Driving in The Dominican Republic: As many of you might be aware, driving in The Dominican Republic can have it’s challenges. Online research will quickly reveal that The Dominican Republic is one of the most dangerous places to drive in the world, however with the right precautions and some handy tips and advice, it’s possible to reduce the risk of driving in The Dominican Republic considerably. The purpose of this article is to give honest frank advice, and to help guide you through the process along with a bunch of useful tips that will help put your mind at ease and give you the confidence to explore this beautiful country to the full.
Driving in The Dominican Republic can be technically challenging, however if you’re a good competent driver, these technicalities can be overcome with a good skill set and plenty of common sense.
Expect the Unexpected: You have to do just that, but don’t let it phase you. Motorcycles, taxis, trucks, regular vehicles and pedestrians can often throw you a curve-ball when you least expect it, be calm, be super vigilant, don’t drive erratically making sharp turns, and most importantly USE YOUR MIRRORS!!!….all of them, rear view, nearside and offside, we can’t stress the importance of this enough.
IMPORTANT / USEFUL TIPS AND ADVICE WHEN DRIVING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
- Travel Insurance – You wouldn’t believe how many people leave their country of origin without adequate travel insurance. Never leave home without it!
- Car Rental: Make sure you rent from a reliable / reputable car rental agency and that your vehicle is fully insured, it’s quite easy to check references online to find the best rental options available subject to which area of The Dominican Republic your are traveling to.. Also go through the “what if’s” with your rental agency to ensure they have an adequate emergency back up plan should it be required and that you are familiar with phone numbers and procedures in any event.
- Vehicle Insurance: Naturally there are different options of vehicle insurance / coverage available to you, from full insurance to basic third party coverage. Do your research and find the best insurance policy to meet your needs. From personal experience, we would always recommend you get the best coverage available, and although this will be more expensive, you will at least have peace of mind knowing that you are fully insured. An added insurance option is to choose a policy that includes the Casa de Conductor facility which provides protective coverage in the event of a serious accident. Click the link above for more details.
- Buying / Selling a Vehicle: Always ensure that when buying or in particular selling a vehicle that the vehicle title or matricula is transferred correctly through a reputable lawyer. Failing to transfer the title of the vehicle particularly when you sell it means that you are liable for any incident the vehicle is involved in, even though you no longer technically own the vehicle.
- Driving License: Foreign nationals are only permitted to use the driving license from their country of origin for 90 days from their date of entry into The Dominican Republic.
- Useful Phone Numbers: It’s always advisable that your phone has data and that you have at hand useful emergency contact numbers should they be required and to make sure there are no language barriers.
- Flat Tires: ALWAYS make sure you’re spare tire is fully functional and that you know how to change a tire if need be. Equipment to inflate / repair tires is always a good idea or a small motorized tire inflator. The good thing about the Dominican Republic is that as a rule you’ll often find a good Samaritan that will stop and help you out. Another useful point of reference is the website for The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones or The Ministry of Public Works and communications in English. These guys provide amazing roadside assistance, here is a link to their webpage: https://www.mopc.gob.do/
- Drive on the Right Hand Side of the Road:
Driving in The Dominican Republic
- Documents: Always have your relative documents on hand just in case you are stopped by the police, drivers license, insurance and a copy of the title of the vehicle.
- Road Tax: Make sure the road tax windshield sticker (or marbete as it’s known) is up to date and clearly displayed.
- Stopped by the Police: Random vehicle checks happen in some areas more than others, these are carried out by the Dominican Transit Police( Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre – DIGESETT) who wear the green uniforms. Smile, offer to shake hands with the officer, have your documents to hand and in order, and you should be on your way in no time. Occasionally there can be random vehicle checks made by the National Police who wear grey uniforms, again, the same procedure applies.
- Traffic Violations: Always wear your seat-belt, do not talk or text on your phone, do not overtake on double yellow lines and watch your speed. These are common traffic violations here and if your receive a fine it will need to be paid locally or it may lead to an impediment on your departure or next arrival. Children should be safely seated in the rear passenger seats with a child seat or seat-belt subject to age. When driving in The Dominican Republic, the navigation app Waze is a VERY useful tool, it will inform you of the easiest route, traffic restrictions, and also where police checks are along the highway so you can be prepared ahead of time. Best to have a copilot though to help you with navigation.
- Traffic Lights: GREEN DOES NOT MEAN GO, IT MEANS PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!!
- Right Hand Turns: Right hand turns are permitted at traffic lights when the light is on red however it is important to stop and check the way is clear before proceeding.
- Dash-cam: Always a very useful tool to have at your disposal, and with technology as it is today, there have been significant advancements in this type of device without you having to break the bank.
- Use your phone in Emergencies: Always remember that your phone can be a useful tool for video and for video statements should you feel the need to use it.
- Keep an Eye Out: For unpainted speed bumps (sleeping policeman) and pot-holes in the road.
- Avoid driving on national holidays where possible: Certain times of the year are known to be more chaotic than others, the main one being Easter or Semana Santa as it’s known locally plus Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. These occasions are when there are generally a significant spike in both traffic accidents and serious congestion…..and are best to be avoided where possible.
- Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle:
- Driving at Night: Again best to be avoided where possible, poor road lighting in areas, pot holes, vehicles without adequate lights (particularly motorcycles), drivers using full beam and additional spotlights, and at times horses or cows on the roads which can’t sometimes be seen until it’s too late.
- Drinking and Driving: Quite simply don’t, get a few of you together and book a cab if you’re out for a night on the town.
We hope that you found the above information useful, just remember with the right care and precautions, driving in the The Dominican Republic can be a wonderful experience, there are so many beautiful places to visit and things to see both on the coast and inland. In recent years, the quality of the road network within The Dominican Republic has improved dramatically, and with applications such as Waze, navigation has never been easier.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable journey…
Social Links: