Aruba Car Rental Requirements: What You Need Before Pickup

By Jean Genevieve

Aruba car rental requirements usually include a valid physical driver’s licence held for one to two years, a passport or government photo ID, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit. Most suppliers set the minimum age at 23, but some accept 21. Always confirm your supplier’s exact terms before you travel.

Aruba welcomed 1,515,102 visitors in 2025, according to the Central Bank of Aruba, and plenty of them will want their own wheels at some point. Taxis cover the hotel strip. A rental car covers the rest of the island.

Then comes the part that catches people out. Aruba car rental requirements look simple on a booking page, yet the rules at the counter depend on the supplier. One company accepts a 21 year old driver. Another says 23. One takes cash for the rental fee but only a credit card for the deposit.

Get one detail wrong and you can lose the booking, pay a surcharge you didn’t plan for, or watch a $700 hold land on the wrong card. This guide sets out what could be verified from published sources, shows where suppliers disagree, and ends with a checklist to run before you fly.

Key takeaways: what you’ll learn

• Which documents suppliers check at pickup

• Why the minimum age runs from 21 to 25

• When you need an International Driving Permit

• How card and deposit rules differ by supplier

• What an additional driver must bring

Table of Contents

1. What are the Aruba car rental requirements?

2. What is the minimum age to rent a car in Aruba?

3. What are the driver’s licence requirements in Aruba?

4. What are the credit card and deposit rules in Aruba?

5. What are the additional driver requirements in Aruba?

6. Which Aruba car rental requirements change by supplier?

7. What is the Aruba car rental requirements checklist?

8. What happens if you skip the pickup check?

9. Frequently asked questions about renting in Aruba

10. What should you do next?

What are the Aruba car rental requirements?

Aruba car rental requirements are the age, licence, identity and payment checks a supplier completes before handing over the keys. Aruba tourism information says they vary from one rental agency to another, so no single list fits every supplier.

What else do you bring to pickup?

Suppliers also want your booking confirmation. Add an International Driving Permit (IDP) or certified translation if your licence language isn’t accepted.

What is the 4 Gate Pickup Check?

The 4 Gate Pickup Check tests four things before the counter does:

• Age Gate: your age against the supplier’s limits

• Licence Gate: format, language and holding period

• Card Gate: a credit card in the right name with enough credit

• Driver Gate: every extra driver registered and eligible

Fail one gate and the agent can refuse the keys.

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Aruba?

The minimum age to rent a car in Aruba is 23 at most suppliers and 21 at some. Tourism pages quote 21 to 25 because each company sets its own floor.

The Aruba Tourism Authority’s guide to renting a car, published June 30, 2025, says renters typically need to be 21, and some companies charge a young driver fee under 25. One local supplier sets 23. Another sets 21 with a surcharge to age 24. A major airport supplier sets 23.

Can you rent a car in Aruba under 21?

Almost certainly not. The lowest minimum in any terms reviewed was 21. Younger travellers should plan on taxis, shuttles or an eligible friend who rents. Our guide to the minimum age covers other countries.

How much is the young driver fee in Aruba?

Final Rentals’ airport page lists surcharges of about $10 to $35 per day for renters aged 21 to 24, depending on supplier and vehicle class.

Our Analysis: a 7 day economy rental in low season at $45 to $60 per day costs $315 to $420 before fees. Add the surcharge and the total is $385 to $665, so a renter under 25 can pay $70 to $245 more than a 25 year old for the same week.

What is the maximum age to rent a car in Aruba?

Many suppliers set one. Tourism information lists 65 to 70, and one major airport supplier stops at 75.

What are the driver’s licence requirements in Aruba?

Driver’s licence requirements in Aruba have three parts: the licence must be valid, physical and held long enough, and its language must match what the supplier accepts. If it doesn’t, you need an IDP or certified translation.

How long must you hold a licence to rent?

Two years is the common rule. Aruba tourism information lists two full years, one local supplier asks for one, and Final Rentals’ airport page says one to two depending on the supplier. A learner’s permit is not a full licence, so it will not normally qualify.

Do you need an IDP to rent a car in Aruba?

