{"id":224,"date":"2026-03-30T14:38:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/?p=224"},"modified":"2026-05-17T18:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T18:12:35","slug":"car-hire-in-tenerife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/car-hire-in-tenerife\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Hire in Tenerife from \u00a38\/day | No Hidden Fees | Get Car Hire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/car-hire-in-tenerife-1024x683.png\" alt=\"Car hire in Tenerife from \u00a38 a day - coastal mountain road on the north coast with the Anaga mountains behind and the Atlantic below.\" class=\"wp-image-602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/car-hire-in-tenerife-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/car-hire-in-tenerife-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/car-hire-in-tenerife-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/car-hire-in-tenerife.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The North Coast road is one of the finest drives in Tenerife. A hire car from \u00a38 a day is the only way to experience it at your own pace, away from the resort shuttle and the tour bus schedule.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30765995aad14f126ebd5c4343b243ce\"><strong><em>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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#tenerife-has-two-airports-which-one-should-you-use\">Tenerife Has Two Airports: Which One Should You Use?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#tenerife-south-airport-tfs-reina-sofia\">Tenerife South Airport (TFS) \u2014 Reina Sofia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#tenerife-north-airport-tfn-los-rodeos\">Tenerife North Airport (TFN) \u2014 Los Rodeos<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-a-hire-car-is-essential-for-seeing-the-real-tenerife\">Why a Hire Car is Essential for Seeing the Real Tenerife<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#choosing-the-right-car-for-tenerife\">Choosing the Right Car for Tenerife<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#car-hire-in-tenerife-what-to-watch-out-for\">Car Hire in Tenerife: What to Watch Out For<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#local-companies-vs-international-brands\">Local Companies vs International Brands<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#insurance-reality-in-tenerife\">Insurance Reality in Tenerife<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#summer-pricing-and-availability\">Summer Pricing and Availability<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-two-airport-deposit-consideration\">The Two Airport Deposit Consideration<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#summer-pricing-and-availability-2\">Summer Pricing and Availability<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-two-airport-deposit-consideration-3\">The Two Airport Deposit Consideration<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-best-drives-in-tenerife\">The Best Drives in Tenerife<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#the-anaga-rural-park-the-wild-northeast\">The Anaga Rural Park: The Wild Northeast<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-orotava-valley-the-green-north\">The Orotava Valley: The Green North<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-west-coast-los-gigantes-and-the-masca-valley\">The West Coast: Los Gigantes and the Masca Valley<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#practical-information-for-hiring-a-car-in-tenerife\">Practical Information for Hiring a Car in Tenerife<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#driving-licence-requirements\">Driving Licence Requirements<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#fuel\">Fuel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#parking\">Parking<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#no-toll-roads\">No Toll Roads<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#which-airport-should-i-use-for-tenerife\">Which airport should I use for Tenerife?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#are-there-toll-roads-in-tenerife\">Are there toll roads in Tenerife?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-is-the-minimum-age-to-hire-a-car-in-tenerife\">What is the minimum age to hire a car in Tenerife?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#is-tenerife-easy-to-drive-around\">Is Tenerife easy to drive around?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-is-the-best-time-of-year-to-hire-a-car-in-tenerife\">What is the best time of year to book your car hire in Tenerife?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#ready-to-explore-tenerife-by-car\">Ready to Explore Tenerife by Car?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-57e4bf2189fff3f5fb3583ce0be61af9\">Tenerife is Spain&#8217;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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4d89a856ca329585ac2694e30b88d5b6\">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 car hire in Tenerife will take you everywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c262b2af971777bd07dc13ea54f13ad2\">This guide covers the things that genuinely matter when hiring 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mount-Teide-Tenerife--1024x538.png\" alt=\"Car hire in Tenerife - the road through Teide National Park with volcanic landscape\" class=\"wp-image-225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mount-Teide-Tenerife--1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mount-Teide-Tenerife--300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mount-Teide-Tenerife--768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mount-Teide-Tenerife-.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The road to Teide National Park winds through volcanic landscape that looks like nothing else on earth. A hire car is the only way to experience it at your own pace.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tenerife-has-two-airports-which-one-should-you-use\"><strong>Tenerife Has Two Airports: Which One Should You Use?