Pitfalls of Renting a car in Panama

Don't get caught in this trap when renting a car in Panama. Find this out ahead of time and save money.

[@mark1BlackFox]

Good video...one call-out with Budget. Typically, if you purchase three add-ons (like rental insurance/satellite radio/full tank of gas)...you get a significant discount. Typically, when you do this...the added options is within a few dollars of the rental price without any options (but you must get three). It's actually eye opening the cost savings. Plus, you get all the add-ons and insurance.

[@relicofgold]

HA!!!! Rented at PTY. After paying for the additional insurance, they say "You must put down a $2000 Deposit". When you object, they say "Do you want the car or not?" Then when you return the car, they don't credit you the remainder money until 2-3 weeks. ALWAYS. take extensive video when you pick up the car and when you drop it off. Driving in Panama? It's one of the most dangerous things you will ever do in your lifetime.

[@Robert507PTY]

Yes, driving in Panama is as dangerous as getting married to a gold digger. You must have a good attorney just like having a good car insurance company with full coverage. It is basically driving in GTA V online 😅

[@llamad8550]

Great video. In 2022, we rented a vehicle in Coronado from one the individual companies that you mentioned. Had it for an entire month - cost between $900 & $1000, insurance included. Availability was not a problem, as it was prior to high season. Lucky us! No problems at all. Keep up the great work!!

[@laptopseniors]

Thanks. We appreciate you. 😃

[@definitelydaphne777]

Great video , clear audio .Thank You for sharing this information 🙏

[@laptopseniors]

Thanks for watching Daphne.

[@trevorwhite5127]

Great presentation, very helpful. Thanks to you guys.

[@laptopseniors]

Glad it was helpful! 😄

[@dr77450]

Thanks for the information. We are visiting PC and David next month and I'm booking car rentals, so this information is very helpful as I had the same question. Thank you!

[@guillermogouldburn763]

You can take the metro train from Tocumen airport to the city for just 85 cents. Don't rent at the airport and don't be ripped off by airport taxis. The metro train is very safe. And you can use your contactless debit or credit card to pay the fare at the turnstiles. Only Visa and Mastercard accepted.

[@laptopseniors]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy your adventures in Panama😁

[@RedroomStudios]

@@guillermogouldburn763 excellent information about the option to pay with cc at the turnstiles. I tried that in London England a few years ago - although, it took my girlfriend's card but rejected mine.

[@adamjung5470]

I also have an Amex Platinum. Had no idea about this - thanks!

[@laptopseniors]

Happy to help! 😁

[@franko311]

Thank you so much for the information. And he is right, never rent a car in the airport, they will give you a high rate. I made that mistake, luckily I went to the rental car office in Via España, I attempted to return the car, but the rental car employee gave me another rate significantly cheaper than the airport office

[@laptopseniors]

Glad it was helpful! Good Move Frank.

[@Richard-nb4iv]

I always defer to the scene from Jerry Seinfield when it comes to car rentals. "I want the full coverage because I'm going to beat the crap out of this thing".

[@RedroomStudios]

my credit card company was like that for the US Virgin Islands... they could not tell me if I was specifically covered for there but the local company I was renting from needed written proof of coverage before they would agree to let me have one of their vehicles. my credit card company provided me with some sort of generic document saying they will cover anywhere in the world other than countries like Mexico or Australia that require you to purchase local insurance. and like you, luckily I didnt have to put it to the test. surely these things could be better organizedf though.

[@laptopseniors]

Thanks Redroom. You're right. You'd think it'd be as simple as a 1 page document listing countries covered, sitting on their website.

[@anniesshenanigans3815]

I have heard the nightmare stories about rentals. I can't afford all that so I guess I will be riding in taxi, uber, bus or friends.

[@laptopseniors]

Hi Annie. Ultimately it worked out for us but it took a lot of shopping around and learning. Are you travelling solo?

[@anniesshenanigans3815]

@@laptopseniors yes I will be. I have some friends that have moved to Panama already and made some more friends on my last visit there. I haven't found any older females that vlog about traveling around Panama. One or two that did for a brief time, then settled.

[@laptopseniors]

You’re quite an adventurer! I admire your confidence. Thankfully Panamá is very safe and it’s easy to make friends. I was thinking of doing a video on some of the expat groups I’ve encountered. I believe there is one for women in Panama but unfortunately I can’t find it just now. I’ll keep an eye out though.

[@Robert507PTY]

I always buy the insurance because I can't afford not to have it 😅

[@ForTheLoveOfHomes]

Thank you!

[@laptopseniors]

You're welcome!😁

[@CharlieBrown0507]

I was in Panama last December. Rented a car. Showed them my CITI Costco credit card and told the lady I didn't need insurance and there was no problem.

