Cheap Car Hire in Philippines from $20

The public transport network is limited outside of Manila and other major cities, so having your own vehicle is often an easier way to get around if you're hoping to visit more remote parts of the country. The main alternatives to hiring a car will be private drivers and taxis, meaning having your own vehicle can be a cheaper option. Many companies that offer private drivers also offer self-drive hire cars. Hotspots like the Seven Lakes of San Pablo and the Batangas beaches are much easier to reach by car, plus, with your own vehicle, you can travel on your own schedule in privacy.

While driving is an excellent way to get between cities and towns in the Philippines, you may wish to avoid driving in major city centres, such as Manila, when possible. Manila traffic is known to be very busy (especially during rush hours, roughly from 07:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 19:00), and travellers may find it overwhelming. If you do head into busy city centres, while you should always stick to the road signs and rules, don't expect other drivers to do the same. It's a good idea to familiarise yourself with road signs in the Philippines before you get on the road. They generally follow international conventions but they aren't always reflective, so they can be harder to spot if you're not keeping an eye out.

If you're planning on hiring a car in the Philippines, you'll usually need to be at least 21 years old. Some car hire companies won't hire vehicles to drivers under the age of 25, and most others will add a daily young driver's surcharge to anyone between the ages of 21 and 25. If your driving licence is in English, you generally won't need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you're visiting for less than 90 days. If your licence is in another language, you may need an IDP. When you pick up your vehicle, you'll usually need to present your driving licence, your passport and a credit card in your name.

With an average price of $63/day, Europcar is the most popular car hire provider in Philippines, booking 199% more hire cars than any other provider.

At $20/day, the cheapest car hire price in Philippines was found in Tacloban City. On average, Taguig has the cheapest daily rental car price ($43/day), which is 40% below average price for cities in Philippines.

In Philippines, drivers are expected to drive on the right side of the road.