Renting a Car in the Canary Islands: Tips and Tricks
I think it’s a shame to spend a holiday in the Canaries without making the most of the huge opportunity to explore an island at your own pace, getting around freely.
That said, even if you’re used to hiring cars, things don’t necessarily work the same way here as back home, and the rental companies’ names may be unfamiliar because they only operate in the archipelago.
Is there a deposit? Can they deliver the car to my hotel? Can I hire a car as a young driver?
In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about hiring a car in the Canaries. And feel free to check out the activities I offer on the different islands on this page.
Good to know:
- 1st thing to know: stick to reliable companies.
Autoreisen, Cicar and Cabrera Medina (part of the same group as Cicar) are reliable companies. I’ve had hundreds of positive reports from my customers, as well as my own experiences with them, and I’ve never had a problem.
Of course, you could be unlucky and end up with a car that has a mechanical fault… these things happen. But don’t panic – just call them and work out with them how to solve the problem.
If you can’t reach them or they can’t get to you quickly, keep your taxi receipts etc. – I’ve always seen them agree to reimburse these costs.
- 2nd thing to know: waiting until the last minute won't make it cheaper... quite the opposite.
These days, many flight and hotel booking sites use dynamic pricing, meaning prices change by the hour depending on the market.
Car hire is no exception, which means the longer you wait, the higher the demand – and so the higher the price is likely to be.
- 3rd thing to know: you pay when you get there!
It may sound surprising, but when you book online, you pay NOTHING upfront! Everything is done at the desk when you collect the keys.
- 4th thing to know: no deposit and no damage check!
That’s right: no security deposit is required, and the cars automatically come with fully comprehensive insurance. It also means nobody will inspect your car before or after your rental.
- 5th thing to know: the fuel level
Here, unlike in many other places, cars aren’t always handed over with a full tank. It’s up to you to return it with the same level… If you’re not used to it, this can seem a bit tricky, so as a rough guide, allow about 12 litres per quarter tank for a standard car – obviously not a big SUV or van, where it’s more like 18 litres per quarter tank.
So what's the difference between Cicar and Autoreisen?
- Price: Autoreisen is often better value than Cicar and Cabrera Medina. What I mean is that if you pick the cheapest category at each, Cicar/Cabrera Medina will give you a Fiat 500 or similar (a real city car), while Autoreisen will give you a C3 or similar (better on the open road) for a few euros less per day.
- Number of branches: to keep costs down, Autoreisen only has desks at the airports and doesn’t offer delivery. Cicar/Cabrera Medina, on the other hand, has branches all over and offers car delivery as soon as you hire for more than 3 days.
- Changing islands: it’s possible, but always best to let them know in advance.
- Payment: Autoreisen is very strict about this – you can only pay by card in the name of the person who made the booking. Cicar/Cabrera Medina is more flexible and also accepts cash.
What about young drivers?
If you’ve held your licence for less than 2 years, it’s a whole different battle: finding a company that will accept you…
As far as I know, you have 3 options:
- Hire from Goldcar: attractive prices etc… but I strongly recommend reading their Google reviews before dealing with them, so you can make up your own mind… Reviews can say a lot…
- Hire from Hertz: a reliable company, but the young-driver surcharge can sometimes be very high.
- The best option in my view: hire through Getaround, an official peer-to-peer car rental platform, where you’ll have proper insurance cover with Allianz. WARNING: don’t be tempted to hire directly from a private individual – not only is it undeclared and therefore illegal, but you won’t be covered if there’s an accident… Enough to turn a holiday into a nightmare.
To sum up:
Don’t let a dodgy rental company ruin your holiday – you’re here to enjoy yourself! Once you’ve got your car, head off and explore the island you’ve been dreaming of, and to help you plan your route, take a look at these articles:
You can also click directly on the company names to go to their websites: Autoreisen or Cicar.
And for some fun:
Have a look at this page too, where you’ll find all the activities I offer, sorted by island.
Enjoy your stay, everyone!