Bonaire truck rental recommendations ?

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice for truck rental on Bonaire? We are going in June, have read lots of stories about thefts and breakdowns, good trucks/bad trucks etc, but can't really make our minds up where to spend our cash, we are diving independently not with a resort.

Thanks.

I cannot say as to where to rent a truck from as we got ours in with a package but I can say we had no problems while we were there over there, the advise we had was to not leave anything of value in the vehicle and to leave the doors unlocked and windows either partly or fully down, we were also told it was OK to leave tanks in the back as they are marked and have no value to anyone. As a general rule take a cheap pair of shades and non designer clothing to use while diving, get yourself a waterproof box to carry keys, cards and a small amount of cash with you and you should be fine, hopefully someone else will be able to advise you on truck rental.

We found Bonaire to be fabulous especially if you are into the freedom of independent shore diving just relax and have a great time.

Gary.

PS: If you fancy a genuine eating out experience ask a local for directions to 'Mikeys Sneck' and try the Iguana soup !

We've been to Bonaire three times and wouldn't consider renting a truck from anyone other than Telerin. Easy to Google contact info. Poppy does a great job. They meet you at the airport, you sign, they hand you the keys and the parking stub (pre-paid) and you drive away. The way a car rental should be! Then you park at the airport on the day you leave, leaving the keys in the truck. That's it! Also, absolutely awesome service the two times we needed it over the course of the three trips (a soft tire on one trip and a blinky start up lock out on another - both fixed in an hour or two).

Also, Gary's advice is spot-on.

Hope that helps. Have a great trip!

Lee

We have had good luck with both Total and Budget. Both an easy walk from the airport terminal, maybe a 100 meters from the terminal.

if you stay at buddy dive, i believe they offer packages that include truck rentals. I've gone before (solo) and either bummed rides or stuck to the boat diving.

Ditto on Poppy and Telerin. Plus they take American Express.

Add Amex's rental car coverage (https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do) and for $25 you get full coverage of the truck for your entire rental. Beats the pants off $10-20 per day for CDW through the rental agency.

- Mark

Credit card insurance is fine but you will have to to pay out of your pocket for any damage before you leave the island and get reimbursed when you get home.

We have a studio condo at Sand Dollar and have rented trucks for years. We also advise our rental guests on arranging rentals.

Be aware that trucks are NOT covered by your credit card's car rental insurance policy. When the island accepted AmEx credit cards, we signed up for the AmEx Premium Car Rental Protection program. For an annual fee of $19.99 or $24.99 (higher limits), AmEx would cover your truck rental for up to 42 days! Amex automatically charged this amount to your card when it saw a charge from a rental car company and covered you for up to 42 days per rental.

Most rental car companies and most businesses on Bonaire no longer accept AmEx. Their fees are too high.

I have never used them but many swear by Telerin for truck rental. I have used AB Carrental, Total Car, Avis and Budget. I tend to go with the cheapest and get the least expensive truck available. AB trucks often are in bad shape. But they run and they replace them if you have issues.

Here's a listing of many of the car rental companies on island.

www.infobonaire.com/transportation.html

Laura

What trucks do they usually rent out? Do they come with tonneau covers? I am quite concerned with my the security of my cargo. Don't want them stolen.

Standard Japanese cheap pick ups. The usual advice is to leave nothing in the vehicle when out diving - even leaving it unlocked with the key hidden nearby.

Theres no tonneau cover. But weve never been concerned with stuff being nicked en route.

I do not leave the key nearby. My swim suit has a pocket with a velcro'd flap and that is all inside the wetsuit. All trucks I have used there had old style metal keys, not key fobs, so this makes diving with your key easy.

Also leave the windows partially open so people passing by know its unlocked.

BEWARE of credit card insurance for truck rental. Nearly all insure CARS, not trucks! I use American Express Premium insurance. MUCH lower cost than getting insurance from the truck rental company. Its usually under $30 for your whole trip, not a daily fee. And its easy to use. You sign up with your card. There is no charge unless you rent a car/truck with that card then it automatically kicks in.

BEWARE of credit card insurance for truck rental. Nearly all insure CARS, not trucks! I use American Express Premium insurance. MUCH lower cost than getting insurance from the truck rental company. Its usually under $30 for your whole trip, not a daily fee. And its easy to use. You sign up with your card. There is no charge unless you rent a car/truck with that card then it automatically kicks in.

True, but evidently not applicable if the truck comes with the room at a place like Buddy Dive, and you have paid for the trip as a package.At least, that is the best I can figure out from AMEX.

I've used a small waterproof case for the truck & condo keys, eyeglasses, credit cards, drivers license, etc. Just put it in my BC pocket and dove.