Renting a car in Cuba

Note that there is a shortage of rental vehicles in Cuba. Even if you desperately want to rent a vehicle, you might be unlikely to be able to find one for rent, unless you visit during a very low tourist season. Furthermore, even if you manage to book a rental car online, you might not actually find a car waiting for you when you arrive at the rental desk. If there is a car, you might have to pay the rental clerk a bribe in order to actually take the car out of the lot. That’s just the way things are in Cuba.

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Car rentals are a popular, albeit expensive option to explore Cuba. State-run car rental outlets are located all over the island and are particularly concentrated in large cities and in tourist hot spots. Both tourists and locals can rent vehicles.

There are 3 main rental agencies in Cuba:

http://www.transturcarrental.com/car_rental_companies/cubacar_car_rental.asp

http://www.rex.cu/client/home/index.php

http://www.havanautos.com/homecars2.aspx

Rental rates for small cars start at about 60 CUC per day with an additional 15 to 30 CUC for insurance, which is mandatory. There is usually an additional charge of about 30 CUC for a full tank of gasoline. If you later return the vehicle with a full tank, this amount will be deducted from your total bill. Small cars are usually inexpensive, Chinese sedans and compacts. They are adequate, but offer very few frills. Larger cars and luxury vehicles are also available, but daily rental rates are much higher.

When renting a car in Cuba it is important to watch for scams. Make sure that you receive an official, computer printed receipt for all the services you are paying for. If possible, try to pay for the transaction with your credit card. All credit card transactions are processed through corporate channels, so fraudulent transactions are uncommon. The vast majority of scams are perpetuated when clients pay for rental services in cash. Furthermore, always inspect the vehicle before taking possession and, if possible, snap a few photos of the outside, especially if there are scratches or damaged areas on the vehicle. Always return the vehicle with a full tank of gas.

VERY IMPORTANT: It cannot be stressed enough – Be extremely careful when driving in Cuba! If you get into an accident in Cuba, even a minor one, you will be forced to remain on the island until an accident investigation is completed. This can sometimes take months. This is one of the main reasons foreigners are discouraged from renting vehicles in Cuba. There are dozens of stories of tourists who rented cars, had minor accidents and were then forced to stay in Cuba while a police or court-ordered investigation was conducted. This process is part of Cuban law and it cannot be modified or changed, even with the intervention of foreign embassies. Stories can be found here: https://www.google.com/#q=stuck+in+cuba+car+rental

Personally, I never rent a car in Cuba. I prefer to just hire a driver (taxi) because it is usually cheaper or about the same price and the drivers know the roads and it is safer. But I understand some people wanting to drive for themselves. Many people do it and usually there are no problems, but as mentioned above, there are risks.