It will be 3 years since I was last in the DR. I did come at least once in the previous six years and I don't know if it's just because I'm getting older and more cautious or just older and wiser? Every past trip I rented a car drove everywhere even at night used my credit card as insurance waiver and never had a problem. Have things changed? Was I just lucky? I will rent a car but am thinking of not driving from Santo Domingo to La Vega or Samana at night. Also of thinking of buying insurance through rental car company. Any suggestions? Also any recommendations between budget and Economy car rentals. Thanks in advance. I'm so looking forward to getting back to the DR-DR. Ed