Thinking about renting a car in the Canaries? Let me share my personal experience and cover everything you need to know about car rental in the Canary Islands, the pitfalls, about police, traffic rules, fines, and parking. You’ll also get insights into the local driving style, deposit requirements, full insurance, necessary documents for renting a car, rental costs, and where to find the best deals. If you’ve never rented a car abroad before, this guide aims to answer all your questions.

Car rental in the Canary Islands: Is it worth it?

Let me convey one idea, and you decide for yourself. The Canary Islands, all seven of them, offer more than just beach vacations. While there are beaches where you can sunbathe, they mostly consist of pebbles, and the ocean is cold year-round with strong waves.

  • The Canary Islands are about active recreation. You’ll find numerous natural attractions like national parks, volcanoes, lava pools, hiking trails, as well as man-made sights.

I recommend the article: TOP coolest attractions in the Canaries, it will help you decide which island you want to vacation on, and at the same time see how many places you can get to by bus (spoiler alert: not many).

Who should consider renting a car in the Canary Islands:

If your plan is to lounge on the beach the entire time without exploring beyond your resort, then you don’t need a car. You can book a tour or take taxis to see one or two attractions. But if you want to do more than just beach time and explore one or even several islands, then a car is essential. Public transportation doesn’t reach the coolest locations on any island in the archipelago.
car rental in the canaries
Viewpoint, there are hundreds of them on the islands, this particular one is on the island of La Gomera. You simply cannot get here without a rental car; there is no public transport in such places.

Renting a car in the Canary Islands is a straightforward, accessible, and comfortable process. For those who’ve never rented a car abroad, the Canaries are an excellent starting point.

About traffic rules, roads, parking, and police in the Canaries

Let’s break it down systematically to give you a clear picture.

  • Traffic rules in the Canary Islands are similar to ours; there are no significant differences. Driving is on the right side, with a speed limit of 50 km/h in towns; outside urban areas, follow the signs. You don’t need to turn on your headlights during daylight hours. All passengers must wear seat belts, including those in the back seats.
  • The roads are generally of good to very good quality. There are no potholes or unpaved roads, except in remote areas. Most importantly, all roads in the Canaries are toll-free. Tenerife and Gran Canaria have four-lane highways with a speed limit of 120 km/h. On other islands, the roads are typically single-lane in each direction.

Important to know:

The Canary Islands are known for their mountains and volcanoes. All seven islands are of volcanic origin. Driving here involves endless ascents, descents, and winding roads with incredibly beautiful views. Sometimes there are no guardrails, just a drop of 500 meters below. For inexperienced drivers, here’s one piece of advice: focus on the road, not on the abyss.
car rental in the canary islands
You need to understand that there are many such roads in the Canaries. This is a road above the clouds somewhere in the mountains on La Palma.
  • Traffic situation: With 2 million residents and over 14 million tourists annually, 80% to 90% of whom rent a car for at least a day, traffic congestion is significant on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, especially in peak seasons. However, traffic is much lighter on other islands.
  • Nearly all parking spaces on the islands are free. But during peak season, finding parking near tourist attractions or in resort centers can be a huge challenge. Even paid parking lots get full.

Tip:

If you’re looking for accommodation in tourist hotspots near the beach, pay attention to whether your hotel or apartment offers guest or private parking. If not, and you plan to rent a car, you might face difficulties finding parking.
canaries renting a car
Renting a car in the Canary Islands has one downside – parking. It’s almost always a problem year-round. Even in small towns, there are usually large free parking lots, as shown in the picture, but they can also fill up during peak season. The photo is from February on the island of La Gomera, but on Tenerife or Gran Canaria, you won’t find such free parking spots 🙂
  • Police patrols exist but are scarce; they don’t hassle tourists or demand bribes like in some places. If you don’t break the rules, they won’t stop you. If you need any help, feel free to approach them. However, if you’re stopped for a violation, fines are hefty, so it’s better not to offer bribes; things could end badly for you.

