Rent a Car in Cuba | Hitchhikers in Cuba
By carrentalcuba on Saturday, January 1st, 2011 | Comments Off on Rent a Car in Cuba | Hitchhikers in Cuba
Rent a Car in Cuba | Hitchhikers in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Hitchhikers in Cuba – The first cultural shock most drivers get when they begin driving in Cuba is the amount of hitchhikers there are all over the place.
Traffic lights look more like bus stops, with people eagerly waiting for a ride to anywhere that´s forward… Even outside main cities it’s quite common to see people practicing what is known in Cuba as “autostop”. While this may seem disconcerting and, sometimes these people can be misconceived as potential beggars, in fact, there are very few beggars in Cuba, especially on the roads.
No, these people are simply looking for a ride….
Rent a Car in Cuba BUT…take care…its fun but in moderation
Rent A Car in Cuba | Stray Animals
By carrentalcuba on Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent A Car in Cuba | Stray Animals
Rent A Car in Cuba | Stray Animals
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Stray Animals – This one may sound like a joke but people have been killed driving both day and night due to animals straying onto main roads, especially the freeways. Unlike your home country, Cuba´s freeways have no fences nor central dividers nor are livestock (generally) kept on enclosed farms. Many are left to roam the country side…the country side you could be driving through… Therefore, take special care, especially when driving long distances on the freeway, where high speeds are common and accidents of this type are (very) frequent. Due to the lack of central dividers, vehicles coming in the opposite direction can also swerve to miss animals and end up on the other side of the road with horrific consequences.
Rent A Car in Cuba and watch our for stray animals, specially at night!
Car Rental in Cuba | Police and traffic violations
By carrentalcuba on Thursday, November 18th, 2010 | Comments Off on Car Rental in Cuba | Police and traffic violations
Police & Fines in Cuba
Car Rental in Cuba | 101 on Fines
Police & Fines in Cuba
When driving a Car Rental in Cuba there are several important things you should know about how the local police operate and how, if you drive badly (and sometimes not), they will apply fines and the impending payment of these.
Important note: The police in Cuba have no technical capability to apply fines in your absence. Therefore, remote radars, parking fines in absentee, seeding, dangerous driving (when you are not specifically stopped at that moment) or, any other type of traffic violation you may have committed using you Car Rental in Cuba but were not stopped, means you will not be fined. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Parking & fines
Unlike your home country, parking fines are very rare in Cuba especially to those using a Car Rental in Cuba. Basically, unless you mistakenly park directly in front of a military base, block the access to a government building or leave your vehicle in a place where it could cause an accident, you´re free to park just about anywhere. Cuban police do not possess tow trucks, clamps or any other method to immobilize your vehicle. So in this respect, you can leave your rent a car in the knowledge that at least the police will not take it.
Rolling traffic violations
These are the type of traffic violations where you are followed or seen by a patrol vehicle breaking the law and thus stopped. Again, this is very rare. Cuban police do not have special units to specifically target traffic violations of this type for those using Car Rental in Cuba. However, motorcycle police are the most likely to target drivers who commit flagrant violations while driving. Usually, the modus operandi is prevention rather than sanction and, if you are, for example, going the wrong way down a street looking lost, the police will simply advise you to turn around. The same applies to other “mistake” type infringements. However, erratic driving, speeding and general showing off is heavily frowned upon. Police use their radios rather than pursuit vehicles to apprehend you in these situations. They often use a crude manual override (yes the policeman will walk over to a box near the lights and trigger the red!) at traffic lights to stop an approaching vehicle.
See the explanation of paying Car Rental in Cuba fines if you are unfortunate enough to receive one.
Car Rental in Cuba | Expired Contract or wrong driver
If you are stopped and your contract has expired, even by a few hours, its game over. The police will simply impound the vehicle on the spot and call the rental agency to establish why you are still driving the car. No amount of explanations will suffice and unless its “ok” with the rental agency that you be allowed to go straight to their offices then, generally, you´ll go with a police escort. This may sound petty to some and a complete waste of police time but, this is what invariably will happen.
If someone is driving the car that is not shown on the contract when you are stopped you will be fined. Fines can range from 30 to 150 CUC, depending on various factors like age of the driver, if he/she was committing a crime when stopped, etc. Letting your Cuban friend drive a rental car is definitely a no no. It may be cool to let them drive a nice car but, the fine could be hefty and if he/she does not have a driving license or does not have it with them they could also be detained. If another foreigner is driving the car though, they will not be detained, only a fine will apply.
See the explanation of paying rent a car fines if you are unfortunate enough to receive one.
Car Rental in Cuba need not be complicated if you obey the traffic signs and speak nicely, smile and generally offer a good demeanour to the police.
Rent a Car in Cuba | Paying traffic fines | How to Guide
By carrentalcuba on Thursday, November 11th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent a Car in Cuba | Paying traffic fines | How to Guide
Police In Cuba
Police In Cuba
Your Rent a Car in Cuba brought with it some traffic fines, now what?
You tried ever so hard to drive carefully in Cuba but incredibly you ended up getting fined.
There is no such thing as a “ticket” in Cuba. Not for tourists driving Rent a Car in Cuba there isn’t anyway. Any fines are written onto the rental contract by the police so that when you return the car the rental agency acts as the police´s fine collector…
Quite simply, you left a deposit when you rented the car. This deposit will be returned to you minus the fine amount. If the fines are more than the deposit (unlikely) then you will have to pay the difference when you return the car.
Fines are not transmitted to your home country and no action is taken concerning your driving license.
