Rental car in Brazil.?

Question

I am thinking about renting a car when I visit Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

What rental companies do they have there and is it worth it?

Where we will be staying they don't have taxi's or buses around all the time.

Answer 1

AVIS, HERTS, Localiza, LocalAlfa, to find the website, take search in yahoo.com.br

Answer 2

Recommendation: You have to be BOLD while driving in Rio! And careful, very careful!

If you do NOT know the city, please AVOID driving!!!

You can always CALL a taxi!

Answer 3

Don't drive in Rio. Driving in Brasil is not by far comparable to driving in the USA. Stick  with taxis or subway.

You can even book guided tours and the car/bus will pick you up at the hotel.

Answer 4

I RESIDET RIO / BRAZIL,

I >>>> BRASILEIRO,

THE BEST > RIO DE JANEIRO,

FORTALEZA!

CONGRATULATION FOR BRASIL VOCATION!

Answer 5

Driving standards in Brazil hover between the abysmal and the appalling. Brazil has one of the highest death tolls from driving-related accidents in the world, and on any journey you can see why, with thundering trucks and drivers treating the road as if it were a Grand Prix racetrack. City driving would make even an Italian blanch, and takes a lot of getting used to. Fortunately, inter-city bus drivers are the exception to the rule: they are usually very good, and many buses have devices fitted that make it impossible for them to exceed the speed limit.

Road quality varies according to region: the South and Southeast have a good paved network; the Northeast has a good network on the coast but is poor in the interior; and roads in Amazonia are by far the worst, with even major highways closed for weeks or months at a time as they are washed away by the rains. Around half of Brazilian cars now run on álcool - a mixture of petroleum-based fuel and alcohol - which is half the price of gasolina, but which works less efficiently. Outside of the towns and cities, service stations can be few and far between, so keep a careful eye on the fuel gauge. Service stations do not accept international credit cards, so make sure you always have sufficient cash.

I also agree with the others.You can always call for a taxi by phone.

Also check out :

http://www.brazilmax.com/com_channel.cfm...

Answer 6

I agree, do not do it.

Its expensive, people drive like maniacs and there´s where it lays the risck of driving into a favela.

Stick with taxis, preferably RADIO TAXIs, which are just a little bit more money but they wont cheat, you can have them tell you the price in advance, they all have A/C and you can call from anywhere.

The rentals are: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Localiza and a few smaller ones.

Also its very pricey, not cheap like renting in the US.

And the cars are pretty S****y.

http://www.radio-taxi.com.br/eng.htm

Answer 7

Actually it is pretty cheap and there are lots of them. There are a few companies on the main drag going into Copacabana (across from Le Meridien). I am sure there are thousands of others but they treated me right. Brazilians take like 30 hours of classroom and road test to get a license. No morons going 50mph in the left lane who forgot to turn their blinker off. No road rage. Everyone is professional. If you are from a small town and would be nervous about driving in NYC or LA then you should not drive in Brazil. I live in NYC but I am from a small town and people are afraid or intimidated to drive in NYC. If you think this is ridiculous then no problem to drive in Brazil.

One issue I forgot to mention is about watching the car. In Rio, guys come from the favela and watch the cars. It is sort of like parking meters. You will find this often in Brazil with a car. You go to the beach and come back and someone but cardboard in the windows to keep your seat cool. Thanks guys, go have a couple beers on me.

When in Rio, take your car, visit Buzios, Parati, Angra dos Reis, Teresopolis, Nova Friburgo, lots of great beaches south of Barra de Tijuca.

If you are with your significant other and have a car, suburbs of Rio has something nice. Think VERY clean hotel with jacuzzi, dance floor, mirrors, private swimming pool, complimentary chocolates, big screen TV in a room that would be a bargain at $500/nt in NYC. Plan on spending $25-ish for 12 hrs. Usually inculdes breakfast. I have stayed at places with your own swimming pool, press a button and the roof opens. That particular night we got free dinner and breakfast. I think it was 110 reis or so. I have stayed at 6-7 of these establishments and they range from 'way better then my hotel' to 'oh my God I want to live here forever'