OT - Renting a car in Puerto Rico?
- Thread starter EdH85
- Start date
check with your insurance company to see if your home insurance covers you, they dont alot of places
I rented out of San Juan, get some insurance, they drive like they are qualifying for the pole at Indy down there.
Had no issue a few years ago. It was a business trip so my insurance was covered. Didn't think traffic was that bad.
I have rented a car there many times. Process is similar to here.
Driving can be a little hectic but just be careful.
Driving can be a little hectic but just be careful.
Speaking of cars and PR, I love PR, I go there every year to visit my hubcaps. (old Jackie Mason joke)
Had no issue when i was there for work. Traffic can be a nightmare, and some of the mountain roads (near Corozal) can be very narrow and have very sharp corners.
Check your insurance to make sure you are covered.
I have no experience in the area you are heading, but i stayed in San Juan for 2 weeks while working near Corozal. We were doing groundwater work, and I would go back in a heartbeat. Food was great, people were very friendly, beaches were really cool (and I hate the beach), lots of stuff to do, and did i mention that the food was great?
Have fun
Check your insurance to make sure you are covered.
I have no experience in the area you are heading, but i stayed in San Juan for 2 weeks while working near Corozal. We were doing groundwater work, and I would go back in a heartbeat. Food was great, people were very friendly, beaches were really cool (and I hate the beach), lots of stuff to do, and did i mention that the food was great?
Have fun
Just keep your eyes on the road and don't get distracted by the inordinate amount of hotties you will see. Like others have said they drive pretty crazy there and don't stay in the lanes. We were driving to the office one day near San Juan and looked over to see a horse running next to us down the freeway.
Rented in San Juan and drove throughout the island. My advice, pick a lane, keep your speed the same and let the crazies do their thing around you. Used my credit card insurance (which stacked onto my own coverage). It is hilarious how bad they are at driving. Red lights after 10pm are OPTIONAL, so if you have a green and they have a red, you might get t-boned. Proceed with caution.
It's been a while since I rented cars and drove in Puerto Rico, but it's a different art form and I doubt it's changed very much.
I would fly into San Juan then drive wherever our ships were - Yabucoa on the southeast tip, Roosevelt Roads to the east, the power plant at Arecibo to the west, Guyanilla on the south.
The freeways were fine. It's the 2-lane country roads that are the danger. People ignore the double line and pass whenever they think the coast is clear. Or you'll be clipping along and a livestock truck pulls out in front of you. There is a lot of road debris - nothing unusual to find mufflers or what not in the travel lane.
Not to scare you - PR is a fabulous place. Traffic is almost always heavy in any metro area - the Puerto Ricans love their cars, and they love to drive.
I would fly into San Juan then drive wherever our ships were - Yabucoa on the southeast tip, Roosevelt Roads to the east, the power plant at Arecibo to the west, Guyanilla on the south.
The freeways were fine. It's the 2-lane country roads that are the danger. People ignore the double line and pass whenever they think the coast is clear. Or you'll be clipping along and a livestock truck pulls out in front of you. There is a lot of road debris - nothing unusual to find mufflers or what not in the travel lane.
Not to scare you - PR is a fabulous place. Traffic is almost always heavy in any metro area - the Puerto Ricans love their cars, and they love to drive.
I've driven all over Puerto Rico for work.
I'd suggest renting from a national chain at SJU. Some of the local/smaller outfits are a little sketchy.
Traffic in San Juan can be nuts, not so much in terms of gridlock, but in terms of crazy drivers/volume (as noted above). Stay very alert and don't drink and drive.
Outside of San Juan, traffic isn't as bad. You still have bad drivers, but they have more room to be dumb so it is less of a problem. The highways outside of San Juan are in good shape, but some of the secondary roads are narrow and can be poorly maintained. Tertiary roads can be gravel or dirt if you are in a rural area.
Have fun! It's a great island.
I'd suggest renting from a national chain at SJU. Some of the local/smaller outfits are a little sketchy.
Traffic in San Juan can be nuts, not so much in terms of gridlock, but in terms of crazy drivers/volume (as noted above). Stay very alert and don't drink and drive.
Outside of San Juan, traffic isn't as bad. You still have bad drivers, but they have more room to be dumb so it is less of a problem. The highways outside of San Juan are in good shape, but some of the secondary roads are narrow and can be poorly maintained. Tertiary roads can be gravel or dirt if you are in a rural area.
Have fun! It's a great island.
If you're only renting for the day, you may want to just buy the CDW insurance. Otherwise, some Mastercards will provide collision (not liability) so you can decline the CDW. Check with your credit card company to see whether PR is covered. Generally liability is built into the rental.
Second that on renting from well known companies like Enterprise. The local ones are cheaper but there are risks involved (like if you mechanical issues)
Do not plan to drive around San Juan during rush hours (7-9 or 4-6) Traffic jams are bad and a free-for-all. Best advice I received was get out of airport area with your rental car by 3 pm. Away from San Juan the freeways are fine. Secondary roads require more care and defensive driving.
Do not plan to drive around San Juan during rush hours (7-9 or 4-6) Traffic jams are bad and a free-for-all. Best advice I received was get out of airport area with your rental car by 3 pm. Away from San Juan the freeways are fine. Secondary roads require more care and defensive driving.
One addendum, they use a version of EZPass that is specific to the island. One will come with your car and they'll bill your credit card after the fact if you go through tolls. This sounds shady, but it works perfectly, so don't be put off by it.
Thank you everyone. Looking forward to the trip. Just booked a tarpon fishing trip last evening. Main reason for renting the car is for getting around and doing things like that. Hotel car is very expensive and don't want to rely on taxies. Can't wait to get down there.
Many years ago Atlanta to San Juan via Delta was a great ride. Renting a car was easy and the same as anywhere else in the US -- remember you are still in the US. Distributor sales people drove for me most times, but sometimes driving in Metro areas was just like any city -- you do not go anywhere. Road conditions are what others have said.
See the fort -- El Moro, order café americain, bring back Cruzin Rum and enjoy the sights, sounds and people. I think they still have an overdue parking ticket(s) from 1984 for me.
I found that most roads outside of San Juan don't even have a yellow stripe down the middle, because it would be pointless.
I rented from Thrifty next to the airport in San Juan and here's what I got. Took it for a full lap around the island. Fun.
Nothing compared to traffic in Kenya, though!
I rented from Thrifty next to the airport in San Juan and here's what I got. Took it for a full lap around the island. Fun.
Nothing compared to traffic in Kenya, though!
Yes, Google maps will work fine, just check with your cellular carrier to make sure you have coverage.
Verizon is fine on most of the island and I think AT&T is also good (but not sure).
Not picking on you, but it is Cruzan Rum (not Cruzin) which is actually from the USVI (not Puerto Rico).
Bacardi is the "big" Puerto Rico rum, but it is garbage. Puerto Ricans drink Don Q which is fine for mixed drinks. If you like rum on the rocks I recommend, Ron Barrelito or Caliche (an unusual aged white rum). Don't drink Palo Viejo (it is the brand preferred by street corner alcoholics, which speaks to its quality).
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