What to know about SmartWheels
SmartWheels describes itself as the first self-service car rental on Curacao. You unlock the car with your phone instead of meeting an agent, which is why the pickup points are resorts and terminals rather than a single office.
Five addresses are published: Livingstone Resort at Kaya Adriàtiko 20-26 in Jan Thiel, Corendon Mangrove Beach at 31 Pater Euwensweg, the Renaissance at Baden Powellweg 1, the Ritz Village at 25 Scharlooweg, and the Mega Cruise Terminal on Gouverneur van Slobbeweg. Airport pickup is also offered.
Best for: guests staying at one of those five properties, cruise passengers, and drivers aged 19 to 22 who cannot rent elsewhere. Not for: anyone who wants to pay cash. The terms say major credit cards only.
Age, deposit and insurance
The minimum age is 19, the lowest in our Curacao comparison, with an extra daily fee for drivers aged 19 to 23. Everyone needs a valid license and a card.
The site says no deposit is required. The terms separately allow a credit hold of up to US$1,000 covering the rental, extras and taxes, so expect the card to be checked.
Full CDW, theft protection and third-party liability are included. The CDW-TP option caps your responsibility at US$500 and Full Coverage Protection brings it to US$0. Fuel is return-as-received unless you buy the prepaid option.
The fleet and prices
Seven classes: Economy A/T, Sedan, Compact SUV, Mid-size SUV, Intermediate-size SUV, 7 Seater and a 12-seater passenger van. Scooters and bikes are rented separately.
Economy is advertised from $52 per day. In our checks, a 7-day economy rental in early November came to $368, the highest economy week of the fifteen agencies we compare.
The sedan was $417, the compact SUV $470, the intermediate SUV $665, the 7 Seater $679 and the 12-seater van $714 for the same week. That 12-seater is the largest vehicle in our Curacao comparison.
Booking and cancellation
Book at smartwheelscuracao.com. Contact is by WhatsApp on +5999 676 6666 or hello@smartwheelscuracao.com. Additional pickup points can be arranged over WhatsApp.
Cancel at least 72 hours before pickup for a refund. Inside 72 hours there is no refund. Cruise bookings are refunded in full if the cruise is canceled or the ship misses the port.
An airport or hotel concession recovery fee applies to rentals that start at those locations. Their reservations run on HQ Rentals, which our comparison reads directly.
See how SmartWheels compares for your dates.