Privacy Policy

How 4Drive Canary Islands protects your personal data

At 4Drive Canary Islands, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you use our car rental services across the Canary Islands, including Tenerife South Airport, Tenerife North Airport, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma.

Last updated: July 2026

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you make a reservation or rent a car with 4Drive Canary Islands, we collect the following personal information:

  • Full name as it appears on your driving licence
  • Date of birth
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Residential address
  • Driving licence details (number, issuing country, expiry date)
  • Passport or national ID number (for identification purposes)
  • Payment information (debit card details or cash payment records)
  • Flight details (if you request airport pickup)
  • Hotel address (if you request hotel delivery in Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz, or other locations)

1.2 Booking Information

We collect details about your car rental booking, including:

  • Pickup and drop-off dates, times, and locations
  • Vehicle category and model selected
  • Additional services requested (child seat, GPS, second driver, etc.)
  • Insurance options chosen
  • Special requests or requirements
  • Rental duration and mileage

1.3 Technical Information

When you visit our website 4drivecanaryislands.com, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on each page
  • Referring website or search terms used
  • Date and time of access

1.4 Vehicle Usage Data

During your rental period, we may collect:

  • Odometer readings at pickup and drop-off
  • Fuel level at pickup and drop-off
  • Vehicle condition reports and photographs
  • GPS data (if you consent and the vehicle is equipped with a tracking device for theft prevention)
  • Driving incidents or accidents (if they occur)

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 To Provide Our Car Rental Services

We use your personal information to:

  • Process your car rental booking and reservation
  • Confirm your identity and verify your driving licence
  • Deliver the vehicle to Tenerife South Airport (TFS), Tenerife North Airport (TFN), Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), Lanzarote Airport (ACE), La Palma Airport (SPC), or your hotel
  • Process payment by debit card or record cash payment
  • Provide full insurance coverage (CDW included) with no deposit and no credit card hold
  • Contact you regarding your booking, pickup arrangements, or any changes
  • Arrange additional services (child seats, GPS, second driver)
  • Process your free cancellation request if you change your plans

2.2 To Communicate With You

We use your contact information to:

  • Send booking confirmations and rental agreements by email
  • Provide pickup instructions and driver contact details
  • Send reminders about your pickup time and location
  • Respond to your enquiries via our contact form or phone
  • Send service updates or important information about your rental
  • Request feedback about your experience after you return the vehicle

2.3 For Safety and Security

We use your information to:

  • Verify your identity and prevent fraud
  • Ensure you meet the minimum age requirement (21 years or older)
  • Maintain vehicle security and prevent theft
  • Investigate accidents, damage, or traffic violations
  • Comply with Spanish law enforcement requests if required
  • Protect our business, employees, and other customers

2.4 To Improve Our Services

We analyse aggregated, anonymised data to:

  • Understand customer preferences and booking patterns
  • Improve our website user experience
  • Optimise vehicle availability across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma
  • Develop new services and features
  • Conduct market research and analyse trends in the Canary Islands car rental market

2.5 For Marketing (With Your Consent)

If you opt in, we may use your email address to:

  • Send promotional offers and special deals on car rentals in the Canary Islands
  • Notify you about seasonal discounts (winter sun season, summer holidays)
  • Share travel tips for exploring Teide National Park, Masca, Anaga, Los Gigantes, Maspalomas, and other Canary Islands attractions
  • Invite you to leave a review of your experience

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional message.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

3.1 Contractual Necessity

We need your personal information to fulfil our car rental contract with you. Without this data, we cannot provide you with a vehicle, process your payment, or deliver full insurance coverage with no deposit required.

3.2 Legal Obligation

We are required by Spanish law to verify your identity, check your driving licence, maintain rental records, and cooperate with law enforcement investigations when necessary.

