Renting a car on Lanzarote is one of the best ways to explore the island, especially if you want to go beyond the main resort towns and discover its volcanic landscapes, hidden beaches, traditional villages and incredible viewpoints.
During our trip, we found driving in Lanzarote incredibly easy and convenient. The island is relatively small, the main roads are in excellent condition and most places are never more than an hour or so apart. We could head out early in the morning, stop whenever we spotted a beautiful viewpoint and easily combine several places in a single day.
That said, there are still a few things worth knowing before booking your Lanzarote rental car, especially when it comes to unpaved roads, insurance and choosing the right type of car.
In this guide, I’ll share our own experience of renting a car on Lanzarote, together with practical tips on choosing the right rental car, driving around the island, parking, insurance, refueling and what to expect from the roads.
🚗 We usually book our rental cars through SunnyCars, simply because it takes away a lot of the stress that can come with renting a car abroad. Their prices are transparent, the most important insurance is already included and we like knowing that we won’t suddenly be faced with a bunch of extra costs at the rental desk. The free cancellation up to one hour before pick-up is also a huge plus if your plans change.
That said, I always recommend comparing prices before booking. Booking.com Car Rentals is another great option because you can easily compare different rental companies, car types and pick-up locations in one place. Prices can vary quite a bit, so it’s definitely worth checking both and going with the option that offers the best deal for your trip. 🚙
📖 READ MORE – The Very Best 7 Day Lanzarote Travel Itinerary
Renting a Car on Lanzarote – What Are the Roads Like?
One of the things that surprised us most about driving in Lanzarote was how easy it is to get around.
The main roads are generally in very good condition and traffic outside the larger towns is pretty relaxed. Lanzarote also doesn’t have the same dramatic mountain roads that you’ll find on islands such as Gran Canaria or Tenerife, so overall I found driving here much less stressful.
Most of the island consists of well-maintained paved roads connecting places such as Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Teguise, Haría and Timanfaya National Park.
There are still some winding sections, particularly in the north around Haría and Mirador del Río, but nothing we found particularly difficult.
One thing you do need to keep in mind is that some of Lanzarote’s more remote places are reached via gravel or unpaved roads. The best-known example is the road towards the beaches of Papagayo.
Before driving onto an unpaved road, always check the conditions of your rental agreement. Some rental companies don’t cover damage that happens while driving off paved roads, even when the road itself is commonly used by tourists.
💡 TIP – You really don’t need an SUV to explore Lanzarote. A small or compact rental car is perfectly fine for most trips and will also make parking easier. We usually prefer an automatic because it simply makes driving around a new destination that little bit more relaxed.
Tips for Refueling Your Rental Car in Lanzarote
Refueling your rental car in Lanzarote is very straightforward, and gas stations are easy to find throughout the island.
You’ll find plenty around Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise, as well as along the main roads connecting the different parts of Lanzarote.
The island isn’t particularly large, so we never found fuel to be something we had to worry about. That said, I still wouldn’t wait until the tank is completely empty, especially if you’re spending the day exploring the quieter northern part of Lanzarote.
Most gas stations accept credit cards, although I always like having a little cash with us as a backup.
Before returning your rental car, check the fuel policy included in your reservation. If you’ve booked a full-to-full policy, make sure to fill up before returning the car and keep your receipt until the rental has officially been completed.
💡 TIP – One thing we always double-check when refueling in Spain is the fuel type because the Spanish words can look surprisingly similar. “Gasolina” means petrol, while “gasóleo” means diesel. Definitely check twice before you start filling up!
Driving in Lanzarote: Rules You Need to Know
Driving in Lanzarote is generally very easy, but the island follows the same traffic laws as the rest of Spain.
You drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left.
The general speed limits for regular cars in Spain are:
- 20 km/h on certain urban streets where the road and pavement are on the same level
- 30 km/h on most urban roads with one lane in each direction
- 50 km/h on urban roads with two or more lanes in each direction
- 90 km/h on most conventional roads outside towns
- 120 km/h on motorways where applicable
Always follow the posted signs, as these take priority and speed limits can change frequently when entering towns or approaching intersections.
Seat belts are mandatory for everyone in the car, and children need to use an appropriate car seat or booster depending on their age and height.
Using a handheld mobile phone while driving is also prohibited.
In reality, we found driving around Lanzarote very relaxed. There are plenty of long, open roads where you’ll hardly encounter any traffic at all, and driving through the black volcanic landscapes is honestly part of the experience.
Just keep an eye on your speed. Some of those empty roads feel like you could drive much faster than you actually should.
Getting Around Lanzarote: Navigation Tips for Your Road Trip
Getting around Lanzarote by car is incredibly straightforward and Google Maps worked perfectly well for us during our trip.
The main attractions and towns are easy to find, and because Lanzarote is relatively compact, you’ll rarely spend hours in the car.
I would still recommend downloading an offline map of Lanzarote before your trip. Mobile coverage is generally good, but you may lose signal in some more remote areas.
Another thing I always do is double-check the route before blindly following Google Maps. Navigation apps sometimes suggest smaller back roads or unpaved shortcuts when there’s a perfectly good paved road available.
