Car, Scooter and Bicycle Rentals

Cubacar Havanautos Rex Transgaviota | Cuba

In varadero (and Cuba in general) the car rental business is handled by these two state-owned companies:

• TRANSTUR, operating under the brands: Cubacar, Havanautos and Rex
• GRUPO GAVIOTA, operating under the brand: Via Transgaviota

Click for the address and phone number of car rental offices in Varadero.

To rent a car, jeep, motorcycle, ATV or scooter you need to show your driver's license (from your home country) and your passport (a photocopy is usually sufficient). The International Driver's Permit is usually not mandatory, as long as they can read yours (i.e. written in an extended Roman-based alphabet). You may be required to put down a deposit in the form of a credit card hold, until you return the vehicle. To rent a bicycle they usually ask only for your name, hotel, and room number.

At rental offices in Cuba, all payments must be made with a credit or debit card.. However, a payment in cash may sometimes be required if for example the payment machine is out of order.

CAR or JEEP

Typical prices (subject to change):
Expect to pay around 55-60 USD per day (75-80 USD on major holidays) for the smallest manual transmission car, and around 45-55 USD daily on a 3-days or more basis. Luxury cars and automatic transmission cars (harder to find) can starts at 80+ USD per day. Insurance is mandatory and usually costs 15-20 USD per day (depending on model). Cars and Jeeps are usually rented with a full tank of gasoline and you must return it full. Many rental offices, especially the ones located in the hotels, may give you a price which includes insurance and a prepaid tank of gasoline, in this case expect to pay around 120 USD for 1 day (60 for rental + 60 for insurance and gas), or around 240 USD for 3 days (150 rental + 90 for insurance and gas).

SCOOTER

Typical prices (subject to change):
• 1 hours: 10-13 USD + 2 USD per additional hour
• 24 hours: 25-30 USD
(Price decreases if you rent for more than one day)
Helmets are provided and mandatory.

BICYCLE

Typical prices (subject to change):
• 3 hours: 3 USD
• Full day: 5 USD
Helmets are usually not provided, and are not mandatory

Important to know:

Regarding the insurance included in the rental contract: coverage differs from the ones usually offered in North America or Europe. If you are found to be at fault in an accident, the rental agency could nullify your coverage and seek damages to cover the cost of repairs, which can be very high. Rental agencies are state-run, so you may be prevented from leaving the country until you pay the damages.

If you receive a ticket for a traffic violation, the policeman may write the fine on your rental contract and this amount will be deducted from your deposit when you return the vehicle.

If you have an accident in which a third party is injured, you may have to assume full hospital costs for the injured person, and you may be prevented from leaving the country until any legal proceedings associated with the case have been resolved.

Do not drive drunk!, not even a bicycle. Cuba has a zero tolerance policy and in the case of an accident, if alcohol is detected in your blood, you are likely to be presumed guilty.

Public transportation Domestic Flights