Everything you need to know before picking up your hire car at Tenerife South Airport (TFS). For live prices and availability, visit our car hire booking page.
The cheapest car hire at TFS starts from £5/day for mini cars (Seat Ibiza, Fiat Panda, Toyota Yaris Cross). May and June are the cheapest months at £8–17/day. Book 10 days ahead and choose a local Canarian company (AutoReisen, Cicar, Sanasty) to save 20–40% versus international brands. See current prices on our booking page.
Yes — Tenerife is one of Europe’s most competitive car hire markets. Economy cars start from £5/day on our platform. The market average is £16/day. With 32+ companies competing — including strong local operators — prices at TFS are consistently among the lowest of any UK holiday destination.
May and June are cheapest at around £8–17/day. August is peak at £28/day. Tenerife is popular year-round (it enjoys over 300 sunny days per year), so prices remain relatively stable compared to European destinations with a short summer season. December is around £17/day average.
The best time to book is around 10 days before your pick-up date for the most competitive price. For peak summer travel (August), book 2–4 weeks ahead. Tenerife is unique in that last-minute deals can be available due to its year-round market — but don’t leave it to the day of travel if you want a specific car type.
Yes — no-deposit car hire is available at TFS. Filter by “No deposit” on our booking page to see available options. These cars typically require no security block on your credit card. Some companies also offer low-deposit alternatives with a smaller hold amount.
Some local operators at TFS accept debit cards or cash deposits. Filter by “No credit card” when searching on our booking page. International brands (Hertz, Avis, Europcar) almost always require a credit card. Local Canarian companies tend to be more flexible on payment terms.
No — UK driving licences are fully accepted in Spain (including Tenerife). No IDP is required. You need your full UK driving licence, passport and a credit card for the deposit. Minimum age is usually 21; some companies charge a young driver supplement for under 25s.
By Google rating: Sanasty Car Rental (4.9★, 1500 reviews), BECARS (4.9★, 56 reviews), TRC Traditional Rent a Car (4.8★, 235 reviews), AutoReisen (4.6★, 4400 reviews), CarzRent (4.6★) and Cicar (4.5★, 4200 reviews). International brands Hertz (2.5★), Thrifty (2.3★) and Avis (2.9★) score significantly lower.
Car hire desks are inside the TFS arrivals hall. All major operators are in-terminal: AutoReisen, Cicar, Sixt, Hertz, Goldcar, Europcar, Budget, Avis and others. Some local companies offer free hotel delivery to Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos — check individual listings when booking.
No — there are no toll roads anywhere in Tenerife. The TF-1 motorway, all main roads and mountain routes (including the road to Teide National Park) are completely free to use. This makes Tenerife excellent value for car hire as you can drive the entire island without any tolls.
Costa Adeje: 15–20 minutes. Playa de las Américas: 20 minutes. Los Gigantes: 35 minutes. Teide National Park: 45–60 minutes. Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 50–75 minutes. Puerto de la Cruz (north): 75–90 minutes. All via the toll-free TF-1 motorway.
Yes — convertible car hire is available at TFS from around £18/day. The Peugeot 108 Top convertible is a popular choice. Tenerife’s year-round sunshine makes convertibles ideal for coastal drives. Book early for July–August as convertibles have limited availability in peak season. See options on our booking page.
Yes — 9-seat minivans are available at TFS including the Renault Trafic, Ford Tourneo Custom and Mercedes Vito. Prices start from around £93/day for a 9-seater. These are popular for large families and group travel. Book well in advance for summer as availability is limited. Check options on our booking page.