Car rental in the Dominican Republic solves a multitude of travel-related challenges. It provides a level of mobility that public transport simply cannot match. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about renting a car in the Dominican Republic, including important tips, potential difficulties, and answers to common questions.

By the time you finish reading this article, you should have no lingering doubts about renting a car in the Dominican Republic—at least, that’s my hope! 😊

Table of contents:

where to rent a car in dominican
Our Experience: A Kia Rio Rental in Santo Domingo for $38 per Day. Public transport won’t get you to these stunning beaches!

Car Rental in the Dominican Republic: General Guidelines and Rental Company Rules

Here are some general facts that apply to car rentals throughout the country:

  • Road Quality: The country’s roads are generally good, especially the toll highways. There are some nuances, but I’ll cover those in the article about traffic rules and roads.
  • Police Presence: There’s a noticeable but reasonable police presence on the roads. They typically don’t stop drivers without cause, and when they do stop tourists in rental cars, they’re generally polite. There’s no hint of corruption or demands for bribes, unlike experiences in places like Tanzania.
  • Security Near Haiti: The closer you get to the Haitian border, the more security checkpoints you’ll encounter. These are primarily for safety and to prevent illegal immigration.
  • Types of Rental Cars: Most rental cars in the Dominican Republic are gasoline-powered with automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions are rare and require extra effort to find.
  • Love for Big Cars: The Dominican Republic ranks second only to the U.S. in its love for massive vehicles. Many locals firmly believe that the only thing with a 2-liter engine is a juice box.
  • Traffic Intensity: Traffic is heavy in cities, including small towns. Santo Domingo, in particular, is almost always congested. However, once you leave the urban areas, traffic becomes sparse, making for a comfortable drive.

Important Rental Company Rules:

  • Fuel Policy: You’ll receive the car with a full tank, and you must return it the same way.
  • No Mileage Limits: There are no restrictions on mileage, daily or otherwise.
  • Payment and Deposit: Payments for rentals and deposits are almost always made in U.S. dollars. You can pay in Dominican pesos if you prefer, but the documentation will still be in USD.
  • Required Documents: You’ll need a passport, a valid driver’s license (the standard plastic card from most countries works fine), and a credit card for the deposit.

It is important to know:

Car Categories: Two types of cars dominate the market: economy models like the Kia Rio, and large SUVs like the Ford Explorer or Chevrolet Tahoe with 6.2-liter engines. Rental companies may try to “upgrade” you to a large vehicle if your reserved economy car isn’t available. Don’t fall for this trick—it’s a costly upgrade, with fuel consumption around 25 liters per 100 km.
about car rental in dominican republic
Painfully beautiful photos turned out. I promise this is the last one from this beach. Renting a car in the Dominican Republic is not a difficult process if you know all the details.

Where to Rent a Car in the Dominican Republic

There are three main options:

  • Book Online in Advance: Either through booking platforms or directly on rental company websites. This typically involves reputable international companies.
  • Rent at the Local Office: This also applies to international rental companies with physical offices.
  • Rent Locally from Small Companies: These are usually independent local businesses.

Warning:

Avoid Dollar Rent a Car at All Costs! Even if their prices seem unbeatable, renting from Dollar will likely ruin your plans and cost you more in the long run. We had multiple disappointing experiences with them, despite their low prices. The biggest issue? The car you reserved often simply isn’t available, even with full prepayment and a confirmed reservation. You arrive at the office, only to hear “Sorry, no car available,” with a shrug from the manager. Arguing is pointless—the car won’t magically appear. Their ratings on review sites speak for themselves.
car rent dominican
We recently rented a Kia Rio from Alamo. It was a comfortable car with excellent fuel efficiency—a solid choice for exploring the Dominican Republic.

Online Car Rental Platforms

This option comes with many advantages but also a few drawbacks. Let’s break them down:

Pros:

  • Security for Travelers: If the rental company fails to deliver as promised, the platform will protect your rental and your money until the end of the rental period.
    • Useful to Know: These platforms act as intermediaries, comparing prices and vehicle availability across multiple rental companies. To qualify for listing, rental companies must meet a stringent set of requirements, ensuring a higher level of service.
  • Perfect for Pre-Planned Itineraries: If you know exactly where you’ll be in a week or two, this is an ideal solution.
  • Early Booking Discounts: Booking several months in advance often comes with discounts, making the prices quite attractive.
  • High Customer Loyalty and Transparency: No one will nitpick over barely visible scratches on the car.
  • Nationwide Presence: Many rental offices across the country, allowing you to pick up a car in one city and drop it off in another.
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance: Excellent customer support in case of emergencies.
  • Flexible Deposit Options: Recently, some companies have started accepting and returning deposits in cash, making a credit card less essential.

