Thrifty Car Rental, Antigua

In Depth

For Antigua car rentals we recommend Thrifty Car Rental, a mid-size Caribbean car rental company that has built up a reliable reputation over many years. It is owned by Eugene Matthew, who has held the Thrifty franchise in Antigua since 1996, but who has been in the car rental business in the island since 1974.

Thrifty Antigua has its main office on Airport Road, but you are most likely to find them at the airport, where they have a desk.  Customers usually pick up a vehicle on arrival at the airport, but Thrifty is happy to deliver anywhere on the island on request. They will also issue you with your temporary Antiguan driving licence (cost US$20). You can return the vehicle to the airport or they can come to collect it from your hotel or villa.

The company is medium size. It has nine employees and their fleet numbers around 50 vehicles. Most of these are cars, but there are some jeeps and a small number of minivans.

Delivery

Thrifty Car Rentals has a free delivery and pick-up service island wide, which includes hotels and resorts, villas and business places, but excludes the cruise ship terminal harbour in St John's. They also have a desk at the airport for those who wish to collect their car on arrival there.

We strongly recommend that you take delivery of your car at your accommodation rather than at the airport, unless you know your way around Antigua really well.

If you are arriving into Heritage Quay Harbour in St John's, in order to collect your car you will need to take a taxi either to the airport, and meet Thrifty Car Rentals at the car hire desk, or go to their office on the Airport Road. This is because of the complications of collection at the cruise ship terminal down town. At the end of the rental you will need to return the car to the collection point and Thrifty will drive you back to the harbour.

Terms & Conditions

Minimum/Maximum Age: Drivers must be at least 23 years old up to a maximum of 75 years old in order to hire a car in Antigua and must have held a valid drivers licence for at least 2 years.

Driver's Licence: A temporary driver’s licence can be obtained through the car rental company for US$20 and is valid for 3 months.

Additional Drivers: There is no charge for additional drivers, however they will need a temporary licence.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): this is an optional daily fee of US$10, US$12, US$15 or US$20 for collision damage waiver depending on car type with responsibility for the first US$1,200, US$1,500, US$1,800 or US$2,000 of damage depending on the vehicle rented. Without CDW the hirer is responsible in full for damage to the vehicle, theft or loss and an open credit card is required as a deposit.

Third Party Insurance:  All vehicles have third party insurance coverage.

Gasoline: Not included in rates and should be returned filled to the same level on delivery otherwise a charge will be made for the amount used.

Payment: made on collection of vehicle in full. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), cash or travellers cheque

Mileage: Unlimited.

Child seats: available for US$5 per day.

Rates are subject to change without notice.

Reservations

All Antigua car hire should be booked in advance. If you are travelling during the busy seasons around Christmas, Easter, Carnival, Sailing Week or Cricket, we highly recommend that you book your car at the same time as you book your accommodation or holiday.

If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation for your Antigua car rentals, please use the DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Thrifty Car Rentals, or if you wish to telephone/fax them, their numbers will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER link.