Car hire at
Tenerife South
Airport

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CAR HIRE at Tenerife South Airport

Car hire at Tenerife is the best way to get to see all of the Island. The roads are easy to navigate giving you the opportunity to explore the harder-to-reach hidden gems.
There is some breathtaking scenery and spectacular drives on the island and the only way to experience these are by hiring a car.

Inter Rent, Top Car, Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Rhodium, Sixt and Thrifty are car hire companies based inside Tenerife South Airport. Each car hire company has offices inside arrivals on the ground floor.

In the slider below we show some example daily car hire prices with the best car rental companies at Tenerife South Airport. The daily car rental prices are based on hiring a car in summer for a period of 14 days.

Prices for car hire at Tenerife Airport can vary dramatically based on the time of year, type of vehicle, fuel policy and extras.

Additional extras such as child seats, GPS, WiFi, and additional drivers, are added to the daily cost and can substantially increase the total price.

Compare low-cost car hire

Choosing car hire at Tenerife South Airport

No matter what product or service we buy, we all like to get the best offer available. Getting the best car hire deal to meet your needs can be a frustrating process. With a little forethought and planning, it is possible to pick up a bargain when hiring a car at TFS Tenerife South airport.

  • A smaller car doesn’t mean it is the cheapest car to rent.
  • Booking direct with a car rental company can work out very expensive.
  • Book Ahead.
  • Using a car hire search engine such as on our website you can find some great reductions.

If you just have a tight budget and are travelling as a couple with only hand luggage, a small car like a Ford Fiesta or something similar will be sufficient.

However, if you’re travelling with a large party as well as a lot of luggage, a small car won’t suffice. You will need a people carrier or a large estate car. When in the booking process you will be able to discern what is adequate for your needs and make your selection accordingly. Tenerife South Airport generally offers a wide selection of cars, but booking early is essential to get what you want and get the best price!

When to book your Tenerife car hire

Pre-book Online

To save time and money this surely is the best option! The great advantage of our website is the ability to view a wide range of up-to-date car hire offers.
You have access to all the major car hire firms in Tenerife. You can check all the current deals and select which is best for you.
We recommend booking your car hire as early as possible to get the best deal. Generally leaving your car hire booking until you are due to depart means you will pay more. It is also likely there will be less availability for your choice of vehicle.

Important Tip: Read the terms and conditions if you see a price that appears too good to be true. There’s a good chance there’s a clause in there that implies you agree to pay higher prices for fuel and other items.

On arrival At Tenerife South Airport

If you choose not to pre-book there are plenty of car rental desks at Tenerife South airport. You need to locate and queue at the many car hire desks available at the terminal building.

Please remember that if you book your car when you arrive at the airport the price will be much more than if you book ahead of time. As a result, make an effort to plan ahead and save money.

Tenerife South Car Hire Fuel Policies

The price you pay for your car hire is not necessarily the final price you will pay.  It will depend on the car hire company’s policy for fuel. Be sure to read the finer print to see the terms.

Full to Full

Your car is supplied with a full tank of fuel. Simply return the car with a full tank to avoid any re-fueling charges. The important point to remember is that the vehicle is returned with the same amount of fuel in the tank as you collected it. As long as you re-fill what you have used there will be no additional charges. At TFS Tenerife Airport as there are plenty of petrol stations close by. Even if you spend more up front, this choice may end up being the most cost-effective in the long run.

Pre-purchase or full to empty

Your car is supplied with a full tank of fuel when you collect it. You will be charged for this fuel when you collect your hire car. You really need to return the car with an empty tank of fuel. You will not be refunded for any unused fuel. but it might work out ok if you’re going to be doing a lot of driving and don’t want to be filling upon return.

Pre-purchase with Refund

Your hire car will have a full tank of petrol when you pick it up from Tenerife South Airport and you’ll have to pay the full cost for it. Again, the car hire company sets the price fo fuel. When you return the car, the cost of the remaining fuel will be calculated and refunded to your card, minus an admin fee according to the rental contract.

