10 Car Rental Tips for Aruba First-Timers (2026)

Aruba is one of the best islands in the entire Caribbean for self-drive travel. The roads are well-maintained, distances are short, traffic is virtually non-existent, locals are friendly, and the cost of renting a car is very reasonable. But like anywhere, there are a few things worth knowing before you pick up the keys. Here are our ten essential tips for first-time car renters in Aruba, from someone who knows every road on the island.

Tip 1: You Drive on the Right Side of the Road

Aruba drives on the right, the same as the United States, continental Europe, and the Netherlands (Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). This means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, and you overtake on the left. For visitors from the US, Canada, or continental Europe, this will feel completely natural. For UK, Australian, or South African visitors who drive on the left at home, the adjustment usually takes about 30 minutes of driving before it becomes automatic.

The most common moment to accidentally revert to left-side habits is when turning out of a parking lot or petrol station onto an empty road, with no other traffic as a reference point, the instinct to pull left can kick in. Stay conscious of it for the first day and you will be fine.

Tip 2: Your Home Driving Licence Is Valid

You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent or drive a car in Aruba. Your national driving licence from the following countries is accepted directly by Aruban law and by all rental companies:

• United States and Canada
• All European Union member states
• United Kingdom
• Australia and New Zealand
• Most Latin American countries

Your licence must be valid (not expired), and you should carry it with you while driving at all times. If your licence is in a non-Latin script (Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, etc.), an IDP translation is required. If in doubt, obtain an IDP from your home country automobile association before travelling. They are inexpensive and provide peace of mind.

Tip 3: Minimum Age 21, Bring Your Credit Card

The minimum age to rent a car in Aruba is 21 years. This applies to economy, compact, and sedan categories. For 4x4 vehicles, Jeeps, SUVs, and premium cars, the minimum age is 25. This is industry standard in Aruba, not a Hermanos-specific rule.

A credit card in the driver's name is required to hold the security deposit. Debit cards are not accepted for the deposit (though they may be accepted for payment of the rental itself). The deposit amount varies by vehicle category, typically $200–$500, held as a pre-authorisation on your card rather than an actual charge. This is released when the car is returned undamaged.

Make sure the credit card you bring has sufficient available credit to cover both the rental payment and the deposit hold simultaneously. This catches some travellers off guard at the pickup desk.

Tip 4: Fuel Is Cheap by Caribbean Standards

Fuel prices in Aruba are government-regulated, which means they are stable, predictable, and, compared to most Caribbean islands, reasonably affordable. As of 2026, premium petrol costs approximately AWG 2.20 per litre (around $1.23 USD). For context, fuel in Barbados or the Turks and Caicos costs nearly double this.

A compact economy car covering a typical tourist day of 80–120 km will consume roughly AWG 15–18 in fuel, approximately $8–10 USD. A 4x4 or Jeep will use more, perhaps $14–18 per day depending on how much off-road driving is involved. Over a 7-day holiday, fuel adds approximately $60–120 to the total cost of a rental car, depending on the vehicle and your itinerary.

There are multiple petrol stations along the main roads, in Palm Beach, near Oranjestad, in San Nicolas, and at the airport area. You will never find yourself more than 15 minutes from a fuel station on any paved road.

Tip 5: Book Early, Jeeps Sell Out Fast in Peak Season

Aruba's rental car fleet is finite. The island is small, the number of rental companies is limited, and during peak season (December through April, when visitors flood in from cold climates) availability, especially for Jeeps and 4x4 vehicles, drops dramatically.

If your travel dates fall between December and April and you want a Jeep Wrangler or similar 4x4, book at least 6–8 weeks in advance. Economy cars have more availability, but even these fill up during the Christmas and New Year period and the February school holidays. Booking early also typically secures you a better daily rate than last-minute availability.

The shoulder season (May through November) generally has good availability, and you will often find better rates. Aruba's weather is excellent year-round. The hurricane season that affects most Caribbean islands largely bypasses Aruba due to its position south of the hurricane belt.

Tip 6: Match the Car to Your Plans

This is the tip most first-timers get wrong. They book the cheapest available car without thinking about where they actually want to go, and then either miss Aruba's best experiences or damage the vehicle on a track it was never designed for.

