Renting a Car in Belize – A Complete Guide

In this blog post you’ll find everything you need to know about renting a car in Belize. This was our first time driving a rental car in Latin America and we found so much joy in the freedom it gave us.

So, we decided to share our experience and give you our personal tips for hiring a car and driving around Belize. Below you’ll find information on costs, rental agencies, insurance policies, the best type of vehicle to hire, and the actual benefits to travelling around Belize with a car.

If you’d like to see us driving around Belize then make sure to watch our dedicated YouTube video. (We’ve been getting plenty of love on it from Belizeans)!

Why Should You Rent a Car in Belize

Here’s the thing: we love a good road trip. Every time we get the chance, we’re taking a scenic drive in our car at home, such as the epic NC500 in the Scottish Highlands, or renting a car when we’re in Europe, like we did in Madeira, Portugal or in Crete, Greece.

We absolutely love the freedom that having a car gives us. However, despite having travelled through Latin America for almost a year at this point, we’d never actually rented a car in this region before visiting Belize. We’ve always used public transportation or organised tours to get places.

Renting a car for the first time in a new part of the world did feel slightly intimidating. However, driving around Belize was actually extremely easy. The main roads were in good condition, apart from the one leading to the Caracol Ruins, which is why we suggest renting a 4×4 (more on that below). We were able to stop at places where tours wouldn’t necessarily go, such as Billy Barquedier National Park along the Hummingbird Highway. Speaking of the Hummingbird Highway, it’s one of the most scenic roads in Belize and is definitely best seen out the window of your own vehicle.

In addition, most day tours in Belize cost between 100 – 150USD per person. So, for us, it was way cheaper to have a car for a few days than to take tours.

Since our trip to Belize we’ve hired cars to do road-trips around the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, to drive around Patagonia in Argentina and to drive the incredible Carretera Austral in Chile.

Requirements for Renting a Car in Belize

You must meet the minimum age requirement, which is 21. However, most rental companies have a minimum age limit of 25. Note that if you’re under 25, you’ll most likely need to pay some sort of young driver surcharge and potentially put down a larger security deposit.

The maximum age for renting a car in Belize is 75.

Make sure you have a valid driver’s license. You don’t need an International Driving Permit if you have a valid driver’s license.

You can pay for your car hire with a debit card but you’ll also need a credit card for the security deposit, which will be released when you return the car without damage. We recommend asking the agency how long it will be before you can expect the deposit to be released and keeping an eye on it after you’ve returned the car.

Make sure to take lots of photos of the car including any existing scratches and dents. Don’t forget to take photos of the tires and the interior as well. Snap a photo of the fuel gauge because you’ll need to bring the car back with the same amount. With fuel prices on the rise, that’s usually the main thing they’re going to check. In Belize, the angle of the photo our dealer took made it look like the tank was full, when in fact it wasn’t. Luckily, we took photos from straight on that showed the tank was only 3/4’s full. This way we had proof when we he challenged us about it on returning the car.

Car Rental Companies in Belize

Below are a few rental companies to consider depending on where you’re hiring the car from:

• Belize International Airport: Crystal Auto Rental (the only one that allows you to take the car to Guatemala), AQ Belize Car Rental, Hertz, Avis, and Budget.
• Belize City: Hertz, Budget, and Crystal Auto Rental.
• San Ignacio: Flames Auto Rental (we rented from them and had a good experience).

What Type of Vehicle Should You Rent in Belize

We recommend renting a 4×4 that can handle all sorts of road conditions. We would only suggest a 2-wheel drive if you’re planning to stick to the main roads.

Many roads in Belize, particularly the road through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to Caracol, are currently undergoing maintenance and upgrades. Once finished, they will be a lot more accessible to everyday cars. Until then, we recommend renting a 4×4.

It’s worth noting that many rental companies won’t even allow you to rent a 2-wheel drive if you’re planning on visiting certain places, such as Caracol.

A lot of the available cars we saw were automatics, so you don’t need to worry about driving a manual if you’re not used to it. However, manual vehicles are usually much cheaper to hire, so definitely consider them if you can drive one.

Cost of Renting a Car in Belize

The cost of hiring a car in Belize is dependant on the type of vehicle you’re renting. You can rent an Intermediate SUV from about 75USD per day, and a larger SUV for about 90USD.

This of course doesn’t include any added costs, like extra insurance and an additional driver. Note that the third-party liability insurance, which is mandatory in Belize, is usually included in the rental price, but it’s worth double checking if the daily fee seems suspiciously low.

Top Tip. To save money, consider hiring a manual car (but only if you know how to drive one)!

On top of those fees you also have to factor in the fuel cost, which will depend on what type of fuel the car takes and which gas station you fill up at. It’s worth noting that fuel prices in Belize are higher than in neighbouring countries like Guatemala. Thankfully, Belize is a small country, so you won’t be using too much fuel. You can check the current fuel prices in Belize on this website.

Unlike in Argentina, most rentals come with unlimited mileage but double check anyway before booking. If not, you’ll need to pay a surcharge for any additional mile you drive above the allowance.

Tips for Driving in Belize

In Belize you have to drive on the right side of the road, like in the USA, Latin America and the majority of Europe. If you’re from the UK, hiring an automatic vehicle means you don’t need to worry about changing gears with your opposite hand.

Make sure to obey the speed limit. Locals might fly past you but you’re a guest in the country, so it’s always best to take it slow. The speed limit is 55 mph along the highways and between 25-40 mph through villages and towns.

Belize is a small country, so your total driving time will be a lot lower than in places like the USA. For example, you can drive the entire Hummingbird Highway in about 2 hours without stopping. Just bear in mind that driving on dirt and gravel roads will take slightly longer.

In Belize, an attendant at petrol stations is responsible for filling up your car, so don’t try to do it yourself. You can usually pay by cash or card.

We recommend downloading offline Google Maps before you set off, as signal can be spotty in rural areas.

There might be police check points along the roads. They may or may not stop you, but if they do just make sure you have all your documents and paperwork ready.

Don’t leave any valuables visible inside the car to avoid break-ins. Lock everything in the boot.

Driving at night is generally not recommended, especially on rural roads due to the road conditions.

The majority of car hire companies don’t allow you to drive the car to Guatemala or Mexico. So, if you want to take a day trip to Tikal Ruins, we recommend taking a tour from San Ignacio or crossing the border with public transport.

Final Thoughts on Renting a Car in Belize

We really enjoyed having a rental car in Belize. It gave us the freedom to visit spots that may not appear on a tour itinerary, and also allowed us to spend as little or as long as we liked in those spots. Plus, most day tours would’ve cost us way more than hiring a car for a day, so overall it was a huge money saver too.

Have you ever rented a car in Belize? If so, did you only drive along the Hummingbird Highway, or did you also visit some more remote places? If not, would you rent a car during your trip to the country? Let us know in the comments below.