Insurance

TFS Car Hire Insurance and Breakdown Cover

Your hire car company in their agreement with you will normally cover for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection, and some even include basic breakdown cover. But remember, in the event of an accident causing damage to the vehicle, or it is stolen, you will have an “Excess” premium to pay. As always, check the small print, and drive with caution.

When booking a hire car with any of the major companies you will need a credit card.
You will also need to present a credit card at the car hire desk at Tenerife South Airport.
Some car hire companies may accept a debit card for payment at the airport. However, as a general rule, a credit card is required by major car hire companies. This covers the company for any potential financial expenses incurred.

Excess Payment. When payment is made with a credit card the company only holds the payment. It does not debit the payment unless required for any damage caused.
Excess Insurance. If you make payment by debit card, some car hire companies will also require you to purchase their comprehensive insurance cover. This is irrespective of whether you have purchased your own insurance beforehand. You will not have to do this if payment is made by credit card.

You can pay much less if you arrange Car Hire Excess Insurance in advance. You can get a whole year of excess insurance for around €40 per year. Obtain a quote online with iCarhireinsurance.com.

Extras

You can add a variety of optional items to make your driving experience in Tenerife more comfortable and enjoyable. The majority of add-ons are priced per day, and they can easily double the cost of your rental car! The most cost-effective way to eliminate paying for extras to your rental agreement is to bring your own GPS, booster seat child car seat etc.  The major airlines will allow you to check in a child car seat or booster seat free of charge in addition to your checked-in luggage.

Available extras with TFS Airport car hire:

Sat nav/GPS

Child seat

Additional driver

WiFi

Petrol Stations

Near Tenerife South Airport


If you need to return your car with a full tank, the closest petrol station is a BP station located at Atogo which is on the other side of the TF-1 to the airport, about 1km away.

Airport service stations are never the cheapest. So you’re better off filling up at one of these service stations close to the airport instead:

Cepsa, Avenida, 38610 Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain ….1km away
DISA, Carretera Aeropuerto Reina Sofia S/N, 38610, Santa Cruz de Tenerife ……2km away
BP, Cr De, Autop. del Sur, S/n, 38611 Atogo, Santa Cruz de Tenerife…..2.5km away

Requirements to hire a car at Tenerife South Airport

Many car hire companies at Tenerife Airport will not accept drivers under the age of 21. Anyone between the ages of 21 and 25 can expect to be limited to entry-level vehicles and to pay a young driver supplement. Also if over 70 years, you may be required to pay a supplement and take out extra insurance cover.

How to cancel your hire car

You will be able to cancel your booking up to 24-48 hours in advance of your pick-up date, depending what company you have booked with. In most cases, you will not be charged a cancellation fee. You need to check the cancellation terms of the car hire company you made your reservation with.

Pick-up and drop-off times

When hiring a car at TFS Tenerife South airport, you could easily save money by being smart about your pick-up and drop-off hours. A day is a complete 24-hour period. So, for example, if you pick up your car at 3 pm. on Saturday and return it at 4 pm on Sunday, which equates to 25 hours rental, so you’ll be charged for two days of rental. Plan to return your car hire at least one hour before you picked it up to save money.

It’s also worth noting that you’ll be charged more if you pick up your car during specific hours. Most businesses demand a significant premium for pickups between 11 pm and 7 am, and others won’t allow you to pick up your car at all outside of business hours. So, if you’re intending on renting a car when you arrive after a late arrival, be aware that your options will be limited and costly.

Collecting your car at Tenerife Airport

When it’s time to collect your car from Tenerife Airport, have your passport, credit card, driving license and booking confirmation (if you booked in advance) handy to speed things up. If you’re from the UK, you’ll also need to obtain a code from the DVLA and show it at the rental desk.

Avoid the hard sell

Don’t let anyone pressure you into paying for things you don’t want if you’re happy with the terms you booked online or negotiated in person. You don’t have to buy expensive insurance policies or pay for expensive GPS equipment if you don’t want to. You may be offered a “better” car for a small daily fee, but these costs can add up in a couple of weeks of car hire. 

