Additional Drivers on Tenerife Car Hire
Details Typical daily cost €5–€15/day per additional driver Companies with free additional driver AutoReisen, Cicar (check booking), some Discovercars listings Maximum drivers allowed Usually 3–4 (including primary) Documents required Full valid driving licence + passport/ID Young driver surcharge applies? Yes — even as second driver if under 25 Can you add at the desk? Usually yes — bring their licence Must additional driver be present at pickup? Usually not — but licence must be Insurance covers additional drivers? Yes — if listed on the agreement
Sharing the driving on a Tenerife road trip is one of those decisions that seems minor until you’re on the return leg from a full day at Teide and the person in the passenger seat has been navigating, entertaining children, and enthusiastically pointing out viewpoints for eight hours while the driver has been concentrating on the TF-21 descent in fading light. Shared driving makes road trips more relaxed. On an island with routes as varied — and occasionally as demanding — as Tenerife’s, it makes them safer too.
But adding a second driver to a rental car involves more nuance than most people expect. The cost varies significantly between companies, some include it free while others charge per day per extra driver, the young driver surcharge applies even to secondary drivers under 25, and not every company lets you add a driver at the desk on arrival. This guide covers all of it plainly.
💶 How Much Does an Additional Driver Cost in Tenerife?
Extras such as child seats, GPS, WiFi and additional drivers are added to the daily cost and can substantially increase the total price. Here’s the realistic breakdown by company type:
| Company | Additional Driver Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AutoReisen | ✅ Free | Included in all bookings — no extra charge |
| Cicar | ✅ Free (usually) | Check specific booking — often included |
| Goldcar | €5–€8/day | Budget company — additional driver paid |
| Record Go | €5–€9/day | Add at booking or at desk |
| TopCar | €5–€8/day | Additional driver must meet same requirements as primary driver |
| Hertz | €8–€12/day | International standard rate |
| Europcar | €8–€12/day | Can add at any Tenerife office |
| Sixt | €8–€15/day | Higher-tier vehicles may charge more |
| Avis / Budget | €7–€12/day | Standard daily rate per driver |
On a 7-day rental, an additional driver at €10/day adds €70 to the total cost. Over two weeks it’s €140. This isn’t a trivial sum — particularly when added on top of insurance upgrades, child seats, and the base hire rate.
In some cases additional drivers are free of charge; in other cases you will be charged a few euros per day. The simplest approach when comparing rentals: filter Discovercars for “additional driver included” or check the extras list on each listing before confirming. Some all-inclusive rates from local Canarian companies build this in without announcement.
📋 Who Can Be an Additional Driver? The Requirements
The requirements for an additional driver are identical to those for the primary driver. There are no shortcuts and no exceptions:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Full valid driving licence | Must be current, not expired |
| Minimum age | Same as primary — typically 21 (some companies 25) |
| Licence held for | Minimum 1–2 years (company-dependent) |
| Passport or national ID | Must match licence name |
| Non-Latin script licence | International Driving Permit required alongside |
| Penalty points | Company may check — disclose honestly |
The second driver must meet the same requirements as the primary driver of the agreement. This is not flexible — if the additional driver doesn’t meet the age or licence requirements, they cannot be added regardless of what the primary driver qualifies for.
The licence requirement is the most common stumbling point: the additional driver’s licence must be in Latin script or accompanied by an International Driving Permit. This affects drivers from countries including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Arabic-speaking countries. If the additional driver’s licence is in Cyrillic or Arabic, for example, their IDP must be present at the desk for them to be authorised.
⚠️ The Young Driver Trap — What Catches Couples Off Guard
This is the single most important piece of information in this guide, and the one most likely to generate an unpleasant surprise at the rental desk.
If your additional driver is under 25, the young driver surcharge applies to the entire rental — not just the days they drive.
The surcharge is daily and covers the full rental period, regardless of how much the young driver actually uses the car. A couple where the primary driver is 28 and the additional driver is 23 will pay the young driver surcharge for every day of the rental, even if the younger driver only takes the wheel for one afternoon.
This surcharge typically runs €15–€25 per day. On a 7-day rental, that’s €105–€175 on top of everything else. On a two-week rental, the young driver surcharge can exceed the base car hire cost.
The practical implications:
- If your additional driver is 25 or over — no surcharge applies
- If they’re 21–24 — full daily surcharge for the rental duration
- If they’re under 21 — most companies won’t add them at all
- The surcharge is non-negotiable and applies even if the young driver never actually drives
For full details on young driver rules including minimum ages and which companies are most accommodating, see our under 25 car hire Tenerife guide.
