The Tenerife24 Car Rental Guide
Car Hire in Tenerife – Everything You Need to Know Before Booking
Updated for 2026
Planning to hire a car during your holiday in Tenerife?
With so many rental companies offering different prices, insurance options and rental conditions, choosing the right one can be confusing.
As local Tenerife specialists with many years of experience helping thousands of visitors explore the Canary Islands, we've created this practical guide to help you compare the most popular car rental companies and make an informed decision.
Our goal is simple: to help you enjoy a smooth, stress-free and transparent car rental experience.We will send you the best offers from our three trusted partners.
Additional Information About Car Rental Options in Tenerife
If you would like to compare other car rental options available in Tenerife, you will also find additional information in our blog below.
As Tenerife is roughly the size of the Estonian island of Saaremaa, many visitors prefer hiring a car instead of joining organised group tours. A rental car allows you to explore the island with your family, travel at your own pace, and discover Tenerife whenever and wherever you wish.
There are many car rental companies operating in Tenerife, and both their prices and rental conditions can vary considerably. To help you avoid unpleasant surprises and unexpected costs, we have put together a few practical tips that will help you choose the right rental company.
Choose a Rental Company with Full Insurance
Our first recommendation is to choose a car rental company that offers full insurance with a €0 excess (zero liability) whenever possible.
No matter how careful you are, there is always a possibility that a small scratch already exists when you collect the vehicle or that a minor parking scrape occurs while driving through narrow streets or busy holiday resorts. Choosing the right insurance can save you from unnecessary disputes and unexpected expenses when returning the vehicle.
With many rental companies, customers are responsible for paying the insurance excess if new damage is discovered when the vehicle is returned. Companies such as Orlando, Cicar and Pluscar include €0 excess as part of their standard rental conditions.
Tenerife24 Partner 1*
As insurance is one of the most important aspects of renting a car, we'd like to point out that our first rental partner includes €0 excess in its standard package.
Depending on the vehicle category, a refundable security deposit of approximately €100–€300 is usually required. This deposit can be reduced further by purchasing their optional Premium Insurance package.
Tenerife24 Partner 2*
We would especially like to highlight our second trusted rental partner, whose insurance conditions are exceptionally transparent and customer-friendly.
With this company, your liability depends entirely on the package you choose. The standard package includes an insurance excess, while selecting the Full Insurance option reduces your excess to €0.
Tenerife24 Partner 3*
We also highly recommend checking the offers from our third trusted local partner.
This excellent Tenerife-based company includes a very reasonable €0 insurance excess as part of its standard insurance. Depending on the vehicle category, the refundable security deposit is typically only €100–€300.
Understanding Insurance Excess
With many rental companies in Tenerife, the insurance excess usually ranges between €300 and €600. Before signing any rental agreement, always make sure you clearly understand how much your excess will be.
A high excess does not necessarily mean you are renting an expensive vehicle. For example, you could be renting a standard Volkswagen Golf while still being liable for an excess of €3,500.
Today, many rental companies also offer hybrid and electric vehicles. If you choose one, make sure you understand the company's policy regarding the required battery charge level when returning the vehicle.
Travelling to Other Canary Islands
If you plan to visit other Canary Islands during your holiday, always ask your rental company whether your vehicle is insured for inter-island travel.
Some companies, including Cicar and Pluscar, generally allow travel to neighbouring islands such as La Gomera, El Hierro and Gran Canaria, although the exact conditions may vary depending on your booking and destination.
Some rental companies simply ask you to inform them in advance of the dates you intend to travel by ferry so they can extend your insurance cover to the neighbouring island for those specific days.
You can also read more about ferry connections between Tenerife and the other Canary Islands in our dedicated guide.
The good news is that two of Tenerife24's trusted rental partners allow you to travel comfortably to neighbouring islands as well. Simply request a quotation through our booking form.
Driver Age Requirements
It is also important to know that most rental companies in Tenerife do not rent vehicles to drivers under 23 years of age or to anyone who has held a driving licence for less than one year.
