Cicar Lanzarote: What It’s Actually Like to Rent There

Let’s be honest about something first. Most car rental guides for Lanzarote are written by people who’ve never set foot on the island. They compare prices on aggregator sites, paste in a few specs, and call it a review.

This one is different. It’s built on hundreds of verified customer reviews — from Trustpilot, DiscoverCars, and Google — combined with the kind of practical detail that only emerges when you look closely at what real people actually experienced, not what the company says they should experience.

The conclusion? Cicar is genuinely good. But it has rough edges. And if you walk in expecting perfection, those edges will catch you.

Here’s the full picture. 🔍

Why People Keep Choosing Cicar in Lanzarote — And Why That Queue Matters

There’s a telling pattern in Cicar’s reviews. The complaints are mostly about waiting. The praise is mostly about everything else.

“The only down-side was there was a 45-minute delay at the desk at the airport.” Then the same person adds they’d book again without hesitation. That combination — minor operational frustration, genuine satisfaction overall — appears across hundreds of reviews and tells you something important about where Cicar sits in the market.

They’re not the fastest. They’re not the cheapest on headline price. What they are is consistently honest. In a sector where that’s rarer than it should be, it counts for a lot.

Lanzarote’s car rental market is full of companies who advertise €15 a day and charge €65 by the time you’ve signed everything at the desk. Cicar doesn’t play that game. What you book is what you pay. For many travellers — especially those who’ve been burned before — that’s the entire reason they choose them.

What Cicar Actually Includes: The Part That Changes the Maths 💡

Before comparing prices, you need to understand what’s in the Cicar rate — because it changes the calculation significantly.

That last line is the one people don’t expect. Most car rental companies in Lanzarote pre-authorise a substantial sum on your credit card as a damage deposit — sometimes over a thousand euros. It’s released eventually, but it ties up your credit for the duration of the rental. Cicar doesn’t do this.

One Trustpilot reviewer described their Peugeot 2008 for a week in September: just under €180, all in, collected and driven away in minutes. No add-ons. No surprises. For context, that same week in August might cost €300+ — but September on Lanzarote is still warm, quieter, and significantly cheaper. More on that timing below.

What Cicar in Lanzarote Actually Costs: Real Prices, Not Headline Rates 💰

Here’s the honest picture, based on verified bookings across the year:

September consistently comes out as the sweet spot: warm weather, prices 30–40% below the summer peak, and noticeably fewer tourists at every viewpoint and beach. If you have flexibility, that’s the window.

How Cicar Compares to Budget Alternatives (True Total Cost)

A €17/day headline rate at Goldcar or OK Mobility looks attractive. But stack the full week:

Cicar isn’t the cheapest brand. It’s often the cheapest total. There’s a difference, and it matters.

Cicar’s 8 Lanzarote Offices: Which One Should You Use? 📍

This network is one of Cicar’s most practical advantages on the island. Eight pickup and drop-off points means real flexibility — not just “collect from the airport, return to the airport.”

Phone for all offices: +34 928 822 900

The inter-office flexibility is underused by most visitors. One reviewer described this approach: collect from Puerto del Carmen at the start of the holiday — no airport queue on arrival day, car delivered to the resort. Return to Terminal T1 on the last morning, 100 metres from the check-in desks. Clean, fast, done.

The Cicar desk at T1 has an interesting layout: a window on the airside (where you’re waiting for luggage) and a counter on the landside. In theory, you can collect keys while your bags are still coming down the carousel. Whether that works in practice depends on how busy the desk is — but the positioning is deliberate and shows someone has thought about passenger flow.

The Queue Problem: What Nobody Tells You (And How to Avoid It) ⏱️

Let’s address the single most common complaint directly. When multiple large flights land simultaneously at Lanzarote Airport — which happens frequently in peak season — the Cicar desk gets overwhelmed. Reviewers report waits ranging from 30 to 90 minutes. In isolated cases, closer to two hours.

This isn’t unique to Cicar. Every rental desk in Lanzarote’s arrivals hall faces the same pressure. But Cicar, being popular and having a simplified process that still requires some desk time, feels it keenly.

