In Lanzarote a car is the most practical way to link the island’s scattered sights: Timanfaya, the Papagayo beaches, the works of César Manrique, La Geria or the north around Haría. You most often rent it at César Manrique-Lanzarote airport, where Aena lists nine companies in each of the two terminals. As a US or UK visitor, check the licence rules below; Spanish traffic rules apply.
This page sticks to official sources (Aena, the DGT, GOV.UK, travel.state.gov) and points to check when booking; it gives no prices. To plan your stay, see our Lanzarote guide, when to go to Lanzarote and the comparison Tenerife or Lanzarote.
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Car rental in Lanzarote: key facts
- Licence: US citizens, an International Driving Permit is required (U.S. State Department); UK citizens, a UK photocard licence is valid (UK FCDO).
- Airport: AutoReisen, Cabrera Medina, Cicar, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Payless, Sixt and TopCar in both T1 and T2 (Aena).
- Hertz and TopCar also have a point at the T1 car park (level P0).
- Speed: 120 km/h (75 mph) on autopista/autovía, 90 km/h (56 mph) on conventional roads, 20/30/50 km/h (12/19/31 mph) in towns.
- Alcohol: 0.5 g/l of blood, 0.3 g/l for novice drivers.
Do you need a car in Lanzarote?
Buses link the main towns, but many of the sights that make the island worthwhile are out of the way: Timanfaya National Park and its visitor center, the Papagayo coves at the end of a track, the viewpoints of the north, the wine cellars of La Geria. A car also lets you visit early in the morning or late in the day.
If you stay in Playa Blanca and plan a day trip to Fuerteventura, remember that taking a rental car on a ferry depends on the company. See our Fuerteventura page for the neighboring island.
Licence, age and documents
Lanzarote is part of Spain, so Spanish rules apply. US citizens: the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, Spain page, last updated August 11, 2025) says you must obtain an International Driving Permit before arrival if you plan to drive in Spain, that you must have one to rent a car, that police who catch you without one might impound the rental car and fine you on the spot, and that IDPs are only valid for 1 year. UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026), you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Spain; if you still have a paper licence you may need to update it to a photocard, and provisional licences are not valid. You must be 18 or over to drive a car and carry a valid licence and ID. If you use UK insurance, carry your certificate and check that it covers driving in Spain and for how long.
Minimum age, years of licence required and the « young driver » surcharge are set by each rental company, not by law: read them before you pay. Bring your licence (and IDP if applicable), ID and a payment card in the main driver’s name for the deposit: many companies require a credit card and refuse debit cards for the deposit.
Driving rules: what the DGT says
| Type of road | Maximum speed |
|---|---|
| Autopista / autovía | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Carretera convencional | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
| Town, single-platform street (roadway and pavement at the same level) | 20 km/h (12 mph) |
| Town, one lane in each direction | 30 km/h (19 mph) |
| Town, two or more lanes in each direction | 50 km/h (31 mph) |
On conventional roads, the DGT specifies that 90 km/h cannot be exceeded, even to overtake. On alcohol, the DGT gives a maximum of 0.25 mg per liter of exhaled air (0.5 g/l of blood) for most drivers, and 0.15 mg/l (0.3 g/l) for novice and professional drivers. A bill to lower the limit is under discussion in the Spanish Parliament; according to the sources consulted, it was not in force on 24 October 2026. The DGT repeats that the only safe level is zero. The UK FCDO adds that police regularly carry out roadside checks for alcohol and drugs, and that penalties include fines, loss of licence and prison.
- Phone: it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, even if you have pulled over; only completely hands-free units are allowed, and an earpiece is illegal (UK FCDO). The U.S. State Department mentions a €300 fine.
- Seat belts: compulsory for everyone, front and back, including in taxis; children under 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) must use an approved child seat on the back seat (UK FCDO).
- Roadside stops: wear a reflective vest and place a warning triangle if you stop at the roadside (U.S. State Department).
- On-the-spot fines: the FCDO says the police can issue them, reduced by 50% if you pay within 20 days.
Driving in Lanzarote: what to know
- The Papagayo tracks: the beaches are reached by an unpaved track in a protected area. Read your contract: many companies exclude unsurfaced roads from their cover.
- Timanfaya National Park: leaving the authorized roads and areas is forbidden; the visit to the volcanic heart follows the visitor center’s arrangements.
