Two airports. Volcanic mountain roads. No toll roads. A hire car is not just useful in Tenerife, it is the difference between seeing the island and seeing the resort. Here is how to do it properly.
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Tenerife is Spain’s most visited island and one of the most misunderstood. The south is resorts: Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos. They are fine for what they are.
But Tenerife is also a volcanic island with a 3,700-metre mountain at its centre, cloud forests, black sand beaches, remote fishing villages and a north coast that feels completely different from the sun-baked south. The resort shuttle takes you to the resort pool and back. A hire car takes you everywhere else.
This guide covers the things that genuinely matter when you hire a car in Tenerife, starting with the most important practical detail that most visitors do not know until they have already made the wrong choice. Get this right and Tenerife car hire becomes one of the best value decisions you make for the whole trip.
Tenerife Has Two Airports: Which One Should You Use?
This is the most practically useful thing to know before you book anything. Tenerife has two airports and which one you use should be determined by where you are staying and what you plan to do.
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) — Reina Sofia
Located in the south of the island, TFS is the main holiday airport serving the major resort areas of Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos.
If you are staying in the south and your primary plan is beaches and resorts, fly into TFS. It is also the better starting point for visiting Teide National Park, which sits in the centre of the island and is easier to approach from the south.
Tenerife North Airport (TFN) — Los Rodeos
The smaller northern airport serves Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the historic northern towns.
If you are staying in the north or want to explore the Anaga Rural Park, the Orotava Valley and the wine-producing areas around Tacoronte, fly into TFN.
It is a significantly smaller airport than TFS with a quieter hire car desk experience.
Insider tip: Many flights from northern Europe default to TFS regardless of where you are staying. If you are staying in the north and have a choice of airport, TFN will save you at least an hour of driving each way. If you have no choice and fly into TFS but are staying in the north, the TF-5 motorway connecting south to north takes about 45 minutes. It is free of tolls.
Why a Hire Car is Essential for Seeing the Real Tenerife
Tenerife’s public transport connects the major towns on the main roads. Everything beyond those routes requires either an expensive taxi, an organised tour or a hire car. The places most worth visiting are almost all off the main routes.
Teide National Park is technically accessible by bus but the service is infrequent and the timings make a full day visit difficult. The remote beaches of the Anaga Peninsula in the northeast require a car. The wine villages of the north and the small coastal towns of the west are effectively inaccessible without your own transport.
Tenerife is also small enough that a hire car never feels like a burden. The island is about 80 kilometres from north to south. You can drive from the southern resorts to the northern coast in under an hour on the free motorway.
Choosing the Right Car for Tenerife
The same principle applies here as in Mallorca. Smaller is better. When comparing car hire Tenerife deals, resist upgrading to a larger vehicle unless the group size genuinely demands it. The mountain roads around Teide and through the Anaga are narrow, winding and occasionally steep. A compact car handles them more comfortably and parks more easily in the small towns.
Tenerife mountain roads deserve particular attention. The descent from the Teide caldera to the north coast through La Orotava passes through multiple hairpin bends on a road that narrows considerably. If you are not comfortable with mountain driving, approach Teide from the south on the broader TF-21 road instead. The landscape is extraordinary from either direction but the southern approach is significantly more straightforward.
Car Hire in Tenerife: What to Watch Out For
Local Companies vs International Brands
Tenerife has three highly regarded local car hire companies that consistently outperform the international brands on price, transparency and customer service: Cicar, Autoreisen and TopCar.
All three have desks at both Tenerife airports, include comprehensive insurance with zero excess in their standard pricing, and are consistently well reviewed.
If you are comparing car rental Tenerife deals and one of these three appears in your results, they are worth a close look before committing to one of the international brands.
A word of caution on pricing: the international brands at the airport desk often appear cheaper in initial comparisons but the total cost including insurance excess waiver and desk upsell frequently makes them more expensive than the local alternatives.
Always compare total costs with full insurance included rather than the base rental price alone.
Insurance Reality in Tenerife
The same insurance upselling dynamic that exists across mainland Spain applies in Tenerife. Your hire car comes with liability cover and CDW but with an excess held on your credit card.
The desk will offer to reduce this excess. As with mainland Spain, purchasing excess cover independently in advance is typically far cheaper than what you will be offered at the airport desk.
Summer Pricing and Availability
Tenerife is a year-round destination which means hire car demand never drops to the rock-bottom winter prices you find on the Balearic Islands.
That said, July and August are still the peak months and prices rise accordingly. June is often significantly cheaper than July for the same vehicle and the weather is excellent. If your dates are flexible, late June represents very good value.
The Two Airport Deposit Consideration
If you are picking up at one airport and dropping off at another, most companies charge a one-way fee. On an island the size of Tenerife this is rarely necessary as the drive between airports is under an hour.
However if your itinerary involves flying into one airport and out of another, factor in the additional cost when comparing.
