Renting a Car in Puerto Rico (A Local’s “How to” Guide)
Renting a car in Puerto Rico is your best option to save time and explore the archipelago at your own pace.
Even as a Puerto Rico local with my own vehicle, I’ve rented cars to explore the island’s best attractions on multiple occasions. Just like you, I had many questions about fees, insurance, and the entire Puerto Rico car rental reservation process.
But worry not! After experiencing it myself, I’ve put together all the tips and tricks you need to know about how to rent a car in Puerto Rico.
For more tips, make sure to check out my ebook about Puerto Rico. Let’s dive in!
Want to jump around?
- Best Car Rental Sites in Puerto Rico
- Do You Need a Rental Car in Puerto Rico?
- Car Rental Requirements for Puerto Rico
- How Much Do Rental Cars Cost in Puerto Rico?
- 21 Tips & Things to Know Before Renting in Puerto Rico
- Check Your Insurance
- Dig Deeper
- Ask About Autoexpreso
- Research the Rental Agency
- Make a Car Reservation Well in Advance
- Or Look for Your Favorite Rental Car Company
- Consider Local Companies Too
- Read the Fine Print
- Inspect Your Rental Car
- Park Wisely
- Don’t Leave Your Belongings in the Rental Vehicle
- Drive on the Right Side
- Look for Kilometers, Not Miles
- Watch the Road
- Plan Around Peak Hours
- Decide Your Return Location
- Don’t Take it Off the Main Island
- Rent a 4×4 Vehicle
- Avoid the Mountainous Region
- FAQs
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Best Car Rental Sites in Puerto Rico
Don’t wait until the last minute to rent a car in Puerto Rico, or you’ll pay a higher fee for your rental car. I recommend reserving your vehicle in advance of your trip by using car rental websites. They’re great for finding the best deals among different car rental companies and let you filter your results.
Here are some of my recommended Puerto Rico rental car websites you can look at.
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is an online platform that lets you compare and book car rentals in Puerto Rico. It gathers options from various rental agencies, offering a wide selection of vehicles that you can filter according to your needs. Add transparent pricing and helpful customer reviews to that, and you’ll definitely get your best rental. This is definitely our preferred option for renting cars in Puerto Rico.
RentalCars.com
RentalCars.com is a great site with a wide range of options, including renowned national rentals such as Enterprise and Avis. All listings include the agency’s rating and car details. Besides the common price and specs filters, you can also filter results by pick-up place, including airport meet-up or pick-up.
Do You Need a Rental Car in Puerto Rico?
You need a rental car to get around Puerto Rico if you’re planning to explore the archipelago on your own, and especially if you’re planning to leave Old San Juan. Renting a car provides flexibility and is 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.
Although you’ll find public transportation in Puerto Rico, the routes are mostly limited to the Metropolitan Region, and the language barrier makes it challenging for English speakers to communicate with drivers.
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 areas of San Juan and Isla Verde. But you can also find rental cars in Aguadilla, Ponce, and Ceiba.
👉 Need help planning your route? I can plan a custom Puerto Rico itinerary for you!
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.
🚗 Drivers 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 latter.
👨 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 rental car.
📋 Compulsory Liability Insurance – This insurance is mandatory 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 season and the anticipation with which you’re renting your car.
Factors like the type of car chosen, and add ons like insurance also affect the fares for a car rental.
But keep in mind that, overall, renting a car in Puerto Rico will be pricier than in other Latin American countries.
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
You will need insurance if you plan on renting a car while you’re in Puerto Rico. 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 price 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
There is an electronic toll system on most of Puerto Rico’s highways, you’ll need to pay 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 Puerto Rico, not all of them are honest about their policies and fine print.
I recommend doing a quick internet search to get an idea of the common problems that might arise with rental car companies.
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 to get a better deal. Car rental websites also offer more information that can help with your visit to the country.
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is a lesser-known, but great, car rental search engine. It often finds cheaper fares than other websites. Plus, we love how easy it is to compare reviews of different rental agencies & that they don’t hide any fees.
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 out 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, don’t skip reading your car rental contract.
Many tourists lose their deposit or pay extra fees because they violate the car rental contract unknowingly by returning the car full of sand or with damp seats. 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 result 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, unlike the United States, the distances in Puerto Rico are measured in kilometers and not miles. You will see road signs with the kilometer numbers on them, but speed limits are 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 caution 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 5:00 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.
When you sign the contract, check to see 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 Off 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 exploring the remote 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 in 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.
Pay Your Traffic Tickets
Lots of tourists receive traffic tickets in Puerto Rico – usually because they don’t know the parking rules and speed limits.
