When you’re in Curacao, you’ll definitely want to explore all the beautiful spots on the island. For that, you’ll need transportation if you don’t want to rely on expensive tours. Unfortunately, public transportation is quite limited on Curacao, there are few taxis, and the ones available can be quite pricey. That’s why renting a car in Curacao is ideal to visit the island’s most beautiful places. Start the engine, play some nice music, and enjoy, with our tips, all the beauty Curacao has to offer.
Is driving safe in Curacao?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Driving in Curacao is definitely safe and quite relaxed. Traffic is not chaotic: other road users don’t drive recklessly, and most roads are in good condition.
What are the roads like in Curacao?
As mentioned above, most roads are in good condition. Especially the main roads are well paved. If you venture off the main roads, you might encounter some rougher terrain and occasional potholes, but it’s still manageable with a regular car. You don’t need a 4×4. When it rains, the roads can be slipperier than what you might be used to, so it’s advisable to keep a bit more distance from the car in front of you.
Because almost everyone in Curacao has a car, and Curacao residents often drive even short distances by car, traffic can sometimes be congested on the major roads in Willemstad. Certain areas may experience traffic jams during rush hours. Try to avoid the Caracasbaaiweg (the road between Willemstad and Jan Thiel) during rush hours.
Traffic Rules in Curacao
- In Curacao, they drive on the right side of the road, and you must overtake on the left. On roads with separated lanes and two or more lanes per direction, overtaking on the right is allowed.
- At an intersection, traffic from the right has the right of way unless indicated otherwise by a traffic sign or yield signs.
- This rule doesn’t apply at T-intersections. The vehicle on the main road has the right of way. The driver whose road ends must yield.
- In general, roundabouts in Curacao function normally, but there are exceptions. Some roundabouts have yield signs and priority signs. Pay extra attention when entering such roundabouts because the vehicle already inside the roundabout must yield to the one trying to enter.
What type of car should you rent?
In principle, any rental car is suitable. If you’re traveling as a couple, a small rental car is fine. If you’re with more people, a larger car would be more comfortable, of course. We always rent an automatic car when traveling abroad, even though we can drive manual. Driving abroad can be a bit unfamiliar at first, and an automatic is more convenient in those situations.
Important Tip: Bring Your Credit Card
When picking up the rental car, it’s important to have a credit card in the name of the main driver. This is mandatory for the car rental deposit. Without a credit card in the main driver’s name, you cannot receive the rental car. Make sure there’s enough balance on this credit card to cover the deposit. The deposit amount can vary per car and can be found under the ‘specific conditions’ section. Don’t have a credit card yet? We recommend you to get this credit card.
Additional Info and Tips for Renting a Car
Here are some handy things to keep in mind when renting a car.
Parking in Curacao
Parking your car in Curacao is mostly free everywhere except in some places in downtown Willemstad. Here, you have to pay for parking during the day. Paid parking spots are marked with a number, and if you park in one of these spots, you must pay at a parking meter. The standard rate is 1 guilder per hour. If you don’t mind walking a bit, you can often find free parking a few hundred feet away from the city center where there are no numbered parking spots, and you don’t need to pay.
Refueling in Curacao
There’s one important thing you have to keep in mind when refueling in Curacao. In Curacao, you have to pay before refueling. You park your car at the gas pump, then you go to the cashier and tell them how much money you want to spend on fuel. Around 75 guilders is a good amount if your tank is nearly empty. After paying, you can fill up your car. If you end up refueling for less than the prepaid amount, you’ll receive the difference back at the cashier with your receipt.
It’s handy to navigate in Curacao using Google Maps. Download the Curacao map in your Google Maps app before your trip, so you can navigate offline. You can use it to find gas stations, supermarkets, attractions, and restaurants without an internet connection.
Minimum Age for Renting a Car
The minimum age requirement varies among car rental companies. In most cases, the minimum age is 21. If you’re between 18 and 21 and still want to rent a car, you may have to pay an additional fee in most cases. You can find the minimum age requirement and other terms in the rental conditions.
International Driver’s License
You do not need an international driver’s license in Curacao.
What does it cost to rent a car on Curacao?
When renting a car in Curacao, prices can vary depending on the season and how early you book. Booking a rental car through Rentalcars.com is highly recommended for Curacao. With a rental car, you always have a chance of damage and problems along the way, which is why it’s smart to book with a reliable party. At Rentalcars, you can always take out a Full Protection Insurance, you can change your booking for free and all conditions are clearly indicated. So you don’t have to worry about snags and if something goes wrong on your trip, everything is always reimbursed and taken care of. This is totally worth it as far as we are concerned, especially on holiday.
Note: Sometimes the local rental company will try to sell you extra insurances. These are absolutely unnecessary as everything is covered with Rentalcars’ Full Protection Insurance. So don’t be fooled because you are 100% covered, even your excess will be refunded in case of damage.
Price hikes due to shortage of cars: There is currently a huge shortage of rental cars worldwide. To survive the corona crisis, car rental companies have had to sell a large portion of their cars. Since demand is rising fast, there are not enough chips for new cars and prices are skyrocketing due to the shortage. As a result, many rental cars are double the price or even fully booked. It’s best to book as early as possible to be sure of a rental car that is still somewhat affordable. At Rentalcars.com, you can currently cancel or change your booking free of charge up to 48 hours in advance, so you are not stuck with anything but still be sure of a rental car.
