All about renting a car during your trip to Brazil

Are you considering visiting multiple cities during your next trip to Brazil? Are you considering renting a car to help you do so? Then this article is for you.

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, but I have lived in Europe for many years already so I can clearly tell the difference between renting a car in Brazil vs. other more developed countries. In this blog post, I gathered all my tips for renting a car in Brazil so I can help you make the best decision for your own trip.

Let’s get started!

Is it worth renting a car during your first trip to Brazil?

First, it is really important to understand that Brazil is enormous so it is impossible to make a statement that would be 100% true for the entire country. The driving conditions vary a lot from region to region, as will your travel needs.

If you will be going to large cities and main capitals such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo during your Brazil trip, I do not think renting a car is worth it. The traffic in major cities is chaotic and the parking situation can be quite stressful. These cities have good public transport infrastructure, so the best thing to do is to go around by bus, subway, or taxi.

That being said, there are some specific destinations where having a car could be quite handy. For example, if you plan on going to Buzios or Arraial do Cabo from Rio de Janeiro, renting a car could be an interesting option.

To sum it up, my recommendation is: if you will be staying only in the main cities and this is your first time in Brazil, avoid renting a car. If you will be visiting more remote locations and if you have already been in the country before or driven to similar destinations, you can consider renting a car in Brazil to add flexibility to your itinerary.

Read also: Everything you need to know about driving in Brazil

How to rent a car in Brazil?

The process for renting a car in Brazil works similarly to most other countries:

• Find a good car rental company: we always use Discover Cars when traveling
• Make your reservation in advance to get the best deals
• Schedule the pickup date and time
• Have the required documents and payment method ready when picking up the car
• Buckle up and start driving!

Do you still need to rent a car?

What documents are required for renting a car in Brazil?

There are several documents required for renting a car in Brazil. 

First and foremost, you must have a valid driver’s license, which can be issued in your country of residence. In Brazil, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is not obligatory for renting a car, even though we do recommend having it just to avoid any possible issues.

Second, you will need a personal document with a photo included. For international travelers, this means their passport.

And lastly, you must have a valid payment method for the deposit (depending on what is stated in your rental agreement with the company).

How much does it cost to rent a car in Brazil?

The cost of renting a car in Brazil depends on several factors, such as the size of the vehicle or the type of rental (daily/weekly). 

In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from R$60-R$120 (12-24 USD) per day for an economy car and up to R$150+ (31 USD) per day for an SUV or luxury sedan. 

Pro tip: the longer the rental period, the cheaper you will pay. The highest daily price is usually for rentals that are only for 24 hours. If you stay at least a week with the car, you will pay proportionally lower daily fees.

Want to know how much it would cost to rent a car for your trip to Brazil?

How old do you have to be to rent a car in Brazil?

The minimum driving age in Brazil is 18 years old.

Many car rental companies have an age requirement of 21, which is the legal driving age for all categories of vehicles and for the insurance coverage to be valid. For this reason, some companies may charge additional fees for drivers under 25.

So before you rent a car for your Brazil trip, make sure you check all the requirements of the car rental company and carefully read the terms of the rental agreement. 

Where to rent a car in Brazil?

The best place to rent a car in Brazil is the airport you will be landing at, so you can go straight from the airport and into your trip already with the car.

Most car rental companies in Brazil have offices at international airports, so it is the place with the highest availability and probably where you will find the best price deals.

Where to rent a car in Rio de Janeiro?

In Rio de Janeiro, the main airports (GIG and SDU) have several car rental companies. I would start the search there.

You can also rent a car in the Rio de Janeiro city center or in some of the main neighborhoods like Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. These locations are not as convenient as the airport and they tend to have less availability, but they can also be good options.

Check Discover Cars to find the best deals for renting a car in Rio de Janeiro.

Read also: The best airports in Rio de Janeiro

Where to rent a car in São Paulo?

In São Paulo, you can rent a car at the two main airports: Guarulhos (GRU) and Congonhas (CGH). Choose the one that will be most handy for you, depending on where you will land.

Our personal tips for renting a car in Brazil

If this will be your first trip to Brazil, here are a few tips to help you when renting a car:

• Check the car insurance policy and make sure everything is good and valid through your travel dates.
• Check whether the car has an automatic pass for the tolls. Most highways in Brazil have tolls and if the car has an automatic pass, you can use the preferential lane and then settle the bill directly with the car rental company. Otherwise, you need to pay for every toll on the spot, and they usually accept only cash.
• Make sure you have all the necessary documents at hand: driver’s license, passport, credit card.
• Make sure you have a good GPS access. I recommend using Google Maps on your phone as GPS. Just make sure you have a good mobile data plan working in Brazil, and you should be good. Another popular GPS app for driving in Brazil is called Waze, but I personally find Google Maps more reliable.
• The Brazilian traffic signs follow international standards, but it would be good to take a look online at the basic signs to get familiar with the Portuguese spelling.

Need help before jumping on the road? Read our guide about driving in Brazil.

FAQ – Popular questions about renting a car in Brazil

Can I rent a car in Brazil with a US driver’s license?

Yes, you can rent a car in Brazil with a US driver’s license. But make sure your license is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Brazil and that you will have your passport with you at all times.

Can I rent a car in Brazil if I am younger than 25 years old? 

Yes, you can still rent a car if you are under 25 years old, however, there may be an extra fee associated with this. These fees may vary depending on the rental company, so make sure to check before booking. 

Can I rent a car in Brazil without a credit card?

It depends on the rental agreement you will have with the car rental company.

Most companies require you to leave a deposit when renting a car in Brazil, which is usually paid with a credit card. However, different companies may have different conditions so check this information when renting the car online.

Is it cheap to rent a car in Brazil?

It really depends on the car rental company you choose, the model of the car, and the duration of your stay. Generally speaking, most rental companies in Brazil offer competitive prices, especially when compared to US prices. 

You can expect the prices to be most expensive during the holiday season and at tourist destinations. However, if you rent a car for your Brazil trip for a week and outside of peak season, you can pay as little as 10 USD per day.

Check the price for renting a car in Brazil at Discover Cars.

Is it safe to rent a car in Brazil?

Yes, it is very safe to rent a car in Brazil. 

All the car rental companies I have ever used in Brazil had high standards, just like any other international destination.

The tricky part about renting a car in Brazil is making sure that you are comfortable with driving in a foreign country. As I said above, I do not recommend it if this is your first trip to Brazil and if you will be visiting only large cities.

What cars can you rent in Brazil?

The cars available for rent vary depending on the car rental company, but you can find almost everything: from small compact cars to luxury SUVs and vans. 

One thing important to note is that most cars in Brazil have manual transmission, including those available for rent. If you are not comfortable driving a stick, make sure you request an automatic car (and know that you may be required to pay extra for it).

In conclusion, renting a car in Brazil can be a cost-effective and convenient option, but you have to make sure you are comfortable with driving in a foreign country first.

We hope this blog post has helped you plan your next trip to Brazil. Whether you decide to rent a car or not, we hope you enjoy your trip to the fullest.