If you get a ticket in Puerto Rico, ask your car rental company about its ticket policy. If the ticket is to the license plate number such as a parking ticket, some companies will charge your card for the fee and pay the ticket for you.
But, most car rental companies will make you responsible for paying for any tickets (known locally as multas) obtained during your rental period.
In that case, you can pay online through the CESCO and Colecturia Virtual platforms. But you’ll have to register for an account and might need some paperwork.
The simplest way to pay is to go to the offices of Departamento de Hacienda, Colecturia, or a CESCO with the traffic ticket and your driving license. For CESCO, you need to make an appointment through Turnos PR.
Gear Up to Move Boards, Bicycles, and More
If you want to do watersports in Puerto Rico, you can rent portable surf racks in surf shops like La 8 Surf Shop. Unless you rent an SUV or Jeep with built-in racks, this is the easiest way to transport gear like boogie boards or surfboards.
Similarly, you can rent racks for bicycles in local bicycle rental shops. Just make sure to ask your rental car company if there is any policy against using portable roof racks or any other mounting in the rented car.
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is a lesser-known, but incredible, car rental search engine. It often finds cheaper fares than other websites. Plus, we love how easy it is to compare reviews of different rental agencies & that they don’t hide any fees.
FAQs
What are the requirements to rent a car in Puerto Rico?
To drive in Puerto Rico, visitors need to be over 25 years old, have a driver’s license, and a credit card, or a debit card with a logo. Visitors also need Liability Insurance and Collision Damage Insurance, they can buy at car rental locations if they don’t have any.
Can a US citizen rent a car in Puerto Rico?
Since Puerto Rico is a non-incorporated territory of the United States, US citizens visiting the island can rent a car in Puerto Rico using their driving license and their insurance if they already have car rental insurance.
Why is it so expensive to rent a car in Puerto Rico?
Renting a car in Puerto Rico is expensive because of the limited supply and shortage of auto production. Other factors like annual inflation, taxes, and the model can also influence the rental car price.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Puerto Rico?
The minimum age to rent a car in Puerto Rico is 25. Some car rental locations rent cars to people over 21, but they have to pay additional fees to get them.
Can you Uber in Puerto Rico?
Uber is the main ridesharing app in Puerto Rico. Travelers can use Uber to move around the metropolitan area in cities like San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo Alto, Caguas, Cataño, Bayamón, Vega Baja, and Dorado.
Is it scary to drive in Puerto Rico?
Driving in Puerto Rico can be scary for foreigners, since Puerto Ricans often surpass speed limits, honk, and change lanes. Driving in the mountainous center can also get dangerous because of the narrow and curvy streets. Check the complete guide to driving in Puerto Rico to learn more.
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Now you’re ready to rent your car and explore the best of Puerto Rico! All that’s left to do is figure out where you’ll be driving! Read my local guide to the best places to visit, so you don’t miss any of the fun.
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is a lesser-known, but incredible, car rental search engine. It often finds cheaper fares than other websites. Plus, we love how easy it is to compare reviews of different rental agencies & that they don’t hide any fees.
Hello there. I live in Texas. My late husband was PR. My 2 daughters & 3 grandchildren are going to PR Dec 28-Jan 1. Little did we realize there weren’t going to be any rental cars available during our dates. Any other suggestions besides Uber or Lyft? Thank you so much!
Hi Sylvia! Yes, Christmas is high season for tourism in Puerto Rico, and rental cars often run out. You have a few options depending on where you’re staying.
If you really want to rent a car, try checking local or smaller companies instead of well-known ones like Enterprise or Avis. For example, check Ricoride Rental, Charlie Car Rental, Easeway Bayamón, and Triple N Car Rental. You can also call ahead at the last minute to see if there have been any cancellations, just be prepared for higher prices.
If you still can’t find a rental car and you’re staying in San Juan, public transportation is an option. Buses (known as AMA) and the train make it easy to move around San Juan and nearby cities like Bayamón and Cataño. Here’s a page with the main routes.
Finally, you can easily walk around Old San Juan and Condado, and take guided tours for day trips. Hope that helps!
I’ve seen many recommendations to get the AutoExpreso with the rental car but can’t find answers to two questions. First, how much should I expect this, possibly variable fee, to cost – what is a “reasonable” rate for the rental company to charge? And second, how are the tolls charged to me – a bill when I return the car, charges passed to the credit card used to rent the car, or something else? Thank you
Hi Karen! The answer varies depending on the rental car company. Some companies offer all-inclusive pricing that already covers AutoExpreso tolls in the rental fee. Others use a prepaid tag and will charge the tolls and a service-activation fee to your credit card about three weeks after you return the car.
