Many people planning their vacation in Punta Cana are only booking their resort and an airport transfer, but are hardly thinking about a rental car in Punta Cana, even it might be a good option. Others go straight ahead and book a car rental immediately, even it might not be a good idea, considering the conditions in the Dominican Republic. But how is the situation in Punta Cana and beyond? Does it make sense to book a car rental when planning a holiday in the Dominican Republic? Is it safe to drive in Punta Cana and the entire country? Let me explain to you a few basics and provide you with some individual guidelines so that you can better evaluate if it is a good idea for you to rent a car in Punta Cana.

Completely UPDATED by your Punta Cana expert Chris in March 2025

This article answers some questions about what to take care of when renting a car in Punta Cana and if it is a good idea. You also get an impression if it is safe to drive in Punta Cana. Instead, if you are looking for itineraries and road-trip ideas, you can check out the following articles:
– Dominican Republic 1-week itinerary from/to Punta Cana – beaches, culture and mountains
– Samaná 3-day itinerary from/to Punta Cana – the most beautiful region in the Dominican Republic
– The ultimate Dominican Republic itinerary for 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks or more
For further super helpful information about exploring the country with a rental car, you can also read my general road-trip guide for the Dominican Republic.

What’s special?

Renting a car in Punta Cana is not for everyone. It’s a foreign country, road rules are often considered recommendations, rental car contracts & insurance can be bothersome and driving in some parts of the country seems crazy, at least if you compare it to the conditions in the United States, Canada or most parts of Europe.

Therefore, you’re left with two major decisions you have to make:

• do I really need a car and am I ready to cope with the Dominican traffic
  AND (especially if you decide to rent a car)
• where shall I book the car rental to make sure everything goes smoothly?

The answers are given in the following article, where I am not only outlining what to expect in the Dominican Republic regarding car rentals, but I am also sharing my experiences with you of having rented dozens of cars and having driven in most parts of the country.

If you don’t want to wait and just check the prices of rental cars in Punta Cana, you can go ahead with the following recommendations:

• Europcar*, one of the better international car rental agencies with whom I had good experiences
• Expedia*, a renowned international online travel booking site, that has some great deals and cheap insurance
• Discover Cars*, an easy-to-use comparison tool with many filter options
• Trip.com*, currently among the cheapest when it comes to rental cars in the Dominican Republic

Shall I rent a car in Punta Cana?

Let’s first determine if you really should rent a car in Punta Cana. Ask yourself the following questions:

• will you use the car at least every second day?
• do you want to explore Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic authentically and at your own pace?
• are you okay with a completely different interpretation of road rules?
• have you rented a car in other countries before (the US, Canada and most of Europe don’t count)?

Only if you answer ALL these questions with YES, I would recommend renting you a car in the Dominican Republic. Otherwise, you’re probably better and/or cheaper with a private driver or occasional taxis.

However, if you decide to rent a car I can guarantee you that you won’t regret it. The Dominican Republic is such a fascinating country with so many authentic and unique things to explore outside of the all-inclusive resorts that travelers are usually raving about the great experiences they had while exploring Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic by car.

A panoramic road leading through the Southwest

How can I rent a car in Punta Cana?

After deciding if you shall rent a car, one of the next most important questions is, how you can book a car hire in Punta Cana. Here you have different options:
– booking directly with a rental car company in Punta Cana, such as Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo or Europcar
– booking with a rental car agency or a rental car broker, particularly price comparison websites such as Discover Cars or Auto Europe
– booking with local car rental companies from the Dominican Republic
– booking directly on the spot when you arrive at Punta Cana International Airport

Book a rental car in Punta Cana via a rental car comparison website

Checking car rental prices at one of the price comparison websites is usually a great start to get an idea about the offers and prices. It is also my favorite ways of getting a car hire in Punta Cana as it usually features the most comprehensive insurance options. Some recommendable options to get your rental car for the Dominican Republic are:
– Expedia*
– Auto Europe*
– trip.com*

 I have used some of them and can recommend these companies. Just make sure to only book your car with full insurance, including liability insurance, collision damage waiver with 0 USD deductible and coverage for glass, tires and windshield. All those things are particularly important for me in the Dominican Republic, so I never book a rental car without one of those insurance products.

Book a rental car in Punta Cana via your preferred rental car company

 I know that many of you have their preferred rental car company and there is nothing wrong with that. Most major international brands do have an office in Punta Cana, among them Enterprise, Alamo, Avis, Sixt, Europcar and Thrifty. There is no problem in going ahead and checking with your No. 1 choice what they can offer – especially if you have VIP status there. Just make sure they have the same insurance conditions as you are used to in your home country, as the terms and products in the Dominican Republic might vary. However, your Punta Cana rental car might be more expensive than with one of the price comparison websites as shown above.

