Hire car or your own car if you live in Tenerife

The south of Tenerife is full of hire cars, and many foreign residents start that way: they rent for a few weeks, then a few months, and one day realise they’ve been paying rental for a year. There’s no single answer, but there is an orderly way to decide.

What renting gives you

• Complete flexibility: you hand it back when you leave and don’t worry about anything else.
• Insurance, the ITV (MOT), paperwork and repairs are the company’s problem.
• You can change the size of car depending on the season or visitors.

On the other hand, the cost adds up month after month, prices and availability get worse in high season, and there are conditions worth reading: mileage, authorised drivers, what the insurance covers and what excess applies if there’s damage, or whether you can take it on a ferry to another island.

What your own car gives you

• After a certain amount of use, it usually works out cheaper than renting continuously.
• You choose it to suit you and look after it your way.
• You don’t depend on rental companies’ availability.

In return, you take on the insurance, ITV, local vehicle tax, upkeep and repairs. And when you’re away for a while, the car sits unused, which also needs looking after.

Questions to help you decide

1. How many months a year will you be on the island? The longer, the more sense your own car makes.
2. Will you be legally resident in Spain? If so, find out about your obligations regarding your driving licence and, if you bring a foreign-registered car, about registering it in Spain.
3. Do you have somewhere safe to park it, especially if you spend time away?
4. Is there someone you trust who can move it or check it while you’re gone?

If you decide to buy

A well-checked used car is a very common choice. Before buying, ask for invoices for previous repairs, check that the ITV is valid and that there are no outstanding charges on it, and have a garage inspect its bodywork and structure. When taking out insurance, compare cover: extended third-party insurance may be enough for an older car, while for a newer one comprehensive cover with an excess may suit you better.

If you’re away for long periods

• Leave it under cover if you can, or use a breathable cover: sun and salt air wear down the paint even when the car is not moving.
• Wash it before you leave, underbody included, so no salt is left on the metal.
• Ask someone you trust to keep an eye on it and move it now and then.
• Check the ITV and insurance dates so they don’t expire while you’re away.
• When you’re back, wash off tree sap, bird droppings or calima dust as soon as you can: left in the sun, they can mark the clear coat.

At Green Car Service Tenerife we sell used cars and look after your car’s bodywork and paint in Las Chafiras, with collection and delivery. If you’re torn between several cars, we can check their bodywork with our pre-purchase inspection.