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Central America car hire

Driver's age: 25-65

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Cheap car hire in Central America

These are the best prices for 8-15 Oct.
Toyota Yaris car
Toyota Yaris
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$7/day
View deal
Class Compact Car car
Class Compact Car
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$7/day
View deal
Class Intermediate Car car
Class Intermediate Car
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$7/day
View deal
Class Full-size Car car
Class Full-size Car
or similar Large
5
2
4-5
$16/day
View deal
Dodge Grand Caravan car
Dodge Grand Caravan
or similar Van
5
5
4-5
$40/day
View deal
Class Full-size SUV car
Class Full-size SUV
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
$23/day
View deal
Kia Picanto car
Kia Picanto
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
$8/day
View deal
Class Full-size Truck car
Class Full-size Truck
or similar Pickup truck
5
2
2/4
$125/day
View deal
Mitsubishi Montero car
Mitsubishi Montero
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$101/day
View deal
Class Compact SUV car
Class Compact SUV
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
$7/day
View deal
Class Standard SUV car
Class Standard SUV
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$8/day
View deal
Class Intermediate SUV car
Class Intermediate SUV
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$9/day
View deal
Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Central America car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Central America with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Central America?

You should book your car hire in Central America around 5 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car hire company in Central America?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest hire cars were found at Thrifty ($12/day), Ace ($12/day), and Hertz ($14/day).

What is the most popular car to hire in Central America?

Hires in the SUV category (Class Intermediate SUV or similar) are the most popular option in Central America, costing $46/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as $14/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Central America?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Central America is October at an average cost of $31/day. February is the most expensive month to hire a car in Central America when prices are $75/day on average, which tends to be 51% above the yearly average hire price for Central America.

Which car hire company in Central America has the most locations?

Avis operates 64 locations in Central America, more than any other car hire company.

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Good to know

Most popular agency

Most popular car type

Average price

Good deal

Budget
Large
$40/day
$29/day

Top tips for hiring a car in Central America

  • 25% of our users found a car hire in Central America for $29 or less
  • Medium hire cars in Central America are around 74% cheaper than other car types, on average
  • As with the whole of Central America, drunk driving is taken very seriously. If you are found to be over the limit you will be prosecuted accordingly. In Costa Rica, you will be considered to be over the limit if you have more than 0.05% blood alcohol content. In Honduras, the maximum limit is 0.07% blood alcohol continent, whilst in Nicaragua and El Salvador it’s 0.05%, and in Belize and Guatemala it’s 0.08%. In Panama, there is zero tolerance.
  • It’s important that you adhere to any child safety laws when driving and ensure your child is safely restrained in your moving vehicle. The laws tend to vary from country to country, but it’s safe to assume that children younger than 12 or those who weigh under 18 kg will fall into the bracket of those requiring safety restrictions. You should put your child in a child restraint even if the country doesn’t have set laws in place. You can find out more information, as well as arrange for a child seat, by speaking to your car hire agency.
  • Many car hire companies in Central America will permit you to travel across the border to neighbouring countries. However, you must get written permission for this to be possible. If you don’t have permission, you will likely be turned down at the border, or alternatively, your insurance will be void. Remember that you will also need specific visas to enter different countries.
  • It’s worth noting that Central America is a vast continent and can be very rural at times. This means that petrol stations can be very spread out in the less populated areas. So if you’re off exploring, it’s strongly recommended that you top up your petrol before you travel. Most petrol stations are located in major urban dwellings or on motorways.

FAQs about hiring a car in Central America

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Central America?

    On average a car hire in Central America costs $40 per day.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Central America?

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

  • Where should I hire a car in Central America?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Central America are San Salvador (38% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Central America), San José (26%) and Belize City (19%).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in Central America?

    On average a car hire in Central America costs $283 per week ($40 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in Central America?

    On average a car hire in Central America costs $1,212 per month ($40 per day).

  • Should I hire a car in Central America?

    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.

  • What is driving like in Central America?

    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.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in Central America?

    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.  

Car hire directory

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in Central America

    64 Locations

  • lmcarrental

    L&M Car Rental car hire locations in Central America

    6 Locations

  • toosla

    TOOSLA car hire locations in Central America

    2 Locations

  • nextcar

    NextCar car hire locations in Central America

    4 Locations

  • xplorerentacar

    XPLORE RENT A CAR car hire locations in Central America

    8 Locations

  • u-save

    U-Save car hire locations in Central America

    10 Locations

  • americacarrental

    America Car Rental car hire locations in Central America

    6 Locations

  • rightcars

    Right Cars car hire locations in Central America

    3 Locations

  • ecrentacar

    EC Rent a Car car hire locations in Central America

    6 Locations

  • jumbocar

    JUMBO CAR car hire locations in Central America

    2 Locations

  • champrides

    Champ Rides car hire locations in Central America

    1 Location

  • routescartrk

    Routes Car & Truck Rentals car hire locations in Central America

    6 Locations

Car hire locations in Central America

More options for your car hire in Central America

The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.