Cheap Car Hire in Panama City

Panama City, Panama

5 Feb — 12 Feb

Same drop-off

Sun 5/2

Noon

Sun 12/2

Noon

Driver's age:

26-65Other

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in Panama City?

January

฿458

February

฿589

March

฿523

April

฿621

May

฿392

June

฿360

July

฿360

August

฿360

September

฿327

October

฿294

November

฿294

December

฿458

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in Panama City is October. The most expensive time to rent a car is April. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Top rental agencies in Panama City

All major car rental suppliers in Panama City

Thrifty

5.1

Fair

36 reviews•7 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

4.0

Mediocre|Jan 2023

The car we reserved was not available when we arrived. The only vehicle that could accommodate our passengers and luggage was a truck. The agent charged us the full price for the truck which was considerably more expensive. He said that there was fine print on the webpage explaining that this may happen and we were responsible for the difference in price. Also, the agent didn’t show up for work on the day we returned the car so it took over an hour to find someone who could help us.

4.0

Mediocre|Jan 2020

Easy drop-off

The insurance cost was outrageous (125% of the rental cost) and was not listed at the time of booking.

2.0

Poor|Dec 2019

The insurance is a gimmick

4.4

Mediocre|Dec 2019

Not frendly Was Trying to bill me a lot more

They don't accept American car insurance companys. That what i was told at the counter. By a ver rude woman. Wich wanted to charge me more 4 times the reservation price. Be careful with the tricks they use.

5.6

Fair|Aug 2019

The clerk at check out was very friendly and helpful. The return process was very easy.

My only complaint is that the price I was originally quoted was $264.00 but the final cost ended up being $927.00. That is quite a difference!!

5.2

Fair|May 2019

Not really.

You offer me a price of 38 usd and I end up paying 262 usd for the same amount of days. Horrible.

1 out of 12

Budget

7.8

Good

7 reviews•5 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Mar 2022

The staff were friendly and helpful. I just wish the process was faster and more info could be provided up front so we didn't have to wait so long to get everything processed (took 1 hour from start to finish). Drop off was very easy and fast.

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2021

Staff was friendly and helpful. Limited English but we were able to understand each other.

2.0

Poor|Dec 2020

I tried several time to cancel the reservation by website and also by email and I didn't receive any confirmation about that.

3.2

Poor|Nov 2018

Very poor customer service. Had car 1 day and it left me stranded. Clutch damage seems to be issue and agency wants to charge me for it. They also want to charge me for full rental and gas (which I was unable to fill because car broke down). Terrible customer service upon return. This was a terrible experience overall!

10.0

Wonderful|Sep 2017

Todo fue muy rápido. Muy buen servicio. El carro era nuevo con poco kilometraje. El servicio de entrega también fue muy rápido. Estoy complacido con el servicio de budget.

4.4

Mediocre|Jan 2017

The road and signs are all in Spanish and the counter personal are not fluent in English. We unfortunateyl got lost and the rental agency tried their best to escort us to our hotel. Driving in Panama however was very dangerous and would not rent a car there ever again.

1 out of 3

Dollar

7.6

Good

14 reviews•8 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

6.0

Okay|Jun 2022

Demasiado caro el costo del seguro por un carro pequeño.

10.0

Wonderful|Nov 2020

Navigation options

2.0

Poor|Jan 2020

Mentioning of insurance in total sum. Your service is ridiculous and tricks people into making reservations with this company.

6.8

Okay|Mar 2017

I secured rental cost but upon my pickup agent stated in Panama I must purchase their insurance coverage to get the vehicle. Very disappointing not reading or finding the fine print anywhere to sign on to their high cost when my insurance has always covered my car rentals in the US.

4.4

Mediocre|Mar 2017

Car was nice.

The rental price quadrupled when I went to pick the car up. A bunch of feed not listed on Kayak were added that quadrupled the rate I was quoted.

2.0

Poor|Jan 2017

the initial transition was very pleasant

While, having mechanical issues with the car, we still had to pay for it. I don't think. I'd use them again.

1 out of 5

National

6.4

Okay

5 reviews•6 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Jan 2022

worst service ever

7.2

Good|Feb 2020

The pickup/drop off could not have been any closer to the business, it was great.

Upfront pricing would have been appreciated. The price you get quoted is GREAT...come to find out it is not the case at all. It is actually 3/4 times more expensive (normal price for US rental). The quote is only for the car BUT you have to get insurance, from Panama (no third party insurance companies outside of country are accepted). So, what started off as a $81 total price for 5 days turned into a $240 price tag AND I had to cancel the third party insurance I purchased (still waiting for my reimbursement).

2.0

Poor|Jun 2019

I was overcharged on the liability insurance, the disclosures on CarRentals.com the partner stated "PLI wo purchase of CDW- 12.00 USD Per Day" but I was charged 16 per day, I asked to be given the rate I was promised but they kindly refused, contract No 5044014

4.4

Mediocre|Apr 2019

I was deceived by the price of the rental and was assured by national that there were no hidden costs. I enended up paying 300 dollars in hidden costs once I got to my destination.

10.0

Wonderful|Feb 2018

It was almost like renting in the USA

At Tocumen it took about 20 minutes to drop off the car, a process that takes 2-3 minutes at home (or less)

1 out of 2

Alamo

5.9

Fair

15 reviews•6 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|May 2022

It was driven by National Team not Alamo. The car and service were great.

