Nicaragua car rentals
Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Nicaragua
Cheap car rentals in Nicaragua
| Economy | C$ 20/day |
| Compact | C$ 18/day |
| Intermediate | C$ 50/day |
| Full-size | C$ 62/day |
| SUV | C$ 78/day |
| Full-size SUV | C$ 87/day |
| Mini | C$ 15/day |
| Pick-up truck | C$ 55/day |
| Compact SUV | C$ 54/day |
| Intermediate SUV | C$ 65/day |
| Standard SUV | C$ 74/day |
Top tips for renting a car in Nicaragua
- The Central American Republic of Nicaragua is a growing haven for eco-tourists, drawn to its volcanic features, lakes, and nature preserves. With a Nicaragua car rental, you have the convenience to explore many of these natural wonders as well as major cities like Managua and Chinandega in the country’s western regions. Plus, you will have the freedom to discover the country’s eastern regions abutting the Atlantic Ocean independent of public transportation. Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve is one of its most famous attractions, approximately 50 km (30 miles) outside the capital, Managua. Drive to the north of the country and visit Cerro Negro which is an active volcano that offers a number of adventures for visitors to explore while they are here. A popular destination in the south of the country is San Juan del Sur, that is a beautiful statue that offers amazing views of the water below.
- Major car rental agencies including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Dollar, and Enterprise/National all have multiple offices in popular destinations, such as Leon, Managua, and Granada. However, your best bet to reserve a car rental in Nicaragua is at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA). The airport has a car rental center, so you can make advance reservations for a vehicle and pick it up once your flight arrives, or you can stop by one of the agencies and collect a vehicle for the drive downtown.
- One of the most unique things about driving in Nicaragua is that as you get outside of major cities, you may begin to encounter rougher and sometimes even unpaved roads. This is going to be especially true if you are looking for outdoor adventures in some of the more remote parts of the country. One thing to remember is that as you drive through the country, you will most likely cross state borders and as such, it is important to have proper identification, such as your passport and you're international driving permit.
- In Nicaragua, children under the age of 12 cannot travel in the front of a vehicle. These passengers must travel in the rear of the vehicle and when children are four years old or younger they need to travel in an appropriate child restraint system. Because there are so few laws regarding child seats in this country, parents should check with their car rental company beforehand to make sure car seats are available for rent.
- Since there are countries that border Nicaragua, travelers often wonder if they can take their cars to other countries. Most car rental companies here will allow you to take your car into another country, but it is always best to check with the car rental company to make sure the country that you want to take your car to is allowed. Most rental car companies will charge a fee to take your car across the border but this fee varies quite a bit between companies and often depends on the country that you want to take the car into.
- Whether you obtain rental cars in Nicaragua at the airport or elsewhere, always note the office hours to determine the most convenient time for pickups and drop-offs. Some locations, like the one at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, may offer after hours return policies for your convenience, or you can pay a bit extra for the one-way policy and return your vehicle at any other agency location across the country.
- If you plan on picking up a car from the airport, be sure to note the operating hours for your provider so you can select the best time to return it when your travels are over. For instance, the Budget office is open 24 hours a day, whereas the Thrifty, Hertz, and Enterprise offices close at 9 pm. In such instances, ask if there’s an after-hours returns policy to give yourself some insurance in case there’s a sudden change of plans.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Nicaragua for C$ 24 or less
- Book your rental car in Nicaragua at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport rental car locations in Nicaragua are around 23% cheaper than airport locations on average
- Full-size rental cars in Nicaragua are around -298% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Nicaragua
How much does it cost to rent a car in Nicaragua?
On average a rental car in Nicaragua costs C$ 67 per day.
What is the most popular rental car in Nicaragua?
Full-size (Toyota Fortuner or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Nicaragua.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Nicaragua?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Budget (C$ 15/day), Ace (C$ 18/day) and Payless (C$ 20/day).
How can I find car rentals near me in Nicaragua?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
Where should I rent a car in Nicaragua?
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in Nicaragua are Managua (78% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Nicaragua), San Juan del Sur (13%) and Granada (3%).
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Nicaragua?
On average a rental car in Nicaragua costs C$ 244 per week (C$ 35 per day).
How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in Nicaragua?
On average a rental car in Nicaragua costs C$ 1,047 per month (C$ 35 per day).
What is driving like in Nicaragua?
Since citizens of Nicaragua speak Spanish, drivers should be aware that as they get out of more populated areas, they may have difficulty communicating with locals if they do not speak Spanish. Drivers cannot use a handheld device when driving a car and can only use this type of device when they can do so in a hands-free manner. Every passenger in a vehicle needs to be wearing a seat belt while a vehicle is in motion. While road signs will be in Spanish, most use standard symbols the drivers will recognize from around the world.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Nicaragua?
For the most part, the minimum age to rent a car in Nicaragua is 21 years old. That said, any driver that is under the age of 25 years old may pay an additional fee for renting a car. In addition to this, there can often be limits on the type of car that someone can rent if they are not 25 years old.
How are gas prices in Nicaragua?
Drivers should expect to pay around 49 NIO (1.36 USD) per liter, translating to about 185 NIO(5.14 USD) per gallon. When traveling in larger cities such as Managua, you are sure to find plenty of places to get gas. If you are heading out on an adventure in more rural areas, make sure you fill-up the tank first, as gas stations become fewer and farther between as you get away from large cities, this is especially important if you’re heading east, as there are few filling stations on the Atlantic side of the country.
What are the speed limits in Nicaragua?
For the most part, drivers will find that in urban areas speed limits are around 45 km/h (28 mph). As you get out to more highways on the outskirts of cities and in smaller towns you'll find speed limits of about 60 km/h (37 mph), and then on major freeways that travel between large cities, speed limits are around 100 km/h (62 mph).
Car rental directory
Avis car rental locations in Nicaragua
13 Locations
Budget car rental locations in Nicaragua
12 Locations
Dollar car rental locations in Nicaragua
8 Locations
Thrifty car rental locations in Nicaragua
8 Locations
Payless car rental locations in Nicaragua
7 Locations
National car rental locations in Nicaragua
6 Locations
Alamo car rental locations in Nicaragua
5 Locations
Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in Nicaragua
5 Locations
Easy Rent a Car car rental locations in Nicaragua
4 Locations
Sixt car rental locations in Nicaragua
4 Locations
Hertz car rental locations in Nicaragua
3 Locations
Economy Rent a Car car rental locations in Nicaragua
2 Locations