchise). Franchise is the maximum amount of the renter's liability, i.e., in case of damage to the rental car, the renter covers the costs within the amount of franchise, and the insurance company pays the rest.

Tenerife has a very low theft rate, near zero. But there are cases of theft of items left in cars. So, the safety rules are simple: 

• Do not leave anything in the car unattended;
• Close the windows before leaving;
• Lock your car at the parking facility.
  

Which car to choose

You will get to any coastal location on the island by economy car. But you need to take into account the number of travellers, size of luggage, and purpose of your trip. If you are travelling with four or five people or with heavy luggage, you should opt for a bigger, more powerful car.

For trips to the mountains, choose a car with an engine capacity of 1.4-1.6 litres.

A minivan is a great option for a group of people that have the same idea of the perfect vacation. If some people want to go to the beaches and others want to go to the mountains, it is better to rent two cars.

A convertible is suitable for one or two people travelling together. There’s little legroom and it’s very windy at the rear seats of a convertible.

Traffic regulations on Tenerife

Please observe speed limits because all roads are equipped with radars. Speed limits:

• 50 km/h in the city;
• 90 km/h outside the city;
• 120 km/h on expressways.

On winding roads, speed can be limited to 40 km/h. Pay attention to the road signs. 

Seat belts must be worn by all car occupants. 

Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

Do not talk on a cell phone without a hands-free system. Do not use your phone during refuelling. 

You can be fines for throwing cigarette butts out the car window. 

You can pay the fine on the spot to a police officer. Yes, the police officer will actually issue a fine to you.

Parking on Tenerife

Free parking lots are marked with white marking on the pavement. Paid parking lots are marked with blue marking. You can pay at the nearest parking meter and put the receipt under the windshield. 

There are many underground car parks on the island. The parking fee is collected at the exit.

You cannot park in the spaces for the public transport (marked with yellow lines) and for people with disabilities. 

Do not violate the parking rules or your car will be quickly towed.

Where to go by car on Tenerife

The most interesting natural sight is Mount Teide. Teide National Park is located in an incredible volcanic desert. You will see the landscapes of different shapes and colours, the wild beauty of gorges, and lava fields. To visit the volcano, you will need a permission from the Online Booking Office of the National Parks. 

Anaga Rural Park in the north-east of the island is a realm of mountains, relict forests reaching the sky, and remote villages. You can visit the Benijo Beach, one of the most beautiful on the island, a moss-covered rock tunnel, and a lighthouse. 

The cliffs and gorges of the Teno Mountains in the north-west of the island with the famous Masca Gorge, one of the deepest in Spain. The views are majestic and scenic. 

Another must-see is the south-east coast of Tenerife, the area between Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes, home to dolphins and pilot whales.