Car Rental in Jamaica

Why rent a car in Jamaica?

Notable not just for its beaches, but also culture, distinct cuisine, impressive mountains, and tropical nature areas, Jamaica is a surprisingly diverse travel destination. Getting a rental car is your best bet to travel outside the main tourist areas and visit everything this Caribbean island has to offer. Keep in mind that you drive on the left-hand side of the road in Jamaica

Top ways to enter Jamaica

• Montego Bay Sangster Airport: Serving flights to and from many destinations in The Americas and Europe, this airport is the main entry point for Northern Jamaica.
• Kingston Norman Manley Airport: Named after Jamaican statesman, Kingston Airport serves Jamaica’s capital and hosts flights by around 15 airlines.

Top cities and places to visit

• Montego Bay. Located on the north coast, MoBay, as Montego Bay is often called, is arguably the most visited place on the island. The main draw of this cozy coastal town is undeniably its many scenic beaches and popular resorts, but there’s also plenty of history to explore, plus nearby natural attractions such as the Rockland Bird Sanctuary. The beautiful Martha Brae River is also not far away, and rafting down it is a great way to relax.
• Kingston. More busy and rough around the edges than MoBay, Kingston is nonetheless the capital and the largest city and as such, has plenty of attractions to generate excitement. There’s well-preserved colonial architecture like the Devon House, the National Gallery of Jamaica, Lime Cay Beach which is only accessible by boat, the Arawak Museum dedicated to the indigenous inhabitants of Jamaica, and Hope Botanical Gardens. That being said, for many visitors, nothing can top seeing the Bob Marley Museum. Just to stay on the safe side, read up on the present security situation in Kingston before your visit to learn about areas to avoid.
• Negril. Located near the island’s westernmost tip, beautiful Negril is all about its many golden sand beaches, crystal clear water, and impressive coastal cliffs. The region around Negril is known for its water sport opportunities and tours on boats with transparent glass bottoms.
• Ochioso Rios. This resort town on Jamaica’s northern coast has many attractions here, from Dunn’s River Falls nature area to Dolphin Cove where tourists can interact with the sea animals, and the many trekking tours in the surrounding rainforest. Compared to Montego Bay, it’s just as scenic, but more quiet and relaxed. It’s closer to Kingston, too - 85 km (53 mi) to the north, it can be reached in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Most popular rental car

The most popular rental car in Jamaica is the Suzuki Dzire, followed by the Mazda Demio and the Toyota Yaris.

Driver's license requirements

• Jamaica recognizes valid foreign driver’s licenses from around the world if they are printed in a Latin alphabet and if you’re visiting on a trip that’s shorter than 12 months. If you’re residing in the country permanently, you need to obtain a local driver’s license.
• If your driver’s license is printed in another alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• Even if you have an IDP, you need to also carry your original driver’s license as you might be asked to show both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car providers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car provider and car category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Most popular types of rental car

The most popular rental car type in Jamaica is an Economy, but Compact and Fullsize are also popular.

Top driving routes

• The Blue Mountains. A steep and scenic range that reaches heights of 2,250 m (7,400 feet), visiting the Blue Mountains is one of the greatest travel experiences in Jamaica. Recognized as a world heritage site, the region is characterized by forests with ferns, orchids, and other tropical plants; historic coffee estates; and many hiking trails. The mountains are less than a two-hour drive north of Kingston and 3 hours and 30 minutes southeast of Montego Bay.
• Port Antonio. Located north of the Blue Mountains, Port Antonio is a relatively undiscovered and hassle-free coastal town. Attractions here include the beautiful Blue Lagoon and Cove, the nearby Navy Island which can be reached on a boat trip and has beaches and rainforest to explore, and some of the nicest surfing beaches in all of Jamaica.

Car rental prices in Jamaica

• SUVs - from $48 per day
• Station wagons - from $118 per day
• Small cars - from $21 per day
• Medium cars - from $33 per day
• Large cars - from $37 per day
• Vans - from $55 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Jamaica:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Jamaica is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 65% cheaper than the yearly average.