Car Rental on Tenerife
August 22, 2007 by andymont
The other day whilst I was in Santiago del Teide having a look at the trail of destruction left by the Tenerife forest fire, a deluxe silver convertible with a car rental sticker on its bumper pulled up beside me.
“You don’t happen to speak any Spanish, do you?” The driver asked. “The car’s making a funny noise and I haven’t a clue what this means.”
He pointed to the dashboard where, very cleverly, the on-board computer was telling him what the problem was. Unfortunately for him it was in Spanish. As it turned out it was telling him that his gear box was on the blink.
It was just one of those unexpected incidents that can happen when you hire a car in a foreign country, but it suddenly occurred to me that although we’ve written a guide to discovering the island by car; we aren’t, as yet, providing any advice relating to actually renting a car on Tenerife. With over 100 car rental firms on Tenerife to choose from, it can be a bit of a daunting task which I remember only too well from my first visits to the island.
To rectify this, and help visitors make a more informed choice in the future, we’ve included an independent on-line guide to hiring a car on Tenerife on our Real Tenerife Island Drives website. So, to help us I ‘d like to hear from people who’ve rented a car on the island.
What I’m especially interested in is:
- If you collected your hire car from the airport, was the process quick and easy?
- Were there any unexpected charges, or ‘add-ons’?
- Was the car’s petrol tank full, or was finding a petrol station the first thing you had to do?
- Did you feel that the car hire firm were friendly, service was good and there weren’t any communication problems?
- Was the car in good condition?
- If you had an accident, was the car hire company supportive in helping you deal with it?
Also feel free to leave any other comments that you feel would help visitors to Tenerife make the right choice when hiring a car.
Thanks very much for your help.
N.B. All or part of your comments may be published and credited on Real Tenerife Island Drives website
WE HIRE FROM AUTO RAYMOND IN LAS AMERICAS
WE PICK UP THE CAR AT THE AIRPORT AND THE SERVICE IS VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFULL
THE PETROL TANK IS USUALLY OK BUT THE DEAL IS TO LEAVE IT AS YOU FIND IT AND WITH THE PETROL STATION ON THE WAY OUT YOU DONT HAVE TO GO FAR
WE ALWAYS HAVE HAD A GOOD CONDITION CAR.
Thanks, Michaela
Auto Raymond wasn’t on our radar so it’s really helpful to get info and comments on some of the smaller firms operating on the island.
For the last four years I have been booking my hire cars through . http://www.doyouspain.com. they seem to get the best prices going at the time and you only pay when you collect the car. I have always had nearly new cars and have not had any problems
Thanks, Stuart
I know that they’re an agent and I’ve heard that they use CICAR here, but I don’t know if they use anyone else. I also heard that you can sometimes get a better deal with them than renting direct.
we were pleased making a reservation with TJ rent a cars in Tenerife last october and we paid an amount of 20€ for the reservation cost done by Petchey Leisure - mrs Daisy Sanwikarja -, I got informed about the price by Petchey Leisure (I have it on paper!) included an amount of 60€ because the car was in Tenerife Northe and the 20€ because it was after 20h. We were said to pay the amount of 193€ as final amount (by visa) but what happened? By picking up the car I had to pay the amount of 235€ and I was told I had to phone to mr Antonio ,who would make no problem in order to be reimbursed of the difference, because he would adapt the amount into the wright figure. .
I tried to phone him twice but he allways forgot to phone back and the 3th time he promised me I got debited by the correct amount. I believed him .He also told me to fill the tank when we left the car by leaving to Belgium- which we did.
Back in Belgium I have been debited of the full amount and until now I still have problems to get my money back.
Mr Antonio I ask you to contact me by e-mail to get this problem arranged.I feel cheated by TJ rent a car.
I have a problem with TJ cars too now. I visited Tenerife at 24th of November and rented a car for a week.
They’ve charged my credit card twicely. I called them at 14th of December and told about the problem. I was redirected to Mr. Antonio. Mr. Antonio checked everything and agreed that I payed double sum, he promised to debit my credit card (the sum is EUR 181).
