Deposit, insurance and fees: what to check before renting

The daily rate is only part of what a vehicle rental costs. Before you take a quad (ATV), car, motorbike, scooter or buggy in Las Terrenas, make sure you understand the deposit, the insurance, the taxes and the extra fees. Conditions vary between rental companies: use this guide to know what to ask, then read the contract before you sign.

Rental price and deposit are not the same thing

The rental price is what you pay to use the vehicle. The security deposit is a guarantee: an amount held at the start and returned at the end if the vehicle comes back as agreed. Depending on the contract, damage, missing fuel, a late return, cleaning, lost keys or traffic fines can be deducted from it. Ask how much it is, in which currency and form, when it is returned and how damage is assessed.

Card hold or cash

With a card hold (pre-authorization), the amount is blocked on your card, not charged. The company releases it after the return; when the funds become available again depends on your bank. Some companies require a credit card: with some debit cards, the amount is withdrawn from your account and refunded later.

With a cash deposit, ask for a signed receipt showing the amount, currency and date, keep it until you are repaid, and agree beforehand on how the money will be returned.

Insurance: what to ask about

Cover differs between companies, so ask what is included and get the answer in writing.

• Third-party liability covers damage or injury you cause to others, up to a limit. Motor vehicles in the Dominican Republic must carry liability insurance, but the legal minimum (often called seguro de ley) may have low limits and does not cover the rented vehicle.
• Damage to the rented vehicle (sometimes called CDW) usually comes with a deductible ("excess" in some countries): the part of each claim you pay yourself. Ask for the amount and whether it applies per incident.
• Theft: is it covered, under what conditions and with what deductible?
• Exclusions: contracts often exclude driving under the influence, undeclared drivers and off-road, beach or water use, as well as tires, glass, the underbody and lost keys.
• Quads, buggies and two-wheelers: damage cover may be limited or unavailable. Ask what you would owe if the vehicle tips over or gets scratched.

Also check your travel insurance and credit card. Their rental or medical cover often comes with conditions: some exclude motorbikes or quads, or require a license valid for the vehicle category.

Taxes: ITBIS

ITBIS is the Dominican value-added tax, with a general rate of 18%. Some companies include it in their prices, others add it to the invoice: ask, so that you compare offers on the same basis.

Fees that may be added

• Mandatory fees: some companies add charges to every rental (service, cleaning, basic insurance). Ask for the total with all mandatory fees.
• Delivery and collection: bringing the vehicle to your accommodation or the airport may be free, included from a minimum number of days, or charged. Early or late handovers may cost more.
• Additional driver: may need to be named on the contract, sometimes for a fee.
• Cleaning: quads and buggies often come back muddy or sandy; ask whether a cleaning fee applies.
• Fines and tolls: the contract usually makes you responsible for those incurred during the rental.

Fuel policy

• Full to full: you get a full tank and return it full.
• Same to same: you return it at the level you received it, so photograph the gauge at pickup.
• Refueling by the company: if fuel is missing, the company refuels and charges you, sometimes above the pump price, plus a service fee.

Fuel in the Dominican Republic is sold by the gallon (one US gallon is about 3.79 liters).

How rental days are counted

• 24-hour periods: pick up on Monday at 10:00 and return on Wednesday at 10:00, and you pay two days. Return at 13:00 and you may pay extra hours or a third day.
• Calendar days: every day started counts, so Monday to Wednesday is three days.
• Short rentals: some companies offer half-day or hourly rates for quads and buggies.

Ask which method applies and confirm pickup and return times in writing.

Late return

Some companies allow a short grace period; others charge from the first hour or bill an extra day. If you will be late, warn the company before the rental ends, keep its answer in writing and check whether the insurance still applies after the agreed time.

Checklist: questions to ask before renting

1. What is the total price for my dates, with ITBIS and mandatory fees?
2. How much is the deposit, in what form and currency, and when is it returned?
3. Which insurance is included, what is the deductible and what is excluded?
4. Is delivery or collection charged, and at what times is it possible?
5. What is the fuel policy?
6. How are days counted, and what happens if I return late?
7. Which license and minimum age are required? Can someone else drive?
8. Are helmets and, if needed, child seats included?
9. Who do I call after a breakdown or an accident?

At pickup: inspect and take photos

• Walk around the vehicle with the company's representative, photographing or filming each side, the wheels, lights and mirrors, with close-ups of every scratch or dent.
• Photograph the fuel gauge and the odometer (or hour meter).
• Have existing damage noted on the contract or inspection sheet before you sign.
• Test the brakes, lights, horn and turn signals; on a quad or buggy, check the tires and parking brake, and make sure helmets fit.
• Keep a copy of the signed contract (a clear photo will do).
• On return, take the same photos, ideally with the representative, and ask for written confirmation that everything is in order.

Compare offers and send a request

On Rent Las Terrenas, you can compare offers from several local rental companies in the catalog. Prices are collected from public sources and shown with their collection date: they are indicative, not a quote. To ask for a vehicle, use the "Request to book" button or the request form; only your WhatsApp number is required. Our team replies on WhatsApp to confirm price and availability; that is a good time to go through the checklist above. A request is not a confirmed booking. See how it works.