The Best Drives in Tenerife
Teide National Park: The Volcanic Interior
Insider tip: The Teide summit cable car books up weeks in advance during summer. Book online before you travel at the official Teide website. The summit also requires a separate free permit to access on foot, also bookable online in advance. Driving to the cable car base station is straightforward on the TF-21 road from the south.
Teide National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the principal reason why car hire in Tenerife unlocks experiences that no resort shuttle or tour bus can replicate. The road through the park passes through a volcanic caldera at over 2,000 metres altitude, with views across to the other Canary Islands on clear days.
Allow a full day, bring warm clothing even in summer as the altitude makes temperatures significantly cooler than the coast, and stop at the Parador hotel viewpoint for the most dramatic view of the summit.
The Anaga Rural Park: The Wild Northeast
The Anaga Peninsula in the far northeast of the island is ancient laurel forest, dramatic coastal cliffs and tiny villages connected by roads that were never built for tourism.
It feels completely different from the rest of Tenerife. The mirador at Pico del Ingles on a clear morning gives views across the entire northeast of the island.
The descent to the fishing village of Taganana on the northern coast is one of the most atmospheric drives on the island.
Insider tip: The road into Taganana is single track with passing places. It is perfectly driveable in a small car but not recommended in anything larger. The village has a handful of restaurants serving fresh fish and local wine. It is worth arriving before midday on weekdays when it is quiet.
The Orotava Valley: The Green North
The Orotava Valley descending from Teide to the north coast is one of the most fertile and beautiful landscapes in the Canaries. The town of La Orotava (pronounced la o-ro-ta-va) itself is colonial architecture and stunning views.
Puerto de la Cruz below it is the original tourist resort of Tenerife with a very different character to the southern developments. Visitors exploring mainland Spain alongside Tenerife will find our car hire in Spain guide covers everything from toll roads and low emission zones to the best road trips.
The drive from Santa Cruz de Tenerife along the TF-5 through La Laguna and down to Puerto de la Cruz takes about 40 minutes and passes through the heart of the historic north.
The West Coast: Los Gigantes and the Masca Valley
The Los Gigantes (pronounced los hee-gan-tess, meaning The Giants) cliffs on the west coast are among the most dramatic sea cliffs in the Atlantic. The road down to Masca village from the plateau above is a series of switchbacks cut into a volcanic ravine.
Masca itself is a handful of houses clinging to the side of a mountain. It is one of the most visited spots on the island and best reached early in the morning before the tour buses arrive.
Practical Information for Hiring a Car in Tenerife
Driving Licence Requirements
EU licence holders drive in Tenerife on their national licence. Drivers from outside the EU require an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence. Obtain this before you travel.
Fuel
Petrol prices in the Canary Islands are lower than mainland Spain due to lower local taxes. Stations are well distributed across the island. Fill up before heading into the mountains as stations are less frequent on the Teide approach roads.
For up-to-date information on events, attractions and travel conditions across the island, the official Tenerife tourism guide published by the island authority is the most reliable source.
Parking
Parking in Tenerife is generally free and straightforward outside the main resort towns. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz have paid parking zones in the centre.
Resort areas have designated car parks for beaches and attractions. Free parking is usually available a short walk from any paid zone.
No Toll Roads
Like Mallorca, Tenerife has no toll roads. All roads on the island including the main TF-1 and TF-5 motorways are completely free. This is one of the practical advantages of island driving compared to mainland Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airport should I use for Tenerife?
TFS in the south for resort stays and Teide access. TFN in the north for Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna and the historic northern areas. Both have hire car desks at the terminal.
Are there toll roads in Tenerife?
No. All roads in Tenerife including the motorways are free to drive.
What is the minimum age to hire a car in Tenerife?
Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21. Drivers under 25 pay a young driver surcharge. Check specific conditions when you compare.
Is Tenerife easy to drive around?
The main roads and motorways are straightforward. The mountain roads around Teide and in the Anaga Peninsula are narrow and winding but manageable in a small car.
The most challenging roads are the descent to Masca and the upper Anaga roads, both of which are driveable with care.
What is the best time of year to hire a car in Tenerife?
Tenerife is warm year-round. June is excellent value as prices are lower than July and August but the weather is already very good.
Winter months from November to February see the lowest hire car prices and the island is quieter, which makes driving easier. Summer is perfectly fine but book early as availability tightens.
Ready to Explore Tenerife by Car?
Tenerife is two completely different islands depending on how you experience it. The resort version is fine. The version with a hire car, where you drive to Teide before the tour buses arrive, find the road down to Taganana before anyone else does, and watch the sunset over Los Gigantes from the coastal road, is something else entirely.
Ready to book? Compare car hire in Tenerife alongside deals across mainland Spain and the other Canary Islands at Getcarhire.com. Over 500 suppliers, free cancellation on most vehicles, and transparent pricing from the start.
Your Tenerife road trip starts here.