3.3 Legitimate Interest

We have a legitimate business interest in:

  • Preventing fraud and protecting our fleet of vehicles
  • Improving our services based on customer feedback
  • Maintaining the security of our website and booking system
  • Analysing business performance and customer trends

3.4 Consent

We will only send you marketing communications if you have given us your explicit consent. You can withdraw this consent at any time.

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Third-Party Service Providers

We share your personal information with trusted third parties who help us operate our business:

  • Payment processors: To process debit card payments securely. We comply with PCI DSS standards and never store full card details on our servers.
  • Booking platform provider (LocalRent): Our online booking widget is powered by LocalRent. They process your booking data in accordance with their own privacy policy.
  • Insurance providers: To arrange your full insurance coverage (CDW included) for every rental.
  • Vehicle maintenance and breakdown services: In case you need roadside assistance during your rental period.
  • Email service providers: To send booking confirmations and communications.
  • Cloud hosting services: To securely store booking records and customer data.

All third-party providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information to:

  • Spanish police (Policia Nacional, Guardia Civil) if required by law or in response to a valid legal request
  • Courts or regulatory authorities in the Canary Islands or Spain
  • Our legal advisors in connection with disputes or legal proceedings
  • Tax authorities (Agencia Tributaria) for tax compliance purposes

4.3 Business Transfers

If 4Drive Canary Islands is acquired by or merged with another company, your personal information may be transferred to the new owner as part of the business assets. We will notify you of any such change and ensure your data continues to be protected.

4.4 We Do Not Sell Your Data

We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. International Data Transfers

Your personal data is primarily stored and processed within the European Economic Area (EEA). The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the EU, so your data is protected under GDPR.

Some of our third-party service providers (such as cloud hosting or email services) may be located outside the EEA. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
  • The service provider's participation in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (if applicable)
  • Adequate protection as determined by the European Commission

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and to comply with legal obligations.

6.1 Booking and Rental Records

We keep your booking details, rental agreement, payment records, and driving licence information for:

  • 7 years from the end of your rental, as required by Spanish tax and accounting law
  • Longer if necessary to resolve disputes, enforce our rental agreement, or comply with legal requirements

6.2 Marketing Data

If you have consented to receive marketing emails, we will keep your email address until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it.

6.3 Website Analytics

Website usage data (IP address, browser type, pages visited) is typically retained for 12-24 months for analytical purposes, then deleted or anonymised.

6.4 Accident or Incident Reports

If you are involved in an accident or incident during your rental, we may retain related records for up to 10 years due to the statute of limitations for legal claims under Spanish law.

7. Your Data Protection Rights (GDPR)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7.1 Right of Access

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this free of charge in most cases.

7.2 Right to Rectification

If any of your personal data is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask us to correct or update it (for example, if you change your address or phone number).

7.3 Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten")

You can request that we delete your personal data in certain circumstances, such as:

  • The data is no longer needed for the purpose it was collected
  • You withdraw your consent (for marketing communications)
  • You object to processing and there is no overriding legitimate interest
  • The data has been unlawfully processed

Please note that we cannot delete data if we have a legal obligation to retain it (such as tax records) or if we need it to defend against legal claims.

7.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You can ask us to limit how we use your personal data in certain situations, for example if you contest the accuracy of the data or object to processing.

7.5 Right to Data Portability

You can request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format (such as a CSV file) so you can transfer it to another service provider.

7.6 Right to Object

You can object to:

  • Processing based on legitimate interests (such as fraud prevention or business analytics)
  • Direct marketing at any time (simply click "unsubscribe" in our emails or contact us)

7.7 Rights Related to Automated Decision-Making

4Drive Canary Islands does not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects or significantly affects you.

7.8 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: Available via our contact page

We will respond to your request within one month (or two months for complex requests). We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request.

7.9 Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe we have not handled your personal data properly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Authority:

Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos (AEPD)
C/ Jorge Juan, 6
28001 Madrid, Spain
Website: www.aepd.es

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

8.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us recognise your browser and remember certain information.