2.0

Poor|Jan 2022

Car as ordered not available

7.6

Good|Aug 2020

The staff once in the office were very friendly and efficient

The pick up line was very long. Waited ~60 min outside before seeing an agent The car had sand on the rig like it had just been to a beach.

2.0

Poor|Nov 2019

Staff was friendly but reservation is not available when booked the same day. I was quoted a different price on Kayak and at the counter was 15x higher. Total BS

7.2

Good|Sep 2019

Took the midsized SUV. Toyota. For going up in the mountains. Had a gutless engine, smaller than the sedan. Had to put it in 1st and redline the tac to go up paved roads.

2.0

Poor|Aug 2019

They have different rules in Panama then they charge you a whole different amount on the rental

It would have been better if your website wouldn’t false advertise the rental terms and conditions

1 out of 5

Ace

5.6

Fair

15 reviews•3 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

8.4

Very Good|Jan 2020

Amed, was super helpful, friendly, efficient, professional and went beyond the call of duty.

3.6

Poor|Jun 2018

The personnel were nice and somewhat helpful

1.They didn't have the car I rented 2. They upcharged me for getting the car I rented. 3. The vehicle we rented had in excess of 50kmiles, was in poor mechanical condition, tires way beyond safe4. Looked like it had been in a war zone..5. A friend rented a similar car from Thrifty, with 12k miles, they replaced a tire prior to renting, the insurance was 200$ less for more time. 6. Today when I went to return the car, they said I was a day late and wanted me to pay an additional day.

2.8

Poor|May 2018

Ease of access, in-terminal pick-up and drop-offli

Limited locations, limited and old fleet. Arrived to the terminal and was “upgraded” to a larger vehicle, but the car was not clean, the AC couldn’t be regulated, not even turned off, windshield wipers did not function, oh did I mention the car was 5 years old and a gas guzzler? Tried to find a location to change the car but there were only 3 locations, one of them I went to twice, the first time the only clerk working had left home early and the second time the clerk didn’t show up to work. In the end I was able to have the car changed but it’s just too much of a struggle to just get a descent vehicle from the start. Will not use this company again.

2.0

Poor|Oct 2017

nothing

everything,the attention,the waiting for nothing everything is so bad.

9.6

Wonderful|Jul 2017

Francia remembered me from 3 months ago. She is better than frequent member plan. Hassle free no headache, better than the other companies, she provided a car with sufficient room for all my 6 suitcases.

Nothing

2.0

Poor|Jul 2017

Nothing

Did not get car with Ace!

1 out of 5

Avis

4.1

Mediocre

10 reviews•4 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Apr 2022

Good

4.0

Mediocre|Apr 2019

They refused the type of car that we had booked. Then tried to oversell the insurance - told us that the insurance we bought did not meet "mandatory" requirements. And finally proceeded to charge a $10,000.00 deposit on our credit card!

Honesty would be helpful.

4.8

Mediocre|Apr 2019

Staff nice.

Had no idea I would need a 10000 deposit if I used my own insurance coverage- giving a company jn a foreign country 10k wasn’t going to happen so we ended up buying the local insurance which doubled the cost I had planned to use- a huge shocker!!!

2.4

Poor|Mar 2019

Staff at the drop of was friendly.

I made a reservation for a 7 passengers vehicle and they didn't have it, they wanted me to take a 4 passengers instead. Finally they ended giving me an old, dirty and not in the best of shape minivan. They told me that I have to call them if I want to ensure to get the right vehicle.

2.0

Poor|Mar 2019

Your cars in panama or un rentable the two insurance fees are very high and they reluctantly wanted to honor the reservation the USA and requested a hold on my AMX card for $10,000.00 just because I have my own insurance coverage you may need to address that problem sometimes people do not Compla

4.4

Mediocre|Feb 2019

Mediocre

The car you show in the reservation doesn't have in Panama.They give to me smallest car and refuse to honored the real size of rent for upgrade. Is my first and the last time I will rent with AVIS.

1 out of 4

Enterprise

3.9

Poor

2 reviews•4 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

1.9

Poor|Jul 2021

Réservation non conforme et annulée à l’arrivée par le prestataire

6.0

Okay|May 2021

Professional Staff. Car was ready on arrival. Easy pick up and drop off. Clean vehicle.

Mechanical issues with vehicle. For some bizarre reason the outside of the windshield remained fogged up on humid and rainy days. Always had to have the windshield wipers on. Electrical issues with the infotainment center and fuel gage. After fill up gage would show about 85% full, after driving through about a quarter tank of gas the gauge would show full. 25% markup on tolls using the E-pass. Wanted to charge me Collision Insurance, but I declined because I was covered by my credit card, so they applied a different insurance that costs the same.

1 out of 1

Car Rental FAQs

Which car rental company is considered to be the best in Panama City?

Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Budget (7.8 rating), Dollar (7.6 rating) and National (6.4 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in Panama City.

What are gas prices like in Panama City?

The average price of petrol in Panama City is ฿33.06/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between ฿1,488 and ฿2,149 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

How much does it cost to hire a car in Panama City for a week from Europcar?

Europcar is one of the top picks in Panama City. They can have you in a hire car for about ฿1,700 per week on average.

Can I rent a car for a month in Panama City?

The length of time you can book a rental for is subject to the inventory of the supplier. When renting a vehicle from Panama City it should be possible to rent a car for a whole month if needed.