There are exceptions. For example, Goldcar offers a programme for younger drivers from the age of 19, provided they have held their driving licence for at least one year.
If you are considering renting from Goldcar, we recommend carefully reading recent customer reviews beforehand, as some customers have reported delays in receiving their security deposits back or being charged additional compulsory fees upon collection.
Car Sharing – An Alternative for Younger Drivers
A popular alternative for younger drivers is renting through the car-sharing platform Amovens.
To rent a vehicle through this platform, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your driving licence for at least two years.
Amovens is a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that has become increasingly popular throughout the Canary Islands in recent years.
Regardless of which company you choose, we strongly recommend carrying your physical driving licence with you at all times, as some local rental companies and police officers may not yet accept digital driving licences stored on mobile phone apps.
Tenerife24 Partner 1*
Driver Age Requirements & Young Driver Fee
Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have held a driving licence for at least one year.
Drivers aged 21–22 are subject to a Young Driver Surcharge of €10.35 per day. In these cases, the insurance excess is €300, and a refundable €300 security deposit is required when collecting the vehicle.
Tenerife24 Partner 2*
Driver Age Requirements & Young Driver Fee
Drivers must be at least 20 years old and have held a driving licence for at least two years.
Depending on the selected vehicle category, drivers under 25 years of age may be charged a Young Driver Supplement.
A refundable €300 security deposit is also required for drivers under 25.
Tenerife24 Partner 3*
Driver Age Requirements & Special Conditions
This company has slightly stricter rental requirements.
Drivers are generally required to be at least 25 years old and have held a driving licence for a minimum of two years.
If you are younger than 25, we recommend contacting the rental company before booking to find out whether a vehicle can still be rented under special conditions or with an additional security guarantee.
Additional Drivers, Mileage & Payment Methods
Some rental companies allow you to add a second driver free of charge. The additional driver must meet the same minimum age and driving experience requirements as the main driver. Companies such as Cicar, Oasis and Pluscar offer this benefit.
It is also worth checking whether the rental includes unlimited mileage. Whenever possible, we recommend choosing a company that offers unlimited kilometres, such as Cicar, Jocar, Oasis and Pluscar.
Most rental companies in Tenerife accept credit cards only, and cash payments are generally not accepted.
In addition to the rental price, companies usually block either the insurance excess or a refundable security deposit on your payment card, which is released once the vehicle is returned according to the rental agreement.
One exception is Cicar, where customers pay the rental cost when collecting the vehicle and leave a €50 fuel deposit to ensure the vehicle is returned with the same fuel level. This deposit is refunded upon return, and no credit card guarantee is required. Creating a customer account online before arrival can also make the collection process quicker and easier.
Tenerife Car Rental Comparison Guide (Updated for 2026)
Below you will find an overview of some of Tenerife's most popular car rental companies, based on our customer experiences and the rental conditions available at the time of writing.
Cicar
Website: https://www.cicar.com
Cicar is one of the most popular local car rental companies in the Canary Islands and is well known for its modern, well-maintained vehicles.
Their standard rental includes:
€0 insurance excess
Unlimited mileage
Travel to other Canary Islands without additional insurance
Drivers from 21 years of age
Drivers aged 21–25 are considered young drivers but no young driver surcharge applies
Payment by cash, debit card or credit card
Free child seats (must be reserved in advance)
Free additional driver
Vehicles must be collected from and returned to a Cicar office during opening hours. Prices are generally very competitive, and their fleet now includes an increasing number of modern hybrid and electric vehicles.
Pluscar
Website: https://www.pluscar-tenerife.com
Pluscar is another excellent choice for travellers looking for straightforward pricing and reliable service.
Their standard conditions include:
€0 insurance excess
Unlimited mileage
Free additional driver
Minimum driver age: 23 years
Free child seats (advance reservation required)
The best prices are usually available when collecting and returning the vehicle at either Tenerife Airport or the company's office in Chafiras.
Vehicle delivery to other locations is available but usually incurs an additional charge.
The vehicles are modern, well maintained and competitively priced. Russian-speaking customer service is also available.