- Wind: on windy days, hold the doors firmly when opening them.
- Roundabouts are numerous around Arrecife: in Spain you give way to vehicles already on them.
- Cyclists are numerous on inland roads: overtake only with enough safety distance.
Where to pick up your rental car
Aena publishes one page per terminal for César Manrique-Lanzarote airport. The same nine companies appear at T1 and T2: AutoReisen, Cabrera Medina, Cicar, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Payless, Sixt and TopCar. At T1, Hertz and TopCar also have a pick-up point at the car park (level P0). Check the terminal of your flight and the one shown on your booking voucher: picking up at the wrong terminal wastes time.
Companies not listed operate off-airport with a shuttle or from the resorts. An office in Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen may suit you if you only want a car for a few days.
Insurance and excess: what to understand
Every rental includes the compulsory third-party liability insurance. Damage to the vehicle and theft are covered by waivers (often called CDW, TP or equivalent) with an excess (deductible): the sum left to you in case of a claim. The company usually blocks a security deposit on a card in the main driver’s name.
There are three options: accept the excess, buy it down at the desk, or take out third-party « excess insurance » (you then pay the sum first and are reimbursed). Some credit cards include rental cover: read the terms, as exclusions (windows, tires, underbody, dirt tracks) are common. Our travel insurance guide explains the differences.
Checklist at pick-up and return
- Walk around the vehicle and photograph every side, the wheels, the underbody and the windscreen; have defects noted.
- Check the air conditioning and the condition of the tires.
- Note the fuel level and fuel policy.
- Ask in writing what the insurance covers on tracks (Papagayo) and on the ferry.
- On return, give the car back at the agreed terminal and have the condition report signed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking a category too small for your luggage: you book a category, not a model.
- Driving the Papagayo track without knowing whether the contract covers it.
- Leaving visible items in beach car parks.
- Forgetting additional-driver fees when comparing offers.
- Confusing the excess with the security deposit.
- Arriving as a US visitor without an International Driving Permit.
Fuel, parking and additional drivers
Follow the fuel policy in your contract: « full-to-full » (you return the tank as you received it) is the easiest to check; options where you pay for a full tank in advance are rarely good value for a short stay, as unused fuel is generally not refunded. Fill up before heading north or to Timanfaya rather than at the last minute.
If you share the driving, declare each driver on the contract: an undeclared driver is in principle not covered in case of a claim. Additional-driver fees vary between companies and should be part of your comparison. Finally, in towns and near beaches, respect the parking signs; a fine received by the rental company will be passed on to you, often with an administration fee.
Booking your car rental in Lanzarote
You can book directly with a company present at the airport or go through a comparison site, which shows several offers at once. Either way, compare the actual rental company (the one that will hand over the keys), the desk location (in the terminal or by shuttle), the amount of the excess and the deposit, mileage, fuel policy, additional-driver or young-driver fees, and cancellation terms.
Frequently asked questions
Which rental companies are at Lanzarote airport?
Aena lists AutoReisen, Cabrera Medina, Cicar, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Payless, Sixt and TopCar, in terminals T1 and T2.
Is my US or UK driving licence valid in Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is part of Spain. The UK FCDO says a UK photocard licence can be used in Spain (provisional licences are not valid); the U.S. State Department says US drivers need an International Driving Permit to drive and to rent a car.
Can I drive to the Papagayo beaches in a rental car?
Access is by a track. Check in your contract whether unsurfaced roads are covered by the insurance.
What is the legal alcohol limit in the Canary Islands?
0.5 g/l of blood (0.25 mg/l of air), 0.3 g/l (0.15 mg/l) for novice and professional drivers, according to the DGT.
Can I take the ferry to Fuerteventura with the car?
Only if the rental company allows it: ask for written permission, otherwise the insurance may not apply.
Our sources
- Aena, César Manrique-Lanzarote airport, « Alquiler de coches » pages for T1 and T2, checked 24 October 2026.
- DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), press release of 3 August 2026 on speed limits, checked 24 October 2026.
- DGT, « Así son los controles de alcoholemia y drogas », checked 24 October 2026.
- UK FCDO, Spain travel advice, Driving section (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026).
- U.S. Department of State, Spain, Traffic laws (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- DGT press release of 13 July 2026 on checks, checked 24 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Rules, lists of companies and terms may change: check the official sites before you travel.