We are trying to book a vehicle at STI for our week long stay in DR. I note that besides the regular international car rental agencies, such as Europcar, Dollar, Avis, Alamo, National, Economy, that there are a relatively large number of rental agencies along Avenida Victor Manuel Espaillat, with names like Sunshine Rent a Car, Pronto Rent a Car, Lora Renta Car, Ez Car Rental, Hot Deals Rent a Car, Ability Rent Car, Adventure Rent A Car, Exotic Rent a Car, and A&R Rent Car, which I presume to be local agencies.
Elsewhere in the Caribbean or Central America we have rented cars informally where there were no international car rental agencies, or we rented from local agencies if we needed to cross a border (which was forbidden with international agencies), or if we needed a high fording depth vehicle (which international agencies did not have). But none of these scenarios appear relevant to our travels within DR.
I note that all the local agencies seem to have prices very much higher than those of the international agencies, tend to have older vehicles, tend to have more restricted hours, and the service does not seem as good. The only difference is that some appear to carry high end luxury vehicles (which would make me a target of the police). Yet these local agencies appear to be in business.
Is there any reason for me to rent from one of the local agencies at STI, instead from one of the international agencies? Is there some advantage to going with a local agency that I am overlooking?
Elsewhere in the Caribbean or Central America we have rented cars informally where there were no international car rental agencies, or we rented from local agencies if we needed to cross a border (which was forbidden with international agencies), or if we needed a high fording depth vehicle (which international agencies did not have). But none of these scenarios appear relevant to our travels within DR.
I note that all the local agencies seem to have prices very much higher than those of the international agencies, tend to have older vehicles, tend to have more restricted hours, and the service does not seem as good. The only difference is that some appear to carry high end luxury vehicles (which would make me a target of the police). Yet these local agencies appear to be in business.
Is there any reason for me to rent from one of the local agencies at STI, instead from one of the international agencies? Is there some advantage to going with a local agency that I am overlooking?