Renting a car for Las Américas Airport (SDQ)

Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) is where most visitors to Santo Domingo land. If you plan to explore on your own, having a car from day one saves you from taxis and other people’s schedules. Here is what to know before you land.

Where the airport is, and what is around it

SDQ sits east of the city, right by the coast, about 20 kilometres from downtown Santo Domingo. We are based in Santo Domingo Este, on the way between the airport and the city, so pick-up and drop-off are never a detour: you can see us on the map on our About page.

Boca Chica and its beaches are minutes away. To the west you have the Colonial City and the Malecón; to the east, the highway to La Romana, Bayahíbe and Punta Cana.

How long the drive takes

• To Santo Domingo Este: 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
• To downtown Santo Domingo and the Colonial City: 30 to 45 minutes.
• To Boca Chica: about 15 minutes.
• To Punta Cana or Bávaro: two and a half to three hours on the eastern highway.

Rush hour in Santo Domingo runs from 7 to 9 in the morning and 5 to 7 in the evening, like in any capital. If you land in that window, allow some extra time.

How we hand over the car

We deliver to the airport: message us on WhatsApp with your flight number, arrival time and rental dates, and we arrange for the vehicle to be waiting for you. You can also send the request through our booking form and we reply the same way.

Taxi, transfer or rental car

You will have three options at the airport, and all three work — just not for the same thing. A taxi solves today’s ride. A private transfer drops you at the hotel and leaves. A rental car solves the whole stay: you leave when you want, change plans mid-morning and stop paying for a transfer every time you move.

• Staying one or two days and not leaving the hotel? A taxi is enough.
• Landing at dawn, with children and a lot of luggage, and you only want to sleep? A transfer is the comfortable call.
• Here for a week and want the city, the beach and a bit more? The car pays for itself from day two.
• If your plan includes the east coast or inland, the car stops being a comfort and becomes the practical choice.

There is a fourth reason, less obvious: with your own car you never depend on finding a ride back from somewhere that has none — which is exactly what happens at many beaches as the afternoon ends.

If your flight is delayed

It happens often and it is not a problem. Message us on WhatsApp as soon as you know, with the flight number and the new estimated time, and we move the handover. Same if your terminal changes or you miss a connection: as long as you write to us, the vehicle moves with you.

What to have ready when you land

• Your passport and a valid driving licence.
• A credit card in your own name, usually required as a deposit.
• Your flight number and estimated arrival time, so we can time the handover.
• The address of your hotel or accommodation, for the GPS.
• Mobile data, with a local SIM or an eSIM, if you will navigate from your phone.

Which vehicle suits your arrival

Travelling as a family with big suitcases? A minivan saves you from playing luggage Tetris: the Honda Odyssey Elite seats seven to eight. For two or three travellers who want height and comfort, a hybrid compact SUV such as the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport is easy on fuel and just as happy in the city as on the highway. For business trips, a sedan like the Honda Accord Sport is plenty. The whole fleet is in our catalogue.

Three quick questions

• Are there tolls? Yes, the highway linking the airport with the city has a toll. Keep a few Dominican pesos in cash just in case.
• Are there petrol stations nearby? Yes, both on the airport road and around Santo Domingo Este, and many stay open late.
• Can I drive with my own country’s licence? Generally yes, while you are here as a visitor. Tell us which country issued your licence and we will confirm it before you travel.

Updated on September 23, 2026.