Car Rental at San Juan Luis Munoz Marin Intl. Airport [SJU], Puerto Rico

Things to know about traveling to San Juan

Car rental in Puerto Rico is always a good idea as a car gives you the freedom to move around and choose where to go. If you plan to stay in San Juan, you can use the local Metropolitan transit system with buses and a subway. If you plan to explore the island, you should definitely rent a car. A rental car has a great advantage over public transport.

Hitting the beach? Or maybe exploring the beauties of El Yunque National Park? The car makes it easy and fast. It will take you about 4 hours to drive around the island on the main highways and without stopping. And if you want to explore the iconic villages along the way, take the back roads, but be prepared to spend about 6 hours on the same circular route.

Car rental requirements in Puerto Rico

Are you renting a car in Puerto Rico for the first time? Unfortunately, finding cheap deals can be a challenge there. It’s expensive to rent a car in PR due to low demand and limited supply. In addition, high taxes, annual inflation, and available car models can also affect the final rate.

Don't forget to grab your driver's license before the trip. Your domestic driving license is suitable for car rental in San Juan Puerto Rico if you are a US citizen. However, foreign travelers may need an International Driving Permit or an official translation of the license along with their original license.

Another thing you should have when traveling by car in Puerto Rico is insurance. Car theft is quite common on the island, so it will be better to protect yourself and your car. Note that insurance is rarely included in the price of a rental car for US drivers. So always check what is covered with the rental agent at the desk. If you need some additional coverage, ask your provider to add it to the deal.

Roads in Puerto Rico

If you don't know which car to choose, prefer a cheap car rental in San Juan Puerto Rico, such as economy, compact, or standard model. Despite the abundance of mountain passes, climbs, and descents, the island's highways are fine, and you don't need a powerful 4WD SUV vehicle to drive them.

Keep in mind that there are many toll roads in Puerto Rico. You can use either cash or AutoExpreso devices to pay for them. AutoExpreso is the local version of EZ-Pass. Toll road fares range between $0.75 and $3, so consider that when planning your San Juan car rental trip.

Where are car rental companies in San Juan Airport?

Another important thing you need to plan is where to pick up a rental car and which company to choose. Since Puerto Rico is an island, the best place to start your trip is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. Firstly, it’s convenient, and secondly, most car rental offices are situated there. The list of car rental companies available in San Juan Intl. Airport includes Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, EZ, Dollar, Hertz, Payless, National, Sixt, Thrifty, U-Save, Routes, etc.

On-site car rental companies

Most of these companies are located on-site in the Car Rental Center, on the ground floor of the parking garage (the first level of the multistorey parking). You need to exit the baggage claim area in the terminal and cross the street to get to the rental car facility. The address of the Car Rental Center is Luis Munoz Marin International Airport Salvador Caro Ave, San Juan, 00979, Puerto Rico. Here is a list of San Juan Airport car rental companies in the Car Rental Center:

• Alamo. The rental car kiosk is open 24 hours a day.
• Avis works every day from 8 a.m. till 9:45 p.m.
• Budget works every day from 8 a.m. till 9:30 p.m.
• Enterprise in San Juan Airport is open 24/7.
• Hertz. It is also an in-terminal company with working hours from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
• National. The office is open 24 hours a day.
• Thrifty. The company’s office is open from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m., 7 days a week.

Off-site car rental companies

Other car rental companies are located off-site and provide shuttle bus service from the San Juan Airport terminal to their offices. You can catch the shuttle buses of these companies outside the terminal, after exiting the baggage claim area. Here is the list of off-terminal car rental companies serving San Juan Airport and their addresses:

• Advantage. The company is located a short 5-minute drive from the airport at 1 Av. Laguna, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico.
• Europcar provides a convenient shuttle service for renters from San Juan Airport to 10 Av. Laguna, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico. It will take you not more than 5 minutes to get there on a shuttle bus from SJU Airport. The office operates from 8 a.m. till 7p.m., 7 days a week.
• EZ is open 24/7 and offers a shuttle service between the terminal and the office at C2H4+J7Q, Carolina, 00983, Puerto Rico. It takes at least 8 minutes to drive there from the SJU terminal.
• Dollar car rental San Juan PR is located outside the airport and provides a convenient shuttle service from the terminal to 10030 Calle Marginal Baldorioty, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico. It takes at least 13 minutes to drive from the airport to the office. The company operates 24/7.
• Payless is based near the airport and provides a free shuttle service to its office at 100 Marginal Los Ángeles, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico. It will take you 7 minutes to get to the branch. Payless working hours are from 5 a.m. till 11 p.m. any day of the week.
• Sixt is based within a 7-minute drive from the airport at Calle Dalia, C. Begonia, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico and provides a free shuttle service for all renters. The office is open 24/7.
• U-Save is located outside the airport within a 6-minute drive from the airport. You can use the shuttle service to get to the office at Isla Verde Mall, Marginal Biascoechea, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico. U-Save operates every day from 8 a.m. till 10 p.m.
• Routes branch is located 8 minutes away from the airport by car at 10200 Calle Celestial, Marginal Los Ángeles, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico. The office operates 24/7 each day of the week.

Alamo, Enterprise, National, EZ, Dollar, Routes, and Sixt provide 24/7 San Juan Airport car rental service. If you arrive at the airport at night, we recommend you pay attention to the on-site companies: Alamo, Enterprise, and National, as there may be some delays with shuttle buses at night.

Where to return car rental at San Juan Airport?

Returning a San Juan Airport rental car from any of these companies is just as easy as picking it up. Most often, you'll be dropping off your car to the same location where you pick up your car rental.

If you choose your car rental in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from an in-terminal company situated at Car Rental Center, you will need to bring the car back to the first level of the multi-storey parking garage at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport Salvador Caro Ave, San Juan, 00979. Just follow the signs pointing you to rental car returns as you enter the airport area.

If you rented a car from one of the off-airport companies, you usually should head to the parking lot near the company’s office in order to return a rental car. Don’t forget to clarify your drop-off location when you collect the vehicle.