As in Spain, the right-hand lane is used here.
Travelling around El Hierro by car is a breeze, thanks to the very sparse traffic and quality roads that lead to literally every corner of the island.
How and when to book a car
There are several local car rental companies on El Hierro, such as Cicar and TopCar. Renting a car here is just like in any other civilised country.
Nevertheless, it has the specificity of a shortage of cars during the high season. Book a car at least 2-3 months in advance, especially in the May-September period.
Otherwise, you run the risk that realistically none of the car rental companies will have spare capacity and you will end up completely without a car, resulting in a complete overhaul of your program.
The two largest car rental companies do not show up in international search engines and you must book a car directly through their websites:
Other rental companies such as Avis, Budget or Europcar can already be compared via well-known search engines such as booking.com:
Book a car at El Hierro VDE airport
We've had a particular good experience with Cicar and Budget.
Cicar and TopCar car rental companies have physical branches directly at Hierro airport and at the only Estaca dock.
The other rental companies usually only have a branch at the Estaca dock, and if you book a car with airport pickup, you will be met by a staff member who will deliver your car directly to the airport building.
El Hierro car rental prices
Car rental prices are relatively reasonable if you book at least 3 months in advance.
Prices also vary according to the season.
- Weekly rental peak season (June to August): from 250 eur for the smallest car
- Weekly rental in low season (July to November): from 180 eur for the smallest car
- Book a car on cicar.com
- Book a car at top-car-hire.com
- Compare rental prices at Hierro VDE airport
Prices for larger SUVs are up to 3 times higher than for the smallest cars.
As elsewhere in the world, at El Hierro the longer the car rental, the lower the price per day you'll get.
In addition, it is advantageous to book a car at least 2-4 months in advance. Conversely, if you book for more than 7 months, you will see fewer offers and it pays to wait.
International driving licence and other documents
El Hierro is part of the European Union, so there is no need for an international driving licence. The rental company will also accept a national driving licence from any EU country.
In case you hold a driving licence from a non-EU country, Norway, Switzerland or Iceland, get an international driving licence with your licence.
Car rental companies usually require a credit card to rent a car, but will often rent to a debit card.
That's not the case with local car rental company Cicar, which just needs a debit card and even cash, and usually doesn't require a deposit.
Petrol prices and petrol stations
Petrol is generally quite expensive in the Canary Islands. European units of measurement are used here, so all prices are per litre.
Petrol prices range from 1,40 eur to 1,55 eur per litre depending on current prices.
How do the petrol stations in El Hierro work?
There are petrol stations in several places on the island and most are self-service.
When you arrive at the stand, you fill up any amount of petrol yourself and then go inside the shop to pay. You can always pay by card or cash.
If you want to fill up in the early morning or late evening, expect that no gas station in El Hierro is open 24/7.
You can find petrol stations at the following locations:
- Valverde - Disa gas station, open 6:00-22:00, 8:00-22:00 on Sundays and holidays.
- La Frontera/Tigaday - Disa service station, open daily 6:00-22:00
- El Pinar - Disa gas station, open daily 6:00-22:00
Road quality and markings
The quality of the roads in El Hierro is excellent. The main roads are well signposted, including longitudinal markings and good verges.
Asphalt roads lead to absolutely all parts of the island, including remote areas in the mountains. The roads are not only for tourists but also as access roads for farmers and locals.
All signs are European in format and additional signs are written mainly in Spanish but occasionally in English.
Traffic regulations
On El Hierro, traffic is on the right.
Drivers are quite considerate and it is quite common to let cars coming out of secondary roads onto the main road.
You don't have to worry about dangerous fast driving or nervous overtaking if you drive more carefully than the locals.
Speeds
Speeds are measured in kilometres per hour and the maximum speed limits are as follows:
- In built-up areas - 50 km/h (approx. 32 mph)
- Outside a built-up area - 100 km/h (approx. 62 mph)
However, in the vast majority of places the speed limit outside the village is reduced to 60 or 40 km/h due to the very winding roads, and often to 30 or 40 km/h in villages.
Priorities and roundabouts
At junctions not controlled by traffic lights or signs, right of way applies.
Roundabouts are common, where the car travelling on the roundabout always has the right of way. You signal before entering a roundabout as if you were approaching a normal junction, i.e:
- I am leaving the roundabout by the first exit - flashing right
- Leaving the roundabout by the second exit (or the first if directly opposite) - do not flash
- Leaving the roundabout by the last exit - flashing left
When you are already on the roundabout, you always flash right just before leaving the roundabout.
Overtaking cyclists
In Spain, the rule is that when overtaking a cyclist, you must keep at least 1.5 metres away from them.
Cycling is popular on El Hierro, so you will often encounter cyclists even in mountainous areas. Remember that the locals strictly enforce this rule and it is not uncommon to follow a cyclist for many kilometres before finding a suitable place to overtake.
Alcohol, seat belts and talking on the phone
Wearing seatbelts is compulsory and talking on the phone while driving is strictly forbidden. Earphones are not allowed either.
In Spain, the blood alcohol tolerance for driving is up to 0.05%.
Parking
Parking is free everywhere on El Hierro.
At viewpoints and natural tourist attractions you can usually find a free space easily, but in the larger towns you can wander for long minutes looking for a free place to park.
It is forbidden to park where there is a yellow line painted along the road.
