Central America car hire

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Central America are San José (67% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Central America), Guatemala City (17%) and Liberia (17%).

It’s a great idea to hire a car in Central America, as you can leave and depart at times suitable to you as well as reach more remote locations that public transport doesn’t travel to. Central America has some beautiful scenery to visit, with a hire car being one of the best ways to get to a range of these sights. For example, with a hire car, you can go to popular attractions such as Reserva de Biosfera Maya in Guatemala, Reserva Natural Bosawas in Nicaragua and Parque Nacional Corcovado in Costa Rica.

Driving in Central America is an interesting experience, with the driving style and quality of roads being quite different to what you’re used to in the UK. Roads, especially rural ones, are not maintained that well, meaning you will have to be cautious about potholes. The driving style on this continent is relatively respectful; however, in cities and larger urban areas, drivers have a lot less patience and can drive aggressively. Roads here tend to be narrower than what you might be used to as well, making manoeuvring harder. Additionally, signage isn’t always that clear, so it’s helpful to have a sat nav for your journey.

The age range of getting a Central American hire car varies depending on the agency you are using. As a rule of thumb, you need to be at least 18 years of age to hire a car in Costa Rica, 21 years of age in Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and 25 in Belize. Drivers who are younger than 25 will most likely need to pay a young person’s surcharge. In addition, there will be age restrictions on some vehicle types. It’s recommended that you contact your chosen agency ahead of your hiring period so that you understand their policy.