This is especially important with a rental car because your insurance may not cover damage caused on certain unpaved roads.
Parking Rules on Lanzarote
Parking on Lanzarote is generally pretty easy, especially compared to many other popular European destinations.
White lines usually indicate free parking, while blue lines indicate regulated parking where you may need to pay during certain hours. Always check the nearby signs or parking meter for the exact rules.
Yellow lines generally mean that parking is prohibited, so I would avoid those completely.
Finding parking is usually straightforward around Lanzarote’s natural attractions, although popular places can get much busier later in the day.
Parking can be slightly trickier in Arrecife, Teguise on market day and some of the busier resort towns, but we never found it particularly stressful.
If we’re visiting somewhere popular, we usually try to arrive earlier in the morning. Not only does this make parking easier, but you’ll often get to enjoy the place before the tour buses arrive as well.
And as always, if you’re unsure whether you’re allowed to park somewhere, keep looking. Saving a couple of euros isn’t worth coming back to a fine or a towed rental car.
From What Age Can You Rent a Car in Lanzarote?
The minimum age for renting a car in Lanzarote depends on the rental company and the type of car you want to rent.
Many rental companies require the main driver to be at least 21 years old, although some companies set the minimum age at 23 or 25 for certain vehicle categories.
If you’re under 25, make sure to check the rental conditions carefully before booking. A young driver surcharge may apply, and you may have fewer vehicle categories to choose from.
Rental companies can also require that you’ve held your driver’s license for a minimum period, often at least one or two years.
🚗 When booking through Sunny Cars, you enter the age of the main driver when searching, so the results already take this into account. This makes it much easier to see which rental cars you’re actually eligible to book.
Do You Need an International Driver’s License in Lanzarote?
If your driver’s license was issued in the EU or EEA, you don’t need an International Driving Permit to drive in Lanzarote. Your regular valid driver’s license is sufficient.
If your license was issued outside the EU or EEA, different requirements may apply. In that case, I recommend obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) before traveling and carrying it together with your original driver’s license and passport.
Always check both Spain’s current requirements and the conditions of your rental company before leaving home.
Do You Need a Credit Card?
We always travel with a credit card in the name of the main driver whenever we rent a car abroad.
Many rental companies use the card to block a security deposit when you collect the vehicle, even when you’ve already paid for your rental online.
One detail that’s incredibly easy to overlook is that the name on the credit card should match the name of the main driver. We always double-check this before leaving home because this is definitely not something you want to discover after landing in Lanzarote and standing at the rental desk.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Lanzarote?
Renting a car in Lanzarote is actually quite affordable compared to many other European islands, although prices depend heavily on your travel dates, car category and how early you book.
At the moment, a small rental car on Lanzarote averages around €20 to €30 per day, although you can sometimes find cheaper deals outside busy periods. Prices can increase significantly during popular travel weeks such as Christmas, Easter and school holidays.
For reference, Sunny Cars reported an average of around €220 for one week on Lanzarote during Easter 2026, which works out at roughly €31 per day.
Automatic cars, SUVs and larger family cars will generally cost more.
I would always look beyond the cheapest advertised rate. Insurance, deposits, additional drivers, child seats and fuel policies can make a big difference to the final price.
That’s one of the reasons we personally like booking through Sunny Cars. Their prices already include extensive insurance coverage, including reimbursement of the excess, so you know much more clearly what your rental is actually going to cost.
Booking.com Car Rentals is another option I like to check because it makes it very easy to compare different rental companies and car categories in one place.
Sunny Cars or Booking? Which one is the best option?
Both Sunny Cars and Booking.com Car Rentals are good options, but which one is best really depends on what you’re looking for.
We personally prefer Sunny Cars because everything feels a little more straightforward. The price you see already includes the most important insurance and fees, which means there’s less chance of being surprised by extra costs at the rental desk. For us, that peace of mind is worth a lot when renting a car abroad.
Booking.com Car Rentals, on the other hand, is great if your main priority is comparing prices. You can quickly check offers from several rental companies and often find a wider range of cars and price points.
My advice is to check both before booking. If the prices are similar, I would personally choose Sunny Cars for the extra convenience and clarity. But if Booking.com offers a significantly better deal from a well-rated rental company, that can absolutely be a good option too.
Is It Worth Renting a Car in Lanzarote?
Absolutely. If there’s one place in the Canary Islands where I would recommend renting a car, Lanzarote is definitely one of them.
The island is small enough that you can easily explore a different area every day, yet many of its most beautiful places are scattered across the island.
Having your own car means you can visit Timanfaya National Park early in the morning, drive through the wine region of La Geria, explore the villages in the north and end your day watching the sunset somewhere along the coast without having to plan everything around bus schedules or organized tours.
For us, that freedom is what makes renting a car so worthwhile.
Driving itself is easy, distances are short and the scenery along the way is incredible. In many places, the drive is just as beautiful as the destination.
If you’re planning to properly explore Lanzarote rather than spending your entire holiday around one resort, I would rent a car without hesitation!
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Hi! We’re Charlotte, Christof & César!
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