Driving in Panama
National Car Rental Rent a Car Panama

For your safety, please review the following summary of Panama's traffic laws. Obey these regulations at all times !!

1. Unless otherwise indicated, minimum speed on highways is 40 kilometers per hour (kph). The speed limit varies and is posted by the road.

2.On highways and secondary roads the speed limit is 60 kph. , unless otherwise indicated.

3.In urban areas, the speed limit is 40 kph , unless otherwise indicated.

4.The speed limit around school zones and in front hospitals and clinics is 25 kph.

5.Driving on beaches is strictly prohibited everywhere, except when there is no other path connecting two towns.

6.Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is strictly prohibited. The law enables police officers to perform alcohol test on drivers.

7.The law requires all car passengers to wear seat belts.

8.Pull over if a police officer signals you to do so. Police officers may ask you to stop if there is an accident ahead, a checkpoint or if you are violating the law by not carrying a license plate or exceeding the speed limit, for example.

About driving in Panama in general and specifically driving a rented car.

Driving your rented car out of Panama City the situation changes. You will find from very good double-lane highways to dirt roads that go through rivers. Remember that the insurance doesn't cover damages caused by crossing rivers. Please drive defensively and always expect a cow, horse, oxcart, slow moving truck, a cyclist or a broken down vehicle around the bend.

Should you get involved in an accident, call 911, never move the car until the police gets there. Injured people should not be taken from the scene until the Red Cross Ambulance arrives. Make notes or sketches of what happened and don't make statements to not authorized people.

If no other speed limit is posted, there is a 100km/h speed limit on primary roads and a 60km/h speed limit on secondary roads. Traffic police uses radar and limits are enforced by speeding tickets. Expect to run into speed controls at perfectly straight and maybe little downhill stretches of road. Not wearing a seatbelt or talking to the phone can also get you a ticket. If you get a ticket you have to pay the fine at a bank. Instructions are on the ticket. If you are renting a car, the car rental company most likely will do that for you. The police has no right to confiscate the car unless there was a serious accident, the driver was drunk or was driving without a valid drivers license.

The minimum age to rent a car usually is 21. Some companies rent certain cars only to drivers over 25. If you don't have a mayor Credit Card you can also make a cash deposit of $ 1000.00 to $1500.00 depending on the Rent a Car Company.

When you rent a car, there is an inspection performed about dents and scratches on the car. Please participate with this inspection, look for dents on the roof, missing gas caps, radio, antennae and hubcaps. If the car breaks down, don't get it fixed. The Car Rental Company will get to you in a short while with another car. They will fix it or give you another car. Don't leave luggage in the car and always park in a secure place or have somebody watch the car, while you are gone.

Despite of all the above warnings, to rent a car is the best way to see Panama. Specially if you are interested in nature and remote areas. We wish you a beautiful stay in this wonderful country, Jörn Malek, Angela Segura de Malek and all of us at 1 - CostaRicaLink