In those cases, keep track of the tolls you pass or ask the rental company for a breakdown in case you need to dispute any charges. Companies that charge a fixed prepaid fee usually charge between $7–$20 per day, which is meant to cover unlimited AutoExpreso use. Anything higher is questionable.
The company should disclose this fee when you’re signing your rental agreement, just like they do with insurance or other add-ons. Often, they’ll ask if you want to include AutoExpreso. The key is to ask questions and read the fine print!
Overall, I recommend confirming details when you rent and prepaying for AutoExpreso so you know what you’ll be paying ahead of time. All toll costs are charged to your credit card. For reference, most AutoExpreso tolls in Puerto Rico range from about $0.75 to $4, and here is a map
showing the daily one-way trip cost on the most-traveled routes in PR.
Hope that helps!
Is it better to book rental car while booking flights or book separately?
Hi Kristen!
I’d say it really depends on you. If you find a great deal and have limited time for planning and booking, then it makes sense to book everything together. But overall, booking separately gives you more flexibility to explore different options, including some local (and often cheaper!) ones.
Hope that helps!
Is a GPS rental necessary for a 2 week stay or will the GPS in my phone be sufficient?
Hi Glen! If your phone has internet service while in Puerto Rico, your phone’s GPS will be more than enough! However, I recommend downloading the maps offline in case you lose reception while navigating the island, especially in its mountainous interior.
Hi! I was wondering what you know about boogie board and fin rentals? Is that a thing or do I just buy some when I get there and leave them behind? Thanks
Hi Katalina! You can rent boogie boards at multiple surf shops and watersports rentals in Puerto Rico. Surfing in Puerto Rico (Luquillo), Desecheo Surf Shop (Rincon), Tres Palmas Surf Shop, and La 8 Surf (both in San Juan). You can also get snorkeling gear and fins from Scuba Dogs (also in San Juan). Occasionally, you can find rentals directly at beach kiosks. I hope that helps!
Hi Vanessa,
What are your recommendation for a large group(15 pl)?
I am trying to book a van for 15 people. I can find anything bigger than a 7 passenger mini van on any of the sites you suggested. Are there cheaper options other than renting 2 separate vehicle? What range of price should I expect?
Thank in advance for any suggestion!
Hi Joe! Try Target-Rent-a-Car and Enterprise. You can expect to pay around $150-$200 a day for a van for 15 people which ultimately can be cheaper than renting two Premium SUVs or minivans to fit the whole group. But, overall, I’d advise against a large van if you’re planning on driving in Old San Juan or the mountainous range. Both can have narrow and curvy (in the case of the mountains) roads and be very stressful for new drivers in Puerto Rico. Hope that helps!
Hola Vanessa, mis sobrinas vienen de Holanda y desean un vehículo en el puedan poner en la capota una tabla de “surfing”, ¿se pueden conseguir vehículos que provean para eso? ¿o que se pueda alquilar el aditamento para poner la tabla? Te felicito por la información que provee sobre Puerto Rico.
¡Hola Elsie! Es posible rentar algunas SUV, Jeeps y Broncos con los rieles para poner cosas en la parte de arriba del vehículo. De igual forma, tus sobrinas pueden visitar las tiendas de surf locales para alquilar “roof racks” o “surf racks” portátiles que pueden poner en cualquier vehículo. Los costos varían entre $15 y $25 por día. La 8 Surf Shop en San Juan y Desecheo Surf Shop en Rincón son algunos ejemplos de lugares que rentan este aditamento.
Hi Vanessa,
I’ll be staying in San Juan for a week next month and renting a car, since I would like to go exploring. You mention that rental cars are not accepted on the ferry to Culebra. Is that still the case? If so, is there a parking lot close to the ferry? And what’s your recommendation to move around/getting to the beach once arrived to the island (without the rental car)?
Hi Vanessa! Yes, it is still the case. Car rentals aren’t accepted on the ferry. There is a parking right after the ferry terminal which charges $15 per day. There is a shuttle between the parking and the terminal (it is about 8 minutes walking distance). Once in Culebra, you can walk to the beaches near the ferry (Punta Melones, Playa Sardinas, Playa Sardinas II, and Datiles Beach). To get to Flamenco Beach, you can call a taxi. Once in Flamenco, you can reach Carlos Rosario Beach, and Tamarindo Grande Beach walking. If however, you plan on beach hopping and visiting Zoni, Resaca, and other remote beaches, renting a golf cart is best as paying for taxis every time you change beaches will be more expensive. Golf carts are cheaper than rental cars.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for all your recommendations. They have been really useful. I went ahead and rented a car. But I unfortunately got a parking ticket at Jobos Beach today, and it doesn’t have much information about how to solve it or pay it. I read somewhere online that if the ticket is paid in less that 15 days, they would give you a 50% discount. Do you know if this is the case? Or what do you reccomend for me to do? Am I able to pay the ticket myself? Should I just contact the rental car company?
