Between its easy-to-navigate streets, road signs listed in English, and expensive private shuttle fees, renting a car in Belize is one of the best ways to get around the country. Unfortunately, renting a vehicle in Central America can be intimidating.
Often, people are wary of being ripped off or exploited by sleazy rental companies. At least, that’s how I felt before visiting the country in 2022.
In reality, my experience went much smoother than I expected, and it all started with renting through a reputable brand. Several international rental companies operate out of the airport, but there are also numerous local brands that can be trusted and often offer more affordable deals.
In this guide, I will walk you through the exact steps to finding the best deals and most trustworthy car rentals in Belize, along with some advice on how to enjoy a carefree road trip through the country, including some local driving tips and best practices.
Where to Book a Rental Car in Belize: Discover Cars
When visiting Belize, I highly recommend booking your car through Discover Cars. As a third-party car rental company, Discover Cars scours local brands for the best deals, which you can then compare through its website.
And unlike many other third-party booking sites, Discover Cars prides itself on having no hidden fees. The price you see listed during the process is what you pay for. There’s no extortionate service charge added just before checkout.
If there is a discrepancy between what you paid online and what the local brand wants to charge, you simply contact Discover Cars, and they will ensure the local rental company honors the established rate.
Here are a few tips on how to get the best car rental experience from Discover Cars.
Reserve Your Car Online with Discover Cars
You start by heading over to Discover Cars’ website. From the website, you simply plug in your rental information, your age, and your country of residence, followed by your preferred pick-up location. This will likely be Belize City Airport,
From there, Discover Cars does all the hard work of searching local rental companies for the best deals. All you have to do is browse through and pick the best option for you. However, don’t just jump the gun and book the cheapest option.
Take your time to read the reviews and check the specs of the vehicle to ensure you are getting what you are paying for.
Opt for Full Coverage with Discover Cars
Discover Cars gives you the choice of opting into their full-coverage insurance, and I highly suggest you take it. While chances are your driving experience in Belize will go off without a hitch, being covered in case of an accident just gives you peace of mind for enjoying your carefree holiday.
Additionally, it doesn’t cost that much more to enjoy this peace of mind, with the full coverage costing about $25 BZD per day or about $12.50 USD. In terms of the overall cost of your rental vehicle, this addition is minimal and covers up to $6,591 BZD ($3270 USD) of damages to the vehicle.
What’s Covered with Discover Cars? (And What’s Not Covered?)
Discover Cars’ Full Coverage is an extensive insurance plan that covers a wide variety of accidents and incidents, including collision damage, theft protection, and lost keys.
Keep in mind that while Discover Cars’ full coverage satisfies local laws, it is a third-party policy. As such, the direct car rental company will likely offer you a similar plan upon pick up, which you can decline.
When you do, the rental company will require you to pay a deductible on your credit card, which you will get back upon returning the car with no damage.
However, if there is damage to the vehicle, the rental company will keep the deposit, and you will make a claim directly with Discover Cars, who will reimburse you up to their $6,591 BZD limit, which will cover most incidents.
Now that we know how the claim process works, here is the full list of everything the policy covers and what it doesn’t cover.
What’s Covered
- Refundable theft deductible
- Bodywork and roof
- Windshield and windows
- Mirrors
- Wheels and tires
- Undercarriage
- Lost keys or lockout fees
- Taxi expenses
- Towing expenses
- Administrative charges
- Fees for supplier’s loss of use during repair.
What’s Not Covered
- Damages that occurred while not complying with the terms of your rental agreement
- Damages resulting from unforeseeable or uncontrollable events
- Cleaning costs or damage to the car’s interior
- Third-party damages
Requirements for Renting a Car in Belize
- Must be 21 or older
- Passport
- Driver’s license from home country
- The security deposit varies between rental companies but is often double for young drivers (ages 21-23)
- Auto Liability Insurance (Discover Cars’ full coverage covers this)
Do I Need Rental Car Insurance in Belize?
Auto liability insurance is required for all car rentals in Belize. Nearly all rental companies offer basic insurance plans to accommodate this requirement, but their coverage is often limited and typically doesn’t include collision or loss damage.
This is just another reason to opt for the Discover Cars full coverage plan. Not only does it satisfy the legally required auto liability insurance, but it also includes coverage for collision damage, theft, and a long list of other security risks and incidents.
Tips for Driving in Belize
Expect Higher Fuel Prices
One thing to keep in mind when renting a car in Belize is the cost of petrol. Depending on where you live, gas prices in Belize may be a bit of a shock. For instance, gas prices in Belize can often be as much as a few extra dollars per liter compared to the gas prices in the United States.
