- Watch out for the questionable driving manoeuvres of the local Tinerfeños, who definitely rule the roads of the island. It’s common for drivers to stop dead and chat to their mates in the middle of the road and rocket around the hillsides glued to mobile phones, so leave yourself plenty of braking distance at all times.
- If you’re driving to Mount Teide or heading out to explore the highlands, be prepared for some brutal hairpin bends complete with stomach-dropping views. Do not attempt to overtake in these hills, even if you are stuck behind a banana truck moving slower than a snail. Stay safe by switching into second gear, turning up the music and soaking up the sights. After all, you’re on holiday!
- Driving etiquette in Tenerife is a little quirky, so look out for the following signs. If you’re behind a car that suddenly indicates to left turn when there is no left turn, this means that the driver is about to stop, probably to let someone cross the road or let another car pull out. Similarly, while us Brits thank fellow drivers with a quick flash of the headlights, Tinerfeños toot the horn instead.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Tenerife
Travel information
Language: Spanish | Currency: Euros (€) | Local time: GMT/BST | Avg. Flight time: 4.5 hrs
It makes sense to rent a car in Tenerife. The roads are great, the price of petrol is reasonable and there’s nothing quite like the freedom of your own four wheels. Cheap car hire in Tenerife is easy to find at any time of the year, bringing the whole island into view without putting a dent in your bank balance.
Fast facts about hiring a car from the airports in Tenerife
Whether you fly into Tenerife North Airport (TFN) or Tenerife South Airport (TFS), you can collect your Tenerife car rental directly from the airport. North Tenerife car hire is handy for holidays in destinations such as Puerto de la Cruz (25-minute drive), while a rental car from Tenerife South enables easy access to the resorts of Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas (both 15-20 minutes away), and Los Gigantes (40 minutes by road).
After customs, you’ll find international car hire brands, including Avis, Europcar and Hertz, as well as a number of local car hire firms.
It’s best to book online in advance, where you can check for hidden extras and be sure that you’re getting a cheap deal. Not only that, but arranging cheap Tenerife car hire in advance will make the arrival process much quicker, getting you behind the wheel and away from the airport in half the time.
Car rental companies with desks at Tenerife North Airport include:
- AutoReisen (Tel: +34 922 262 202)
- Cicar (Tel: +34 922 635 926)
- Avis and Budget (Tel: +34 922 979 822)
- Hertz (Tel: +34 922 635 868)
- Europcar (Tel: +34 922 635 948)
- Goldcar (Tel: +34 965 233 442)
Car hire firms with desks at Tenerife South Airport include:
- AutoReisen (Tel: +34 922 392 216)
- Goldcar Rental (Tel: +34 965 233 184)
- Hertz (Tel: +34 922 759 319)
- Cicar (Tel: +34 922 759 329)
- Sixt (Tel: +34 902 491 616)
- Europcar (Tel: +34 922 759 313)
- TopCar (Tel: +34 922 397 024)
- InterRent (Tel: +34 922 759 127)
Driving in Tenerife
Rent a car in Tenerife, and you can explore parts of the island that other tourists just can’t reach, giving you the chance to get beyond the guidebook. Discover abandoned fishing coves, moon-like volcanic plains, hidden villages and remote vineyards, all at your own pace.
If you’d prefer to give it a day or so before hopping in a Tenerife hire car, there are plenty of other places to pick up your wheels. In addition to both airports, Avis and Europcar offer convenient car hire pick-up points in Playa de las Américas and Puerto de la Cruz, as well as a couple of smaller towns. This means that whether you’re staying north or south in 2020, you’ll never be far from your own set of car keys.
Where to drive
There’s far more to the island than beaches, something that will become instantly clear when you get behind the wheel of your hire car in Tenerife.
On a sunny day, nothing beats the road trip into Mount Teide National Park, riddled with hairpin bends and rapidly changing landscapes. Far more memorable than sitting on a sweaty tour bus, cheap Tenerife car rental gives you the chance to make photo stops and pause for picnics, giving you all the freedom of the open road.