Any guidance would be appreciated, thanks again!
Hi Vanessa! I’m sorry to hear you got a parking ticket! So, how you solve parking tickets in Puerto Rico will depend on the type of ticket and your rental car company policy. Some companies can help you out with tickets to the license plate. They can charge your card the ticket fee and take care of it themselves. But, most companies will ask you to pay for the tickets yourself. As of June 2024, the discount for paying soon is 30%, but a law is in the works for making it 50%. You can pay for many tickets online in the CESCO app or Colecturia Virtual, but you would need an account and tickets might take a while to show up. The surest way to pay a ticket in your case is just to head to the nearest “Colecturia” (there are multiple in Old San Juan). Bring the ticket, your ID, debit card, and rental car information.
Hello, do you think you need a rental car if mostly in San Juan. We are a few days in San Juan and only touring for 2 days. We can maybe just rent a car for 2 days but maybe it is cheaper to just rent for the four days given Uber rates.
Hi Donna! I guess it depends on what you’re doing and how much you’re willing to walk. Moving in and between Old San Juan and Condado on foot is possible. The public bus system (AMA) also covers all of San Juan. I’d recommend a rental car only if you’re looking for full flexibility and you expect to explore outside San Juan in those two days.
Hi Vanessa,
I am planning a trip to PR. I see a rental car company outside the airport “Green Motion” which has good rates. Do you know if this is a reputable car rental company? I haven’t seen or heard of this company before.
Thank you
Hi Carla! I haven’t rented from them, but overall, reviews on Google, Reddit, and other platforms aren’t good. The Guardian even has an article about its customers’ constant complaints. Enterprise and Target Rent-a-Car in Isla Verde Avenue and Flagship Rent-a-Car in PR 2 are good alternatives. Remember that when rates are too low compared to other sites, it usually means you’ll find hidden fees upon arrival. I hope that helps!
Hi,
Seeing numerous cockroach infested car reviews across the board on cars rented/stored right at the airport. Maybe they thrive in the shaded garage vs hot sun/open parking. For this reason, do you recommend getting a car that requires a taxi or shuttle from the airport?
If you’re arriving during the day and you have time and energy, renting a car outside from airport premises is a great option. Aside from the problem you mentioned and the long waiting lines in the airport, you are likely to find a better deal on rental car companies outside.
Hi Vanessa:
It seems that a car rental for a week can range from $100 up to around $1100 when doing research. I’m curious why there is such a big range? Have you found that the lower end of the range tends to have hidden fees or restrictions that you unfortunately find out about when you arrive?
Hi Don! A few factors affect the prices online, including the car model, the demand, add-ons, and so on. Some of the online prices include these add-ons and insurance fees. It’s possible that when prices are too low ($100 a week is indeed low), you’ll find out about extra fees when arriving at the rental facilities. You can save the insurance fee if you already have rental car insurance, but you’ll need to show proof of it. On average, renting a small car in Puerto Rico for a week normally ranges between $500 and $900 with the extra fees.
We are going Dec21-Dec 27 How hard would it be to just get a car for a day or two at the last minute? I am thinking we would not use it everyday but not sure what days I would want it. Should we just rent one for the week and park in a garage til we use it?? Is the airport the only plac to get a car rental?
Hi Donna! December is considered high season so getting a car last minute might be difficult, but not impossible. You will, however, get fewer options for higher prices. Group activities in your itinerary that don’t require a car (e.g. exploring Old San Juan), and later rent a car for the days that you will be moving around. If you aren’t entirely sure about what you’re doing and wouldn’t like any limitations, then do rent a car for the entire time of your stay. You’ll find car rentals outside the airport. Carolina, San Juan, Bayamon, Cataño, and Guaynabo have a few.
Hi Vanessa, Thanks for your helpful, informative article on renting a car in Puerto Rico. This is my first visit – three weeks mid December through first week in January. I wanted to mention that there was a wide price differentiation between the three sites that you mention – Discover cars, Kayak and Rentalcar.com – of hundred of dollars actually. Kayak had the best prices for a two week rental. Discover cars had the highest prices – more than double Kayak . I ended up booking a full size 5 seater with Enterprise today ($539 a week plus tax.) I called Enterprise directly and Kayak’s deal was much lower that booking direct. So thanks for the tip re: Kayak! I now plan to read your other information to plan our itinerary. Many thanks
I have a two month work assignment in San Juan and will need a car. Any suggestions for a two month rental? It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just basic and reliable transportation.
fav car rentals in Vieques?