How to avoid or minimise the wait:

• Pre-register online before you travel. Upload your licence details and complete your profile. The desk interaction becomes significantly shorter.
• Collect from a resort office instead. Book airport arrival, check in, go to your hotel, sleep. Pick up the car the next morning from the Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise office. Zero queue, rested driver.
• Fly mid-week. Tuesday and Wednesday arrivals are consistently less congested than Saturday and Sunday, when the bulk of package holiday changeovers happen.
• Consider Terminal T2 if you’re on a connector flight. The T2 desk handles far lower volumes and is often completely empty.
• Add your flight number when booking. Cicar tracks arrivals — if your flight is delayed, they’ll hold the car. One reviewer mentioned that the Lanzarote office stayed open ten minutes past closing time because a delayed flight was incoming. That doesn’t happen with Hertz.

Honest Review: What Real Customers Say — Sorted by Theme 📋

Rather than cherry-picking, here’s how real experiences break down across themes:

Pickup Experience

Positive: “Desk right by baggage claim. Cars in the car park directly opposite — one minute walk.” / “Collected from Costa Teguise office in 5 minutes. Drop-off at airport equally quick.” / “Paid a fuel deposit, returned early while office was closed. They refueled to the exact level and refunded the difference same day.”

Negative: “Waited nearly an hour. Not the staff’s fault — a large group was collecting multiple cars at the same time.” / “Airport was busy. Waited 45 minutes. Staff were working as fast as they could.”

Pattern: Queues are real but situational. Off-peak and mid-week pickups are frequently described as smooth and fast.

The Cars

Positive: “Brand new Peugeot 208 — spotless, modern, a joy to drive.” / “Cupra Formentor upgrade. Wireless Apple CarPlay. Adaptive cruise. A pleasure.” / “Opel Crossland, almost full of fuel, clean, very low mileage.”

Negative: “Tyres were close to being slick — in need of replacement.” / “Interior was dirty with mud on the back of seats.” / “First car had a tyre pressure warning. Desk agent said it would be fine — it wasn’t.”

Pattern: Fleet quality is generally high. Occasional vehicles fall below standard. Always check tyres and dashboard warnings before leaving the car park, and push back if something isn’t right.

The Desk Experience

Positive: “No pressure. No upsell. No gotcha moments.” / “Easiest car rental abroad I’ve ever experienced.” / “No messing about. One charge. Keys handed over. Done.”

Negative: “Voucher said 3 drivers could be added; desk said only 1.” / “No condition form presented showing existing dents — though they didn’t check on return.”

Pattern: The desk experience is, by Canary Islands standards, calm and honest. Discrepancies between booking and desk occasionally occur — carry your confirmation with you.

Driving Lanzarote with a Cicar Rental: The Routes Worth Taking 🗺️

Cicar’s unlimited mileage policy means you’re not watching the odometer. Here’s how to use that freedom well.

The South Loop (~130 km, full day)

Start at your resort. Drive the LZ-2 south to Playa Blanca, then the short track to Papagayo beaches. Double back north through El Golfo — the green lagoon in a volcanic crater is one of those places that stops you mid-sentence. Continue to Timanfaya National Park for the Fire Mountains (entry by guided bus from the park gate, around €12). Return via the LZ-30 wine route through La Geria, where vines grow in volcanic ash craters behind low stone walls. Stop at a bodega for Malvasía wine and a view.

The North Circuit (~110 km, full day)

Head north on the LZ-1 from Arrecife. First stop: Jameos del Agua, the underground volcanic tunnel with a saltwater lake and albino crabs (around €12). Continue to Cueva de los Verdes — the same lava tube system, different experience, worth seeing both (around €10). Then the LZ-202 to Mirador del Río, César Manrique’s clifftop viewing point with a view of La Graciosa island far below (around €5). Take the road back through Haría — the Valley of a Thousand Palms — and stop for lunch in the square.

Want the full breakdown of distances, parking tips, and what to see at each stop? The complete guide to car rental at Lanzarote Airport covers every route in detail.

Cicar vs. The Competition: Where It Wins and Where It Doesn’t 🔍

Cicar doesn’t win on queue time. It wins on everything that actually affects your holiday — cost, transparency, flexibility, and the absence of that unpleasant desk interaction where you’re being sold something you didn’t ask for.

Cicar Across the Canary Islands: Good to Know If You’re Island-Hopping 🏝️

Cicar operates on all seven Canary Islands. If you’re planning to visit multiple islands, you’ll need to rent separately on each — cars cannot cross between islands under standard agreements.