Book a rental car with a local company

Many travelers swearing by renting cars with local companies, mainly because of the hope of getting cheaper prices and the principle of supporting locals. There is definitely nothing wrong with that. Personally, I am always a bit skeptical with this option as usually the insurance conditions are not as clearly outlined as with the big rental car companies or the popular price comparison websites, but this might be a German thing as we always love to have all kind of insurances.

If you want to give it a try, you can check out Punta Cana Rent a Car.* They have a decent amount of excellent reviews on Google, have an office right at the airport and do pick-ups and drop-offs from most places around Bavaro. What’s definitely advantageous with local companies like this one (and others) is that some of them offer to pay only upon arrival, hence you don’t have to pay in advance.

Book a rental car in Punta Cana when you arrive

 There is also the option of booking a rental car once you arrive in Punta Cana, in case you don’t want to commit yourself to an advance booking. This is possible, especially as the rental car center is within walking distance (so you don’t need a Punta Cana airport shuttle) when you arrive in Terminal A, the terminal where the majority of flights get handled.  

 However, please note that the prices are not comparable to the internet when you walk in and ask for the rates. While the rate per day might be reasonable, insurance prices on the spot are sometimes outrageous, even if you have the insurance included in your credit card (because with some rental car companies it is mandatory to take out some kind of insurance).

 I once tried to get a rental car as a walk-in at Punta Cana Airport but finally declined because of the high prices, hence I would not recommend this option.

Price comparison for car rentals in Punta Cana

To give you a better overview of the best options to rent a car in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, I have done a price comparison to find the cheapest rental cars in Punta Cana for you – but also those with the best insurance, as this matters even more than the best price.

To find the best prices under equal conditions, I have tried to compare similar options when it comes to insurance, mileage and cancellation conditions. Unfortunately, this is not always 100% possible, as all rental car websites have different terms and regulations. To make it not as complicated, I have only picked one shoulder season date, especially as usually car rental prices are not as seasonal as resorts for example.

Cheapest car available (Economy category), for 1 week in July, with no or basic insurance:

Most of these prices are with no or basic insurance only, which I would NOT recommend to you booking.

Of course, you can book these rates and add your insurance locally (or can you any extra services your credit card offers, such as CDW or car rental insurance), but usually, the prices for locally paid insurance are pretty high. And it is important to always have your rental car fully insured as you can quickly have any kind of scratch, damage or minor accident with the car, especially considering the sometimes weird driving in the Dominican Republic.

That’s why I always HIGHLY recommend getting a rental car in Punta Cana (and elsewhere) with full insurance.

Therefore, let’s compare the prices with full insurance:

• Europcar: 611 USD (includes 59 USD per day for premium full coverage with CDW, theft protection and third-party liability, all with 0 USD excess/deductible)
• Enterprise: 574 USD (includes 33 USD per day for full coverage with CDW, theft protection and third-party liability, all with 0 USD excess/deductible
• Expedia: 282 USD (includes 13 USD per day for full coverage, including CDW and 0 USD excess/deductible)
• AutoEurope: 413 USD (includes additional insurance with varying deductibles available, which is usually between 15 and 25 USD per day)
• Booking.com: 268 USD (no full coverage included and also not available, but most rentals include a 700 USD deductible theft protection and CDW insurance (which is clearly outlined))
• Trip.com: 267 USD (includes 14 USD per day for full insurance incl. 0 USD deductible, but limited to 35.000 USD payout)

As you can see, the results are now extremely varying. Here are a few recommendations to consider:
Cheapest: the cheapest price is offered by booking.com and trip.com, even though booking.com doesn’t offer full insurance. The insurance of trip.com isn’t too bad, the 35.000 USD coverage should be sufficient in more than 99% of the cases.
Best Insurance: if you want to be on the safe side regarding insurance, I would recommend booking with the rental car companies directly. The insurances of Enterprise and Europcar are the most comprehensive, but they’re also the most expensive.
Best price value ratio: For the best price value, Expedia might be the best choice. With just 13 USD a day, they offer a full CDW with 0 USD deductible and up to 75.000 USD in primary coverage.
Premium Comparison: Use AutoEurope if you just want to compare the best brands. They currently work together only with Sixt, Europcar and Avis, guaranteeing a better quality than your average comparison website.