Violations and Fines

Here’s a brief summary to grasp the essence:

  • Police issue fines, which you must pay at a bank. If you’re unsure where, send the fine receipt to your rental company via WhatsApp; they’ll guide you on where to pay, and sometimes even assist with the payment.
  • Heaven forbid you offer a bribe to a local cop; save that for elsewhere.
  • There are hardly any speed cameras, just a few on the main roads. The cameras are usually set to tolerate speeds about 5 km/h over the limit.
how to rent a car in canary islands
You’ll often come across this sign on the roads of the islands. It’s amusing to see tourists slowing down before it. This sign indicates a lookout point with beautiful views, not a speed camera.

Important to know:

You’ll feel comfortable driving on Canary Island roads; as mentioned earlier, the police aren’t out to harass anyone. However, there are two traffic violations that will land you in hot water – improper parking and using your phone while driving.
  • Park only where indicated and on white markings (diagonal lines or broken lines along the curb). If you park incorrectly or where it’s prohibited, your car won’t be there in 20 minutes. The fine for towing is around 120 euros. Don’t even think about leaving your car in a yellow zone. If you park in a blue zone, it’s either paid parking or for residents only; find a parking meter.
  • While driving, don’t touch your phone; you can only use hands-free calling. The fine for using your phone while driving is 600 euros. Moreover, if the police spot you, say, at a traffic light talking without hands-free, they might turn around, catch up with you, and you won’t escape. 600 euros, just like that.

At the same time, nobody cares about pedestrians. You can cross the road on red right in front of the police or walk along the roadway, and no one will say a word. For the police, the red flag is parking and phone calls while driving! Don’t break these rules, and you’ll be fine.

Car rental in the Canary Islands: Where to Look, Prices

Car rental businesses have largely moved online. There are hardly any rental offices at the resorts. Yes, you can try to find a car upon arrival at the airport; all major international companies and rental offices are there. However, the price will be higher, and during peak season, there are no available cars because of the influx of tourists, and everyone books in advance.

Important to understand:

If you need a car rental in the Canary Islands, always book in advance. It saves money and the time you’d spend searching. I recommend booking through large platforms; your booking is secure there. Even if your rental company doesn’t have available cars, the platform will solve the problem.

On average, the cost of renting an economy-class car (in the Canaries, an economy class is a Fiat 500, the most popular car with all rental companies) ranges from 30 to 50 euros per day depending on the season, the company, and the deposit amount. Some companies offer cars without a deposit, but at a higher price. With a deposit, the price is lower. If you book 4-5 months in advance, prices can go down to 20 euros per day.

where to book a car canaries
This is the most popular car in car rental in the Canary Islands, available from almost any rental company.

Below are the two largest car rental platforms in the Canary Islands. You can search everywhere but book where it’s cheaper. Always pay attention to the deposit amount (read the “Rental Conditions”); at the same price, one company may have a deposit of 300 euros, while another may have 1400 euros.

  • DiscoverCars – the largest car rental platform. They have all major international rental companies. Juicy prices for early booking. In the left filters, select the rental company Cicar; they are one of the leaders in Canary Islands car rentals, with slightly more expensive cars but no deposit. I can recommend these guys without hesitation.
  • LocalRent – the most customer-friendly aggregator with high customer ratings. They work with small local companies and closely monitor the quality of service.

Both sites are time-tested and personally recommended, providing quality car rental services in the Canary Islands.

Security Deposit and Insurance

This is a topic that confuses many, and not everyone fully understands it. Let me explain the basics:

  • A deposit when renting a car is a guarantee that you’ll return the car to the rental company instead of abandoning it and flying home. As a non-resident of Spain and the European Union, you’re beyond the reach of their courts. Imagine you’ve severely damaged the car, flown home, and no one can find you. Return the car – get your deposit back.

Insurance can be a bit more complex. There are two types: standard, also known as basic, and full insurance, which may be called super insurance, super coverage, zero deductible, among other names, but they all mean the same thing.

