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Aruba travel guide
Renting a car in Aruba: the complete guide
Requirements, insurance, deposits, local driving rules and the routes that matter, written by a rental agency based in Palm Beach.
In short
Renting a car in Aruba is straightforward. You need your home country driver's licence, a passport or ID, a credit card for a USD 250 pre authorisation and a minimum age of 25 with us. Traffic keeps to the right, the whole island is drivable in a day, and a normal automatic crossover handles every paved road, including the main entrance of Arikok National Park.
What follows covers each of those points in detail, plus the practical things most guides skip: fuel, parking, roundabouts, unpaved shortcuts and what to do if something goes wrong.
Step 1
Requirements for renting a car in Aruba
Driver's licence
A valid licence from your home country is accepted in Aruba for visitors. An international driving permit is not required for licences in the Latin alphabet, though a translation helps if yours is not.
Minimum age 25
At Elixir Car Rental the main driver must be 25 or older. Additional drivers must meet the same age requirement and be registered on the contract.
Passport or ID
Bring your passport or a government issued ID for the rental agreement, along with your flight details if we are meeting you at the airport.
Credit card and USD 250 deposit
A credit card in the main driver's name is used for a USD 250 pre authorisation. It is released after the car is returned in the same condition.
Full rental conditions live on our terms and conditions page, and short answers are on the FAQ.
Step 2
Insurance when you rent a car in Aruba
Every Elixir Car Rental booking includes third party liability insurance, which covers damage you may cause to other people and their property. That is the legal minimum on the island and it is never something you have to add yourself.
What differs between visitors is how much of the risk to your own rental car you keep. You have three sensible options:
- Keep the standard cover and the USD 250 depositThe pre authorisation on your credit card acts as your own risk. Return the car in the same condition and it is released in full.
- Add extra coverage at pickupAsk us at pickup to reduce or remove your own risk if you would rather not think about it during your trip. We explain the exact cost before you sign.
- Use your credit card coverMany travel oriented credit cards include collision coverage for rental cars, usually on the condition that you decline the rental company's own damage waiver and pay the full rental with that card. Confirm the details with your card issuer before you fly, and bring the policy documentation.
Whichever route you pick, photograph the car from all four corners at pickup and at return. It takes a minute and settles any discussion about existing marks.
Step 3
Driving in Aruba: local rules and habits
Aruba drives on the right
Traffic keeps right and most rentals, including ours, are automatic. Distances are tiny: the island is roughly 32 km long, so nothing is more than an hour away.
Speed limits are low
Expect 40 to 60 km/h inside built up areas and up to 80 km/h on open roads. Speed bumps around Palm Beach, Noord and Oranjestad are frequent and unmarked.
Roundabouts and right of way
Roundabouts are common on the main routes between the airport, Oranjestad and Palm Beach. Traffic already in the roundabout has priority.
Fuel is sold by the litre
Petrol stations are plentiful in Oranjestad, Noord and Santa Cruz, and prices are set island wide. Fill up before heading east, because stations thin out past San Nicolas.
Parking is mostly free
Hotels, beaches and malls have free lots. In central Oranjestad look for paid parking meters and the covered garages near the cruise terminal.
Watch for goats, donkeys and rain
Animals wander onto the roads outside the resort area, and short heavy showers can flood dips in the road for an hour. Both call for slowing down, not stopping.
Step 4
Where to drive: routes worth the rental
| Route | What to know |
|---|---|
| Airport to Palm Beach | About 20 minutes north on the L.G. Smith and J.E. Irausquin Boulevard, straight past Eagle Beach. |
| Palm Beach to Arikok National Park | Roughly 40 minutes via Santa Cruz to the San Fuego entrance. Bring water, cash for the entry fee and a full tank. |
| Palm Beach to Baby Beach | About 50 minutes to the southern tip past San Nicolas, an easy paved drive and the calmest swimming on the island. |
| Noord to Alto Vista Chapel and the California Lighthouse | Fifteen minutes on partly unpaved but flat roads, best in daylight. |
Heading into Arikok National Park is the single best reason to have a car. The paved entrance road and the visitor centre are fine in a crossover, while the tracks towards the natural pool need real four wheel drive, so plan a guided trip for that stretch. More ideas are on our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to rent a car in Aruba?
A valid driver's licence from your home country, a passport or ID, a credit card for a USD 250 pre authorisation, and a minimum age of 25 for the main driver at Elixir Car Rental.
Do I need an international driving permit in Aruba?
No. A valid licence in the Latin alphabet is accepted for visitors. If your licence uses another script, bring an international driving permit or an official translation alongside it.
Is insurance included when renting a car in Aruba?
Third party liability insurance is included with every Elixir Car Rental booking. You can reduce your own risk further with additional coverage, and many credit cards also offer collision coverage when you decline the rental company's own option, so check with your card issuer before you travel.
Can I drive a rental car into Arikok National Park?
The paved main entrance road at San Fuego is fine for a normal crossover, and the visitor centre, Cunucu Arikok and Boca Prins area are reachable. The rough tracks towards the natural pool require a high clearance four wheel drive, so most visitors park and join a guided tour for that section.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Aruba?
Aruba drives on the right hand side of the road, the same as the United States and continental Europe.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Aruba?
At Elixir Car Rental rates start from USD 45 per day for a Toyota Raize crossover, with unlimited mileage included. Weekly rentals lower the daily rate further.
Brand new Toyota and Honda crossovers from USD 45 per day, unlimited mileage, airport or hotel delivery. Reserve now, pay later.
Keep exploring
More about renting a car in Aruba
- Our rental cars in ArubaToyota Raize and Honda BR-V crossovers with automatic transmission and cold A/C.
- Car rental Aruba pricesDaily and weekly rates from USD 45 per day, with everything that is included.
- Aruba Airport car rentalMeet and greet pickup at Queen Beatrix International Airport, day and night.
- SUV rental ArubaSeven seat crossovers for families and trips towards Arikok National Park.
- Airport and hotel transfersFlat rate USD 30 transfers between the airport and your Palm Beach hotel.
- Aruba experiencesBeaches, tours and island partners worth adding to your Aruba itinerary.
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