Find the cheapest petrol near you in Tenerife

Fuel in Tenerife is cheap. Here's why.

Tenerife has some of the cheapest fuel in Europe, and that's not an accident. The Canary Islands sit outside mainland Spain's fuel tax and VAT system, so we pay a much lower local tax instead. Brilliant news for you. Fill up here and it'll cost you a fair bit less than the same litre on the mainland, never mind back home.

But cheap doesn't mean every station's a bargain. Prices still jump around from town to town, and the gap between the cheapest and dearest on any given day is real money over a week of driving. That's the whole point of the map. Don't guess. Check it.

Where's the cheapest petrol on the island?

As a rule: the bigger towns and the industrial areas. That's where stations actually compete with each other, so prices get pushed down.

Where you'll get stung:

• Stations right by the resorts
• The ones nearest the airport
• Anywhere out on its own on a quiet stretch of road

Those places know you're a bit stuck, and they price like it. So don't just pull into the first forecourt you see. The map above shows you today's cheapest in green. Aim for those.

Filling up your hire car (the easy bit)

Most car hire in Tenerife, us at Sanasty included, runs on like-for-like fuel. Means you get the car with a certain amount in the tank, and you bring it back the same. That's it. No daft refuelling fees, no returning it bone dry to avoid getting fleeced. You just pay for what you actually use. If you've not booked yet, that's the kind of straightforward setup you want, and it's how our Tenerife car hire works.

One tip that'll save you a few quid every time: check your fuel level when you pick the car up. Then top up at a cheap station shortly before you drop it back, NOT at the pricey ones near the airport. Five minutes out of your way, a proper saving. Thank me later.

Filling up before you fly home from Tenerife South

Tenerife South is where most people grab and drop their hire car, so listen up. The stations right around the airport are almost never the cheapest. Of course they aren't.

So don't leave it till the last minute. Fill up a bit earlier in your drive, inland or in one of the bigger southern towns, and you'll pay less. Have a quick look at the map before you set off and you'll know exactly where to stop on the way.

Petrol or diesel? Check before you fill.

Putting the wrong fuel in a hire car is a proper expensive mistake, so know what yours takes before you touch the pump. Your rental paperwork tells you, and so does the sticker inside the fuel flap.

Quick translation, because the pumps are in Spanish:

• Petrol = gasolina (95 is the normal unleaded, 98 is the higher-octane stuff)
• Diesel = diésel or gasóleo A

The map lets you switch between Petrol 95, Diesel and Petrol 98, so you're only ever comparing the fuel your car actually needs.

Getting out and exploring?

Do it. Tenerife is so much bigger than the resort you're staying in, and the best bits are out on the road. Drive up Teide. Get to the green north. Find a back-street restaurant that isn't on the seafront.

A car makes all of it easy, and keeping half an eye on fuel prices as you go keeps the trip cheap. Use this map the whole time you're here and fill up wherever's cheapest.

Cheapest petrol in Tenerife: FAQs

Where is the cheapest petrol in Tenerife?

It changes daily, and it's usually in the bigger towns and industrial areas rather than near the resorts or the airport. The map above shows today's cheapest stations across the island, so check it before you fill up.

Are these fuel prices accurate?

Yes. They come straight from the Spanish government's official fuel price register, which stations have to keep updated by law. It refreshes daily, so what you see is what you'll pay.

Why is fuel so cheap in Tenerife?

Because the Canary Islands sit outside mainland Spain's fuel tax and VAT system and use a lower local tax instead. So petrol and diesel here are cheaper than the mainland and most of Europe.

Do I have to bring my hire car back full?

Depends on the policy. Sanasty and most Tenerife firms use like-for-like, so you just return it with the same fuel it had when you picked it up. Check your own agreement to be sure, but that's the usual setup.

How do I fill up cheaply before returning the car?

Don't use the stations by the airport or the resorts. Check the map, fill up at a cheaper one inland or in a bigger town a bit before you drop the car off, and you'll pay less.

Is petrol or diesel cheaper in Tenerife?

Diesel's often a touch cheaper, but it swings about depending on the station and the day. Use the fuel selector on the map and check for yourself.