Tips for Driving in the Dominican Republic
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating…Driving in the Dominican Republic is not for the faint of heart. If it is a challenge that you want to take on, there are a few things to know first.
First off, If you’ve never been to the Dominican Republic before or have never experienced road conditions in a similar country, you may want to avoid driving on your first trip here. This will allow you to get a better feel of what to expect and you can be ready to take it on next time. Fortunately, there are a lot of public transportation options, from Uber in the big cities to buses and “guaguas” (mini-buses) that get you to and from farther destinations.
If you are ready to tackle driving here, here are the things you need to know about:
Rentals
DIGESETT/MOPC
Checkpoints
Ticket traps
Speed bumps
Road hazards
Rental Cars
It’s best to rent a car from a familiar rental agency. There are several available in and around Santo Domingo like Enterprise, Sixt, Avis, and Hertz to name a few. You can book ahead online through sites like expedia.com or kayak.com. There are local options that are cheaper but we don’t recommend these as the cars are often not fully insured and the maintenance and condition of the car is usually questionable at best. Stick with a bigger company or recognizable brand for a more reliable rental experience.
As far as vehicle requirements, if you are going with a reputable agency, they should provide you with what you need. However, it’s still good to ensure the insurance policy and registration are up to date and in the car. You may even want to check with your credit card company as they may provide additional rental insurance. Cars are also required to be equipped with a first aid kit, small fire extinguisher, and reflective traffic triangle.
When choosing a car to rent, we recommend opting for at least a small to midsize SUV. These will keep you higher off the road and allow you to go on some good adventures if you want to head to the mountains or to some hard-to-get-to beaches.
Authorities & Legalities
DIGESETT & MOPC
DIGESETT Police on a major highway
Photo Credit: digesett.gob.do
They are known as DIGESETT (La Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre), previously AMET, is a branch of the police force in charge of traffic, transport, and highway patrol. They are the only ones who can issue tickets (if someone else tries, ask which branch of police they are). Easily recognizable by their green uniforms and badges, DIGESETT police can be found along most routes you’ll be taking when traveling between cities, and in random places within cities. If you’re not at a checkpoint (more to come later) and someone other than DIGESETT tries to give you a ticket or asks for your vehicle information, it is most likely a scam. Be cautious about this.
If DIGESETT does stop you, have your vehicle documentation and license ready and be friendly. If you aren’t sure why they stopped you they will explain (in Spanish). If you don’t speak Spanish you can share your documents with them and just say “No hablo Espanol.” If they see you have everything in order legally they will likely let you go as they don’t want to waste time trying to explain why they stopped you.
MOPC providing roadside assistance
Photo Credit: mopc.gob.do
Another organization that you may encounter along the road is MOPC (El Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones). They have many other functions, one of which is roadside assistance. They can be seen at intervals along major highways and they are available to help if you have motor vehicle issues. If you don’t see them, you can always call or message them on WhatsApp (829-688-1000). However, it would be good to find out from your rental agency who they would like you to call first if you have a problem. The insurance they provide may include some form of roadside assistance as well.
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CHECKPOINTS
Checkpoints are commonly found in the southern or western part of the country. If you are on your way headed north or east you may get stopped when passing through. You will likely see several armed military personnel working. Although they may look intimidating, they pose little problem to those traveling with proper documentation for their vehicle and travel plans. The officer will likely have you roll down your windows to check the car and they may want to see inside of the trunk. Be sure to have the insurance and registration info as well as details about the rental agreement. If this info isn’t being provided when you rent, you may want to think of going to another agency. You also should have your passport and the location of where you’re traveling to and from. The more prepared you are, the less they will hold you up.
TICKET TRAPS
It’s not uncommon for there to be very small “no turn” or “no u-turn” signs on roads that appear to have turn lanes. One way streets can also be tricky to identify, so proceed with caution and look for indications that it’s safe to turn. There are likely police nearby waiting to ticket people who missed these signs or turned the wrong way. Tickets are not usually expensive but they can be quite inconvenient to pay. It’s also good to know that they are not allowed to ask for money on the spot. If they do, just ask for a ticket instead. This will avoid anyone just looking to make some fast cash off travelers who may not know better. If you do have the misfortune of getting ticketed, just look for the nearest bank called BanReservas. You will be able to pay it there.
Road Conditions
SPEED BUMPS AND DIPS
Known locally as policia acostada (sleeping police), speed bumps are found frequently in residential areas. Watch out when driving through smaller communities as they can come up abruptly and are often quite big. You may also find big dips in the roads especially when turning from one street to another in smaller neighborhoods. This is when you’ll be particularly happy if you rented an SUV. Cars tend to scrape as they pass over them. Try to go over them at an angle as opposed to straight on. Your car will thank you.
POTHOLES, MOTORCYCLES, GOATS & OTHER HAZARDS
Congratulations if you’ve made it this far…on the roads and reading this article. Up until now you might be thinking…”eh it sounds mildly frustrating at best, but what’s all the fuss about driving in the DR?” It’s true, the Dominican Republic is famously known for dangerous road conditions. The danger isn’t based on any one thing though. Let me explain a few of the causes.
Road conditions aren’t always the best, especially in the Deep South. Carreteras (as highways are known here) tend to be poorly maintained and windy with many blind curves due to the mountainous terrain. This doesn’t stop drivers from barreling down highways at high speeds and switching to the wrong side of the road to pass other more cautious drivers. This becomes infinitely more dangerous at night when there are little to no street lights outside of major cities. It’s also not uncommon to encounter motorists without headlights. For this reason, we can’t recommend enough that you do your driving during the day. Look ahead at your destination, the duration of the drive and plan for any stops you may take. It’s always better to leave a little earlier if you are unsure.
Other things that can make driving a bit precarious are potholes which may or may not be marked, goats or other farm animals wandering in the roads and in some places, washed out roads after heavy rains.
Be cautious on the road for the sake of these drivers and families. Don’t just look for other large vehicles. ALWAYS, ALWAYS check for motorcycles. Keep in mind that many drivers have never had formal training and they may not always do what you expect them to do. They tend to make tight turns or pass larger cars on the right hand side . . . sometime on the left as well . . . so look in ALL directions before turning or doing anything else for that matter.
Ok…did I scare you? Good . . . No, just kidding.
If you’re going to drive here we don’t want you to be scared. We want you to be aware and prepared. The reality is, there are risks to driving here that you may not encounter in your home country. But we’ve been able to do it safely since we bought our car back in 2018, and so have lots of other people. If you know what to expect and you take some basic precautions, you can do your part to make driving here a safer experience.
A Positive Spin