• Economy car (Kia Picanto, Suzuki Swift): Perfect for Palm Beach, Oranjestad, Eagle Beach, Baby Beach, Mangel Halto, all tourist sites on paved roads. Costs $46–49/day.
• Sedan (Hyundai Accent, Toyota Corolla): Same road capability as economy, more comfort for longer drives or families. Costs $59–72/day.
• SUV (Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail): Better ground clearance for light dirt tracks, suitable for most of Arikok's perimeter roads. Not recommended for the Natural Pool trail. Costs $85–91/day.
• 4x4 / Jeep (Wrangler, Cherokee): Required for the Conchi Natural Pool, Boca Prins, Andicuri, and all serious off-road tracks. Costs $117–280/day.

A practical middle-ground approach: rent an economy car for most of your trip, and book the 4x4 specifically for the day you plan to visit Arikok and the Natural Pool. Some visitors hire both simultaneously (one economy for the partner who stays at the beach, one 4x4 for the adventure day), though this adds cost.

Tip 7: Understand What Your Insurance Covers

All Hermanos Car Rental vehicles come with basic third-party liability insurance included in the daily rate. This covers damage or injury caused to other people and their property in the event of an accident where you are at fault. It does not cover damage to the rental car itself.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is an additional product that reduces or eliminates your financial liability for damage to the rental vehicle itself. Without CDW, you are responsible for the full cost of repairs up to the value of the vehicle if it is damaged in an accident. The cost of CDW varies by vehicle category, typically $8–15/day for an economy car.

Important exclusions to check: most CDW policies do not cover damage to tyres, windscreens, the underside of the vehicle, or damage caused by driving on roads or terrain outside the terms of the rental agreement (such as taking an economy car off-road). Read the policy carefully and ask the rental agent to clarify anything that is unclear.

Some premium credit cards include rental car insurance as a benefit. Check with your card issuer before your trip, as this can eliminate the need to purchase CDW from the rental company.

For full details on insurance options, see our insurance guide.

Tip 8: Roads Are Good, With One Major Exception

Aruba maintains its road infrastructure well. The main coastal highway (LG Smith Boulevard), the road through Oranjestad, and all roads leading to major tourist attractions are fully paved and in good condition. Road signs are in Dutch and English. Speed limits are posted and generally 40–60 km/h on most tourist roads.

The exception is the interior of Arikok National Park and a handful of remote coastal access tracks. These are intentionally unpaved. Arikok is a protected natural area and the government does not build paved roads into the backcountry. The track to the Conchi Natural Pool is the most challenging: rocky, sandy, with loose boulders and occasional stream crossings. It requires 4-wheel drive with low range in sections. This is not a rough road being paved soon. It will remain a rough track permanently by design.

A useful rule of thumb: if the destination is listed as a major tourist site (Baby Beach, Eagle Beach, California Lighthouse, Arikok visitor centre), the access road is paved. If it requires a 4x4, the road to get there is intentionally unpaved and rough.

Tip 9: Free Airport Pickup, No Hidden Costs

Hermanos Car Rental provides a free meet-and-greet service at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). When you land, your car is already in the airport car park, and a Hermanos representative will meet you at the arrivals hall or at the designated handover point. The entire process, paperwork, briefing, car check, takes approximately 10 minutes.

There is no airport surcharge, no shuttle bus to an off-site depot, and no additional fee for the pickup service. This is included in the rental rate. The same applies for drop-off: return the car at the airport car park at the end of your trip, complete a brief check-out inspection, and you are done.

If your flight arrives late at night or very early in the morning, please notify us of your flight details when booking. We accommodate all flight times.

Tip 10: Return with the Same Fuel Level

Hermanos Car Rental operates a simple, transparent fuel policy: pick up the car with a full tank, return it with a full tank. There is no fuel pre-purchase scheme, no "return it empty" option, and no opaque fuel charge applied at the end. If you return the car with less fuel than it started with, the cost of the difference (plus a small admin fee) will be charged. If you return it with more fuel, you do not receive a refund for the extra.

In practice, this is very easy to manage. The island is small, petrol stations are plentiful, and there is always a station near the airport. Stop for fuel on your way to the airport on the final day and you are done.

Frequently Asked Questions