The consistent experience across the archipelago is part of Cicar’s appeal for repeat visitors. Multiple reviewers describe using Cicar across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote on different trips, finding the process identical each time.

If Tenerife is on your itinerary, our dedicated guides cover Cicar at Tenerife South Airport and Cicar at Tenerife North Airport. And for the wider picture across the archipelago, the Canary Islands car rental overview pulls it all together.

Before You Book: Practical Checklist ✅

• Pre-register on cicar.com — upload your licence, fill in your details. Saves time at the desk
• Specify your pickup office — airport, resort, or marina. All options available
• Add your flight number — Cicar monitors arrivals and holds the booking if you’re delayed
• Download the Cicar app before you fly — the Lanzarote audioguide works offline
• Download Google Maps offline for Lanzarote — signal in the north of the island is patchy
• Check the car before you drive — tyres, dashboard, fuel gauge. Photograph anything you notice
• Bring your own child seat if needed — airlines usually carry them free, saving €40–€70
• Note the fuel level on your contract — a small number of reviewers report discrepancies
• Return on time — Cicar is generous about minor things, but late returns get charged
• Book 4–6 weeks ahead in summer — fleet availability genuinely tightens in July–August

Frequently Asked Questions ❓

Is Cicar the best car hire company in Lanzarote?

For most visitors, yes — particularly those renting for a week or more. The combination of all-in pricing, no deposit, eight island offices, and a consistent desk experience is hard to match. The main trade-off is occasional queuing at the airport in peak season, which most reviewers describe as a minor inconvenience against an otherwise excellent rental experience.

Does Cicar charge a deposit in Lanzarote?

No. Cicar does not hold a pre-authorisation on your credit or debit card. You pay only for the rental itself. This is one of the most frequently praised aspects of the service — particularly by travellers who’ve had large sums tied up on their card by other companies.

How do I avoid the queue at Lanzarote Airport with Cicar?

Pre-register online before you travel. Consider collecting from a resort office the day after arrival — Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise both work well. Fly mid-week if possible. Add your flight number to the booking so Cicar can track delays.

Can I pick up from one Cicar office and return to another in Lanzarote?

Yes. All eight Lanzarote offices are interchangeable for drop-off at no extra charge. This is one of the most practical advantages of Cicar’s island network.

What’s included in a Cicar rental that other companies charge extra for?

Full comprehensive insurance with zero excess, a second driver, unlimited mileage, all local taxes, and a full-to-full fuel policy. The one thing genuinely missing is a GPS — but the free audioguide app doubles as navigation, and Google Maps offline is a reliable alternative.

Is Cicar available at Lanzarote Airport?

Yes, with desks in both Terminal T1 (international) and Terminal T2 (inter-island flights). The T1 desk is positioned near the baggage claim, and the car park is directly across from the terminal — approximately a one-minute walk.

What cars does Cicar offer in Lanzarote?

Economy cars (Fiat 500, Citroën C1), compact (Seat León, VW Golf), SUVs, convertibles, executive, electric and hybrid options, vans, and vehicles adapted for reduced mobility. The fleet skews newer — typically one to two years old — though individual vehicle condition can vary.

Can I rent a Cicar car for a month in Lanzarote?

The maximum rental period per agreement is 30 days. After that, you return to the office and sign a new agreement. Long-stay discounts are sometimes available — contact the Arrecife office directly for extended rental rates.

The Bottom Line 🏁

There’s a specific kind of traveller for whom Cicar is almost perfect: someone who’s spent one too many arrivals being slowly pressured into buying insurance they didn’t budget for, who’s had a post-holiday charge appear on their statement for a scratch they never made, and who just wants to pick up a decent car and drive without drama.

That person will find Cicar in Lanzarote a genuine relief.

The queue is real. Occasionally a car needs a tyre checked. The audioguide app has the odd quirk. But the fundamentals — honest pricing, all-in insurance, a network that actually covers the island, and staff who generally treat you like an adult — make Cicar the strongest overall choice for car hire in Lanzarote.

Book early for summer. Pre-register. Collect from a resort office if you want the smoothest possible start. Then go and drive this extraordinary island the way it deserves to be driven.

See full pricing & booking guide → https://autolisboa.com/cicar-lanzarote/