Very important: Prices can vary from one day to another, they might also be different depending on the country where you are located. Make sure to check booking, payment and cancellation conditions, as they might vary widely. It pays off to compare different platforms, but it is also worth to skip some of the cheapest offers if you don’t know and/or trust the company.

Fur further information about the conditions of each booking option, you can check the following overview.

Europcar Premium Protection

• Collision Damage Protection: Limits your financial liability in the event of collision-related damage to the vehicle to 0.00 USD.
• Theft Protection: Limits your financial liability in the event of theft or attempted theft of the vehicle to 0.00 USD.
• Windscreen, Glass, Lights & Tyres protection: Reduces your financial liability to zero for damage to windscreen, glass, lights and tyres.
• Personal Accident Protection: Provides indemnity for driver and passengers in case of death or injury and covers medical expenses.
• Personal belongings protection: Provides indemnity for your personal belongings in case of destruction or theft.

Insurance conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice, please check the terms carefully when booking your car rental in Punta Cana.

Enterprise Protection Package

• Collision Damage Waiver-Theft Protection (CDW-TP)
• Tire and Windshield Protection (TWP)
• Third Party Liability (TPL)
• Deductible Protection (DP)

If you purchase EPP, the rental company contractually waives your responsibility for the cost of damage to, loss or theft of the vehicle, and up to the policy limits for damages and injuries to third parties during the rental period in the Dominican Republic subject to the actions listed on the rental agreement that invalidate the coverage as described in the rental agreement.

Insurance conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice, please check the terms carefully when booking your car rental in Punta Cana.

Expedia is partnering with different rental car companies and brokers and offers one of the biggest selections of car rentals in Punta Cana. That’s why all rental car conditions are a bit different, so you have to check the fine print of each offer. However, what always is pretty similar is the additional insurance you can book for 14 USD per day. This insurance – the rental car protection – usually includes:

• Covers your rental car from theft, vandalism, and collision damage
• $0 deductible
• Up to $75,000 in primary coverage

Insurance conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice, please check the terms carefully when booking your car rental in Punta Cana.

Auto Europe insurance conditions depends on the actual rental car company your booking is with. Please check the insurance details on the booking page.

Auto Europe is a car rental broker offering mostly premium companies. In the Dominican Republic, they (currently) only deal with Avis, Sixt and Europcar, hence they only work together with well-known international brands, guaranteeing a certain standard of quality. That’s why they also (currently) don’t offer any additional insurance – they just take over the insurance conditions from the car company.

• Collision Damage Waiver with US$700 excess
• Theft Protection with US$700 excess

Insurance conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice, please check the terms carefully when booking your car rental in Punta Cana.

Trip.com additional insurance option

• Collision Damage Protection
• Limit of US$35,000.00
• Primary coverage so you don’t need to use your own auto insurance
• No deductible!
• Theft & vandalism, damages from natural disasters
• Body damage, wheels & tires, roof & underbody
• Windscreen, lights, windows, mirrors, loss of use fees

Insurance conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice, please check the terms carefully when booking your car rental in Punta Cana.

Why you can trust me & Punta Cana Travel Blog

With my extensive travel history and industry background, I can offer the best advice from the traveler’s perspective and tourism professional perspective.

All articles on Punta Cana Travel Blog are written with love & passion, all from my first-hand experiences and without any AI. Furthermore
– I have been living in the Dominican Republic for approx. 6 years
– I have visited more than 50 all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic
– I designed hundreds of tailor-made itineraries for a tour operator in the Dominican Republic
– I have visited more than 40 waterfalls, all 31 provinces and 70 beaches in the Dominican Republic
– I have a bachelor’s degree in tourism and know all the secrets of the industry
– I have spent a total of 373 nights in accommodation in the Dominican Republic, visiting 155 hotels
– I have worked my entire life in the tourism industry and am a passionate traveler as well
Read more about me here or send me a travel coaching request if want to take advantage of my expert knowledge of Punta Cana’s tourism.

Is it safe to rent a car in Punta Cana?

 Many people ask if it’s safe to rent a car in Punta Cana. While the general answer on this is yes, it is worth to have a detailed view on this question.

Renting a car in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic: the rental car company

 First, check your rental car company. Usually, you don’t have to expect any problems here. While in some countries it might be a true hassle to find a reliable company, most of the rent-a-cars in the Dominican Republic offer decent quality. From that perspective, renting a car in Punta Cana is perfectly safe.