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49c783b7a515c6e1fe4fa83387b0117b\">This is the most practically useful thing to know before you book your car hire in Tenerife. Tenerife has two airports and which one you use should be determined by where you are staying and what you plan to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tenerife-south-airport-tfs-reina-sofia\"><strong>Tenerife South Airport (TFS) \u2014 Reina Sofia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-62d05f4a2fe56716edff9d134e45cbcb\">Economy car hire in Tenerife South from TFS starts from \u00a38\/day. TFS is the main holiday airport serving the major resort areas of Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-db178698f4ee6f6fee223d109cd46544\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9ac00cf961d1ea846fe5a532228b76c6\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tenerife-north-airport-tfn-los-rodeos\"><strong>Tenerife North Airport (TFN) \u2014 Los Rodeos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5da08b5795c46103f7df435672e4b28f\">TFN 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-ast-global-color-7-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-805f6be62bf0daf68a24bfad7af2acd2\"><strong>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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-a-hire-car-is-essential-for-seeing-the-real-tenerife\"><strong>Why a Hire Car is Essential for Seeing the Real Tenerife<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Car hire in Tenerife unlocks everything beyond the main roads. Public transport connects the major towns 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bus service to Teide 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Get the best Tenerife car hire deals from the range of choices on offer below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gch-widget-banner\"><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/booking-widget-banner.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"choosing-the-right-car-for-tenerife\"><strong>Choosing the Right Car for Tenerife<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smaller is better. When comparing deals, resist upgrading to a larger vehicle unless the group size genuinely demands it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"car-hire-in-tenerife-what-to-watch-out-for\"><strong>Car Hire in Tenerife: What to Watch Out For<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"local-companies-vs-international-brands\"><strong>Local Companies vs International Brands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c1c4e7e4eeb63b42ac6d571754bdb988\">local companies consistently offer the best value car hire in Tenerife deals, outperforming 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bb8ae2bb68bb4d77b1a28f61d2ca5f90\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always compare total costs with full insurance included rather than base rental price alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"insurance-reality-in-tenerife\"><strong>Insurance Reality in Tenerife<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summer-pricing-and-availability\"><strong>Summer Pricing and Availability<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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. Car hire in Tenerife prices in July and August rise accordingly. June is consistently the sweet spot for value. June rates are significantly lower than July for the same vehicle and the weather is already excellent. If your dates are flexible, late June represents very good value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-two-airport-deposit-consideration\"><strong>The Two Airport Deposit Consideration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"insurance-reality-in-tenerife-1\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e0174711fbafc8c2cbd68f86f5abec0c\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6f1dfca17e4302fa0e8d70ca277c973c\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summer-pricing-and-availability-2\"><strong>Summer Pricing and Availability<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-804adaed6faad87d82481c4a89eab3a1\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3b5260aa3d2ec6631ea78f15a6ec9c7d\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-two-airport-deposit-consideration-3\"><strong>The Two Airport Deposit Consideration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b439a32bd65ee7ec7bb1c6391b3f6c37\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-041475ddc7943fd2fdce0501e2c5cb63\">However if your itinerary involves flying into one airport and out of another, factor in the additional cost when comparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-best-drives-in-tenerife\"><strong>The Best Drives in Tenerife<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-726701738b75eeb81c186c23cb13de35\"><strong>Teide National Park: The Volcanic Interior<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-ast-global-color-7-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1bfd42bc7cab176fe7df0cef15770809\"><strong>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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-373701bd540624aa07db38d1b8afd263\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.volcanoteide.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teide National Park<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5ba9cf97e556e908a27cca86dd6dc9fa\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-anaga-rural-park-the-wild-northeast\"><strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webtenerife.com\/tenerife\/nature\/parks-reserves\/anaga-rural-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anaga Rural Park<\/a>: The Wild Northeast<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-73aa4182d6d874f14fcadc146a44a666\">The Anaga Peninsula offers 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bd13f9441c972c561f91f6b1cec11b42\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-ast-global-color-7-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-2f0cb43d429fccbd3210d184a4a0ad44\"><strong>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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-orotava-valley-the-green-north\"><strong>The Orotava Valley: The Green North<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bf5c31f0d0922272984399a343fe41b1\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-df8cac362d93361becf891a2f70f32c1\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/spain.htm\">car hire in Spain<\/a> guide covers everything from toll roads and low emission zones to the best road trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4629f50e1362f37b0cfa0cac7c4e6ee7\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-west-coast-los-gigantes-and-the-masca-valley\"><strong>The West Coast: Los Gigantes and the Masca Valley<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ec82c08ce1b192e3f4d8c6753832f17d\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e8f2fdca4ed219e38d333d234350ebd1\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"893\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Los-Gigantes-Cliffs-Tenerife-1-1024x893.jpg\" alt=\"The dramatic Los Gigantes sea cliffs on the west coast of Tenerife\" class=\"wp-image-227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Los-Gigantes-Cliffs-Tenerife-1-1024x893.