Cheap Car Rental in Curacao
A full week in an economy car starts at about $210. That is roughly $30 a day with insurance included, and it is enough car for every paved road on the island.
The gap between the cheapest and the dearest economy week in our checks was $158, on the same class of car for the same dates. Comparing is worth more here than haggling.
The Smart Budget Move
Book the smallest automatic that fits your luggage, take an agency that includes collision cover in the rate, and check the minimum rental period before you compare totals. Those three decisions account for most of the price difference here.
Skipping the SUV is the single biggest saving. In our checks the jump from economy to a compact SUV added $150 to $200 to a week, and the roads to the beaches most people visit are paved.
Cheapest 7-Day Weeks We Found
All figures are totals for a 7-day rental in early November, taken from each agency's own reservation system. Prices move with your dates.
| Agency | Cheapest class | 7-day total |
|---|---|---|
| United Car Rental | Economy Basic, manual | $210 |
| Ross Rental Cars | Economy (MCMR) | $228 |
| Boric | Economy, Chevrolet Spark or similar | $240 |
| Just Drive | Economy | $246 |
| Cars.cw | Compact | $262 |
| RR Car Rental | Kia Picanto, manual | $263 |
| Dushi Rentals | Economy | $264 |
| Right Side | Economic Basic | $266 |
| Around Curacao | Economy Small Car | $315 |
| D&D | Economy | $321 |
| MB-Equipment | Compact Sedan, Cg 630 | about $352 |
| SmartWheels | Economy A/T | $368 |
Where a Cheap Rate Stops Being Cheap
Minimum rental periods. D&D asks for five days, Just Drive for four and RR Car Rental for three. A three-night trip priced against a five-day minimum is not the deal it looks like. Boric confirms it rents for a single day.
Fees on top of the rate. D&D adds a one-time $20 airport fee, though it delivers free everywhere else except Westpunt. Just Drive adds 5% for card payment, so cash in dollars or guilders is cheaper at the counter.
Extras priced per day. United charges $8 a day for an additional driver and $5 for a child seat. Boric charges $5 for the driver and $3 for a seat. Several agencies include both: Just Drive, D&D, Around Curacao and RR all give you a second driver free, and Dushi Rentals and D&D give the child seat free too.
The deductible you did not read. A $240 week with a $500 excess is a different product from a $321 week with a zero excess. D&D includes CDW, theft and liability at 0 deductible on every car.
Four Ways to Spend Less
Take the manual
United's Economy Basic Manual was $35 cheaper for the week than its automatic equivalent. RR's manual Picanto undercut its Spark by $10.
Rent longer
RR Car Rental discounts 5% at one week, 10% at two and 15% at three. Longer bookings elsewhere tend to drop the daily rate too.
Skip the deposit hold
Just Drive takes no security deposit and SmartWheels advertises none. That is not a discount, but it keeps $500 free on your card for the trip.
Use free delivery
D&D, Right Side and RR all deliver. Starting the rental on day three of a city break can cut two days off the bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car rental in Curacao?
In our checks of a 7-day rental in early November, United Car Rental's Economy Basic Manual came to $210, the lowest total of any car at any of the fifteen local agencies we compare. Ross was next at $228, then Boric at $240 and Just Drive at $246. The cheapest automatic was United's Economy at $245.
Why is the manual so much cheaper?
Almost every rental car on Curacao is automatic, so the few manuals are priced to move. United's Economy Basic Manual and RR Car Rental's manual Kia Picanto are the two clear examples. If you can drive a stick shift, they are the cheapest way onto the island.
Are cheap Curacao rentals missing insurance?
Not usually. Third-party liability is included by law and most agencies here fold collision cover into the rate. What differs is the deductible. Just Drive includes full insurance with a $300 excess. Dushi Rentals starts cheaper but sells collision cover separately from $6 a day. Compare the total including the cover you want.
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Minimum rental periods (D&D five days, Just Drive four, RR three), the one-time $20 airport fee at D&D, the 5% card fee at Just Drive, per-day extras like United's $8 additional driver and $5 child seat, and deposits that tie up $500 to $1,000 on your card.
When are Curacao rentals most expensive?
Local fleets here are small. RR Car Rental publishes thirty cars and most agencies list fewer than ten classes, so the cheap end sells out first in December and January. Booking a few weeks ahead is worth more here than in a large market.