Rent a Car in Cuba but, keep safe, always obey the road signs and speed limits and you won´t end up getting fined
Rent a car in Cuba | Heat & Tire inflation
By carrentalcuba on Friday, November 5th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent a car in Cuba | Heat & Tire inflation
Rent a car in Cuba | Heat & Tire inflation
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Heat & Tire inflation – The heat in Cuba, especially on the roads, could fry an egg (no joke). We are talking about serious heat in the mid afternoon. Wrongly inflated tires can build up so much heat in these circumstances that the tread can literally detach from the tires carcass. This can happen at speed with dire consequences. While sat in your cocooned air conditioned sphere it’s easy to disregard the intense heat outside. Even a slightly deflated tire can generate so much heat, along with the ambient and road heat, way outside normal manufacturer’s tolerances. Always check the inflation of your tires before covering 30KM or more during daytime driving. A good time to do this is while refuelling or just before your journey. Don´t expect Cuban rental Agencies to have checked this before giving you the car either. They never do, ever. Pull into the first gas station you see, even if you don´t need fuel and check these. Don´t do this with luggage in your car though.
Rent a Car in Cuba but make sure you check those tires!!
Rent a car in Cuba | Car Maintenance Clause
By carrentalcuba on Thursday, October 14th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent a car in Cuba | Car Maintenance Clause
Rent a car in Cuba | Car Maintenance Clause
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Car Maintenance Clause – All rental contracts in Cuba have a space showing when the next periodic service is due.
You may be the unfortunate one who gets the car just a few miles from the “deadline” imposed service. You´d probably ask you, “Why did they not do the service before giving me the car if it’s only 300 miles until the next one?” Well, it’s because they couldn´t care less frankly. With this aside though, you will be “obliged” to find a rental office on or around this mileage and take the car there. This could take 5 mins or 3 hours of your valuable vacation time but, if you don´t do it, clauses in the contract allow for you to lose some or all of your guarantee deposit.
Very draconian right? Well yes, but rental offices are hot on this and, will definitely charge you the “fine” if you overlook it.
Rent a Car in Cuba but save money by checking when your Maintenance Clause kicks in!!
Rent a Car in Cuba | Car Washes | the impromptu car wash anywhere anytime!
By carrentalcuba on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent a Car in Cuba | Car Washes | the impromptu car wash anywhere anytime!
Car Wash??
Rent a Car in Cuba | Car Washes…
Car Wash??
The first thing that will strike you when your car becomes very dirty is the total absence of car washes in Cuba so how do you clean your Rent a Car in Cuba?
Essentially, they do not exist. Neither the mechanized roller type nor the pressure variety can be found anywhere. Therefore, after a downpour, and at any moment in-between, be prepared to see legions of Cubans touting buckets and cloths in parking areas all over the city offering you to wash your Rent a Car in Cuba. For a few pesos they will wash your car. Sometimes (more often than not) you´ll be underwhelmed by the outcome but, at least your car will “look” a little cleaner.
One thing to watch out for is what exactly they intend to clean your car with. Old dirty rags, dirty water or no water at all are the signs of trouble. Some tourists have had to pay heavily for street car washes that left their cars full of scratches and blemishes on the paint work. If in doubt, simply say no and wait for someone with better “equipment” to arrive. Often times, both the both who watches over our car at the Casa Particular or the same at the Hotel can be coaxed into washing your car for a few extra pesos and its usually a better option.
Not taking care of your Rent a Car in Cuba could cost you the security deposit…top tip
Rent a Car in Cuba 101
Rent a car in Cuba | Drinking and Driving
By carrentalcuba on Monday, July 19th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent a car in Cuba | Drinking and Driving
Rent A Car in Cuba – Drinking and Driving
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Drinking & Driving in Cuba – in 2011 strict new laws were introduced concerning drinking and driving in Cuba. These prohibit ANY amount of drink (not limits like elsewhere) and also prohibit the transport of alcohol.
Of course, like many things in Cuba, these rules are made to be broken, usually by the locals and, sometimes flagrantly, but be aware that if you are caught your rental car will be confiscated and no refund given.
Although this is VERY rare and, most of the time nobody will seem to care, if you become involved in an accident, even a minor one, and you are checked for alcohol consumption you may again be a candidate for your own episode of Banged up Abroad in the starring role…
However, policing of this is VERY lax and there are no spot checks like you are accustomed to at home maybe.
Rent a Car in Cuba but take it easy!
Rent A Car in Cuba | Rainy or Hurricane season in Cuba
By carrentalcuba on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 | Comments Off on Rent A Car in Cuba | Rainy or Hurricane season in Cuba
Rent A Car in Cuba – Rainy or Hurricane season
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Rainy or Hurricane season in Cuba – During hurricane season June to November and throughout the year between 4 and 7 pm you can expect rain you have never seen before unless you live in the tropics or India…
Although, this rain would seem trivial the following things happen…
Roads into rivers – you should not underestimate the severity of Cuban downpours.
Streets can quickly become waterlogged and hip deep (honestly).
Lower lying areas and dips in the road can become 1 meter or more deep.
You will see cars stranded trying to (foolishly) turn their vehicles into amphibian craft all over the city.
This does not happen “now and again” but VERY frequently. Therefore, when you see heavy rain, no matter what your urgency is, STOP and wait. Find a convenient bar or restaurant and sit it out. This can be easier said than done mind but, the rule is “stop for heavy rain” or the rain will stop you, possibly definitively…with a waterlogged engine or worse, an engine which has drawn in water (catastrophic failure).
The final point is the aforementioned potholes. These are invisible in heavy rain so, if you feel like changing a wheel under 1 meter of water then keep driving…