Examine the contract

Read before you sign! Check everything is as you expected. Make sure nothing has been added that you did not ask for. Since a car rental contract is legally binding, don’t sign it until you’re completely satisfied.

Inspect the car at Tenerife Airport!

Always check the car before you drive away. Inspect the bodywork for scratches and bumps that are not noted on the paperwork. Check inside the boot area for the hi-visibility jacket and warning triangle. All this should be noted on the paperwork in case you get billed for losing these items.

Driving in Tenerife

Speed Limit

Speed is measured in kilometres per hour (KPH) in Tenerife, not miles. Here are the usual limits:

Motorways (autovias): Speed limit of 120km/h

Main roads (vias automoviles): Speed limit varies from 80 -100 km/h

Urban areas (vias urbanas): Speed limit varies from 30 – 50 km/h.

Alcohol Limit

The police can carry out random breath tests. Make sure you are aware of the drink-drive limits.
The legal limit in Tenerife and the Canary Islands is less than the UK.
In England & Wales, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80 mg per 100 ml of blood.
In Tenerife, the limit is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood.
If you have been driving for less than two years the limit is less at 30 mg per 100 ml of blood.

Driving under the influence of any illegal drug is totally prohibited.

Driving Fines in Tenerife

The police have the authority to give on-the-spot fines which are not always fixed. Most fines can be reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 14 days. Non-Spanish residents will need to pay the fine immediately. Speeding fines can be applied for exceeding the limit by just 1kph.

Traffic Offences in Tenerife

  • Driving with your elbow or any part of your arm outside of the window. 100 Euro.
  • Driving without a top or shirt on. 200 Euro.
  • Unnecessary use of your horn. The horn must only be used to avoid an accident. 80 Euro.
  • Playing unnecessarily loud music in your vehicle. 80 Euro.
  • Driving through an amber traffic light. 80 Euro.
  • Eating, drinking or applying make-up whilst driving, or stationary at traffic lights. 100 Euro

Tenerife Parking Rules

Here’s what you need to know about parking in Tenerife:

Yellow single unbroken lines on the road mean no parking. Check before you leave your car if you are in doubt.

Signs with “vado permanente” or “prohibido estacionar” (usually found on garage doors) mean no parking. Also there will be a sign with a hoist on the back of a truck and the words ‘ retirada grúa’.

Blue line markings on the road indicate you are in a pay to park zone. Look for the ticket machine which will show you how much it will cost to park in this area

Do not park in any disabled areas.  You can only park here if you are carrying current valid permission which is displayed in your car.  Disabled parking bays are visible with a wheelchair sign.

If your hired car is towed away due to illegal parking in any of the above areas, you will have to pay a hefty fine of around €150 to get it back.

Good to Know Stuff

  • You drive on the right side of the road. The driver on the right always has priority, unless otherwise indicated. This applies both to junctions and roundabouts.
  • Traffic already on a roundabout has priority.
  • You can only exit a roundabout from the outside lane.
  • You must always use your headlights when entering a tunnel. This applies during daylight hours as well.
  • You are not permitted to tow another vehicle.
  • Some petrol stations require pre-payment before the pump will work
  • There are emergency phones available every 2km along motorways
  • The local emergency number is 112

Time to Return your car to Tenerife Airport

When returning your car to the airport, ask the person in charge of checking it to make sure it was returned in good condition and with the necessary amount of fuel in the tank.

It’s also a good idea to take a few photos if there is no person to check over the car with you. Photograph the fuel gauge also in case you need to prove the fuel level.

Check your credit card statements a few days after you get home to make sure the excess block has been removed and you haven’t been charged more than you anticipated to pay. If there are any unaccounted expenses, contact the rental company immediately and back up your claim with the photos you took.

Top Car

Goldcar Rhodium 

Europcar / Inter Rent

SIXT 

Enterprise

Record Go

Hertz – Thrifty

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