Gran Canaria is the cheapest of the Canary Islands for car hire thanks to fierce competition between local champions. Off-season rates start around €12 / $13 per day for a manual compact, climbing to €40-55 / $44-60 in peak summer and Christmas. The local heroes — Cicar, Plus Car, Top Car, AutoReisen — routinely beat Sixt, Hertz and Europcar by 20-30 %, and Cicar, AutoReisen and Plus Car include full insurance with no excess. Add zero toll roads across the entire island and fuel that pays no Spanish VAT, and you have one of Europe's best value-per-day driving destinations.
LPA is the only commercial airport on Gran Canaria and the main pickup point. Local operators have dedicated counters and shuttles; international brands sit inside the terminal.
Average daily rates at LPA Airport by season
Compact car, booked 4-6 weeks ahead, insurance included
| Season | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact | Compact SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct) | €12-18 / $13-20 | €20-28 / $22-30 | €26-35 / $28-38 |
| Shoulder (Jan-Feb, Nov-early Dec) | €18-26 / $20-28 | €28-40 / $30-44 | €35-48 / $38-52 |
| Peak (Jul-Aug, Christmas, NYE) | €40-55 / $44-60 | €55-75 / $60-82 | €65-90 / $71-98 |
Monthly rate ladder at LPA
Average economy car, 2025-2026 data
The terminal has every brand. Local operators (Cicar, Plus Car, Top Car) operate shuttle-to-lot from across the road, typical pickup 15-25 minutes. International desks (Sixt, Hertz, Europcar) are inside the arrivals hall, slightly faster but pricier.
Most tourists stay in the south. Cicar and several locals have city offices here so you can skip the airport and pick up the next day after a transfer.
Smaller fleet but useful if you arrive by ferry from Tenerife and want a car to explore the north.
Grown out of Autos Cabrera Medina (founded 1967), the most loved Canarian rental brand. Full insurance with €0 excess included in every price and no security deposit – only a small refundable fuel deposit – plus a free additional driver. The fleet is newer than most competitors. Rated 9/10 by DiscoverCars customers at the LPA desk.
4.5 / 5 on Google. Local family business with strong customer service. Slightly cheaper headline than Cicar, similar all-inclusive package. Free Las Palmas city delivery.
4.4 / 5 on Google. Strong on multi-island rentals (Gran Canaria + Tenerife + Lanzarote). Fleet age averages 16 months. Note that the basic rate carries a €900–4,000 excess/deposit; add their Super Cover to remove it (and Multi-Island Cover if you want to take the car on a ferry).
4.3 / 5 on Google. Long-running operator with strong German tourist base. Slightly higher prices but predictable service and English/German fluency.
4.4 / 5 on Trustpilot (sixt.com, 13,400+ reviews). Largest fleet of premium and automatic cars. Counter upsells are firmer than at the locals; expect a €1,500-2,500 deposit hold.
Trustpilot 1.3 / 5 across 54,000+ reviews — among the lowest of the industry. Aggressive Plus-cover pitches at the counter, frequent damage disputes weeks after drop-off. Worth using only with standalone insurance and a walk-around video.
Trustpilot + Google review scores
Local brands: Google rating; Sixt and Goldcar: Trustpilot (September 2026)
Cicar, AutoReisen and Plus Car include full insurance with €0 excess in every booking — no add-on needed, no security deposit held. Top Car is the exception: its basic rate carries an excess, so take its Super Cover. This is the strongest reason to book local. If you book with an international brand, counter Plus-cover runs €8-15 / $9-16 per day; standalone third-party (RentalCover, iCarhireinsurance) is €4-6 / $4-7 per day.
Like Madeira, the Canary Islands have zero toll roads. Every motorway, tunnel and mountain pass is free. You do not need a Via T or any equivalent. Budget €0 for tolls.
Canary Islands fuel pays no Spanish VAT (21 %) and currently carries 0 % IGIC (a temporary 2026 measure, extended through September) – only the lower regional fuel tax applies. That keeps pump prices about 20 % below the Spanish mainland.
| Fuel | Gran Canaria price | Mainland Spain | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (gasolina 95) | ~€1.50 / $1.63 per L | €1.92 / $2.09 per L | ~€0.42 cheaper |
| Diesel (gasoleo A) | ~€1.64 / $1.78 per L | €1.92 / $2.09 per L | ~€0.28 cheaper |
Averages for Las Palmas province, 19 September 2026; the cheapest stations around Telde sell petrol from about €1.35. A full tank on a compact car (45 L) costs about €67 / $73 for petrol. Budget €50-70 / $54-76 for a full week of island driving.
Local Canarian operators beat the international chains by 20-30 %, and most include full insurance — the gap is even wider than on the mainland.
Last-minute prices in late December and Easter can triple. Book 6-10 weeks ahead.
Maspalomas / Playa del Inglés desks are often cheaper than airport for the same operator. Plus you can take a €25 / $27 transfer on arrival day.
Refuel at the Cepsa or Repsol near LPA before drop-off. Cheaper than the prepaid full tank.
Full insurance is already included at Cicar, AutoReisen and Plus Car. Refuse the upgrade.
Dynamic currency conversion costs 4-7 % extra. Always say “EUR”.
True 7-day budget — smart booking vs walk-in
Compact car, January, all-in
| Item | Smart (Cicar) | Walk-in (Goldcar) |
|---|---|---|
| Base rental (7 days) | €140 / $153 | €280 / $305 |
| Insurance | €0 (included) | €84 / $92 (counter Plus) |
| Deposit hold | €0 (no deposit) | €2,500 / $2,723 |
| Tolls | €0 (no tolls in Canaries) | €0 |
| Fuel (300 km) | €32 / $35 | €55 / $60 (prepaid) |
| Total | €172 / $188 | €419 / $457 |
Gran Canaria Rental Budget Calculator
Rate prefilled with the lowest available (Cicar/Plus Car low season); change it for your dates.
Top loops: Maspalomas → Mogán → Puerto Rico (coastal cliffs, 1h30 each way), the central mountain drive via Tejeda to Roque Nublo (2h, twisty), Las Palmas → Arucas → Teror (Atlantic north coast, 1h), and the dramatic GC-200 route past Agaete to Puerto de las Nieves.
Plus Car and Cicar both start at €13-15 / $14-16 per day in low season with full insurance included. They consistently beat Sixt, Hertz and Europcar by 20-30 %.
No. The entire Canary Islands road network is toll-free. You do not need a transponder or any toll device.
Yes — Cicar and AutoReisen hold no security deposit, and AutoReisen and Top Car accept debit cards (not prepaid or virtual cards). Most international brands still require a credit card with a €1,500-2,500 deposit hold.
Yes — Canary Islands fuel pays no Spanish VAT and currently 0 % IGIC. Expect about €1.50 / $1.63 per L for petrol (September 2026), roughly 20 % cheaper than mainland Spain.
Top Car allows it if you take its Super Cover plus Multi-Island Cover (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote); the car must come back to Gran Canaria. Cicar generally does not. Always ask before booking; most companies charge a small ferry-use fee even when allowed.
LPA pickup takes 15-25 minutes via shuttle. The Maspalomas / Playa del Inglés desks are often faster (under 10 minutes) and equally well-stocked. Best for arrivals who can transfer to their hotel first.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program at no extra cost to you. Reviews based on Trustpilot, Google Maps and operator websites.
Last updated 19 September 2026. Verify prices and policies directly with the rental company.
