Central America car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Car Rental Deals
Useful Info
Car Rental Deals

Cheap car hire in Central America

Discover the best prices and deals for your travel.
Toyota Yaris car
Toyota Yaris
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
€17/day
View Deal
Nissan Versa car
Nissan Versa
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
M
€17/day
View Deal
Hyundai i10 car
Hyundai i10
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
M
€16/day
View Deal
Toyota Yaris car
Toyota Yaris
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
€17/day
View Deal
Nissan Versa car
Nissan Versa
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
M
€17/day
View Deal
Hyundai i10 car
Hyundai i10
or similar Small
2
2
2/4
M
€16/day
View Deal
* These are the best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours and may change
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

Europcar

Most popular car type

Compact

Average price

€20/day

Good deal

€17/day

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 7 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 keddy by Europcar (€10.69/day), Sixt (€11.58/day), and Europcar (€12.27/day).

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

Compact cars (Suzuki Jimny or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to hire in Central America. Compact cars in Central America cost €35/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as €34/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 €19/day. December is the most expensive month to hire a car in Central America when prices are €39/day on average, which tends to be 25% above the yearly average hire price for Central America.

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

Alamo operates 103 locations in Central America, more than any other car hire company.
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Top tips for hiring a car in Central America

  • 25% of our users found a car hire in Central America for €17 or less
  • Economy hire cars in Central America are around 65% 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 €20 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 José (80% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Central America), San Pedro Sula (7%) and Guatemala City (7%).

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

    On average a car hire in Central America costs €141 per week (€20 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 €605 per month (€20 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

  • alamo

    Alamo car hire locations in Central America

    103 Locations

  • national

    National car hire locations in Central America

    101 Locations

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car hire locations in Central America

    100 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in Central America

    90 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car hire locations in Central America

    63 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in Central America

    61 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in Central America

    57 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car hire locations in Central America

    49 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car hire locations in Central America

    48 Locations

  • economy

    Economy Rent a Car car hire locations in Central America

    36 Locations

  • adobe

    ADOBE car hire locations in Central America

    31 Locations

  • flexways

    FlexWays car hire locations in Central America

    29 Locations

Car hire locations in Central America

Everything you need to know for your car hire in Central America

Complete your trip to Central America

Hotels in Central America
Holidays 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.

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