Everything you need to know about hiring a car in Lanzarote
If you’re going to do one thing in Lanzarote, make it this….hire a car!
I’ve just returned from a gorgeous trip to Lanzarote. It was my fourth time to the island and it was by far the best, simply because we hired a car.
This little beauty really helped to make our holiday so special.
I’ve always loved Lanzarote. I love the fabulous weather, beautiful resorts and how easy and inexpensive it is for a winter sun holiday. I’ve always stayed in a big resort and didn’t really leave the resort because it had everything I thought I wanted. Nice beaches, a few restaurants and bars…what more would I want!?
But wow, there is so much more to want in Lanzarote! There’s so much to see and do and the big resorts are just a tiny snippet of the island.
My experience using Zest Car Rental in Lanzarote
I hired a car through Zest Car Rental. I opted for the smallest car possible as I figured it would be cheaper to run and easier to park. We had a Dacia Sandero and it was absolutely perfect for 2x adults who had minimal luggage.
Prices can fluctuate with hire cars but it’s roughly £10 a day for a hire car in Lanzarote in October with Zest Car Rental. I think this is a brilliant price and it’s much cheaper than getting a taxi!
Another thing I like about Zest Car Rental is that you can add an additional driver for free. It was really nice to share the driving and even better we didn’t have to pay extra for this.
I’d had email confirmation telling me to go to the TopCar hire desk at the airport so we headed straight there, gave the lady our driving licences and my credit card, signed a form and headed out to the TopCar booth out in the car park. We walked past the taxi queue feeling pretty smug we didn’t need to join it!
Most car rental companies require a credit card for a holding deposit. The money was taken from my account and put back two days after returning the car with no damage
We were given the keys at the booth in the car park and found our car.
Before setting off, I recommend filming the entire exterior of the rental car. When returning, this will prove that you are returning the vehicle in the same condition it was given to you, meaning you get your deposit back in full as quickly as possible.
We drove past the taxi queue, noting all the people from our plane who still had a long wait ahead of them! (Those smug faces were back again!)
I hadn’t driven abroad for a couple of years so it took me a minute to get used to driving on the right. Thankfully, the roads in Lanzarote are smooth and relatively quiet and with the help of Google Maps (and my very patient co-driver!) we were at our accommodation in no time.
We checked in and then went to Lidl to do a ‘big food shop’ and loved having the car to fill up with food!
We then spent 5 days exploring Lanzarote and had the best time.
Our favourite places to visit were:
- Playa de Papagayo
- Mirador del Río
- Jameos del Agua caves
- Arrieta Village
- Cactus garden
- Timanfaya National Park
- Playa Blanca Natural Swimming Pools – Los Charcones
- Lagomar Museum
We had absolutely no problems at all using Zest Car Rental and will definitely use them again!
Here are a few reasons why you should 100% hire a car in Lanzarote
It’s so affordable and way cheaper than taxis – It was actually cheaper to hire a car than it would have been JUST for the return taxi journey to the airport.
The taxi queue at the airport is huge – I once waited over an hour to get a taxi from the airport to my hotel. Picking up a hire car took less than 15 minutes.
Driving in Lanzarote is easy – The roads are perfectly smooth and well signposted but it’s also fairly quiet and generally very easy to drive in Lanzarote. Locals don’t really indicate, they don’t stick to speed limits and they don’t use the inside lane of roundabouts so you’ve got to be a bit cautious but you quickly get used to it!
There’s loads of parking everywhere – Something that has put me off driving abroad before is parking (France, I’m talking to you!) But it’s not a problem in Lanzarote and I didn’t once struggle to park.
You can see so much more – I visited some beaches you would never get to in a taxi or tour bus!
It’s great if the weather is cloudy – If you’re travelling to Lanzarote in the winter then there’s a chance you’ll have a day or two with bad weather. Having a car on those days is brilliant because you can whizz off on an adventure that isn’t dependent on a sunny day at the beach or in the pool.
You can do everything in your own time – While it is possible to see a lot doing excursions with tour companies, this is quite restrictive and you’re stuck in a massive group and on their time schedule.
It’s cheaper than tour companies – It’s also much cheaper to hire a car in Lanzarote than it would be to take excursions.
The freedom is amazing – It’s just so much fun and feels so exciting and liberating to be able to jump in your car and head off wherever you fancy for the day.
You can do a big supermarket shop – If you’re self catering it’s really handy to have a car so you can drive to the big supermarket and save money by doing a ‘big shop’. All of the resorts have smaller convenience stores but it’s so much easier and cheaper to drive to Lidl and do a big shop!
Lanzarote is small so you can see a lot – You can cross the island really quickly to get about and see a lot. Also, if the weather is bad on one side of the island, there’s a chance it’ll be better on the other side!
Tips for hiring a car in Lanzarote
Send your designated driver through to the car hire desk first
I had a great experience collecting my car in Lanzarote, but I have had experiences in the past where there have been huge queues at the hire car desks. This wasn’t the case in Lanzarote but I still think it’s worth being aware just in case.
One time in Portugal it took over two hours to get our hire car. I was away with my family and we had lots of kids and lots of luggage so it took us ages to get through arrivals. We were the last family off our plane to get there and the queue was already enormous!
In hindsight, we should have got the designated driver to whizz off the plane, past the crowds and through security quickly to be the first in the queue for the hire car. The rest of the family can deal with the luggage and the children!
Get an automatic if you’re nervous
If you’re a bit nervous about driving abroad then I recommend hiring an automatic vehicle. Even if you don’t drive an automatic at home, you get used to it quickly. Changing gear isn’t difficult but it’s one less thing to think about in an automatic and it can feel strange to change gear when the gear stick is on the other side.