Cons:

  • Uncertainty Over Specific Car Models: You book a car class, not a specific vehicle. For example, even if you select a Kia Rio on the website, you might receive a VW Polo upon arrival. We once booked a hatchback, only to be given a sedan, which was disappointing but common practice.
  • Guaranteed Features: If you book a gasoline car with an automatic transmission and air conditioning, you’ll get exactly that. The vehicle will always match the class and features you selected.
Dominican car rental
Here’s a snapshot of the car rental area at the airport—major international companies dominate the scene. Just steer clear of Dollar; all the others are fine.

Renting Directly at a Major Rental Company Office

This option is perfect for those without long-term plans. Suppose you decide today to explore the beautiful beaches of the Samaná Peninsula or need a car to visit Jarabacoa and Pico Duarte. In that case, this approach is for you.

The advantages are similar to booking online, but there are two significant drawbacks:

  • Limited Availability During High Season: Smaller town offices may run out of available cars. However, airport offices usually have cars available year-round.
  • No Guarantee of Economy Cars: Sometimes, only larger vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe are available. Unlike online bookings, where an upgrade to a Tahoe might be free, you’ll likely have to pay extra in this scenario.

Below are links to two of the most popular car rental platforms. I recommend checking both and booking with the one offering the best price or service:

  • DiscoverCars: The most popular car rental service in the Dominican Republic, with excellent customer reviews.
  • EconomyBookings: A strong competitor, often offering lower prices (though not always).
car rentals in dominican
Without a car, you can’t get to the El Limon waterfall by bus. You can take a taxi, but it’s expensive.

Local Car Rental Companies

This option is suitable for those without a set plan or a credit card for the deposit, as well as those who don’t plan to venture far from their accommodation. Let’s explore the pros and cons:

Pros:

  • Convenient Delivery: They’ll often bring the car directly to your hotel.
  • Minimal Bureaucracy: Paperwork is kept to a minimum.
  • Cash Deposits Accepted: You can leave a cash deposit of around $400, which is fully refunded if you return the car in good condition.
  • Negotiable Prices: You can haggle, although prices rarely fall below those of international companies.
  • Specific Car Selection: You rent a specific vehicle rather than just a class.

Cons:

  • Small Operations: These are often tiny businesses with only one or two offices.
  • Limited Return Options: You usually can’t return the car in a different location.
  • Opaque Pricing: Pricing isn’t always transparent.
  • Lower Customer Loyalty: Since you’re often dealing directly with the owner, their priority is to make a profit. They might nitpick over scratches or chips, so inspect the car carefully when picking it up.
  • Limited Roadside Assistance: If something happens on the road, help may be slow or unavailable.

Important Note:

No matter which option you choose, always buy full insurance or a comprehensive franchise waiver. I’ll explain why further down.

Top Car Rental Locations in the Dominican Republic:

  • Punta Cana Airport
  • Santo Domingo (Capital)
  • Las Américas International Airport
  • Puerto Plata

Car Rental in the Dominican Republic: Rental Costs and Fuel Prices

The point is not big but important. On the links that were above, you can open sites and see car rental options.

Useful information:

The average cost of renting a car in the Dominican Republic (economy-class), including all necessary insurance, is around $45 per day.

If you rent a car without full insurance, the price will be almost half, around $25 per day, though finding such a provider can be challenging. Even if you do, my personal recommendation is not to skimp on full coverage—it’s essential in the Dominican Republic.

A typical 10-day “all-inclusive” car rental costs around $400, but don’t forget to budget for toll roads and fuel. Early bookings often come with great discounts. Once, we rented a fully insured car for 10 days for just $210, which is an excellent deal for the Dominican Republic.

Fuel and Gas Stations in the Dominican Republic

There are four types of fuel available at gas stations:

  • Gasolin Normal (Regular): Equivalent to 95-octane gasoline
  • Gasolin Premium: Equivalent to 98-octane gasoline
  • Diesel Normal (Regular)
  • Diesel Premium: The only noticeable difference is the price since there’s no winter and temperatures rarely dip below 15°C, even at night.

Most rental cars in the Dominican Republic are gasoline-powered, though diesel options are also available. I personally always fill up with Gasolin Normal.

