Real feedback from American and Canadian travelers who compared offers on CarRental Caribbean and booked their car with a local or international supplier in Jamaica, Curacao, Barbados or Punta Cana.
We ask every traveler who books a car through our comparison engine to rate the process: how easy it was to compare offers, how accurate the USD price turned out to be at pickup, and how the supplier treated them on arrival. Below is a sample of reviews from real trips to Montego Bay, Willemstad, Bridgetown and Punta Cana over the last year. Names have been shortened for privacy, and locations reflect where each traveler picked up their car.
Across all four islands, the most common praise is the ability to see several suppliers side by side before choosing, rather than guessing which company to trust. The most common complaint - as with any car rental anywhere - relates to optional extras being offered again at the counter, which is why we recommend reading the "what's included" line on each offer before you confirm.
"Compared four suppliers at MBJ in about five minutes and picked one with free cancellation. The compact car we got was exactly the model listed, and the price matched what we saw online. Drove the coast road to Negril with no issues once we got used to staying left."
"Rented for a single cruise day near the Ocho Rios pier. The supplier was waiting close to the terminal and we were back well before all-aboard. Booking through the comparison site meant I already knew the excess amount before I signed anything at the counter."
"Kingston isn't as touristy as Montego Bay but the SUV we compared and booked handled the hill roads outside the city fine. Left-side driving took an hour to feel normal, then it was easy. Would book the same way again."
"Off-season price was noticeably lower than the December quote I got a year earlier for the same dates in reverse - about $18 a day less. A brief afternoon shower one day, otherwise sunny the whole week."
"Read every review on the offer before booking and the supplier rating turned out to be accurate - friendly counter staff, clean car, no pressure to buy extra insurance we didn't need since our credit card already covered it."
"Country roads outside town do have potholes and the occasional goat crossing, just as we'd read beforehand, so the higher-clearance SUV we compared against the economy option was worth the extra few dollars a day."
"Booked in July, which we later learned is hurricane season everywhere else in the Caribbean but Curacao sits outside that belt, so we had a full week of dry weather. The right-side driving felt natural within the airport parking lot already."
"Our ship docked walking distance from downtown, so we compared a few one-day offers, picked the highest-rated supplier, and had a small SUV within twenty minutes of leaving the terminal. Perfect for the dirt tracks down to the west-coast beaches."
"The Dutch-style roundabouts took some getting used to but everyone yields the same way, so it's actually easier than the four-way stops back home in Ontario. Car was ready early, no line at all."
"Compared prices twice, a week apart, and the December quote was about $15 a day more than the same car in September - worth knowing if your travel dates are flexible."
"Island is only about 60 km end to end so we never drove more than an hour at a time. Compact car was plenty; wouldn't bother upgrading unless you're loading up on dive gear."
"Booked a year-round trip in October specifically because of the lower off-season pricing, and the weather never gave us a reason to regret it - Curacao really does dodge the storms."
"Left-side driving with roundabouts sounded intimidating from the reviews we read, but Bajan drivers are patient and everyone signals well ahead. Comparing suppliers first meant we knew the young-driver fee before it surprised us at the counter (my son is 23)."
"Ship docked right next to Bridgetown, so a day rental made total sense. Drove the calm west coast in the morning and the wilder east coast in the afternoon - completely different scenery in the same small island."
"Island is only 34 by 23 km so nothing is really far, but we still appreciated free cancellation on our offer when our flight got delayed a day."
"Supplier rating on the offer was spot on - four and a half stars and that's exactly how it felt: polite staff, clear paperwork, no upsell games."
"Booked a minivan for the extended family, seven seats, and comparing suppliers first saved us close to $30 a day versus the first quote we found on our own."
"April trip, right at the end of the dry season - roads were quiet, prices were still peak-season rates, but everything about the pickup was smooth."
"We stayed all-inclusive but still wanted a day trip to Saona and one to Santo Domingo, so we compared a short-term offer instead of committing for the whole week. Cheapest rates of any island we've used this site for."
"Local driving style is genuinely aggressive, just like the reviews warn - lots of passing on the toll road to the capital - but the car itself and the supplier were fine, and the price beat anything we found elsewhere."
"Right-side driving here after years of driving in Jamaica on the left took a day to adjust to mentally, but the roads themselves near the resort strip are well maintained."
"Booked an SUV for the Higuey side roads, which turned out unnecessary for our route, but the price difference over the economy car was small enough it wasn't worth changing."
"September trip, hurricane season on paper, but we only got one short downpour in eight days and the savings versus a December price were significant."
"Resort pickup was arranged directly with the supplier after booking through the comparison site - showed up on time, no confusion, and the deposit hold matched what was stated on the offer."
"Second time using this site, this time for Jamaica after a Curacao trip last year. Consistent experience both times: transparent pricing, real supplier names, no surprises."
"US license was accepted with zero questions at the counter, exactly as the FAQ said - no international permit needed."
"Instant confirmation email arrived within a minute of booking, which mattered because our connecting flight was tight."
"Compared five offers, sorted by price, booked the second cheapest because the supplier rating was noticeably higher than the cheapest option. Good call in the end."
"Kingston gets fewer reviews than Montego Bay online, so I appreciated seeing several real ratings before choosing a supplier near the airport."
"Free cancellation saved us when our cruise itinerary changed at the last minute - rebooked a different pickup date at no extra cost."
| Island | Average rating | Most praised | Most mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 4.6 / 5 | Accurate USD pricing at MBJ | Left-side driving adjustment |
| Curacao | 4.8 / 5 | Year-round dry weather, easy pickup | Dutch-style roundabouts |
| Barbados | 4.8 / 5 | Polite drivers, clear paperwork | Young-driver fees under 25 |
| Punta Cana | 4.6 / 5 | Lowest prices of the four islands | Aggressive local traffic |
If you want to compare a specific route yourself before you book, start with car rental in Jamaica, car rental in Curacao, car rental in Barbados or car rental in Punta Cana, or read our island-by-island driving guide first if the left-side or right-side driving question is what's holding you back.
Reviews are collected from travelers who compared offers on our site and completed a booking with one of the local or international suppliers listed. We show the pickup location and island so you can judge relevance to your own trip.
Curacao and Barbados tend to score slightly higher, partly because Curacao sits outside the hurricane belt with more predictable weather and Barbados has a smaller, well-signed road network. Jamaica and Punta Cana still rate well but travelers mention country roads and local driving style more often.
Very rarely, and mostly around optional extras re-offered at the counter rather than anything on the original offer. We recommend checking the "what's included" line on each listing before booking so you know exactly what the excess and insurance level cover.
Traveler feedback like the reviews above is generally consistent with the rating shown per offer at the time of comparison. Ratings are attached to each supplier, not to our site, since the rental contract is always between you and the supplier.
Often, especially first-time visitors to Jamaica or Barbados (both left-side) or travelers arriving from a left-side island to Curacao or Punta Cana (both right-side). Most describe a short adjustment period rather than any lasting difficulty.
After completing a booking through our comparison engine, you'll receive a follow-up request to rate the process. You can also reach out through our contact page to share feedback directly.
Booked a car through our comparison engine? Tell other travelers how it went - which island, which supplier, and whether the price at the counter matched what you saw here.