Renting a vehicle
There are a variety of vehicle rental options to meet the size and budget requirements of your family.
Grand Cayman is very accessible and getting around in your own vehicle, in my opinion, is the best way to explore the island. That said, if you don’t think you’d use a vehicle that much or you prefer not to drive in unfamiliar places, there is a public bus system that can get you where you want to go.
There are two rental car plazas. One is to left when you walk out of the main terminal. The other is behind short term parking. Both are visible when you exit. Be sure to check which plaza you should go to.
The process for renting a vehicle is similar to most any other airport. Most of the major rental agencies serve the island, as do a number of local providers. A current list, along with contact numbers, can he found here. Of course, booking online is typically the easiest.
We have rented from Hertz, Budget, and Avis and have had a good experience with all of them. When picking up your car you’ll need your license and credit card. You’ll also need to decide whether anyone in addition to the primary driver is going to drive the car. If so, they will need to be added as a secondary driver. This will affect the total rental amount slightly, as there is a per driver vehicle license fee (VLF) —- typically around $5 per driver.
A few other points of consideration when renting a vehicle:
You may want to check with your insurance company to see if and how your policy provides coverage in the Cayman Islands. Depending on their guidance you’ll need to make a decision on what coverages you may want to take from the rental agency. There are typically two options: 1) Liability (e.g. injury to others, property damage) and 2) Loss / collision (theft or damage of the vehicle). They can substantially add to the total rental amount, so it’s a good idea to be clear on which you need / want beforehand.
There are a couple other fees that usually get added in, including the previously mentioned vehicle license fee (VLF) and a vehicle environmental fee (VERF). In most cases for us, it seems like insurance, fees, and taxes generally comprise 40 - 50% of the total rental fee. So, if the base rate is $300/week when we book, we’ll plan for $500 - $600 for the total rental cost.
Most of the agencies have car seats and boosters available for rent, typically around $10/day.
Big cars are kind of a pain. With driving on the the left side of the road, generally narrower parking spots, and the price of gas (~USD $6/gallon), small cars are a nice way to go. Of course, if you need the space, mini-vans and full size cars are available. However, this may be one of those times to see how your family likes a compact car!
Once you’ve been given the keys, you may do a “walk around” of the car with an agent (depending on the insurance you’ve chosen) to identify any scratches, dents, etc. that already exist. Be thorough about this so you are not liable for any damage that happened during another rental.
Buckle up and look left!