There are few car rental agencies in Cuba. If it is your first time traveling as a tourist or visitor and you plan to rent a car in Cuba, you should consider that there may be some setbacks. If you live in Australia, the United States, or Europe, you will notice that Cuba car rental is different from what it would normally be in your country of origin. A large part of the tourists and visitors who arrive in Cuba expect to find different car rental agencies, as well as other branches in most of the towns, but it is not done this way, which is why you must take into account the following considerations:
RESERVATION TIME
It is very important that, when planning your trip to Cuba, you make your reservation in advance; Do not leave the search for a car rental agency until the last minute because the number of these is very small, which results in the low availability of cars, otherwise you will have to opt for public transportation or the taxi service during your entire stay. The main recommendation is: Book two or three months in advance, if your trip date is getting closer, don't forget to ask about availability.
AGENCIES WITH EXPERIENCE
When renting a car in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, it is essential to do so through an agency that offers security and quality service to guarantee the right car for your needs.
TAKE ADVICE ON VARIETY
You should consider that you may not find the variety of brands and models that agencies in other countries can offer you. To avoid this, contact the agency in advance and consider the models they have to offer you their services.
The types of cars you can find
There is a wide variety of brands that tourists and visitors usually find, such as: Audi, Mercedes, Peugeot, Renault, Kia and Hyundai. But it is important to contact the agency in advance to obtain information about the models and dimensions you want for your comfort.
CAR TRANSMISSION TYPE
If you know how to drive a manual transmission, there is a wide variety of cars that have it, but if you want your car with an automatic transmission, it is possible to find it, but these are the rarest to find at the time of reservation, so it is important book in advance.
Documentation
Keep your identification documents with you, do not leave them in your suitcase, your passport is important to carry while on your road trip. In different places such as bridges that lead to some very busy beaches, they may ask for a passport when paying the toll.
Parking
When parking at a destination you are visiting, it is important that you have cash to pay for parking. The price of this service is not very expensive.
REGULATION OF CAR RENTAL
Do not seek to reach an agreement with the natives to rent your car, since car rental is regulated, therefore, it is illegal to rent cars to Cuban residents, only a small list of authorized agencies should be taken into consideration and recognized companies that offer this service.
Routes and guides
If you have already scheduled your plan to travel to Havana, Cuba, you have the date and you have decided to rent a car, consider if it is your first time and you venture to this destination the following tips:
First, plan ahead the places you want to see such as: history, streets, squares, beaches;
Second, consider the most convenient routes to get to your destination.
Third, plan how much fuel you will need for the duration of the trip.
GPS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE
If you are going to choose to use GPS as a route guide, consider that the internet data connection may present faults in Cuba, in turn there is no guarantee that your car has integrated GPS. The recommendation would be to ask the natives to make sure you do not get lost and if it is necessary to carry printed maps with notes of the routes and reference points.
Fuel
Keep an eye on the gas gauge, always remember to fill it up. Don't leave it to the last minute, in Cuba you don't get a fuel station on every corner. At the same time, make sure you have cash in Cuban pesos (CUP national currency) only in this way to pay, the cars that are rented should only be supplied with special gasoline