Renting a car in Fuerteventura is the best way to explore this magnificent island.
Here’s our complete guide on how to rent a car in Fuerteventura, with:
- which type of car is best,
- advice on the best rental companies and how to cut costs,
- insurance recommendations,
- essential points to avoid any scam,
- rules and regulations,
- …
We’ve tried to list everything you might need to know to have a worry-free car rental experience.
Rent a car in Fuerteventura – Overview
Do you need a car in Fuerteventura?
It depends on the type of vacation you want.
But if you want to be able to:
- Enjoy some of the hidden gems such as rock formations, lesser-known beaches…
- Visit a place early before the crowds or enjoy magnificent sunrises and sunsets
- Flexibility to adapt to the weather
Then renting a car is the best option. And our favorite platform for this is Discovercars.com.
Is it difficult to drive in Fuerteventura? Is it safe?
Driving in Fuerteventura is very easy. Most roads are in good condition.
It’s easy to find your way around, and visibility is often excellent.
The most stressful part for some people is the few mountain roads, but there’s always clear side protection. We didn’t find it difficult.
However, don’t attempt the unpaved road to Cofete without a 4WD.
Read our article on driving.
The booking platform we personally use
You’ll see mentions of Discovercars. com throughout this article.
This is the platform we’ve been using personally (since we discovered them).
Once we’ve decided on a destination and dates, we’ll take a look at their offers and the types of cars available.
After research, they often have the best offers for our needs.
It is one of the highest rated comparison sites in the market.
See their current car rental offers in Fuerteventura.
Essential tips – drawn from our personal experience
If you don’t want to read the whole article with the step-by-step guide to renting a car in Fuerteventura, here’s a brief summary of our top tips:
- No particular recommendations in terms of car size or power – the roads are generally wide and gentle.
- Book early for the best prices and choice of cars (remember, it’s an island).
- There are a few areas that are only accessible by 4WD, but not many, and we don’t recommend renting a 4WD. Most companies are not allowed to drive on unpaved roads. This means that if you go to the beaches of Papagayo with your rental car (only on the slopes) and you have a technical problem, you’ll have to pay a lot of money for the repair.
- Always check the car on arrival and take photos of everything you see (don’t forget the roof and the underside of the bumper).
- Many rental companies do not allow you to take the ferry to the neighboring island of Lanzarote.
- Don’t drive in flip-flops
#1 to 3 – What you need to rent a car in Fuerteventura
Tip 1 – Driving license to rent a car in Fuerteventura
To drive in Fuerteventura / Spain, you need a valid driver’s license from your country.
If you hold a valid driver’s license, which includes :
- a license number,
- a photo,
- a validity date
- and is written in Latin letters,
- then you don’t need an international permit.
If not, you need it.
Tip 2 – Additional age requirements / years of driving
The official driving age in Fuerteventura (as in Spain) is 18.
However, there are many car rental companies in Fuerteventura:
- ask you to be 21 or 23 years old
- will require you to have held a license in your home country for a year or more,
- may add a fee if you are under 25 years of age,
- may add fees if you are over a certain age.
- It is best to make sure you read all the fine print.
On the Discovercars.com you can enter your age, to see any limitations on available rental cars and any additional charges.
Tip 3 – A credit card that can handle expense deductions
Bear in mind that, unless you have decided to take out comprehensive insurance directly with the rental company, your rental agency will ask you to retain a charge, i.e. a deposit (in addition to payment). This amount, the “surcharge”, is blocked on your account via your credit card (released on return of the car).
Since it is added to the payment, you may reach your credit card’s daily/weekly or monthly protection limit.
I’ve seen many people at car rental companies surprised by this situation and struggling to deal with it.
How do you manage it?
- Use a different credit card for hold fees,
- Contact your bank before you travel to change your limits,
- Take out comprehensive insurance with a zero deductible.
#4 and 5 – Car rental in Fuerteventura – When and where
Tip #4 – Best time of year
Fuerteventura is a very popular destination, especially in summer.
So, if you want to have a choice of vehicle types and good prices, it’s best to rent your car as soon as possible.
You will not find any last minute offers in summer. As soon as you have chosen your dates, book the car!
