Final Up to date on January 23, 2023 by Kristin

Renting a automobile within the Dominican Republic? This picturesque nation occupies about two thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, with Haiti to the west. Having your individual journey is an effective way to discover the D.R.’s idyllic seashore cities and 871 miles of shoreline. Nonetheless, driving within the D.R. shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart. Listed here are some issues it’s best to learn about earlier than planning your highway journey.

Important Suggestions for Renting a Automobile within the Dominican Republic

Ebook from dwelling.

Ready to ebook your reservation till you’re within the Dominican Republic will add extra stress to your journey. As well as, you might be virtually assured to pay extra. Most main automobile rental corporations enable free cancellations, so go forward and ebook your journey from the U.S. forward of time. The additional forward you reserve your automobile, the higher the prospect of touchdown a deal as a result of you may be careful for worth drops.

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You do not want an Worldwide Driving Allow.

All you want is a legitimate state-issued driver’s license to lease a automobile within the D.R., however acquiring an Worldwide Driving Allow will be a good suggestion on this Spanish-speaking nation. The doc is straightforward to acquire and easily interprets the knowledge in your driver’s license.

Don’t drive into Haiti.

Most rental corporations won’t mean you can drive throughout the border into Haiti, and doing so may nullify any automobile rental insurance coverage you buy. In the event you do needed to discover the opposite aspect of the island, you will need to double and triple test together with your rental company and get permission in writing, as further situations and charges might apply.

If you wish to cross into Haiti, there are different methods to take action—resembling on a bus or on an tour tour. Don’t overlook your passport.

Put together your self for the foundations of the highway.

Within the Dominican Republic, you’ll drive on the proper. Turning proper on pink lights is permitted, nevertheless it ought to be finished with warning. Carrying a seat belt is obligatory within the Dominican Republic. Pace limits are in kilometers. Vans have precedence over vehicles.

Many journey blogs, boards and web sites warn that driving within the Dominican Republic will be stuffed with hazards, with mopeds, carts within the highway and pedestrians requiring that drivers preserve their full consideration always.

There are various methods to ding up a rental automobile. Watch out at intersections. In some places, culvets (deep indents within the highway) exchange cease indicators. Drive over these very slowly to keep away from harm to your rental automobile Talking of which, watch out about getting off the crushed monitor. Main highways within the D.R. are typically pretty clean, however smaller roads, particularly in rural areas,are sometimes stuffed with ruts and potholes and require cautious driving.

Pay for the rental in Dominican pesos.

You’ll have the choice to pay for the rental in U.S. {dollars}, however this selection will value you extra in the long term. Pay within the native foreign money to keep away from Dynamic Foreign money Conversion charges. In the event you decide to pay in U.S. {dollars}, the rental automobile firm converts the acquisition quantity from the native foreign money in your behalf. However this course of is solely pointless, since your bank card firm will course of the transaction in both foreign money, and you’ll pay by means of the nostril for the non-convenience.

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Perceive your insurance coverage necessities.

The D.R. is a kind of international locations the place it may be simply simpler to pony up for the insurance coverage supplied on the counter. It is extremely doable that your bank card won’t cowl you sufficiently when renting within the Dominican Republic (at all times test earlier than you allow dwelling), and the results of being underinsured on this nation are notably onerous.
If you’re in an accident and underinsured, you will be jailed whereas the police kind out what occurred. If that scares you, go for a particular sort of insurance coverage referred to as the Casa del Conductore that may preserve you out of jail in case of an accident. That is usually supplied on the counter together with the collision insurance coverage, however remember to double test that it’s a part of the coverage.

Anticipate a big safety maintain.

In case your bank card covers you for abroad automobile leases, you may plan to depend on that insurance coverage within the Dominican Republic. Bear in mind, nevertheless, that should you decline the rental automobile firm’s harm waiver, the corporate will usually maintain a big safety deposit towards your bank card (usually $1000 or extra) when you are in possession of the automobile.

Examine the automobile fastidiously earlier than you drive away.

Whereas it’s tempting to move straight for the idyllic seashores upon selecting up your automobile, be sure that to examine the automobile further fastidiously for any dings, dents or scratches on the floor. Take photographs of each inch of the automobile. In any other case, you could possibly find yourself paying for these imperfections should you don’t doc them earlier than you allow.

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