Renting a car in Puerto Rico is one of the best means a traveler can use to explore the historic district of Old San Juan and visit white-sand shores along with Playa Flamenco, about 18 miles east of the central business district, among other attractions surrounding the city. A car from cheap car rentals in Puerto Rico will also help you experience Puerto Rico the Boricua way. You can take a 2-hour drive and go hiking, ziplining, or horseback riding at El Yunque Rainforest, or visit the lighthouse in Cabo Rojo. You can also take an hour’s food road trip down Pork Highway at Guavate. Here, you’ll enjoy Puerto Rican dishes such as Ruta del Mojo Isleño.
You might have to use Auto Express roads in Puerto Rico, which are synonymous with the E-Z Pass present in the mainland US. If you will have to use such roads, it is crucial that you understand how electronic toll works. Generally, drivers use an electronic stamp known as Autoexpreso to pay toll roads. Be sure to check with your car rental company if additional Autoexpresso fees are involved before signing your Puerto Rico car rental contract. Some car rental outlets will include stamp usage fees in your daily costs. On the other hand, other companies will charge you an additional fixed rate for this service.
Ponce (PSE) Airport is the nearest airport to Puerto Rico CBD. Luckily, to cover the 17-mile journey, you can rent a car at the airport. Most of Puerto Rico's car rentals are located in the airport’s terminal, near the baggage claim area. Some of the agencies you’ll find at this pickup point are Budget, Sunnycars, ORLANDO, and Avia Car. For convenience, most of the cheap car rentals in Puerto Rico have multiple pickups and drop-off points.
It is highly recommended that visitors of Puerto Rico rent a vehicle during their time on the island. First off, having a rental vehicle makes getting from Gran Canaria Airport to Puerto Rico - a drive of 47 kilometers (29 miles) - an absolute breeze. Second and most importantly, renting your own vehicle is much cheaper than paying for tour buses to take you across the island everytime you want to head out of town to sites such as the Caldera de Los Marteles (56 kilometers or 36 miles away).
Visitors arriving at Gran Canaria Airport who wish to pick up a rental car after landing will find the rental car counters located in the airport’s Arrivals Terminal.
Due to it being a resort town, Puerto Rico has numerous pedestrians on its streets. It is very common to see jaywalkers, particularly during the afternoon and evening hours, in the busier parts of town. Visitors should make sure to drive carefully and be cautious of any would-be jaywalkers.
Though most of the traffic in Puerto Rico is made up of holidaying pedestrians, there is the occasional rush hour traffic during the peak hours of the week. The usual morning rush hour lasts from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., while the afternoon rush hour starts up at around 4:00 p.m. and finishes up by around 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. In terms of roads to avoid during rush hour, GC-500 is one of the main culprits that drivers should avoid during peak hours.
25% of our users found rental cars in Puerto Rico for $24 or less
Book your rental car in Puerto Rico at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Compact rental cars in Puerto Rico are around 52% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Puerto Rico
Vehicles such as sedans, coupes, compacts, and even convertibles are all highly recommended to visitors looking to rent a car during their time in Puerto Rico. This is because many of the city streets are relatively narrow, and this also applies to many of the roads throughout the rest of the island as well. Parking is also something to take into consideration in the city; many of the on-street parking spots are on the smaller side and large vehicles may struggle to fit in them.
Drivers will see speed limits ranging from 30 to 50 km/h (17 to 31 mph) on urban streets and in built-up areas of Puerto Rico. Outside of the city proper, the speed limit goes up to 100 km/h (62 mph) on rural roads, while on highways the speed limit is set to 120 km/h (75 mph).
For the most part, the best parking option is simply at local businesses and hotels. Most of the restaurants, businesses, and hotels in the city will have their own parking for guests and clients. Aside from such options, streetside parking is by far the most common alternative used by locals and visitors alike.
On average a rental car in Puerto Rico costs $34 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Puerto Rico found in the last 2 weeks is $2.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at ORLANDO ($31/day), Avis ($44/day) and SURPRICE CAR RENTAL ($110/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at ORLANDO Avd. de la Cornisa, C.C. Europa, Local 2313 35130 (1 miles from city center).
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Puerto Rico. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Puerto Rico is $6.77 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $81 and $108, depending on the car size.
Compact (Renault Kangoo or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Puerto Rico.
A Compact car rental in Puerto Rico costs $34 per day, on average.
A Full Size car rental in Puerto Rico costs $71 per day, on average.
In Puerto Rico, cars are most frequently rented at Top Car Canary Las Palmas Airport (22 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Puerto Rico costs $236 per week ($34 per day).
On average a rental car in Puerto Rico costs $1,010 per month ($34 per day).
Most car rental providers in Puerto Rico offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Puerto Rico, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 5 car rental agencies in Puerto Rico.
Some car rental companies in Puerto Rico which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Avis, Budget and Europcar
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Puerto Rico so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
If you are moving within the city, traveling from La Perla to Joyuda or any other nearby neighborhood, a midsize, compact car will serve you well. You’ll save on fuel; parking in Puerto Rican’s crowded downtown parking lots will be hassle-free, plus it will be easy to navigate the city streets. Outside the town journeys, say to El Saco Ceiba or Treasure valley, will require a 4-wheel drive car.
Puerto Rico is a non-incorporated United States territory. This means that visitors from the United States exploring the island can use their U.S. driving licenses on these roads. However, if you are an international driver, you will require an International Driving Permit accompanied by a valid license from your country.