Not if your licence is in English. Beyond that, suppliers disagree. The tourism authority says English or Dutch is enough, Final Rentals’ Aruba page lists English, Dutch or Spanish, and one local supplier accepts English only, asking for a certified translation or IDP otherwise.

An International Driving Permit translates your home licence and never replaces it, so carry both. For non Latin scripts, one major airport supplier requires an IDP but accepts a notarised English translation instead. Read why you may need an International Driving Permit( IDP) abroad.

Pro Tip: Carry an IDP even with an English licence. Final Rentals’ airport page says it helps prevent disputes at the counter.

Is a photo or digital licence accepted?

No.The same tourism guide says digital versions won’t be accepted, so pack the physical licence in your hand luggage.

What are the credit card and deposit rules in Aruba?

Aruba car rental requirements for payment have two parts: paying for the rental and covering the deposit. A credit card in the main driver’s name is the safest way to clear both, because suppliers disagree on debit, cash and third party cards.

Can you rent a car in Aruba with a debit card?

Sometimes for the fee, rarely for the deposit. One local supplier takes cash, debit and credit for the rental payment but requires a credit card for the deposit. Another says a debit card or prepaid card may be refused for the deposit.

Must the card be in the main driver’s name?

Usually. One local supplier requires a credit card in the primary driver’s name. Another allows a third party card only if the cardholder attends pickup, shows a valid licence and signs, and then writes the contract in the cardholder’s name, so the cardholder becomes the renter.

How much is the security deposit in Aruba?

Between $300 and $1,000. The tourism authority puts the typical range at $300 to $700, and Final Rentals’ airport page at $300 to $1,000. See how a security deposit hold differs from a charge.

Our Analysis: the Deposit Cushion Rule says your available credit should cover $1,000 plus other trip holds. A card with $1,200 available can fall short once a hotel adds its own authorisation.

When is the deposit released?

Within 5 to 14 business days after return at one local supplier, and 7 to 14 on Final Rentals’ airport page, if there is no damage, fuel shortfall, late return or fine.

Can you pay the deposit in cash?

Rarely. One supplier refuses it, though a tourism listing mentions a dollar deposit at some agencies. Get any cash option in writing.

What are the additional driver requirements in Aruba?

Additional driver requirements in Aruba come down to one rule: every extra driver must be added to the agreement at pickup and meet the same age and licence rules as the main renter. A major airport supplier adds drivers only at the pickup location, and a local supplier says unregistered drivers leave you liable for damage even with a waiver. More on additional driver rules here.

What does an additional driver need to bring?

The same set as the main driver: a physical licence, matching ID and an IDP or translation if required. Be at the counter with the originals.

Can an extra driver be younger than the renter?

Yes, if they meet the supplier’s age and licence rules, because age is judged per driver. They may still trigger a young driver fee, so ask for the all driver total. One local supplier includes one extra driver free, then charges $4.99 per day, capped at $25.

Which Aruba car rental requirements change by supplier?

Aruba car rental requirements change by supplier because each company writes its own terms. The tourism authority tells renters to contact their chosen company, since each has its own deals and facilities. Suppliers generally tie age floors and deposits to their own claims risk and insurer terms.

Aruba Car Rental Requirements Comparison: Options at a Glance

Recommendation: drivers 23 and over with a credit card and an English licence face the fewest hurdles. Drivers aged 21 to 24 should look for a 21 year floor and price in the surcharge. Visitors without a card in their own name should settle the third party card rule before booking.

When your terms are settled, rent a car in Aruba with Final Rentals and enter the main driver’s real age at booking, because Final Rentals flags age restrictions before you pay.

What is the Aruba car rental requirements checklist?

The Aruba car rental requirements checklist has six steps.

Step 1: Read the supplier’s terms. Find the age, licence, deposit and card rules, and email for anything unpublished.

Step 2: Match your age and licence to the terms. Count your licence years and check the language rule.

Step 3: Sort your card. Use a credit card in the main driver’s name and apply the Deposit Cushion Rule.

Step 4: Register every driver. Bring each one to the counter.

Step 5: Pack originals in hand luggage. Collecting at the airport? Final Rentals lists pickup documents on its Queen Beatrix International Airport Car Rental page.

