Driving In Puerto Rico: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re going to Puerto Rico and want to adventure outside of San Juan (which you 100% should!), renting a car is the easiest way to do this. Public transportation is pretty much non-existent outside of the city and hiring a driver can add up quickly.
Don’t worry though driving in Puerto Rico is very similar to driving in the US but there are a few things you need to be aware of to prepare for a safe adventure. In this post, I go over everything you need to know to feel prepared to drive in Puerto Rico!
Drivers License Requirements
Since Puerto Rico is a US territory, US citizens can just use their US driver’s license when driving in Puerto Rico. However, if you do not have a US driver’s license, you will need to obtain an international driver’s permit before to your trip.
Renting a Car
There are a lot of car rental companies right at the San Juan airport as well as some offsite. I personally used National because I’m a member of the Emerald Club which makes renting cars so much faster and easier than other options because you don’t have to go to a check-in counter. You simply show up and walk to the Emerald Aisle, pick out whatever car you want, and drive to the exit.
Insurance Requirments – To drive in Puerto Rico, rental car companies require you to have supplemental liability insurance to rent a car. If this isn’t already included in your rental price and you have liability insurance on your car at home simply show them your plan information and you should be good to go (make sure to check with your rental company before to make sure they will accept this). If you do not have it, don’t be surprised by the extra fees as you will be required to add this.
Planning for Toll Roads – It’s hard to avoid the toll roads when driving in Puerto Rico. If you don’t take them, the time to get to your destination will significantly increase. But don’t worry they aren’t that expensive and they have a toll road sensor program you can utilize so you don’t have to pay in cash.
Most rental companies will let you add on a toll road sensor or it may already come with one. My car already had one and I just paid for the tolls at the end. Some companies may try to sell you on a prepaid package. Unless you plan on driving on the toll roads a ton, I recommend skipping that and sticking to the pay-as-you-go option. I drove on the toll roads 2 times on the drive from San Juan to Rincon and back and my total cost was $7.25.
Eco Travel Tip:
When renting a car, I always try to align with my sustainability values and look for models that will have lower emissions to help keep my impact down. At the time I’m writing this, electric vehicles and charging stations haven’t made it to Puerto Rico yet. Therefore, I recommend looking for a hybrid vehicle or a newer model that will have lower emissions. Another way to help lower your emissions is by using your rental car the least amount possible. If you can once you are at your destination, walk, bike, scooter, etc. instead of driving! Not only is it better for the planet, you will also see and experience more than you would driving.
Road Signs
Since Puerto Rico was originally a Spanish colony but is now a US Territory, they operate on both the metric and imperial systems. An interesting thing you will quickly realize is that road signs use kilometers but your speedometer uses Miles Per Hour. However, this isn’t a big deal if you use a navigation system because you then you won’t need to use the mile (or in this case kilometer) marker signs.
Spanish is the main language spoken in Puerto Rico so all of the signs are written in Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish don’t worry! The colors and shapes of the signs are the same as those in the US (and most other countries) so it’s pretty easy to figure out what’s going on.
Road Conditions
Be sure to always stay alert while driving in Puerto Rico. Although Puerto Rico has come a long way since the hurricanes, there are still a lot of potholes, bumps, cracks, etc. in the roads. When you can, try to avoid them so that you don’t damage your car. When you can’t avoid them make sure to drive over them slowly.
Puerto Rico has some very steep, winding, narrow roads especially when you get into mountainous areas and off the main highways. Make sure to take these roads at a pace that feels comfortable to you and be on alert for cars coming from the opposite direction to ensure there is enough room for you to pass each other. Even though many others weren’t doing this, I still turned my headlights on while driving through these roads to make myself more visible to oncoming traffic.
I was also told that some people will honk as they come around sharp corners on these backroads to let oncoming traffic know they are there. I didn’t experience this while I was driving in Puerto Rico but I wanted to add this in here just in case you do so you aren’t surprised if it happens to you.
How People Drive
Whenever you drive in a different country it’s important to observe what others are doing and follow suit (when it’s safe to do so of course) to the flow of traffic. Don’t expect to show up and drive the way you are used to where you live and get mad if they don’t follow the same norms.
The same general rules of driving in the US apply in Puerto Rico. However, there are a few differences you should be aware of.
Go with the flow – Driving in Puerto Rico, you really need to go with the flow of things. The aggressive driving we are used to in the US will not work in Puerto Rico. I was actually quite appreciative of the relaxed nature of the drivers. I very rarely saw anyone have road rage, cut anyone off, or not let anyone merge in front of them. Maybe it’s not the case where you are from but I live in Southern California where people tend to drive pretty aggressively so this was a great change of pace for me!
