Comments on: Car Rentals in the Philippines

By: Trevor D

Trevor D — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:22:54 +0000

Hi Bob,- Well there goes another idea of mine out the window. I thought I would be driving when I arrived down in Davao, but have decided to reconsider that notion after reading your article and the posts below I figured, seeing as they drive on the same side of the road as in Canada and the US it wouldn’t be a problem. It sounds like the drivers are just as bad, if not worse, than the drivers in Thailand. Oh well Taxis it is!

AussieLee: Haha Ran into the same problem as you when I was in Thailand. It’s a bloody nightmare trying to avoid all the potential accidents AND drive on the opposite side of the road.
Trevor

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:31:35 +0000

Hi phil – Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Of course, on the buses, it’s a regional thing.. we don’t have Victory Liner down south, but generally any bus rules the road!

By: Luz B

Luz B — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:35:29 +0000

Hi Jerry, Post ‘11 – May I know how did you able to buy a car in Leyte. Is it through advertisements like internet, etc.? And how much is the shipping cost? I am interesting about it since we are planning to have one ( a good and a nice second hand) in the near future when we move there for good. By the way my family are living near Digos. Thanks

By: phil

phil — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:21:59 +0000

I used to drive a motorcycle around Olongapo City and Zambales for 4 years before moving back to States. Yes, driving in P.I. is stressful and dangerous compared to the States and one must be attentive and careful. But if you can realize these 3 things, maybe one can be prepared for the driving experience. 1)The only Rule of the Road is “the bigger you are, the more right-of-way you have.” And so Victory Liner buses rule! 2) Also, it’s a game of chicken on the road many times. 3) Realize that locals (filipinos) don’t know the rules of the road and traffic laws because they just buy their drivers’ licenses. Maybe it has changed since the 1980’s, but I doubt it. Although I used my Stateside license to get a Philippine driver’s license, I still had to take a written test, which I passed even though I never saw the questions. I was shown which answers to mark as true or false. !00% pass!

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:57:49 +0000

Hi Patrick Vaerewyck – Thanks for leaving your comment. Please let me know anytime you are coming to Davao, we’ll have to go get a cup of coffee and get to know each other.

Yes, traffic in GenSan has increased a lot since the mid-90’s! I have been coming to GSC for almost 20 years now, and back when I first went there, the place was like a ghost town compared to now!

By: Patrick Vaerewyck

Patrick Vaerewyck — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:46:28 +0000

Hi bob,

First of all I want to introduce our self,we are a family from Belgium and we live in Gen San for about a year now.We use to lived here in 95′96′ in that time I was driving a owner jeep,and I have to say in that time there were not much cars,compared to now.Traffic can be really tricky because there are almost no rules.But like you Bob I enjoy driving
here.I also agreed that if you come here the first time in the Philippines it is better you don’t drive a car by your self,let your self get use to it,give it some time.By the way I enjoy your blog,keep up the good work.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:23:10 +0000

Hi Dave Starr – That rate of P4k per day for a big Benz or similar van is really a good deal, in my opinion.

Like you, I try to avoid night driving at all cost! It’s dangerous, stressful, and takes the joy out of the trip!

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:02:28 +0000

Hi Phil R. – I drive, and I go a lot of places that buses and taxis don’t go! So, I can assure you that I see a lot of sights that others don’t get to see!

By: Dave Starr

Dave Starr — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:14:29 +0000

Good info, Bob. I wrote up some current Manila-area prices a few months ago: http://tinyurl.com/6h43gm
quite omporable to your latest.
In the Metro Manila outskirts where I live a small AUV with driver (like an Adventure) can easily be found for PhP 2500 a day, possibly including tolls and petrol. Something like a large, new, Benz van … 15 plus seater is on the order of PhP 4,000 a day. It really makes little sense to try to rent your own.

Mnay good comments to this post, in particular I urge people to read John’s (#5). Daytime and nighttime driving are not the same. I enjoy driving in the day time and will go almost anywhere, city traffic or back roads. I do not drive after dark, period. If I absolutely must drive after dark, I hire my brother-in-law or some other person well known to me to drive. There are significant traffic dangers afetr dark and significant non-driving dangers as well … my advice is, don’t do it unless you have no other choice.

By: Phil R.

Phil R. — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:04:56 +0000

Sorry to say Bob I will not be driving in the pines any time soon . I enjoy the sights to much to drive and try to see what is going by the window , besides the bus and taxi drivers are scary enuf …. ..Phil R.