Lanzarote Car Hire Guide

Requirements

The minimum age to rent a car in Spain is 21 but some car rental companies require a minimum age of 25 years. Its also required that you must've had your driver's lisence for at least 1 year before renting your car. Some car hire companies charge additional fees from drivers younger than 25 years.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended but most car hire companies can also accept a regular driver's lisence if you're from European Union, United States or Canada.

Preparing

You should familiarize yourself with the traffic laws of the country you're going to be driving. Lazarote traffic laws are the same as the ones used in any other parts of Spain.

Make sure that you know the answers to the questions listed below before hiring to car. Ask your agency if you're uncertain about some of the conditions.

• How many kilometers are included in the rental cost? Some car rental deals offer an unlimited mileage while others have restrictions. You must pick one that suits your plans the best.
• What kind of insurance is included? You must have an insurance so you'll end up paying extra if insurance isn't included in the price.
• What is the excess in your insurance? Excess is the amount you'll be liable for if something happens. Taking an insurance with a high excess might end up costing you dearly if you get into an accident.
• Does the car have air-conditioning? Air-condition is a must especially in the summer when temperatures go over 30°C.
• Can you return the car without a full tank of gas?
• Are taxes included in the price?

Do not overlook the details. You might find that althought the initial price is great, it may be missing some absolutely necessary features that you'll end up paying extra for.

Booking

Booking ahead will make your life much easier, especially in the peak tourist season when the car hire desks tend to get chaotic. You'll also get more options and better deals.

Child seats are fairly expensive at about €3 per day. You might want to save some money and extra hassle by taking your own child seat to the country with your airport luggage.

Renting a car that is little bigger than what you need is a much better idea than renting one that is little smaller than what you need. The price difference is usually small in comparison to the trouble you'll run into if you'll have to spend you're entire holiday in a car that is way too small for your family.

Pick Up

When picking up your car, you should check that you got the right car and that everything including all the extras you may have requested are included. Do this before signing any papers.

You should also make sure that you get all the items listed below. Most of them are required by law and are good to have in case of an accident or a breakdown.

• Two red emergency triangles
• Spare tire
• Insurance and ownership documents
• Box of spare bulbs
• Accident report form
• Number to telephone in case of accident

Also check the car for possible damage and scratches. Make sure that the car hire company is aware of those or otherwise they might put the blame on you when you return the car.

Don't forget to have enough water in your car for the radiator and for drinking.