8.2 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential cookies: Necessary for the booking widget to function (e.g., remembering your pickup location and dates while you search for vehicles).
  • Performance cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (e.g., which pages are most popular, how long people spend on the site).
  • Functional cookies: Remember your preferences, such as language selection (English or Spanish).
  • Marketing cookies: Track your visit across websites to show you relevant advertising (only used if you consent).

8.3 Third-Party Cookies

Our website uses third-party services that may set cookies:

  • LocalRent booking widget: Our car rental search and booking widget is provided by LocalRent and may use cookies to remember your search preferences.
  • Google Analytics (if applicable): To analyse website traffic and user behaviour.
  • Google Fonts: To display custom fonts on our site.

8.4 How to Control Cookies

You can control and manage cookies in your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

  • View and delete cookies
  • Block all cookies
  • Block third-party cookies only
  • Clear cookies when you close the browser

Please note that blocking essential cookies may prevent the booking widget from working properly, and you may not be able to complete a reservation.

8.5 Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" signal. Our website does not currently respond to DNT signals, but you can control cookies as described above.

9. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

9.1 Security Measures

  • Encryption: Our website uses HTTPS (SSL/TLS encryption) to protect data transmitted between your browser and our server.
  • Secure payment processing: We comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). We do not store full debit card numbers on our servers.
  • Access controls: Only authorised 4Drive employees have access to personal data, and access is limited to what is necessary for their role.
  • Password protection: Our systems are protected by strong passwords and multi-factor authentication where possible.
  • Regular updates: We keep our software and systems up to date with security patches.
  • Data backups: We regularly back up data to prevent loss.

9.2 Physical Security

Hard copies of rental agreements and driving licence copies (if taken) are stored securely at our offices in the Canary Islands, with restricted access.

9.3 Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach that poses a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD) within 72 hours, as required by GDPR.

9.4 Your Responsibility

Please help us protect your data by:

  • Keeping your booking confirmation email and rental agreement secure
  • Not sharing your personal information with unauthorised third parties
  • Using a secure internet connection when making a booking online

10. Children's Privacy

Our car rental services are not intended for children. You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car from 4Drive Canary Islands. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as:

  • Tourist information sites about Teide National Park, Masca, Loro Parque, and other Canary Islands attractions
  • Hotel booking sites
  • Flight booking sites
  • Ferry operators (Fred Olsen, Naviera Armas) if you plan to take the car to another island

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. Please review their privacy policies before providing them with your personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make significant changes, we will:

  • Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
  • Notify you by email if you have an active booking or marketing subscription
  • Display a prominent notice on our website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically, especially before making a new booking.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:

4Drive Canary Islands
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Available via our contact page
Website: 4drivecanaryislands.com

You can also visit our contact page to send us a message or find additional contact information.

14. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal information is:

4Drive Canary Islands
Registered office: Canary Islands, Spain
Email: [email protected]

Summary of Key Points

  • We collect personal information necessary to provide car rental services at Tenerife South Airport, Tenerife North Airport, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma.
  • We use your data to process bookings, verify your identity, provide full insurance with no deposit and no credit card hold, and improve our services.
  • We share data only with trusted service providers, law enforcement (when legally required), and never sell your information.
  • Your data is protected under GDPR. You have the right to access, correct, delete, or transfer your personal information.
  • We retain rental records for 7 years to comply with Spanish law, and marketing data until you unsubscribe.
  • We use cookies to make the booking widget work and analyse website performance. You can control cookies in your browser.
  • We implement strong security measures (HTTPS encryption, PCI DSS compliance, access controls) to protect your data.
  • You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car from us.
  • You can contact us anytime at [email protected] with questions or to exercise your rights.

Thank you for trusting 4Drive Canary Islands with your car rental needs. We are committed to protecting your privacy while providing you with the best no-deposit, no-credit-card car hire experience in the Canary Islands, whether you're exploring Teide National Park, driving the winding roads to Masca, discovering the beaches of Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, or touring the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote.