I don’t know about you, but there usually has to be a very good reason for me to justify the cost, time, and headache associated with renting a car. Rather than the hassle of dealing with parking, taking on the risk of driving a vehicle in a new location, and remembering to fill up on the way back, I tend to rely on public transit or rideshare services instead.
But a rental car was essential on a recent trip to Puerto Rico.
Without it, I wouldn’t have experienced some of the island’s wonders, like hiking to secluded waterfalls, paddling in a bioluminescent bay, or planting my toes in the sand while munching on alcapurrias. And those were the things I was flying all the way to Puerto Rico to do.
So with a small grumble, I booked a car.
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While the island is a U.S. territory and there are many similarities to driving in any other destination, there are also a number of key differences, too. After renting a car and spending several days driving around the island, I’m ready to share my best tips for travelers who are considering driving in Puerto Rico. I’d like to think of this guide as the one I wish I had before I visited, but I’m glad I can pass my learnings onto you.
Well, what are you waiting for? ¡Vamos!
TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR AND DRIVING IN PUERTO RICO
Decide if you really need one
Great news! If you’re staying in San Juan, a car isn’t necessary. Parking is a bit of a headache in the city (particularly in Old San Juan) and unless you’re zipping all over the city multiple times a day, you’ll probably end up saving money and time by using Uber instead.
If you want to get out and explore beyond the city, though, a car is essential. Sure, you might be able to find an Uber driver willing to bring you to El Yunque, but good luck getting back.
It’s similar to renting a car on the mainland
Just like renting a car in any other U.S. city, the same best practices apply here: book directly with the rental company, bring your valid driver’s license, and pay with your favorite travel credit card for extra protection.
Rent from the right place
After reading numerous reviews indicating a cockroach issue at multiple rental car vendors at the San Juan airport (seriously), we decided to rent from an off-airport location. Even if you’re renting a car in a different Puerto Rican city, check the reviews before booking to learn from past travelers. It’s a good way to learn if a particular rental car company has a reputation for overcharging or if they are honest and easy to work with.
Keep checking the rates
Once you’ve booked your car, you’re not quite done yet (at least, not if you enjoy saving money!). Many of the rental companies don’t require you to prepay, so you can cancel and rebook if the rates drop. In the weeks after booking, our car rental price dropped by $50, and at least in my household, that’s not chump change.
Puerto Rico’s street signs
Don’t speak Spanish? That’s okay! The street signs in Puerto Rico pretty much match the ones on the mainland in shape and meaning, just with Spanish words for context. For example, the octagonal red sign reading PARE still means STOP and the black and white arrow sign that says TRANSITO indicates a one-way street. The yellow diamond is still a warning sign, indicating a dead end in the example above.
One road sign that kept tripping us up was a yellow diamond with the word LOMO. After a little digging, we found out that it doesn’t mean pork loin in this context – it means “hill.”
Watch out for toll roads
Michael and I found navigating Puerto Rico’s roadways with Google Maps incredibly easy, except for one thing: toll roads. The names of the streets and roads didn’t necessarily align between the map and the street signs, leading us to miss the toll-free road and wind up having to pay a toll and the additional “convenience” fee from the rental car company at one point (which didn’t feel particularly convenient to me).
The takeaway? Designate one person in your group to be the navigator and direct the driver based on the route shown on the map – not the street names.
Drive predictably
Although there are occasionally cops around pulling people over (one of our Uber drivers was late picking us up in San Juan because he was pulled over for illegally changing lanes), for the most part, people drive however they please in Puerto Rico. You’ll see people weaving around cars left and right on the highway, speeding up and slowing down for no apparent reason, turning without indicating, and honking the horn like it’s their job.
This shouldn’t frighten you away from driving on the island, but it should serve as a reminder to be alert, be cautious, and drive predictably. Don’t panic and change lanes when you see a car weaving through traffic behind you – they’ll expect you to maintain speed in your location and move around you. This is true not just on the highway, but in the rural areas, too. We encountered several multi-lane roads without any lines to mark the lanes in small towns; my recommendation in this case is to just drive closer to the right shoulder.
While you may not see others use their turn signal, you should always use yours when turning or changing lanes. And keep an eye on the traffic lights; once that light turns green, drivers expect you to immediately proceed through the intersection (just see how quick locals are to beep at you – they have an incredibly quick response time!).
Parking can be a challenge
While some businesses will have a dedicated parking lot, most of the time, you’ll have to parallel park on the street. Standard driving laws would have you park in the direction of traffic, but it doesn’t seem to matter which side of the road you park on in Puerto Rico. People parallel park on the right or left, cutting across oncoming traffic to do so. Before leaving your car, check your surroundings to be sure you’re not parked on a yellow line, in front of a fire hydrant, or blocking someone’s driveway.
Michael and I managed to avoid paying for parking throughout our trip except for one place you might not expect: the beach. Though all beaches in Puerto Rico are free and open to the public, you may have to pay to park at the popular spots.
It’s going to be a little bumpy
Be prepared for potholes and unpaved roads, especially as you leave the highways for smaller towns and rural areas, so keep an eye out as you’re driving around. This is only compounded during the rainy season when those dips in the roads flood with water. As a reminder: never drive through any puddle you can’t see the bottom of.
A mix of measurements
Get this: in Puerto Rico, your driving distance is measured in kilometers, but speed limits are set in miles per hour. Pay extra careful attention to the speed limit signs, which are few and far between, so you don’t wind up with a speeding ticket as a souvenir. Unlike back home, where Google Maps displays the speed limit during navigation, you’ll have to rely on memory.
Getting gas is a little different
You probably know that you’ll need to return your rental car with a full tank (or at least you’ll need to match the fuel level when you drove off the lot), but getting gas in Puerto Rico is a little different than getting gas at home.
First of all, gas is dispensed in liters, not gallons, so while the price looks cheap on the sign (it was under $1 per unit for economy fuel) the total price is fairly comparable to what you may pay at home.
Once you enter the station and pull up to the pump (don’t forget to check which side of the car it’s on, especially if you wind up fueling up in one of the larger cities, which have narrower stations), you’ll discover there’s no way to pay at the pump. Instead, you’ll need to head inside to prepay.
But how much fuel do you request? You can ask to purchase a specific number of liters, pay a specific dollar amount, or let them know you’ll want to fill up. At the gas station we visited, Michael had to leave his ID and credit card with the attendant in order to fill the tank completely, but your mileage (or kilometers, in this case), may vary.
You can drive through a red light… in certain cases
Between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., local laws allow you to treat red lights as a stop sign so you can get where you’re going quickly and safely. If you’re driving late at night, come to a full stop at a red light, check for cross traffic, and proceed when it’s safe to do so.
Take the slow route
While there may be times when you need to hurry off to your destination, treat your time driving around the island as part of your adventure. Driving in Puerto Rico is so much more than just a means to get to where you’re going – it offers a glimpse of local life beyond the tourist track. Take the backroads when you can, and opt for a different route on your way to and from a destination for a different view. You just may stumble on something new!
FINAL THOUGHTS ON RENTING A CAR IN PUERTO RICO
If you have more than a weekend on the island, I can’t recommend renting a car and setting out to explore enough. While there may be new challenges to navigate, there’s something incredibly empowering about moving freely and exploring a destination on your own. Not to mention, some of my fondest memories of Puerto Rico simply wouldn’t exist if we hadn’t opted to do so. From stumbling upon hidden beaches and charming roadside eateries to venturing into the lush interior of the island, the freedom of movement unlocks unforgettable experiences. So, don’t hesitate to grab a set of keys and pave the way for new adventures next time you’re in Puerto Rico.
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Questions for you
Do you usually rent a car when you travel, or do you prefer to skip it?
Have you ever rented a car at a destination where they use a different language than your native one?
For locals – do you have any advice you would add to this list?
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