  • Standard insurance is always included in the rental price with any rental company. You don’t need to pay extra for this insurance. Its distinguishing feature is that it covers situations where you’re not at fault. For example: any natural disasters, hurricanes, a tree falling on the car, or if the car is stolen, as well as in the event of an accident where you’re not the one at fault.
  • Super insurance, or zero deductible. This insurance covers all damages, even if you’re at fault: a punctured tire, scraping against a curb while parking, breaking a side mirror, and so on. Your only task is to return the car to the rental company; you don’t need to pay for damages.

Usually, you need to pay extra for full insurance. Prices vary, but the most common price on the car rental market in the Canaries is around 15-20 euros per day for this insurance. However, there are rental companies that work with Discover Cars, where zero deductible is already included in the price. Yes, renting a car will be more expensive, but you won’t have a deposit, no one will pressure you to buy additional insurance on the spot, and so on. Your car rental is fully protected.

Travel Tips

Here are some general tips to dispel any remaining doubts:

  • The Canary Islands are a special economic region of Spain, where gasoline is 20% cheaper than mainland Europe. As of spring 2024, 1 liter of unleaded gasoline costs 1.3 euros.
  • For car rental, our standard driver’s license in the form of a plastic card, with all fields duplicated in English, is sufficient.
  • Pay attention to the transmission type if it’s important to you. There are many manual transmission cars for rent in the Canaries, and renting such cars is slightly cheaper. It’s more convenient to drive a manual in the mountains, but not everyone likes it. Automatic cars are on average 5 euros per day more expensive.
price car rent canaries
In one of our trips to the island of La Gomera, we rented a convertible like this one, and it had manual transmission. If you have difficulties with manual, always check what you’re booking. There are many manual transmission cars here.
  • Rental companies often require a fuel deposit, usually 30-40 euros. You can pay this deposit even in cash. Return the car with the same level of fuel, and get your deposit back. This isn’t a widespread practice, but it exists.
  • Lifehack: when you start looking for accommodation in the Canaries, you’ll be surprised by the prices. They’ve risen significantly in the past couple of years. Finding something nice near the beach for less than 120 euros in peak season is possible but difficult. However, in beautiful Spanish towns, 5-10 km from the beach, you can rent similar apartments for around 70 euros. And this option is valid: you rent accommodation for 70 euros, use the money saved to rent a car for the entire vacation, with fewer parking problems, and your mobility soars. Accommodation rental specifics in the Canaries: what to expect for tourists.
  • Read about safety on the islands in this article. But regarding cars: there are thieves in parking lots. Never leave anything visible in the salon, always hide everything in the trunk. Windows can be smashed just for a jacket lying on the seat. If you left your phone in the holder and went into a shop for 5 minutes, it means you don’t really need the phone. Most thieves target popular tourist attractions’ parking lots.
  • If you don’t need to drive much, perhaps taxis will be more convenient and cheaper. In the taxi article, you’ll learn about rates, how to call a taxi, and any other special features.

I occasionally hear complaints that locals drive horribly:

Yes, there are those who speed and break the rules; turn signals are practically unnecessary here, nobody uses them, and Spaniards, in general, are impulsive. However, it’s impossible to imagine someone tailgating you, flashing their lights, honking, and then, when they pass, slowing down to teach you how to drive. That doesn’t happen here; it’s madness and the Stone Age.

Overall, local drivers are very law-abiding; they always give way, they don’t rush on winding roads. If there’s a very slow driver ahead, the entire line of cars will calmly follow them, and when there’s an opportunity, they’ll overtake and drive off into the sunset. No one will flash their lights, honk, or “teach” you.

Below are short articles about car rental in the Canaries by island. Each article covers the driving or car rental specifics on that particular island. And there are differences, as each island is unique. I’ll tell you how many days minimum you need to rent a car to explore each island. So, car rental in the Canaries on the island of:

In conclusion: car rental in the Canary Islands is a simple, budget-friendly, and almost obligatory process for everyone. Without a car, you won’t see even half of the beauty that exists on any island. Without a car, you can only travel by bus between major cities. There’s only one reason to refrain from renting a car in the Canary Islands – if you don’t have a driver’s license. Any other reason is a fatal mistake. 🙂

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.