Introduction
When planning your travels in Panama, you’ll likely find renting a car is the most efficient course of action. It offers the convenience to explore destinations at your own pace, with the freedom to choose when and where you go. Or, perhaps you live in Panama and only need a car for a 3-day excursion to the mountains. In this case, it’s possible that you may not need some options that would be important to a vacationer. Either way, you likely have some questions about what add-ons are necessary or essential. It’s important that we address these options upfront so you can make informed decisions on your next car rental. Here, we’ve put together a list of seven must-have Panama car rental add-ons.
7 Must-have Panama Car Rental Add-ons
Insurance: Why It Matters
We’re highlighting this point first because it's a crucial rental car add-on. In Panama, as in many other places, all drivers are required to have liability insurance to cover potential accidents. You need to purchase this insurance separately from your rental, and it’s often not included in the initial price, adding to your overall car rental costs. It’s mandatory and cannot be replaced by your credit card insurance, so be prepared for this additional cost, which can sometimes match the rental fee itself.
Being aware of the varying costs based on your selected level of insurance is important, with cheaper packages typically including a higher deposit and deductible. It may seem like a chunk of money; however, it's the law, and should you have an unfortunate accident or breakdown, you won’t regret it. If you have more questions, we have a detailed article on rental car insurance that you can read here.
An example of insurance options on our website, chiriquicarrentals.com
Location Services: Convenient Pick-up and Drop-off
You should consider this one while you’re planning. If you’re arriving and departing by plane, see what companies are at or near the airport. For those already in the country with a means of transportation, adding this option may be unnecessary. Either way, you should be aware of the pick-up and return locations. It may be worth paying an extra fee to have the car delivered or to have a convenient return location. At Chiriqui Car Rentals, we offer flexible delivery and drop-off locations and times. This allows you to organize your travels without planning around the car rental.
Additional Driver Options: Share the Wheel
An option that many times comes in handy is to have a secondary driver listed. This may be an extra fee, but if you dislike always being the driver or would like the flexibility, it may be worth it. Perhaps your spouse or another family member could be added to the contract, and the driving can be broken up that way. This one’s up to you. It very possibly may not be worth it, but definitely consider it before you continue.