Best place to rent a car

[theCeo]

I was amazed how much they wanted for a rental car in DR. I usually taxi everywhere, but after many trips I figured I would drive myself.

All of the car rental places just outside of Santo Domingo Airport were about 60 – 90 US a day; 40 US for 5 or 7 days.

I was able to talk the guy down to 100US for 2 days, but then he said he’d need to keep my passport. NO WAY.

Not only did I feel that 100US for 2 days was still way too high. But I refused to leave my passport as collateral.

Does anyone else that regularly rents cars leave their passport with the rental agency?

[Pib]

Originally Posted by theCeo

Does anyone else that regularly rents cars leave their passport with the rental agency?

No, they don't. And for the people aiming cheap (not necessarily anyone here), please read the tale of that guy who wrecked a car in La Romana and now has to pay it. Only rent from a reputable agency and make sure that you are totally covered.

We had rented from Metro (do they still exist) and they had some crappy little cars and other rental agencies (Pay Less and other which names escape me now) and by far the best was National. More expensive though, but we got a new vehicle in excellent conditions and we were completely covered by insurance.

JMHO though.

[mozart]

These messages about rental cars are a year old.
What is the current information - are there any reputable Dominican agencies or just folks like Dollar and National. Do you need to do it in advance?
MOzart

[MerengueDutchie]

I've found renting local on the North Coast up till now to be simple, painless at good bargain prices.. although I've only rented for a combined total of 9-10 weeks

[mozart]

We rented through our hotel in Sosua and had a good experience with good rates. I'm trying to find the same situation in SAnto Domingo - that's why I'm sending these e-mails. Thanks.
Kathleen

[Robert]

Originally Posted by mozart

These messages about rental cars are a year old.
What is the current information - are there any reputable Dominican agencies or just folks like Dollar and National. Do you need to do it in advance?
MOzart

Actually they are 3 months old. This thread was started end of March 2005.

Go with National, Budget, Avis etc.

[dropitlikeithot]

Originally Posted by mozart

We rented through our hotel in Sosua and had a good experience with good rates. I'm trying to find the same situation in SAnto Domingo - that's why I'm sending these e-mails. Thanks.
Kathleen

i've rented from alamo in STI airport and from alamo in santiago city (inside
the almirante casino hotel). Never had a problem and have found their rates
to be very accomodating. The lowest i've paid $25/day,, the most $37/day,
not including 16% taxes.

[la_barbie]

I've always booked with Universal Car Rental in Cabarete.... Always email the girl that works there a couple of weeks before I get there and drop off the car at POP airport and the paperwork takes less than 5 mins and i'm off... everytime i rent from them it gets cheaper and cheaper... cause I refer a lot of people to them and she always knocks the price down... This time i'm going for close to a week and a half and paying $310 USD with insurance and everything for a Honda CRV... there are places that i bet are much cheaper but I feel really comfortable booking with them.

[smoky]

concerning adventure rent a car: nomen est omen. We tried it two times:
after one week we bring the car back and have to pay for a damage on the windshield. OK, that damage was there before, our mistake: we don´t mark it on the form.... second time: a ford jeep: yes, shock absorbers are not so important. It´s fun to drive a car and you think you make a rodeo ride. The third chance was not given: we ask many times (4 calls) for a special rate for a 1 week rent....and allways get told: call Gypsy on her cel-phone. Thats it. No recall, the celphone: answeringmachine. And for shure - no recall. For what you make a message?
Now we use NELLY. Not the cheapest, but never a problem with their cars

[mozart]

Originally Posted by smoky

concerning adventure rent a car: nomen est omen. We tried it two times:
after one week we bring the car back and have to pay for a damage on the windshield. OK, that damage was there before, our mistake: we don´t mark it on the form.... second time: a ford jeep: yes, shock absorbers are not so important. It´s fun to drive a car and you think you make a rodeo ride. The third chance was not given: we ask many times (4 calls) for a special rate for a 1 week rent....and allways get told: call Gypsy on her cel-phone. Thats it. No recall, the celphone: answeringmachine. And for shure - no recall. For what you make a message?
Now we use NELLY. Not the cheapest, but never a problem with their cars

We're headed to the DR on July 22nd and will be renting a car. We are thinking of taking a bus to Barahona but I'm reconsidering. Is Nelly better than National and some of the other chains - Dollar, etc.?
Appreciate the information! We may need to rent in Santo Domingo.
Kathleen