Step 6: Confirm the deposit and release date in the rental agreement before you sign.

What should you ask at the counter?

• What is the deposit for this vehicle class, and when is it released?

• Does my licence meet your holding period and language rule without an IDP?

• Is my additional driver registered on this agreement?

Pro Tip: On the day you book, screenshot the supplier’s age, licence and deposit terms. If the counter quotes something different, you can show what you agreed to.

What happens if you skip the pickup check?

Scenario (hypothetical, not a real case): two friends, aged 22 and 27, land in Aruba.

Without preparation: they book the cheapest rate. The 22 year old plans to drive and holds only a debit card. The supplier’s floor is 23 and the deposit needs a credit card, so they lose the booking.

With preparation: they pick a supplier with a 21 year floor. The 27 year old books as main driver with her own credit card, and the 22 year old, who has held a licence for 3 years, joins as an additional driver. They budget the surcharge and carry originals.

Frequently asked questions about renting in Aruba

What are the main Aruba car rental requirements?

Most suppliers ask for a valid physical licence held one to two years, a passport or photo ID, a credit card in the main driver’s name, and a minimum age of 21 to 25. The most common age floor is 23. Terms differ by supplier, so ask for yours in writing.

Do you need a passport to rent a car in Aruba?

Yes, most suppliers want a passport or government photo ID alongside your driver’s licence, so carry both in your hand luggage and keep them together at the counter. One local supplier says a passport cannot replace a licence, even when a third party cardholder signs the contract.

Do Aruba car rental requirements change for 4x4?

In the terms reviewed, age and licence rules stay the same for a 4x4, but cover and deposit rules can change with the vehicle class and the supplier. One major airport supplier requires extra cover on 4x4 rentals unless you show written proof that your credit card covers Aruba.

Aruba car rental requirements for residents?

Final Rentals’ Aruba page says residents should present a valid Aruba driver’s licence and a government issued ID, and may be asked for proof of address. Providers may also ask for payment verification, so confirm the full list with your supplier before pickup.

Can you use a prepaid or virtual card?

Probably not for the deposit, because Final Rentals’ airport page says prepaid cards are generally refused for it, and one local supplier says prepaid cards may not be accepted at all. No published rule on virtual cards turned up, so ask first.

What happens if you arrive without your licence?

Expect to be refused the keys, because a valid physical licence is mandatory at the suppliers reviewed, and one local supplier says no other ID can stand in for it. Check cancellation terms too, since one local supplier charges a day’s rental inside 24 hours.

Is a licence from outside the US accepted?

Yes, suppliers accept a valid licence from your country of residence as long as its language and holding period meet the rule, so a licence from outside the United States works. Standard English licences from the US, UK, Canada and Australia are generally accepted without an IDP, per Final Rentals’ airport page.

Do you need to print your booking confirmation?

Final Rentals’ airport FAQ lists the booking confirmation email among the pickup documents, so keep it saved on your phone and carry a paper copy in case the signal is weak at arrival. No printing rule was found in the terms reviewed.

What should you do next?

Aruba car rental requirements come down to four gates: age, licence, card and drivers. Clear all four and the counter takes minutes. When your documents are ready, book your next car rental with Final Rentals.

Next Steps

1. Find your supplier’s age, licence period and deposit amount in writing.

2. Check your available credit against the Deposit Cushion Rule.

3. Check coverage requirements for car rental insurance in Aruba.

4. Put every original document in your hand luggage.

Quick Summary

• Minimum age runs from 21 to 25 across sources, with 23 most common

• Licence holding periods run from one to two years, and the licence must be physical

• Deposits run from $300 to $1,000 and are released 5 to 14 business days after return

• Additional drivers must be added at pickup and meet the same rules

About the author

Jean Genevieve is a travel and car rental content specialist who writes practical guidance for international travelers, with a focus on rental requirements, road conditions, driving rules and self drive planning. This guide draws on the Aruba Tourism Authority’s rental guide, Aruba tourism listings, published supplier terms and Final Rentals’ Aruba pages, each checked on November 2, 2026.