Also, do they rent scooters in Vieques?
Hi-I am traveling to Puerto Rico next week and have reserved a car w Avis. On my last trip 6/21 there was a 2-3 hour wait to get your car at SJU. Is there any way to avoid this?
Much thanks,
beth
Hi Beth! So the thing about car airport rentals is that they have a lot of demand, so the wait time can be a little long. You could look for rental car locations outside the airport and in nearby areas (San Juan, Condado, Bayamón, Cataño) and take a taxi/uber to that location. You end up paying a bit more, but you’ll wait for less time. But you could also look for some car rental companies that offer a shuttle from the airport to their location, so you can save both time and the taxi fee.
Hi Vanessa, I just read Beth’s comment. Is waiting 2 to 3 hours at the airport the norm to pick up a rental car? I just booked today with Enterprise at SJ airport. I’m wondering if I should change my booking. We are staying near Old San Juan (not far from the airport) the first couple of days without a car, and planned to go back to get the car when we plan too leave SJ.
Hi Kate how was the wait? I’m going to San Juan 3/30 and also rented a car with with enterprise.
I found a small car for $158, from 8/9to 8/16, in BQN on Discover.cars.
I’m sure there are hidden fees once i get there….?. sounds almost too good to be true though, right?
Hi Jenelise! Be sure to check the fine print and give the rental car company a call to confirm the total price. That said, $158 for a week does sound a bit low for the average car rental in Puerto Rico. Hope that helps!
Staying at the Margaritaville Resort, it seems like it is a pretty good distance to everything so we will probably need a car rental. Do you recommend getting it at the airport?
Hi Lori! Getting your rental car at the airport is the most convenient, so you can start moving around with flexibility as soon as you leave the airport. But, the waiting time for car rentals at the airport is sometimes long. Another option is to look for a car rental location outside but close to the airport and take a taxi from the airport to the location and from there you can drive to your resort.
Can I rent a car from enterprise away from the airport then return it to the airport?
My family and I are headed staying in Old San Juan for a week. We want spend a few days around old San Juan, but also want to spend a few days checking out different parts of the island. Should I rent a car from the airport for the entire week? Will I have a tough time parking as we are staying near Castillo San Cristobal? Thanks,
Jori
Hi Jori! If you’re planning to stay in Old San Juan for a few days, you can ditch the car rental, as Old San Juan is a walkable neighborhood and then rent a car for the days you’ll be exploring the island. That way you’ll save money and avoid the hectic traffic/parking of Old San Juan. Finding on-street parking near San Cristobal is difficult, so you’ll probably have to leave your rental car a few times on paying parking lots.
Vanessa
Thank you for all your great rental car tips. We land in San Juan airport on a Saturday but fly out of the International airport closer to Rincon on the following Saturday. Can we do a one way car rental in Puerto Rico? Picking up at one airport and dropping off at another?
Hi Tom! Yes, you can rent a car at SJU airport in San Juan and drop it at BQN airport in Aguadilla as long as the same company is present in both airports and you rent the car specifying you will drop it at at a different location. Avis, Alamos, and Enterprise, for example, are present in both airports and provide the “drop off at a different location” option on their websites.
Looking to see if there’s any experience with Europar ?
Hi Patricia! Europcar is a company located in Carolina. It’s legit but there seem to be a lot of complaints about it. I’d suggest doing deep research and reading reviews before renting.
We are renting a car in San Juan, but staying on the western part of the island. The last day we’d like to go to Vieques & stay the night taking the passenger ferry both ways. Is there somewhere we can leave our rental on the main island & pick it up the next day to get to the airport?
Thank you!
Yes, there is parking available at the Vieques ferry for a little over $5/day.
I would not rent a car until you’re ready to leave Old San Juan to explore. Parking in Old San Juan is limited and can be several blocks away from your hotel or b&b. Use Uber or taxi back to airport to pick up car when ready and return there at end of your stay.
Thanks for the great information! I’ve been looking to rent a car for my Puerto Rico adventures. Would you recommend a SUV/Jeep or could you get away with renting a car?
Puerto Rico has well paved roads so for most purposes a car works just fine. Of course, if you want to do any off-roading, or more adventurous exploring, a Jeep may have benefits, but when I visited a rental car worked just fine for getting around the island.