🕐 When and How to Add an Additional Driver
There are three moments when you can typically add an additional driver:
1. At the time of booking (recommended) Most comparison platforms and company websites allow you to specify additional drivers during the booking process. Indicate if you need a second driver when searching — the cost will be added to the final price based on the supplier’s rate. This is the cleanest approach: the cost is clear upfront, the driver is listed on your voucher, and there’s nothing to arrange at the desk.
2. At the rental desk on arrival Most companies allow you to add a driver at pickup — but the additional driver’s licence must be physically present. It does not have to be the driver themselves in most cases — just their licence. Confirm this with your specific company before arriving, as policies vary.
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You can add additional drivers to your rental agreement at any Europcar office. Sixt and Hertz follow the same policy. Budget companies like Goldcar and Record Go generally allow desk additions too, but always call ahead to confirm.
3. During the rental (mid-trip addition) Some companies allow you to visit a branch and add a driver mid-rental. This is less common and may involve visiting a company office in person rather than handling it by phone. If this situation arises, contact your rental company’s local number directly.
🆓 Companies That Include Additional Driver Free
The following Tenerife rental companies are known for including additional drivers without extra daily charges — either as a standard policy or as part of their all-inclusive pricing model:
AutoReisen includes the possibility to add another driver freely, alongside no excess insurance, unlimited mileage and free cancellation.
AutoReisen — additional driver included as standard in all bookings. No daily charge, no paperwork, just bring the licence.
Cicar — Cicar’s all-inclusive model typically includes one additional driver. Confirm at booking, as specific rates occasionally vary.
Some Discovercars listings — when filtering by “all extras included” or “full protection,” some results include additional driver in the package price. Read the extras list carefully before confirming.
For drivers who need both zero deposit and free additional driver, local Canarian companies are the most consistent option — though as with all no-deposit rentals, the daily base rate is slightly higher than the cheapest standard rates.
📑 The Insurance Question — Are Additional Drivers Covered?
Yes — any driver listed on the rental agreement is covered by the same insurance as the primary driver. The CDW, theft protection, and liability cover extends to all named drivers on the contract.
The critical caveat: coverage applies only to authorised additional drivers listed in the agreement. If an unlisted person drives the vehicle — even briefly, even in an emergency — the insurance is void for any incident involving them. This is not a grey area. It is explicitly stated in virtually every rental contract in Tenerife.
If you think you might need a spontaneous second driver during the trip, add them at booking or at the desk on arrival. The cost of the daily surcharge is significantly less than the cost of an uninsured incident.
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions — Additional Driver Car Hire Tenerife
How much does an additional driver cost at Tenerife car hire?
The typical range is €5–€15 per day per additional driver, depending on the company. Budget companies (Goldcar, Record Go) tend toward the lower end; international chains (Hertz, Sixt, Europcar) toward the higher. AutoReisen and Cicar are the most notable exceptions — both typically include at least one additional driver free of charge.
Can I add a second driver at the rental desk in Tenerife?
In most cases, yes. The additional driver’s driving licence must be present at the desk, though the driver themselves does not always need to be there in person. Confirm your specific company’s policy before arrival — some require the additional driver to be physically present to sign the agreement.
Does the young driver surcharge apply to additional drivers under 25?
Yes — and this catches many couples and groups off guard. If any listed driver is under 25, the young driver surcharge applies to the full rental period, not just the days that driver uses the car. The surcharge typically runs €15–€25 per day. If your additional driver is 25 or over, no surcharge applies.
How many additional drivers can I add in Tenerife?
If you wish to add a third driver — or even a fourth, which is the maximum — you can do so during the booking process and the price will be added to the total. Most companies cap the total number of drivers at three or four including the primary renter. Each additional driver pays the daily rate independently.
Does the additional driver need to be present at pickup?
Not always — but their licence must be. Most companies require the physical driving licence of any additional driver to be presented at the desk, even if the driver themselves arrives separately later. Confirm this with your company before travelling, as policies differ between Goldcar, Hertz, Cicar, and local operators.
Does adding a second driver affect my insurance?
No — the coverage terms remain identical for all drivers listed on the agreement. CDW, theft protection, and third-party liability all extend to named additional drivers. The insurance does not cover any unlisted driver under any circumstances, regardless of the situation.
Can I add an additional driver if they have a non-EU licence?
Yes, provided they also carry a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their original licence. This applies to drivers from countries using non-Latin scripts — Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and Arabic-speaking countries among others. The IDP must be the correct type (1968 Vienna Convention) and presented at the desk alongside the original licence.