 The only thing you have to take care of is your insurance. While I know that some travelers have rental car insurance included in their credit card, I recommend booking full insurance with collision damage waiver (including a deductible of 0 USD) and liability insurance beforehand. If you have booked this with your rental car, you can decline all additional insurance offers the rental car agent might have for you when picking up your car. Otherwise, they will try hard to sell you additional insurances you might not need.

 Besides that, the rental car pick-up here in the country is a smooth process. With more than twenty cars already rented in Punta Cana or other parts of the Dominican Republic, I never had a company trying to trick with the damage protocol, the amount of fuel or other sneaky issues. Therefore, avoid signing in for unnecessary insurance is the only thing you have to take special care of when renting a car in Punta Cana.

TRAVEL COACHING

Save money and time!

Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Is it difficult for you to decide what and where to book? Would you like to take advantage of someone with years of experience in the tourism industry (knowing all the travel hacks ) and living right in the place where you would like to spend your holiday?
That’s what my personal travel coaching is for. I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. All the information I send you are crafted with love and passion – and comes with a money-back guarantee. Let me know how I can help you (check my packages here) and send me a request here!
For further information, you can also find verified reviews about my travel coaching services here*.

Driving a rental car in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic: road rules

 When it comes to safety, road rules and driving behavior is the next issue we have to discuss – and it’s probably the toughest one. While the quality of roads in the Dominican Republic is in general more than acceptable – especially considering that we are speaking about a developing country – the behavior of its participants isn’t a reason to start excessive celebrations. Usually, road rules are more considered to be recommendations than a firm law and especially in bigger cities, traffic can be chaotic. On the other hand, driving in Punta Cana and the neighboring areas is not as aggressive as in other parts of the Dominican Republic, but you still need to exercise caution and be passive, especially in your first days.

 If you have never rented a car in a foreign country, you should not start with doing so in the Dominican Republic. On the other hand, if you have some experience and it is not your first country to drive, you can easily rent a car in Punta Cana.

Exploring Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic by rental car: safety and crime

 The Dominican Republic is often considered to be a country of street crime and safety issues so that one can ask the questions if it is safe to rent a car in Punta Cana. And while there are these kinds of crime in certain areas, it won’t be a major problem during your road trip. Most of the crimes committed in the Dominican Republic are not targeted on tourists – that’s why you don’t have to be concerned about it, as also confirmed in this extensive Punta Cana safety guide.

While Santo Domingo is a hotspot of safety incidents and I would not cross the city with open windows of my car for example, you don’t have to worry about this in Punta Cana or other parts of the Dominican Republic, which are generally a lot safer. Once you get used to the driving conditions in the country, you can fully enjoy your trip. Just don’t get careless. Act as you would act in any other country in the world (don’t leave any valuables in the car, hide your luggage, don’t stop at night to help strangers, etc.). 

Travel resources

Punta Cana Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
Santo Domingo Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
All-Inclusive Resorts: Info | Book It*
Apartments & Villas: Info | Book It*
Excursions: Info | Book It*
Rental Car: Info | Book It*
Road-Trips & Self-Drive Tours: Info | Plan It
I have spent many years in Punta Cana visiting all the beaches, resorts, attractions and hidden gems. Feel free to comment below for any questions I can help you with.

 If you consider these tips and recommendations, it is absolutely safe to rent a car in Punta Cana. I have done so over 20 times and enjoyed all the different road trips we made so far in the Dominican Republic.  

Is it worth to rent a car in Punta Cana?

 After discussing the safety, let’s have a look if it’s worth to rent a car in Punta Cana. Can you reach interesting attractions in the area? Can you use it to see the highlights of Punta Cana? Is it worth the money for your vacation in the Bavaro area? 

 It depends – mainly on the type of accommodation and the style of holiday you are planning.

Is it worth renting a car if you stay at an all-inclusive resort?

 Theoretically, if you come to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, you don’t need a rental car. You have everything you need in your hotel, including food and drinks all day long, entertainment, the beach, etc. You even don’t need to leave the hotel to go shopping, to get souvenirs or to book excursions – you have everything right on the property.

TOP 12 Punta Cana Excursions

Isla Saona: Saona Info | Book it*
Private Saona Island Tour: Private Tour Info | Book it*
Dune buggy and ATV excursion: Buggy Info | Book it*
Punta Cana Ziplining: Zipline Info | Book it*
Party boat & booze cruise: Party Boat Info | Book it*
Best Nightlife Show: Coco Bongo Info | Book it*
Scape Park Cap Cana & Blue Lagoon: Blue Lagoon Info | Book it*
Los Haitises National Park: Los Haitises Info | Book it*
Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo Info | Book it*
Samaná (Salto El Limón & Cayo Levantado): Samaná Info | Book it*
Helicopter & airplane tours: Helicopter Info | Book it*
Whale watching (Jan-Mar only): Whale watching Info | Book it*

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the 40+ best Punta Cana tours!

