Renting a Car in Puerto Rico (A Local’s “How to” Guide)

Do You Need a Rental Car in Puerto Rico?

A rental car is the best way to get around Puerto Rico for visitors who want to explore on their own. Renting a car provides flexibility and it’s more cost-effective than paying for taxis or booking tours every day.

Rental cars also allow travelers to reach destinations that public transportation routes don’t cover.

As I wrote in my guide to how to drive in Puerto Rico, the island is overall pretty friendly for drivers.

There are multiple car rental companies in Puerto Rico, especially in the area of San Juan and Isla Verde. A car rental is the best method of transportation if you’re planning to leave Old San Juan frequently and you want to stay in other parts of the island. 

Although there is public transportation in Puerto Rico, the routes are quite limited to the Metropolitan Region, and the language barrier makes it almost impossible for English speakers to communicate with drivers.

Car Rental Requirements for Puerto Rico

If you’re renting a car in Puerto Rico, these are some documents you should bring along in your luggage.

🚗 Driving License – If you’re from the United States, your common driving license will allow you to rent a car, as long as it’s older than one year. 

🚘 International Driving License – If you’re coming from an international destination, car rentals will ask for an international driver’s permit too.

💳 Card – You’ll need a debit card with the logo of Mastercard or Visa or a credit card, but you’ll probably pay a cheaper deposit with the lather.

👨 Age – You have to be 25 years or older to rent a car in Puerto Rico. Some rental car companies might allow you to rent a car if you’re 21, but you’ll pay an extra fee.

📝 Collision Damage Insurance (CDW) – This insurance is optional, but it’s recommended since it covers theft and damage done to the car rental. 

📋 CompulsoryLiability Insurance – This insurance is obligatory in Puerto Rico and it covers the damages you cause to other cars in case of an accident.

How Much Do Rental Cars Cost in Puerto Rico?

On average, renting a midsize car in Puerto Rico costs between $65 and $140 per day. Prices vary based on the time of the year, and with how much time visitors are getting their car rental.

Factors like the type of car chosen, and add ons like insurance also affect the fares for a car rental.

Overall, car rental locations in Puerto Rico are more expensive than in other Latin American countries, due to the taxes and the high demand for vehicles.

To keep your budget, you should compare the prices of different car companies before deciding on a specific car rental.

👉 Compare Puerto Rico rental car prices for your dates by searching 3 sites: 

• Discover Cars (Our Top Choice)
• Kayak.com
• RentalCars.com

21 Tips & Things to Know Before Renting in Puerto Rico

Check Your Insurance

For renting a car in Puerto Rico, you will need insurance. Prices for your rental can rise significantly with the daily insurance fee.

Most credit cards offer rental car insurance (usually collision insurance, not liability) among their benefits and services. Check with your bank if you have car rental coverage and bring proof with you when you rent your car. 

Dig Deeper

If a deal seems too good, it’s probably because it is. When you’re interested in the prices of a car rental, ask the company if the advertised price includes the insurance fees. You’ll have to buy the insurance if you don’t have any and it will add to your car rental daily rate.

Ask About Autoexpreso

Puerto Rico’s main highways are home to an electronic toll system.  Drivers pay toll roads with an electronic stamp called Autoexpreso.

Before you sign your car rental contract, ask if there is an additional fee for the Autoexpreso.

Some car rental locations will include the usage of the stamp on your daily rate and others will charge an extra fixed rate for using it.

Research the Rental Agency

While there are many car rentals in San Juan and Puerto Rico, not all of them are honest about their policies and fine print.

A quick internet search will let you know the general reviews for the company and the common problems that might arise if you rent a car with it. 

Make a Car Reservation Well in Advance

In Puerto Rico, car rental rates can increase significantly as the date of your trip approaches.

Use online car rental websites to search and compare daily fares for car rentals in Puerto Rico and get a better deal. Car rental websites also offer more information that can help with your visit to the country.

Or Look for Your Favorite Rental Car Company

You’ll find renowned car rental companies like Enterprise, and Alamo in San Juan and other Puerto Rico popular cities for tourism.

Some of them even have rental kiosks in the San Juan Airport, which facilitates the process of renting and picking up your vehicle if you’ve just arrived in the country.

Consider Local Companies Too

While car rental locations in the airport are convenient and feature trustable rentals like Enterprise, Avis, and Alamo, some car rental locations in less popular cities might offer cheaper rates.