Oasis Rent a Car
Website: https://www.oasisrentacar.com
Oasis offers modern vehicles together with a convenient delivery service, making it an excellent choice for travellers who value comfort and flexibility over finding the absolute lowest price.
Rental conditions include:
Unlimited mileage
Free additional driver
Minimum driver age: 23 years
Minimum driving experience: 2 years
Insurance excess of €300 or €450, depending on the vehicle category
For an additional fee, an Oasis representative can deliver the vehicle directly to hotels with reception services. The representative arrives with a portable card payment terminal, making the collection process quick and convenient.
Returning the vehicle is equally simple—park near your hotel reception and hand the keys to reception staff.
Sixt
Website: https://www.sixt.es
Sixt specialises in very new vehicles, with many cars only a few months old.
Rental conditions include:
Insurance excess ranging from €850 to €4,000, depending on the rental agreement
Optional insurance upgrades available to reduce the excess
Vehicles may only be driven within Tenerife
Minimum driver age: 18 years
Minimum driving experience: 1 day
Young Driver Surcharge applies to drivers under 25
Payment is accepted by credit card only.
When collecting the vehicle, Sixt pre-authorises the rental cost together with a refundable security deposit of at least €300, depending on the vehicle category. The deposit is released once the vehicle is returned in accordance with the rental agreement.
Jocar
Website: https://www.autosjocar.com
Jocar offers unlimited mileage within Tenerife and competitive rental conditions.
Rental requirements include:
Minimum driver age: 23 years
Minimum driving experience: 1 year
Insurance excess of €300 or €360, depending on the vehicle category
Vehicle delivery costs approximately €20, while airport delivery costs €12. The same charges apply when returning the vehicle.
The rental area covers Tenerife only. If you wish to travel to another Canary Island, prior permission from the company is required.
Both debit and credit cards are accepted.
Orlando
Website: https://www.orlandorc.com
Orlando is a popular low-cost rental company offering excellent basic insurance conditions.
Their standard package includes:
€0 insurance excess
Unlimited mileage
Minimum driver age: 21 years
Minimum driving licence held for 1 year
They also offer a Young Driver Programme for drivers under 21 who have held their driving licence for at least two years.
Orlando has offices throughout all of the Canary Islands.
As Orlando is a budget rental company, we recommend carefully checking the fuel policy and any additional charges before signing the rental agreement.
Atlascar
Website: https://www.atlascar.es
Atlascar offers:
€0 insurance excess
Unlimited mileage
Minimum driver age: 23 years
Free vehicle delivery and collection at your preferred location (airport delivery may incur an additional charge)
Free booking changes and cancellations up to 48 hours before collection
Based on our own experience, vehicles delivered by Atlascar may sometimes show visible scratches and minor dents.
However, since the insurance excess is €0, returning the vehicle has never caused any issues. Nevertheless, we always recommend photographing the vehicle upon collection and ensuring that any noticeable damage is recorded on the rental agreement or handover form before driving away.
Autoreisen
Website: https://www.autoreisen.com
Autoreisen has long been a favourite among many Estonian visitors and returning travellers to the Canary Islands.
Like Cicar and Pluscar, the company includes full insurance with €0 excess as part of the rental price.
Additional benefits include:
Free additional driver
Free child seats
No hidden charges
No security deposit required
Payment accepted by both debit and credit card
Although the vehicles are not always the newest available, they are well maintained and mechanically reliable. Rental prices are often among the most competitive on the island, and offices are conveniently located directly at Tenerife's airports.
Enjoy Your Tenerife Adventure!
We wish you a fantastic car rental experience and a wonderful stay on the beautiful island of Tenerife.
And if comparing rental conditions, insurance policies and booking requirements feels like more work than holiday planning should, we'd be delighted to help you discover Tenerife—and the other Canary Islands—in a completely relaxed and stress-free way.
Simply join one of Tenerife24's small-group excursions, guided in your own language by experienced local professionals, and let us take care of everything while you enjoy the journey.