 However, you are limited to what your hotel offers and if you would like to explore Punta Cana on your own and outside of guided excursions, then you either need a driver or – you know it – a rental car. Especially if you like to venture out off-the-beaten-track and visit the hidden gems of Punta Cana, there is hardly any way you can do it without a rental car if you don’t want to pay a driver or a taxi every day.

 Therefore, if you are just planning to stay in your resort for relaxing, swimming and sunbathing, you don’t have to book a car. If you’d like to discover the secret spots of Punta Cana and the authentic Dominican Republic, I highly recommend renting a car.

Is it worth to rent a car if you stay in an apartment, villa or guesthouse?

 If you have booked accommodation outside of the all-inclusive resorts, the situation is a bit different. 

 First, you might have to go shopping, head to the beach (in case your hotel is not beachfront) or dine out at one of the several restaurants in Punta Cana. In this case, a car hire would help enormously, as you remain flexible and can go wherever you want at every time. Taxis would be the only alternative, but this might be expensive. Uber is a viable option to get around in Punta Cana, but not so much outside of the main touristic areas.

Editor’s Choice: the best experiences 2025

Most unique experience in a small group: Authentic rum tasting* (rating 4.81/5)
Best Rated Punta Cana excursion: Isla Saona Premium in small groups* (rating 4.95/5)
Most booked through Punta Cana Travel Blog: Small-Group Snorkeling* (rating 4.92/5)
Best off-the-beaten-track excursion: Montana Redonda & Costa Esmeralda* (rating 4.77/5)
Best excursion for family fun: Jungle Buggies + Zipline Combo* (rating 4.89/5)
New and trending for 2025: Mimosa Cruise*

Not the right tour for you?
Check out the 45 best Punta Cana excursions here at Punta Cana Travel Blog!

 Second, you might have booked yourself an accommodation outside of the big all-inclusive resorts because you’d like to get to know the real Punta Cana, away from the resort life. And once you are outside of the resorts, you might want to explore more of the amazing Dominican Republic. A car helps a lot to see all those things-to-do Punta Cana is famous for – see below in the last section for more details.

 Therefore, if you are not staying in an all-inclusive resort, I highly recommend a rental car as you will need to move around and stay flexible, especially as taxis are expensive and public transport in Punta Cana is a bit tricky.

What can I see and do if I rent a car in Punta Cana?

 Alright, once you have done your booking and are heading towards the Dominican Republic, the question is what you can do and see with your rental car in Punta Cana. A lot, as you can also read here on Punta Cana Travel Blog.

Get your free e-book now – “16 amazing things-to-do for free in Punta Cana”!

 For me, the top things-to-do with a rental car in the area of Punta Cana and Bavaro – assuming you only would like to go on day-trips from Punta Cana – would be the following:

– head to the most pristine beach in the entire east of the Dominican Republic, Playa Esmeralda
– visit Montaña Redonda, a unique hill with stunning photo opportunities
– visit Hoyo Claro, a crystal-clear cenote close to the Punta Cana International Airport
– drive towards La Romana to visit a cigar factory (+ a rum distillery in San Pedro)
– hike to the highest waterfall in the Caribbean, Salto de la Jalda
– visit Higuey with its bustling streets and the famous cathedral
– visit one of the waterfalls in the area you can reach from Punta Cana in under three hours

 As you can see, there is a lot to explore in Punta Cana and most of these ideas are off-the-beaten-track, where you will hardly see any tourist. The adventure is waiting for you!

It is also possible to venture out and explore the Dominican Republic on a multi-day road-trip. I have compiled three possible itineraries where you can see a few options which are possible when you rent a car in Punta Cana. Have a look at the following itineraries:
– Dominican Republic 1-week itinerary from/to Punta Cana – beaches, culture and mountains
– Samaná 3-day itinerary from/to Punta Cana – the most beautiful region in the Dominican Republic
– The ultimate Dominican Republic itinerary – 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks or more

If you are looking for some unique places to stay while having a rental car, you can check out the best Airbnbs in Punta Cana or the best eco-lodges in the area.

If you would like to receive a tailor-made itinerary, I am happy to go through all the options with you – just send me a travel coaching request here.

SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS – I WOULD APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.

Източник за тази статия

Наши спонсори са:

Български трактори на добри цени при изключително качество