Take your phone holder with you
You’ll probably be using Google Maps to navigate your way around Lanzarote so I’d recommend taking a car phone holder with you. It makes it easier to follow the map without relying on your passenger to hold your phone where you can see it.
Use an eSim or add mobile data
Since leaving the EU, many of us Brits no longer have mobile data when abroad. If you don’t then I recommend using an eSim or making sure your package includes some mobile data in Spain. If you’re using Google Maps to get around then you’re going to need it!
Don’t forget your credit card and pin!
You’re going to need a credit card to hire a car abroad. Not only that but you’ll probably need your physical card, not Apple Pay.
If you’re like me and don’t regularly use your physical credit card, make sure you dig out at least 7-10 days before you fly. If you can’t find it you’ll need to order a replacement.
Use your wing mirrors
The hardest thing about driving ‘on the other side of the road’ is this natural instinct to hug the curb. I can’t tell you what it is but whenever I drive on the right I can’t help but drive way too far over to the right side of the road. You can spot the British people in Lanzarote a mile off because everyone is driving all the way to the right!
Use your wing mirrors to check you’re in the centre of the road, especially when there are cars parked on the right!
Other FAQs about hiring a car in Lanzarote
1. What documents do I need to rent a car in Lanzarote?
You’ll need a valid driver’s licence, your passport and a credit card. Some companies do accept debit cards but they generally prefer a credit card so I’d recommend making sure the designated driver has a credit card with a limit of at least £600.
2. Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Lanzarote?
If you are from the UK or the EU then you don’t need an international driving permit, your national driver’s licence is sufficient. Non-EU visitors may need an international driving permit (IDP) depending on their country of origin.
3. How old do I need to be to rent a car?
Check with the company you’re using but it’s usually 21 or 25 and it’s normally more expensive if you’re under 25. Most companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old, with a minimum of one year of driving experience.
4. What is included in the rental price?
This varies by company, but with Zest Car Rental it included insurance (such as third-party liability), an additional driver and unlimited mileage.
You might want to check if extras like full insurance coverage, additional drivers, or GPS are included.
5. What kind of insurance do I need?
Basic insurance is often included, but it may have a high excess. With Zest Car Rental you can opt to pay extra for additional insurance. Many renters opt for full coverage or zero-excess insurance to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses in case of an accident.
Personally, I didn’t feel this was necessary in Lanzarote because I knew the roads were safe and relatively quiet.
6. What is the fuel policy?
With Zest Car Rental, the fuel policy was “full-to-full” which means the tank was full when we collected the car and had to return it full.
In Lanzarote, none of the petrol stations were open at 5am when we went to the airport so I’m glad we filled up the evening before we left.
7. Is it safe and easy to drive around Lanzarote?
Yes, driving in Lanzarote is really safe and easy. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the easiest countries I’ve ever driven in. The roads are all well-maintained and there’s relatively light traffic outside of tourist areas. The island is small, so driving distances are short. However, some rural roads can be narrow and winding but as long as you take your time it’s fine.
8. Are there any toll roads in Lanzarote?
No, there are no toll roads in Lanzarote.
9. Can I hire a car at Lanzarote airport?
Yes, most car hire companies operate at Lanzarote Airport (Arrecife Airport). It’s convenient to pick up your car directly upon arrival and the cars are just a short walk from the arrivals area.
10. What are parking conditions like?
We found parking to be really easy. In towns and tourist areas, there are lots of public car parks and roadside parking, and some hotels offer parking too. I didn’t have to pay for parking anywhere.
11. Do I need to book a car in advance?
Yes, I would, especially during the high season (summer and holidays). Booking in advance usually guarantees better prices and availability.
12. What type of car should I rent in Lanzarote?
This depends on your plans. If you’re mostly exploring the coast and towns, a small car is perfect. If you’re planning on visiting remote areas or driving along rougher roads, an SUV or 4×4 might be more comfortable.
Next time I go, I’ll definitely hire an SUV because we loved visiting Playa de Papagayo and the road there was quite bumpy so it just makes that drive a bit more comfortable.
13. Is it worth renting a car for the whole trip?
You may have noticed you can hire a car for a day or two or you could hire it for your whole trip. In my opinion, it’s better value to hire it for the whole trip, even if you won’t use it everyday.
14. Are there any driving rules unique to Lanzarote?
The main thing to note is that the locals don’t use the inside lane on roundabouts! Don’t even try and use the inside lane because you’ll never get off the roundtable!
They also don’t really indicate!
Other than that, standard Spanish road rules apply in Lanzarote. The speed limit is typically 50 km/h in towns and 90-120 km/h on highways. It’s very easy to know the speed limit following the road signs or using Google Maps.
Seat belts are mandatory, and driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly enforced. We did see police pull over some young guys late at night so I’m assuming this was alcohol related.
15. Can I take the rental car to other Canary Islands?
Generally, car rental companies in Lanzarote do not allow vehicles to be taken on ferries to other islands unless explicitly permitted in the rental contract.
16. What should I do in case of an accident or breakdown?
When you collect your hire car you’ll be given a form with a phone number on to call in case of an emergency. You should immediately contact the car rental company who will provide assistance, and many offer breakdown cover. You may also need to contact the police for accidents.
Generally speaking though, breakdowns in hire cars are VERY unusual because the cars are well maintained and they’re usually very new. The mileage is low and they’re inspected after every use so it’s unlikely you’ll break down.