There are local car rental locations that offer more budget-friendly rates and you could easily find about either by searching Discover Cars or just with a quick Google search.

Read the Fine Print

As excited as you might be to start your vacation, I recommend that you don’t skip reading your car rental contract.

Many tourists lose their deposit or pay extra fees because they violate the car rental contract without knowing so.

Simple things like returning your rental car full of sand or with damp seats can violate the company’s terms. Read and take note of everything before leaving the location. 

Inspect Your Rental Car

Before driving away from your car rental location, inspect your car for scratches, bumps, and other imperfections.

Take pictures of how you received your vehicle, and how you returned it, so you can use them as evidence in case of any claim.

Park Wisely

Old San Juan and many town centers’ in Puerto Rico offer free on-street parking that can end up in unwanted bumps and scratches to your rental car. Opt to park in a safer location like a private parking lot, even if you have to pay a small fee.

Don’t Leave Your Belongings in the Rental Vehicle

As basic as it may seem, many tourists leave behind bags, or valuables in their car while exploring, only to return to a broken window and stolen belongings.

If you’re taking a day trip, leave the valuables of your Puerto Rico packing list at a hotel safe and only bring with you the things you’ll be carrying. That is one of the best tips to stay safe in Puerto Rico.

Drive on the Right Side

If you’re coming from an international country, you should know that driving in Puerto Rico is very similar to driving in the United States. People drive on the right side of the streets and road signs are mostly the same used internationally but in Spanish.

Look for Kilometers, Not Miles

A fun Puerto Rico fact is that, contrary to the United States, the distances in Puerto Rico get measured in kilometers and not miles. You will see road signs with the kilometer numbers on them, but speed limits get measured in miles per hour.

Watch the Road

Depending on the cities and neighborhoods you go to, you will notice that streets are full of potholes.

Potholes are common even in San Juan, so you should drive with precaution and pay attention to the road. Some potholes are deep enough to ruin your vacation with a flat tire.

Plan Around Peak Hours

Although having your own vehicle will save you a lot of time, getting stuck in peak-hour traffic will ruin your schedule.

Going from San Juan to a nearby city can take you over an hour if you’re transiting main highways around 8:00 am or 6:00 pm.

That’s also when you’ll experience the negative side of Puerto Rican drivers. As a general Puerto Rico tip, it’s best to either leave for your destination early or wait for the rush hour to end.

Decide Your Return Location

Some car rental locations have a different return location than where you rented your vehicle.

While you sign the contract, investigate where you’ll be returning the car. For example, some car rental companies have locations in a city and different airport locations for returns.  

Don’t Take it Outside the Main Island

Up to this date, the ferries to Vieques and Culebra only transport cars from the residents of the small islands.

Although there isn’t a fixed date as to when they’ll be restarting the service for non-locals, most companies don’t allow car rentals outside the main island.

Rent a 4×4 Vehicle

If you’re a true adventurer looking forward to exploring the remotest regions of Puerto Rico, then renting a 4×4 vehicle might be your best option.

While it’s easy to explore most of Puerto Rico in a common car, you’ll need a 4×4 SUV to explore some steep streets in the mountainous regions, remote camping sites, and nature reserves.

Avoid the Mountainous Region

On the contrary, if you’ve never driven on narrow, curvy, steep roads, avoid driving in Puerto Rico’s mountainous region completely.

The roads in the mountainous towns can be narrow enough to fit only one car or steep enough that you’d need a 4×4 to get through them. They aren’t for the faint-hearted.

Don’t Smoke on Your Car

Smoking inside your car is one of the things that will cost you extra money, as car rentals have to deep shampoo the cars to get rid of the odor. Do yourself a favor and smoke far from your car.

👉 Read Next: How to Rent a Car in Mexico

Fill Up Your Tank

Most car rentals will ask you to return your vehicle with a full tank. Gas gets sold in liters and you will find plenty of gas stations to refill your vehicle.

Don’t forget to ask the car rental company how to open the gas door, or you’ll spend 5 minutes figuring it out at the gas station.

FAQ About Puerto Rico Car Rentals

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Now you’re ready to rent your car in Puerto Rico! All that’s left to do is figure out where you’ll be driving!

Read my local guide to the top attractions in Puerto Rico, so you don’t miss any of the fun.