Tip 5 – Where
Car rental in Fuerteventura is available at the airport and in all the main towns.
So you can rent it for just a few days from the town where you’re staying.
However, to save money, I think it’s best to rent your car from Fuerteventura airport for the duration of your stay.
The largest car rental centers in Fuerteventura are:
- Fuerteventura airport car rental – see offers
- car rental in the port of Corralejo – see offers
#6 to 10 – What type of car should I choose?
Tip 6 – Recommendations for car size / power
There’s nothing specific to keep in mind in Fuerteventura.
There are some mountain roads, but we have no recommendation for car size or power. These routes are not difficult.
Parking spaces are quite large, road sizes are good and nothing is very steep.
Tip 7 – Transmission type: manual or automatic
Most cars in Spain have a manual transmission.
You’ll pay more for an automatic, and there are fewer options.
Tip 8 – Choosing your fuel: diesel, gas or electric
- The Spanish word for service station is “estación de servicio”.
- Gasoline is found on the green pump – called “gasolina” and if unleaded “gasolina sin plomo”.
- Diesel is found on the black pump called “gasoil”.
- Check out the concentration of electric car charging stations, there aren’t many at the moment.
Tip 9 – Is it worth having a 4WD?
I do not recommend it.
There are a few areas that are only accessible by 4WD, but not many.
Even if you have a 4WD, the insurance protection associated with the rental will probably not cover the use of the car off tarmac roads. This is common in many countries. Read the fine print.
Tip 10 – Consider vehicles with sleeping options
Campers and vans are not ideal for Fuerteventura.
There are a few campsites and wilder places to park.
The regulations governing unauthorized camping are unclear.
There are very few companies that rent out motorhomes.
#11 to 17 – Best car rental agencies in Fuerteventura – reviews
Tip 11 – Cost of car rental in Fuerteventura
To give you an idea, based on Discovercars.com data, prices are roughly the same:
- The average price of a rental car varies widely throughout the year, from USD 10 to USD 55 per day.
- The cheapest prices are usually for when you travel to Fuerteventura around June
It’s easy to compare prices online.
Compare rental prices in Fuerteventura
Tip 12 – Choosing your car rental agency
- First of all, of course, the company must have the type of car you need.
- Then find out what the cancellation charges are.
- Mileage allowance – depending on what you’re planning, take a look at the unlimited mileage or daily mileage allowance.
- The location of the pickup – some require a shuttle to get to the rental location.
- And if you plan to visit Lanzarote with the same car, don’t forget to check whether this is allowed, otherwise you can always rent another car at the port.
Tip 13 – Top rated car rental companies in Fuerteventura – reviews
Don’t forget that on Tripadvisor or Google for example, anyone can write a review even if they haven’t used the company.
On the Discovercars.com platform, each rental company has a 10-point rating. It’s an average of ratings given by real customers – On the search page, you can select only the best-rated as:
- Cicar
- Interrent
- Orlando
- Autoreisen
Tip 14 – How to save money: cheap rentals?
If keeping costs down is your main concern, you should:
- Book early
- Return the car to where you picked it up
- Reserve a smaller car
- Pay attention to pick-up and drop-off times – Car rental is generally charged per 24-hour period.
- Choose a rental with no cancellation or with limited cancellation
- If you are renting for 6 days, check the price for 7 days – sometimes companies have a discount for week-long rentals.
- Book with limited mileage
Tip 15 – Check the opening hours if you take an agency that is not located in an airport.
If you pick up your car at the airport, the companies are normally open as long as flights are arriving.
However, if you rent a car in a city, especially a small one, the opening hours will be shorter (especially on weekends). This may mean that you will have to rent for an extra day if you cannot drop off the car.
Tip 16 – Car rental scams in Fuerteventura
As in most countries, if the price is very, very low, there must be conditions and tricks behind it.
But there are no specific scams for Fuerteventura.
Always take dated photos of the car on arrival and on return (if you can’t get the document confirming the absence of problems right away).
Tip 17 – Be careful when changing islands
From Fuerteventura, you can also visit the neighboring island of Lanzarote.
However, this involves taking a ferry.
Most rental companies on the island of Fuerteventura do not allow you to take the ferry. But some do.
If you rent with Discovercars.com, once you have selected a car, you can click on “Rental Conditions”, then again on “Rental Conditions” or “Additional Conditions” to find the “Geographical Restrictions”.
If they are not documented, you can add the question to customer support.
#18 to 20 – Understanding Insurance
Tip 18 – Insurance requirements
Compulsory insurance in Fuerteventura / Spain:
- unlimited liability insurance is required by law – it is therefore included in the price of the car rental.
Tip 19 – 4 ways to take out property and casualty insurance
Then there’s insurance to cover potential damage to the vehicle. Your choice has an impact on the deductible you have to pay following repairs:
- Option 0 – no insurance – you take the risk of having to pay the highest deductible.
- Option 1 – Use your credit card insurance/or your own car insurance. Some have a rental clause. You must read all the fine print to understand what is and is not covered.
- Option 2 – Buy when you reserve your rental car
The offers are most of the time better than at the counter (I saw 3 times less, once).
On the direct sites, you get the dealer’s insurance, but on the platforms, you get special insurance created by the platform.
For example, on Discovercars.com, they have their own “Full Coverage Waiver” insurance option.
Personally, this is what we use. We’ve already had to use it following damage to the windscreen and got our money back quickly. - Option 3 – When you collect the car
This is the most expensive option, but if you’ve never done it before, you may want to buy it when you pay. The advantage is that the deductible often falls to zero. - Option 4 – Travel insurance Travel insurance
Purchase travel insurance that includes comprehensive car rental insurance from one of the traditional insurance companies.
Tip #20 – Consider Roadside Assistance
It’s not insurance, but it’s offered at the same time. Some companies include it, in whole or in part, in their rental contract.
Coverage conditions vary. They normally include
- Loss or damage of car keys
- Keys locked inside the car
- Flat tire
- Rental car not starting
- Car running out of fuel
If you’re in a country you’re not familiar with, traveling alone and aren’t good at changing tires, this can be a great option.
This is a service you can get at the counter when you get the car.
#21 to 23 – Extras
Tip 21 – Do I need a GPS?
To navigate, you may consider renting a GPS.
- Option 1 – Bring your own GPS
That way, you know how it works, and you can enter all your destinations in advance, which saves me a lot of time. - Option 2 – Use your phone
If you have a phone, remember that roaming charges abroad can be very high (unless you’re from Europe and it’s included in your package).
However, you can download a map in advance on your navigation app, when you’re connected to wifi, so you can navigate without spending any money.
Don’t forget your phone’s charger and holder to keep it comfortable! - Option 3 – Take the GPS as well
We don’t recommend it, they’re quite expensive. It’s a last resort if you don’t have your own or a good phone.
Tip #22 – Additional Driver Fee
Decide in advance whether or not you will need more than one driver.
If this is the case, keep this in mind when comparing rental offers between companies.
Some companies offer deals with an extra driver for free.
On the Discovercars.com platform, if available, it can be selected on the filters.
Tip 23 – Rules for child safety seats
The law states that:
- children weighing less than 18 kg must be placed in child seats
- and children under 135 cm tall must be installed in the rear seats on a booster seat.
#24 to 31 – How to pick up and drop off your car to avoid problems
Tip #24 – Check your vehicle at pickup
For a hassle-free exchange with the car rental company, we recommend that you perform a thorough check of the car before leaving the parking lot.
Sometimes this is done with an agent. Sometimes they simply give you a form with the condition of the car before the rental. Sometimes they don’t tell you anything…
Make sure all dents and scratches are noted, if not, make sure they add them.
In addition, to have peace of mind, you can take pictures before leaving (as in all countries).
Things to look for:
- Check the entire exterior of the car for dents and scratches.
- Don’t forget to check the roof!!! It’s often forgotten, but it may be checked when you return.
