Yes you can rent a car in Guatemala and just like most Central American countries pretty much the same rules apply. Here are a few of the rules we have for driving in Central American and Guatemala.
Go with a reputable car rental company. Most of the time you want to save a buck and chances are if you go with John-Doe’s Tuk-Tuk’s as your car rental company you probably will get the service you paid for and even worse if something goes wrong not the service you need. You will find brands like Hertz, Thrifty, and Economy and more that will offer the same reputable service that you are use to in a developed country.
The next rule is to drive safe. This is a tough one to define because sometimes its in your benefit to be on the offensive and sometimes you need to be on the defensive. When driving in the city a little offensive driving helps and its what people are use to but when you are out in the country on the Pan-American for example with the larger trucks you want to take the defensive option.
Also, know your cars ability. Guatemala is still very much a developing country and you will wont want to take a RAV-4 up to the parking lot of Acatenango parking lot.
Rule number three is go with the full insurance. This is another way to save a buck and end up spending a fortune if things dont go right. A simple scratch on the door can cost you a couple hundred dollars its just something you dont have control over. Also, safety first and you dont want to be worried about insurance during an emergency.
Should you Rent a Car in Guatemala
From a tourist standpoint I find it more of a hassle than shuttles or a private van and a shuttle. I usually say if you are not taking the chicken bus then skip renting the car and go with the private van. There are plenty of shuttle services that can get you to Antigua in less than an hour and from Antingua to Lake Atitlan in around 3 hours.
Even hiring a driver for the week or two weeks however long you are there is a nice luxury and obviously this comes with paying a little extra but if you really want the full experience you add a guide to the mini-van. This is what we did on our very first family trip years ago to Guatemala and it helped my girls fall in love with the country, learn about its history and culture, and not have the deal with mom and dad trying to figure out a map of where we were going.
Requirements for Renting a Car in Guatemala
The requirements are a valid drivers license from your country of origin and also you must be atleast 21 years old. Many countries the age limit is 25 but lets accept it most 21 year olds are on the chicken bus. Atleast I knew I was and it was some of the best transportation experiences I can remember back when they really did have chickens on the bus.
Cost of Gas in Guatemala
The cost of gas in Guatemala at the time of this writing in September 2024 was $1.05/litre which is almost $4’s per gallon. This is somewhat important in come areas and other areas no. Depending on your itinerary you can put some long miles on your car or you can probably have it parked for 3 days in a place like Antigua.