Due to high gas costs, many locals choose to ride motorcycles rather than cars. Still, Belize is relatively small and you can cross east to west in two hours and north to south in four. As such, you shouldn’t have to fill up too many tanks of gas, and renting a car can still be an affordable transportation option as long as you plan accordingly.
Fuel Up When You Get The Chance
Speaking of filling up on petrol, gas stations in Belize tend to be few and far between. So be sure to fill up when you get the opportunity. You don’t want to be stuck on your last bar with no place to fill up nearby.
So be sure to top up whenever you leave a city because you don’t know for sure if there will be a place for you to stop along the way.
Be Aware of the Speed Limits
Despite being a British colony as recently as 1981, Belize still uses the Imperial system. This means everything from distances to speed limits along the roads is posted in miles. While this makes it easier for Americans to navigate the roads, it can prove a little confusing for those of us used to the metric system.
Still, Belize’s speed laws are pretty straightforward. The standard speed limit for most of the country is 55 mph (88 km/h) for highways and 25 mph (40 km/h) for cities and villages.
Expect Police Checkpoints
Drivers can expect to find several police checkpoints throughout Belize. These are nothing to worry about.
Unlike neighboring Mexico, Belize is not known for its corrupt police force, hustling tourists for bribes. Most of the time, tourists will simply be waved through the checkpoint.
If you do get stopped, they’ll simply check your driver’s license and rental agreement and let you go on your way.
Avoid Driving at Night
I recommend avoiding driving at night in Belize. While roads are manageable during daylight, roads can be pitch black when driving after sunset. The poor lighting combined with frequent potholes, abundant wildlife, and even bikers and pedestrians often found lining the streets results in an elevated risk of an accident just not worth taking.
Turning Left
For the most part, road rules are pretty typical of most right-side driving countries across North America and Europe. However, one aspect that will likely take some getting used to is the way Belizians take a left turn on a highway.
In the United States and many other countries, you simply put on your left turn signal, stay in the left lane, and wait until there is an opening to complete the turn. Any cars behind you will either get in the right lane if there is one, pass along the shoulder of the road, or even just wait for you to complete the turn.
In Belize, drivers must first pull over to the right side of the road while activating their left turn signal. You then allow any cars to pass until the road is clear in both directions before completing your turn. If you don’t complete these steps and someone hits you from behind while completing the turn, then you are responsible for the collision.
Important Belize Rental Car Tips
Take pictures of the outside of the car before driving
As you should always do regardless of where you are, taking pictures of the car is the first thing you should do when renting a vehicle in Belize. It’s no secret that car rental companies can be sleazy, and the best way to protect yourself from undeserved fees is by having proof of the vehicle’s condition upon receiving it.
Take pictures of the entire vehicle, both inside and out. Take particular note of any scratches, dents, rips, or any other indicators of wear and tear. While reputable rental companies will note these damages for you before renting the vehicle to you, it is best to take your own photos and keep them for your own archives.
Get a GPS, but don’t rely solely on it.
The easiest way to navigate through Belize is by having a GPS, especially since road signs aren’t as prevalent as in other parts of the world. Most rental companies will offer a GPS for about $20 BZD per day, but you can also get by by downloading your maps on Google Maps.
However, while GPS is a good way to get the overall directions of your destination, it is important not to rely too much on the provided coordinates. Businesses and attractions are often mislisted by both GPS and Google Maps and are often a short drive from their actual location.
In these cases, locals are often friendly and will happily give the final directions to your destination.
Get a local SIM or eSIM
In case there is an accident or you get lost on the road, it is important to be able to contact somebody. For this reason, I suggest buying a local SIM card or an eSIM before renting your vehicle.
You can buy a local SIM card upon your arrival in Belize, or you can purchase an eSIM, such as Nomad or Airalo, to ensure you have a data connection throughout your Belizean road trip.
Check the fuel policy
Along with taking photos of the vehicle, checking the fuel policy is another thing you should look at before driving away in your new rental car. Most plans in Belize feature a full-to-full plan. This means you drop off the car with the same amount of gas you picked it up with.
In this case, it is important you take a photo of your gas gauge during your run-through of the vehicle, as some rental companies may claim the vehicle has more gas than is the actual case upon return.
Opt for 4-wheel drive.
If you are planning an extensive exploration of Belize’s mainland, then you are going to want to spend a little extra money on renting a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. While many cities have decently maintained streets, many roads outside of the urban areas are left unpaved, including those leading to some of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.
Pay for the rental car in Belize dollars.
Like many places in Belize, local rental companies often accept payments in both Belize dollars and U.S. dollars. I suggest just sticking to the local currency, as you will end up paying significantly more in the long run, thanks to the companies’ currency conversion fees.
By paying in cash with Belize dollars, you avoid these fees altogether. However, you can also pay with your own credit card, which typically offers a much better conversion rate.
FAQs About Renting a Car in Belize