[@laptopseniors]

Wow, lucky Al. Do you remember the car company? Viewers would love to know that. Actually, we'd like to know that for next time. I guess the big question is, did you know for sure that CITi covered you there? I have a CITI card also.

[@CharlieBrown0507]

@@laptopseniors Rented it thru alamopanama. I also googled if my credit card covered car rental insurance and it said yes that my benefits included Worldwide car rental insurance.

[@RedroomStudios]

@@laptopseniors certainly it would be hit and miss depending on the individual you are dealing with as far as just accepting flashing your credit card. have just been reading some terms and conditions of rental companies online and they say you need to provide "proof" of coverage in order to decline their insurance.

[@paulsosa8220]

Question - if you purchase the car insurance, and you have an accident, do you have to pay a deductible as well, or is it zero deductible? Thank you

[@definitelydaphne777]

Just curious , are there jeeps in Panama ? I heard that for some vehicles it is hard to get the parts so you must choose from a small selection of brands .

[@laptopseniors]

We have seen Jeeps, but now that you mention it I don't remember very many. They could be US imports by new expats.

[@keithwhitehead3841]

i rented a car in Panama the first and only time i have ever driven in a foreign country. i want be doing that again not a good idea.

[@YESITSWILL]

The Hertz in my city increases the daily rental rate from $30 to $60 if you decline coverage.

[@laptopseniors]

Wow, that's harsh. Clearly no rational person would rent from them if you're used to having your credit card handle CDW.

[@reallmccoy9043]

We have State Farm for our cars and they insure us for rentals anywhere in the world as part of our policy

[@laptopseniors]

Wow, that's a fantastic deal. Have you used it in Panama? Did you get a letter from them?

[@reallmccoy9043]

@@laptopseniors We have not used it in panama yet. But in Antigua

[@laptopseniors]

@@reallmccoy9043 Love to know that outcome. Probably EVERYONE would like to know that outcome.

[@reallmccoy9043]

@@laptopseniors outcome?

[@RedroomStudios]

@@reallmccoy9043 "how it worked out of you IF you had gone to Panama". most of the rental companies in Panama would require you to provide "proof" of coverage before they would allow you to decline their insurance. it would be rare that they would just accept you telling them that your card covers it. which is sort of the point of this video. he wanted proof that he was covered in Panama and they couldnt specifically tell him yes. and I have had to provide a letter from my insurance company previously when I rented a jeep from a local company in the US Virgin Islands. even then my company could not specifically state that I was covered in the US Virgin Islands. they could only provide a generic letter stating that I was covered anywhere in the world other than countries where it is a legal requirement to purchase coverage such as Mexico or Australia.

[@7735518B]

$2K for insurance in San Jose, Costa Rica! Budget

[@laptopseniors]

Bummer! 😝

[@RedroomStudios]

I dont know why the car rental game needs to be such a scam. if they would make the daily rental prices slightly higher and make the insurance reasonable it would be a lot less headaches for everyone involved. without doubt the excessive insurance fees scare a lot of potential customers away.

[@laptopseniors]

Absolutely 👍🏻 I wonder if people sometimes book a car not realizing the additional insurance cost.

[@ichbins-oc5wp]

I am happy i chose to not get a car. Now i know i will not rent a car next time too.

[@parler8698]

Do not be cheap in Panama.

[@dmull305]

Third-world country rental.

[@asimpleguy9667]

Never rent a car in a third world country, because a small damage will be charged by yourself, poor countries never give a thing about insurance, sometimes insurance wouldn't cover you, you'll be liable to the rental car of it's damaged or stolen, if you really wanna rent, drive safe, avoid alcohol

[@laptopseniors]

That's why having insurance coverage is so important. For us, at least where we rented, it all was effortless. But then, we had their insurance.

[@YESITSWILL]

Panama is not a third world country.

[@laptopseniors]

@@YESITSWILL You are 1000% correct. Panama is a definite first world country. We both thought the HIGHLY computerized drivers license offices and the Immigration offices and the Cedula office were faster, more thorough, and more helpful than in LOTS of countries we've dealt with, including Canada and some western European ones.

[@RedroomStudios]

@@laptopseniors similar to where I am in Mexico, its quite mixed... where the infrastructure in cities can even be further ahead than the US or Canada but when you get out to small towns and villages the infrastructure is basic and not always dependable. I know in rural Panama the electricity can go out for days at a time for example.

[@nstorm2415]

​@@RedroomStudioswhen? I live in panama and the electricity rarely goes out. And in those occasions it normally comes back in 2 to 10 hours. And i dont live near a big city.

[@garyyarbrough888]

Rip off n Panama just like every other country 👎👎👎

[@ES-mc3cc]

Seems like you could hire somebody to drive you in their car for money and gas money and it would be cheaper.