Important to Know:

  • Fuel prices are uniform across all gas stations in the country, and the quality is consistent with no fuel dilution issues. You can safely refuel at any station.
  • I personally recommend Texaco, one of the largest and most widespread networks in the country. I refueled there my first time and have stuck with them ever since.

Another important point:

Every gas station has a security guard. Self-service is prohibited in the Dominican Republic. Just pull up, roll down your window, and tell the attendant what type of fuel and how much you want. You pay directly to the attendant. Some stations accept cards, but cash is more common.

Fuel Prices in the Dominican Republic

Read about prices for all categories of goods, for products, excursions, accommodation, attractions in a large article: prices of the Dominican Republic.

Prices are displayed in pesos per gallon. One Dominican gallon equals the American gallon, which is 3.79 liters.

gasoline in the dominican republic
In 2025, gas prices rose to around 270 pesos per gallon
  • Gasolin Regular: 280 pesos/gallon (~75 pesos/liter or $1.35/liter)
  • Gasolin Premium: 290 pesos/gallon (~78 pesos/liter or $1.40/liter)
  • Diesel Normal: 220 pesos/gallon (~60 pesos/liter or $1.03/liter)
  • Diesel Premium: 230 pesos/gallon (~62 pesos/liter or $1.05/liter)

Despite being close to oil reserves, fuel in the Dominican Republic isn’t cheap.

Car Rental in the Dominican Republic: Insurance and Deposits

All rental cars in the Dominican Republic come with basic insurance, which covers:

  • Theft
  • Damage in accidents when you are not at fault
  • Natural disasters (e.g., a hurricane causing a tree to fall on the car)

Most rental companies will offer you the option to purchase full coverage, which may be called:

  • Super Insurance
  • Full Coverage
  • Super Cover
  • Total Protection
  • Comprehensive Insurance

On average, full coverage for an economy-class car costs around $10-15 per day. When I mentioned the average rental price of $45 per day earlier, that included full insurance.

Important:

If you rent a car with full insurance, your only responsibility is to return it on time. In this case, the deposit will be fully refunded. Without full coverage, you may be charged for things like a broken windshield or flat tire.
rent a car dominican
Pay attention to the red square: when booking, this is how the additional service “Full Insurance” looks like. In this case, only 6.36 euros per day. It’s very cheap, usually 10-15 a day. It is more profitable to buy it immediately when booking than to buy it on the spot at the office.

Deposit Requirements

This is another strong reason to opt for full insurance.

The security deposit for an economy-class car in the Dominican Republic usually ranges from $600 to $1,000, but it can go as high as $1,200 or $1,400, which is a significant amount that not all tourists can easily afford.

If you return the car without any issues, the deposit will be refunded to your card within 10 days, depending on your bank.

However, with full insurance, the deposit is often reduced to just $200, serving as a guarantee that you won’t abandon the car. Any damage would be covered by insurance.

Car Rental in the Dominican Republic: Traffic Rules, Toll Roads, and Driving Culture

This is a vast topic covered in detail in another article. You can find everything you need to know here: traffic rules and roads of the Dominican Republic.

  • Despite what you may read about driving in the Dominican Republic, drivers here are not worse than in Europe or the US. In fact, they often show better driving etiquette.
  • Traffic rules are generally intuitive and familiar, with only a few exceptions.
  • Road quality is good, though there are a few rough spots.
  • The country follows right-hand traffic.
car rental in the dominican republic
Most roads are similar to standard highways, but there are toll roads as well, which tend to be wider and have four lanes.

There are many exaggerated horror stories online about Dominican roads and drivers, but things are not as chaotic as some suggest. Be sure to read the detailed article linked above for practical tips and insights.

If you’re interested in using taxis instead, you can find a detailed guide about taxi in the Dominican Republic here.

In conclusion: Renting a car in the Dominican Republic is straightforward but not the cheapest option. However, due to the underdeveloped public transportation system and the abundance of incredible attractions that buses can’t reach, a rental car is often the only convenient option. It can significantly save you time and give you the freedom to explore the country fully.

Wishing you a smooth and enjoyable car rental experience without any unexpected issues!


Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Dominican Republic

  • Cheap Flights and best deals
  • Car rental: DiscoverCars – a largest international resource
  • Hotels and apartments:
    • Tripadvisor – compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
    • Trip.com – large online booking platform.
  • Vacation packages: CheapOair – cheap packages from all US cities.
  • Tours, excursions and extreme activities:
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800+ tours and water activities.
    • Viator – 3500+ tours and excursions in Dominican.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
    • Airalo – eSIM with internet package.
    • Drimsim – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.
  • Taxis and airport transfers: Intui.Travel