- Don’t forget the underside of the bumper
- And don’t forget the back of the mirrors
- Check the interior for damage
- Check the condition of the tires
- Check the condition of the wing (mud wing above the wheels)
- Check that the spare tire is in place and in good condition
- Verify that the fuel level and mileage match the record
Tip 25 – Check mandatory equipment
In Fuerteventura, Spain, the following equipment must be available in the car:
- 2 warning triangles
- Reflective vest or jacket
- Spare wheel and tools for changing it
- First-aid kit (recommended, not mandatory)
- Flashlight (recommended, not mandatory)
Tip 26 – Find out about toll management
There are no toll roads in Fuerteventura.
Tip #27 – What to do if you get a fine or ticket (speeding / parking)
You are responsible for any traffic tickets or fines you receive during the rental period.
If you are notified immediately, you may pay at the police station or online as indicated.
But be aware that it can take up to 3 months before a fine is reported to the car owner (the rental company). In this case, they will send you a proof and charge you for it and may add an administrative fee for handling the fine.
Tip 28 – What to do if there’s a problem with the car?
Don’t lose your rental agreement.
On this page, you will find the steps to take if you have a problem with your car.
Most use a breakdown assistance service and the number will be indicated on the contract.
You can then contact the rental company to see how to replace the car.
Tip #29 – Don’t forget to manage your tank
These days, more and more companies have introduced a policy whereby you have to return your car with the same level of fuel (instead of taking a full tank and returning a full tank).
It’s very annoying, but it’s more manageable for them.
Therefore, you need to understand how much the car consumes and how many kilometers/miles you have left, if you don’t want to waste money.
Tip 30 – Parking the car
For peace of mind, try to drop off the car during business hours so that all checks can be completed and validated. Get a document certifying that everything is OK.
If this isn’t their process, or if you’re in a hurry and can’t get a document, be sure to take dated photos of the car before you leave it.
It’s true that you can read some horror stories on the Internet about car rental.
However, keep in mind that the thousands and thousands of people who have no problems do not write that everything went well with their rental…
So don’t be stressed. If you’ve hired a reputable company and follow the rules, everything should go smoothly.
Tip #31 – What to do if you damage the car
If your rental car is damaged, the first thing to do is to contact the car rental agency.
- If your rental only has basic insurance, you will be responsible for covering damages up to your deductible.
- If you have full coverage with the rental agency, check with them and the damage should be covered.
- If you bought with Discovercars.com, contact them and provide all the information (within 28 days of the car deposit). They will reimburse you for the fees and costs associated with the damage, if warranted.
- If you use your own insurance, contact them and provide all information. They will reimburse you for the fees and costs associated with the damage, if they are justified.
Compare rental prices in Fuerteventura
#32 to 36 – Get ready to drive in Fuerteventura
Here’s an introduction to driving in Fuerteventura.
Tip #32 – Understand the rules
- Driving is on the right-hand side of the road, which means that traffic circles are taken counter-clockwise.
- Road signs are easy to understand, nothing special to note.
- The blood alcohol level is 0.05%, which is lower than in the UK.
- Seat belts are mandatory for all
- No cell phones at the wheel
- Don’t wear flip-flops when driving
- And of course: come to a complete stop at stop signs, do not cross solid white lines, traffic on the road has priority over your entrance…
Tip #33 – Watch videos
To familiarize yourself with driving, you can watch videos of people on road trips in Fuerteventura.
Video to come
Tip #34 – Know the potential hazards
There are 3 main dangers to be aware of when driving in Fuerteventura:
- LANDSCAPE – The main danger is to be distracted by the magnificent landscape. The solidified lava is very impressive and you want to look further, but there’s nowhere to stop. That’s when you become dangerous.
- LOCALS – Because you want to look at the scenery, locals on their way to work can be impatient. They can be a bit crazy when overtaking. So always look in your mirrors, especially when turning left (towards your home, for example) in the middle of a long straight road.
- CYCLISTS – Cyclists take to the roads at weekends. Be very careful when overtaking.
Tip #35 – Plan Your Route
It can be fun to go on an adventure.
But if you want to see a lot of places on your road trip, it’s best to plan ahead to balance your days and book accommodation.
See some of my articles:
Tip 36 – What to do in case of an accident
If people are injured or there is a conflict, the emergency number in Fuerteventura is 112:
The best order of action is as follows
- contact the emergency services
- contact the police
- contact your rental provider
