Useful tips for renting a car in Cuba
In your travel plan to Cuba you have surely included the rental of a car and probably many are the questions that have arisen about how to do it. The answer is not simple, it depends on the type of tourism you want to do, who you are traveling with, your budget and many other factors to consider.
What is a reality is that transportation in Cuba has its peculiarities, so if you want to make a trip with total autonomy, visit several provinces and walk at your own pace, the best option, without a doubt, is to rent a car .
We have it clear, that’s why in this article we give you some useful tips to rent a car in Cuba.
How car rental works in Cuba
There are several ways to reserve or rent a car in Cuba, either through state-owned car rental companies. Among the best known are Cubanacán, Cubacar, Rex, Havanautos and Via Rent a Car. You can also request the service through travel agencies that allow reservations from abroad.
Finally, directly at the destination, you can rent by making an agreement with the owners of private cabs. Particularly we do not recommend this last option because it is not backed by a legal contract and in case of a scam you will have no way of claiming. Go to it only if you know the person with whom you will make the agreement in advance.
Once you select from these three options the one that suits you best, you must take into account to make your reservation in time. Due to the high demand, it is very difficult for the agencies to have availability if you ask for the car at the destination.
If you decide to opt for travel agencies you will always have more options and availability. They contract directly with the state companies and even have quotas assigned in advance, guaranteeing that when you arrive at your destination you will get your car without any mishap.
From Enjoy Travel Group we can help you. Later in this post we will expand on the rental options.
What kind of cars can be rented in Cuba and how much do they cost?
Getting good advice at the time of booking is essential. In Cuba you do not rent by models, but by categories. The Cuban fleet is varied, although not as modern as in other countries. In addition, there are differences between mechanical and automatic cars or between basic cars and luxury cars.
Among the most common categories:
- Economical: compact models such as Hyundai Atos or Kia Picanto.
- Midsize: Geely, BYD, Peugeot or similar.
- SUV and 4×4: ideal for rural areas.
- Luxury cars: available in smaller quantities, managed by Rex.
- Classic cars: they are generally not rented as rental cars, but with driver.
We recommend that you ask the travel assistants any questions you may have during the booking process, only then you will be able to choose the category that best suits your needs.
In the case of prices, they can be very variable depending on the season, category and agency. However, many clients comment that in general they have a higher cost than other destinations in the Caribbean. For example, rates can vary:
- Economical: between 60 and 90 USD per day.
- Medium: between 90 and 120 USD per day.
- SUV: between 120 and 150 USD per day.
- Security deposit: between 150 and 300 USD depending on the model.
- Mandatory insurance: between 10 and 30 USD per day.
Requirements to rent a car in Cuba:
The most important thing to know is that you do not need a Cuban driving license to rent a car. Just show your European driver’s license (at least 2 years old) and your valid ID and you will be able to make the rental.
In addition, you must present the voucher from the agency with the reservation confirmation number where your personal information matches the identification presented and the credit card for the deposit. If you wish to hire an additional driver, an optional service or if you have extra charges, you will have to pay an amount outside your initial pre-invoice. For such payments we recommend that you use VISA or MasterCard debit/credit cards, which are valid in the country.
At the time of picking up the car, you must leave a security deposit that will be returned at the end of the rental if everything is correct.
Fuel prices in Cuba, how fuel supply works:
Fuel in Cuba is currently sold in USD or through Classic cards (on which USD can be deposited in advance at CADECA’s facilities). The Clásica cards are prepaid and rechargeable and can be purchased and recharged at about 216 CADECA offices distributed throughout the country. In addition, they can be requested from abroad at the website tocopay.com/ and then picked up in Cuba at the agreed CADECA office.
However, in the case of tourists, payment for fueling can also be made in USD with the variant of cash using Visa or MasterCard.
Due to the shortage, the Cuban government has designated specific gas stations for rental cars (which, as a curiosity, are differentiated by a letter “T” on the license plate) to refuel. Keep in mind that only rented cars are allowed to be refueled with special 94 octane gasoline.
This type of gas stations are located throughout the country, but the availability of fuel is very unstable, so we suggest you not to wait to have a full tank, whenever you make a stop and have the opportunity to refuel, take advantage of it and guarantee to arrive happily at your destination.
Cuban roads and road safety measures:
Surely the state of the roads in Cuba will be an aspect of comparison for you. They are not the worst but you should be cautious because you may encounter several potholes along the way.
In addition, the GPS and Internet signal is not good in several sections of the road, so we suggest you download Maps.Me in advance, with this app you can navigate offline, create routes, save places, look for tourist attractions, restaurants, etc., which is an advantage to guide you while driving.
Try not to drive at night is another element to keep in mind. Roads are poorly lit, animals may appear on the road or you may hit a car traveling without lights.
Another important element if you plan to travel around Cuba by car is to always respect the established speed limits because the traffic police can fine you if you commit an infraction, even in a rental car. Fines are paid in CUP and must be settled before returning the vehicle. The agencies check if you have pending sanctions before receiving the car and settling the contract.
Renting a car through the Enjoy Cuba website: recommendations, prices and options
Enjoy Cuba offers car rental service as a complement to your travel reservation. Among some of the advantages we offer are:
- Book in advance from abroad.
- Variety of categories and competitive prices.
- 24-hour on-site assistance in English and Spanish.
- Possibility to manage insurance and extras.
Renting a car for your visit or vacation to Cuba offers total freedom to explore the island, but requires planning. Prices are high, availability is limited and fuel can be a challenge in certain areas. Still, for those who wish to tour Cuba at their own pace, it remains an excellent option.
Don’t discard it from your travel plan, ask for help through local experts and organize the perfect route to make your desired driving tour.