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Los-Gigantes-Cliffs-Tenerife-1-300x262.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Los-Gigantes-Cliffs-Tenerife-1-768x670.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Los-Gigantes-Cliffs-Tenerife-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Los Gigantes cliffs rise over 600 metres from the sea. The coastal road along the west of Tenerife is one of the most spectacular on the island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"practical-information-for-hiring-a-car-in-tenerife\"><strong>Practical Information for Hiring a Car in Tenerife<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"driving-licence-requirements\"><strong>Driving Licence Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c6d5ddfee7e61491f4806996067f76d0\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fuel\"><strong>Fuel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1d8e715ec71951d34d590efe0729c07f\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dceb8f8e1ec9f78fd54fd130323290d8\">For up-to-date information on events, attractions and travel conditions across the island, the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webtenerife.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tenerife tourism guide<\/a> published by the island authority is the most reliable source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parking\"><strong>Parking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c56e33f2643628e3766e9de3fa7b4719\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7f6d12c6d821a50a0c9680b17473b3d8\">Resort areas have designated car parks for beaches and attractions. Free parking is usually available a short walk from any paid zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"no-toll-roads\"><strong>No Toll Roads<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5668d999f9f093838660fae4c639a458\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"which-airport-should-i-use-for-tenerife\"><strong>Which airport should I use for Tenerife?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f1ec0e84cf879042853003186edb6560\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"are-there-toll-roads-in-tenerife\"><strong>Are there toll roads in Tenerife?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-94368cba83887b188fc336de97bafad8\">No. All roads in Tenerife including the motorways are free to drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-the-minimum-age-to-hire-a-car-in-tenerife\"><strong>What is the minimum age to hire a car in Tenerife?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-678ba58aba42a9f790f9b2ecc86aad01\">Most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21. Drivers under 25 pay a young driver surcharge. Check specific conditions when you compare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-tenerife-easy-to-drive-around\"><strong>Is Tenerife easy to drive around?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c2171f7d4a0474e4964bfa61cafe7f1d\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8fff33505184b7bad3afefda9360c705\">The most challenging roads are the descent to Masca and the upper Anaga roads, both of which are driveable with care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-the-best-time-of-year-to-hire-a-car-in-tenerife\"><strong>What is the best time of year to book your car hire in Tenerife?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-294228526ac16db7abe9084ffe0229f7\">Tenerife is warm year-round. June is excellent value as prices are lower than July and August but the weather is already very good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11b53003a1153983af2a7f3c751dcd61\">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 your car hire in Tenerife early as availability tightens across the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ready-to-explore-tenerife-by-car\"><strong>Ready to Explore Tenerife by Car?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-327af6b9f67fcf6252763df7619b4065\">Car hire in Tenerife from \u00a38\/day transforms the island into two completely different experiences. The resort version is fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cae1eb05675f0b8b502cddd765a1ba4c\">However, 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 sun set over Los Gigantes from the coastal road, is something else entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-581e6fd40638ad55b9cc64c091e47670\">Book early for summer travel &#8211; Tenerife South Airport is one of the busiest hire car locations in Spain and availability tightens significantly from June onwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8ba78df8edb38c09803d547b0cb4514f\">Getcarhire.com compares car hire in Tenerife deals across all major operators and local specialists from \u00a38\/day. Search once, compare all your options side by side and book with free cancellation on most vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gch-widget-banner\"><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/booking-widget-banner.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3e010e31e756091934c0c26b14006f0e\">Get the most value from your car hire in Tenerife by exploring everything this fascinating island in the Canaries has to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d7d3d7f4fa17a48c1921a8d6b7297b37\">And before you pick up your car, take a look at our comprehensive guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/5-best-scenic-drives-in-tenerife\/\">5 best scenic drives in Tenerife<\/a> to plan your routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. Tenerife is Spain&#8217;s most visited island and one of the most misunderstood. The south is resorts: Playa de las [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[73,79,62,81,60,82,65,80,76,70,68,66,72,67,74,63,83,75,71,61,64,69,78,77],"class_list":["post-224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spain-car-hire-guides","tag-anaga-rural-park","tag-autoreisen","tag-canary-islands","tag-car-hire-guide","tag-car-hire-in-tenerife","tag-car-hire-insurance","tag-car-rental","tag-cicar","tag-holiday-planning","tag-island-driving","tag-la-orotava","tag-los-gigantes","tag-masca","tag-puerto-de-la-cruz","tag-road-trip","tag-spain","tag-spain-car-hire","tag-spain-travel","tag-teide-national-park","tag-tenerife","tag-tenerife-north-airport","tag-tenerife-south-airport","tag-topcar","tag-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":610,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224\/revisions\/610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}