If you have not driven here before...take the bus.
Higuey only has 4 unmarked left turns and 3 right turns to get from one side to the other, virtually guaranteeing you will end up in El Seibo.
If by chance you make it through, then comes LA Romana. You must know which red lights you stop at and which ones you don't. Expect an AMET officer to rummage thru your paperwork...almost guaranteed. On to Santo Domingo...once there you them have to find your way without signage to the Duarte. Fun indeed. Most end up somewhere in the west of the city, headed for Azua.
I've never been to Higuey yet, but last month I drove from Santo Domingo to La Romana in order to visit Casa Del Campo and to explore La Romana.
I had no trouble whatsoever with finding my way around or with AMET. I have visited the DR 8 times in the last 21 months and I have rented cars and driven each of those times. Although driving is not the same as the US it is still not that bad. I have driven all over the country, the only parts I haven't been to yet are the far eastern end of the island, Punta Cana, Bavaro, Higuey, etc. La Romana was as close as I got.
The only "horrors" that I've encountered while driving was watching those CaribeTours buses lean so far over that I thought they were going to roll over as the driver flew down the road like a maniac, or pass a Guagua that rolled over for the same reason.
Trust my life on one of them??? I think not. I'll drive and enjoy the freedom it gives me.