- 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 total 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 to your finger-tips without putting a dent in your bank balance.
What’s more, if you rent a car on Tenerife, 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.
Tenerife car hire
Where to hire a car
Whether you fly into Tenerife North (TFN) or South (TFS) in 2017, you can pick up your Tenerife car rental directly from the airport. After customs, you’ll stumble across all of the usual suspects, from Avis, to Europcar and Hertz.
In general, 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.
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 del las Américas, Puerto del la Cruz and Costa Adeje, as well as a couple of smaller towns. This means that whether you’re staying north or south in 2017, 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.
Top tips for Car hire in...
Tenerife
Find out more about other forms of transport on the island on our getting around Tenerife page.