Then I waited for the money for several days, called him back and he then told me that he was not able to return the money and I should have given my account number. I have written him all the details at his hotmail.com account at 22nd of December but didn’t get the answer.
It’s very difficult to reach Mr. Antonio on the mobile phone, he always ask to call back (tomorrow, next week, in 5 minutes).
I’m very dissapointed… Hope they’ll return my money nevertheless…
Below are details I have sent to my carhire insurance company -:
“I am not aware of any incident. All I know is that my credit card has been debited with £227.39 by Orlando Rent a Car.
When I arrived at the airport they picked us up and took us to their depot where I took over the car. I said we would return it at 2100hrs on 1st February. They said that was no good as they closed at 2100hrs so I said that I would be there in time for them to take us to the airport. When I arrived back at the depot at 2030hrs on the 1st February the place was all locked up.
I tried the speaker phone on the gates and what I believed to be their local number to no avail. I had no alternative but to drive the 7miles to the airport. When I arrived I rang Carhire3000 in Manchester and told them what I had done and the car was in Avis space 62 with the key locked in the boot. This phone call was made at 2050hrs - still before the time they had said that they closed. I told Avis that I had put the car in their space, they were not impressed but as I had no key by then I couldn’t move it.
The following morning, 2nd February, I rang Carhire3000 to make sure that everything was OK and they said that it was “all sorted”
I have no idea what the charge is for, all I know is that it had no new damage when I left it. It was very scuffed all over so I took photographs when I reached our apartments.
I have had many hire cars before in Tenerife, Lanzerote, Switzerland, Italy and Cyprus. Also I have driven and towed the caravan in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Italy without incident.
It only goes to show that one should listen to what other people say and file it for future reference.
I have just spoken to my brother and he told me a story about how he had problems with Orlando in Tenerife and, also, in Lanzerote. He had told me the story before but I failed to take it in. Sharks he called them with ’sheds’ for cars.
I suspect that the money has been taken to ‘tart it up’ prior to resale. They advertise second hand cars on their website.
Had there been any one to receive the car I was going to report that the screen washer ran but failed to produce water, the centre consul display was not illuminated, the aerial was missing and the drivers seat swab was falling apart. Also there was an occasional ‘chunk’ from the rear offside, RH side.
I know it is a scam and the sooner people like Orlando are out of the market the better”
Thanks Robin,
I’ve added a link to your comment on the Orlando entry on Real Tenerife Island Drives’ independent car rental guide webpage, so that others are made aware of the potential problems that they might face.
En el caso del este contracto de Alquiler de coche.
Mi reclamacion es en 2 partes
En el fecha de alquiler al 18.00 hora en el dis de 29-03-2008 el representante de este negocio preguntan para yo pago por un tanque de gasoline con el gasto de 50.00 Euro’s. Yo creo que un tanque de gasoline para un Clio de vacio al lleno no vale 50.00 Euro’s.
El explicarme que cuando yo devolve el vehiculo devolve con el tanque vacio. En este momento yo explico el que no quiero el tanque lleno y pregunto si es possible un coche con tanque cerca de vacio. – El repueste ‘no
Pregunto si devolve con el tanque lleno otro ves si es possible ellos devolve mi pago de 50.00 Euro’s. El repuste ‘no
El dia de 04-04-2008 yo me llamo con la oficina para una precio de alquiler por otro 7 dia. El repusto estaban 210.00 Euro’s. Este precio estaban mucho mas de el precio indicial de el internet.130.00 Euro’s. y mucho mas de coches en alquiler en los calles de Tenerife. Yo explique el que el tanque es medio lleno y pregunto si devolve medio de mi dinero para el gasoline. Repuesto de el ‘no, no es nuestras policia.
Tanto en este caso yo creo este empresa tiene una policia de combra dinero falso de son los clients. Yo tengo leo los condiciones de alquiler detras de el contracto y en ninguna sitio escrite este ‘condition. Quien ganan el dinero 25 Euro’s para medio tanque de gasoline.
El empresa original de alquiler Carhire 3000 en la paginas de web tambien tiene falta porque no informe este condition.
Con este tipo de empresas operacional en Tenerife yo entiendo porque son los touristas van otro paises.
Sandra Ashton