Stay alert – It’s common for Puerto Rican drivers to pull out into traffic to make their way onto the road. Please don’t get mad with this happens just slow down and let them in. With so many one-lane roads they have to do this to make things work. Plus you’re on island time! There’s no need to be in a rush!
Driving Speeds – You will find that many people drive under the speed limit instead of over it which is a major shift from the US. Some locals told me that this is because the police will pull you over even if you are going just 2 miles over the speed limit. So again I recommend you go with the flow of traffic and slow down.
Stop lights – You will also sometimes see people use a stoplight more like a stop sign instead of a light. If a light is red but no one is coming some Puerto Rican drivers will just go. I was once at a stoplight turning left and the 2 cars in front of me went through it after they stopped to check for oncoming traffic. I didn’t have the guts to do it but luckily the light turned green shortly after I came to the front of the line.
Driving in Puerto Rico in The Rain
On day one of my trip after a red-eye flight on my road trip from San Juan to Rincon and my first time driving in Puerto Rico, I was met with some pretty heavy rain! Luckily my rental car had good windshield wipers and I’m no stranger to driving in the rain since I grew up in the midwest. However, I quickly learned a lot about driving in Puerto Rico when it’s raining.
I was shocked to discover that the majority of people don’t turn on their headlights when it’s raining in Puerto Rico! Some people put on their hazards but so many people had no lights on at all. Because of this, you need to be extra careful and alert to make sure you see all the other cars around you.
Many people will drive SLOW! Almost dangerously slow especially when they don’t have their headlights on. Make sure you are taking it slow as well and keep enough distance between you and the car in front of you giving you enough time to react if they put on the brakes.
Even though Puerto Rico gets a lot of rain not all of their roads are built for it so flooding is pretty common. If you see a puddle take it slowly because you don’t know how deep it will be and you don’t want to hydroplane trying to go through it.
Overall be prepared for your drive time to increase if it’s raining. A normal drive from San Juan to Rincon should take about 2 ½ hours but when it was raining it ended up taking me about 3 ½ hours.
Domes Beach, Rincon
Navigation
Google Maps is the most accurate map system on the Island however even when using it, there were still a number of times on my trip when a location was incorrect on the map. If this happens just pull over and do some investigation to figure out where you are actually supposed to go. Sometimes calling the place you are going and asking for coordinates is the best route.
There are also areas in Puerto Rico where there is no service. I recommend downloading the map of the area prior to arriving in both Google Maps and another app I love called Maps.Me. I used both options multiple times during my trip because I lost service even right by the San Juan airport.
Getting Gas
Don’t get too excited when you see the low numbers at the gas station. Although I did find gas in Puerto Rico to be much lower than gas in California, Puerto Rico sells their gas by the liter and not the gallon.
When you get to the gas station you don’t need to prepay for your gas like you do in the US. You can just start pumping and then after you are done you will need to go inside and pay. There are no pay-at-the-pump options.
When you go to pump your gas, you will need to take the pump out and then lift up the lever under where the pump was. This will activate it and allow you to start filling up your car. Unlike the US you will have to hold the pump until it’s complete. The pump should automatically shut off once your tank is full even while you are holding it.
FAQ
Do you need 4-wheel drive in Puerto Rico?
No, you don’t need 4-wheel drive to drive in Puerto Rico but having a car that is higher off the ground does come in handy due to the potholes and some of the steep hills.
Is it difficult to drive in Puerto Rico?
It is relatively easy to drive in Puerto Rico. Though there are some things you need to be aware of, it’s very similar to driving in the US.
Is it difficult to drive in Puerto Rico?
Yes, it’s easy and safe to drive in Puerto Rico! Renting a car on your trip is highly recommended especially if you want to see more of the island outside of San Juan.
How do I pay tolls in Puerto Rico?
To pay tolls in Puerto Rico you can either get a toll sensor (easiest way) or pay as you go through a standard toll booth.
Do tourists need cars in Puerto Rico?
If you are just staying in San Juan (especially Old San Juan) you can get away without having one. If you want to leave San Juan though or even visit some of the cities surrounding it, it’s highly recommended to rent a car.
Final Thoughts on Driving in Puerto Rico
Overall driving in Puerto Rico is generally pretty easy and having a car unlocks so much more of the Island for you to discover. If you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico I highly recommend you consider renting a car and seeing more than just San Juan.
Have any more tips for driving in Puerto Rico? Put them in the comments to share with the Journeys In Focus Community!
