Refuelling in Tenerife is simple once you know three things: where to see today’s prices, which nozzle is yours, and where the stations run out. The fourth thing, if you’re in a rental car, is the fuel rule in your contract. This guide covers all four.

Where to see current petrol prices

We don’t print fuel prices in this article, because they change every day and an old number is worse than none. The reliable source is the Spanish government’s own map, the Geoportal de Gasolineras run by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. Stations report their prices there, and you can look up any area of the island by fuel type. [S1]

In practice we open it on the phone before a long drive, search the area we’re heading to, and pick a station on the way rather than detouring for a few cents.

How many stations there are, and where they thin out

We pulled the ministry’s station list for the province on 10 October 2026 (00:30 data). For Tenerife it contained 211 public stations, 74 of them listed as open 24 hours. [S2]

They are where people live and drive: along the TF-1 and TF-5 motorways and in the towns. Santa Cruz alone had 33, La Laguna 27, Arona 15 and Adeje 14 on that list. Up in the hills the picture changes. Vilaflor, the village you pass on the southern road up to Teide, had a single station, and there was none closer to the Teide cable car base than that one in Vilaflor, about 11.5 km away in a straight line and further by road. [S2]

So the rule is simple: if you’re heading up to Teide, Masca or the Anaga mountains, fill up on the coast first. Don’t count on a pump once you’re in the national park.

What the pumps are called

Spanish pumps use the names you’ll also see on the ministry map. [S2] [S3]

  • Gasolina 95 E5 — standard unleaded petrol (95 octane). This is what petrol and hybrid cars take. On the 10 October list, 210 of the 211 Tenerife stations reported a price for it.
  • Gasolina 98 E5 — higher-octane petrol. Not needed for a normal rental car unless the car’s documentation says so.
  • Gasóleo A — diesel. Every one of the 211 stations reported it. “Gasóleo Premium” is a premium diesel.

On that date none of the Tenerife stations reported a price for 95 E10 petrol, so don’t be surprised if you never see that label here. [S2]

The fuel type is on the car’s page and usually on a label inside the fuel flap. When in doubt, ask us before you fill; that message takes ten seconds. In our fleet, the Audi A5 Cabriolet, the BMW 320d and the Hyundai Staria run on diesel, while the T-Roc, the Mustang, the SLK, the MX-5 and all the Toyota hybrids take petrol. [S4]

Wrong fuel: the one mistake insurance won’t cover

Refuelling with the wrong type of fuel is excluded from the insurance in our terms and is paid in full by the renter. [S5] It is also the mistake that’s easiest to make when you’re tired, you’ve just driven a petrol car at home and the diesel nozzle looks the same.

What to do if it happens: don’t start the engine. Call us straight away. Roadside assistance is available 24/7, and the sooner the tank is drained, the cheaper it is for everyone. [S5]

How the fuel policy works with us

Our policy is full to full. You receive the car with a full tank and return it full. [S5]

  • If the car comes back with fuel missing, we charge the cost of the fuel plus a refuelling service fee, as stated in your booking. [S5]
  • Breaching the fuel policy is one of the reasons the deposit can be partly retained. [S6]

Our habit at return: fill up at the last station near the handover address, and keep the receipt in the car. It settles any question about the gauge in a second. The pick-up and return photo checklist has the rest of the return routine, and our breakdown of car hire costs in Tenerife shows where fuel sits in a holiday budget.

Paying at the pump

At self-service pumps the order of things varies. Some pumps unlock only after you pay at the kiosk or by card at the pump, others let you fill first and pay inside. Read the sign on the pump before you lift the nozzle. If the station is staffed, saying the pump number and “lleno” (full) is enough.

If it’s your first time driving here, our first-time driving guide covers the other small surprises of the first day.

Using less fuel in the first place

The cheapest litre is the one you don’t buy. Our hybrids switch between electric and petrol by themselves, with no charging cable involved. On its page, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is listed at around 3.5 l/100 km and the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid at around 5 l/100 km. [S4] Both are automatics. The whole range of small, low-consumption cars is in our economy category.

FAQ

Where can I check petrol prices in Tenerife today?

On the Geoportal de Gasolineras of Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition, which shows the price every station has reported. [S1]

Are there petrol stations near Teide?

Not in the national park. On the ministry’s list of 10 October 2026, the closest station to the Teide cable car base was in Vilaflor, about 11.5 km away in a straight line. Fill up on the coast. [S2]

Is diesel called “gasóleo” in Spain?

Yes. Diesel is “Gasóleo A” at the pump; unleaded petrol is “Gasolina 95” or “Gasolina 98”. [S3]

What happens if I return the rental car without a full tank?

With us, you pay the missing fuel plus a refuelling service fee stated in your booking. [S5]

Sources (checked 2026-10-09)