Cuba Rent a Car

How about some DETAILS !!!!

Was Cody impaired, drinking, and drunk??? I've rented cars in Cuba for days, weeks, and months without any problems except for a few very minor problems. I have rented scooters for months at a time without any problems.

In Cuba drinking and driving or being drunk behind the wheel isn't tolerated. For Cubans that is !! For tourists it's different, tourists drink and drive all the time without any problems. Tourists have more rights than Cubans in Cuba.

BUT as a tourist if you do get into an accident it is mandatory for you to have a blood test to see if you have alcohol in your system. From the accident scene the police will take you directly to the hospital for a blood test and if you have any alcohol in your blood you are at fault regardless whose fault it is and no insurance applies when driving drunk, just like here.

If Cody had alcohol in his blood than someone in his family must pay for all the damage and costs regarding the accident, or he'll stay there till it is paid, just like anywhere in the world.

When you're in someones country try not to act like you're untouchable by the law.

The only troubles that I had was once when renting a car a part fell off and I had to pay for it upon returning the car, it cost me about $280.00. Another time parked in front of my casa particular, the young children leaving school were pealing off the names that were glued on the car, you know the name of the car or an emblem that is on the car from the factory, I had to pay $20.00 for this, but if I had called the police and reported who did the damage and the police made a report (get a copy) It would have been covered by my insurance I bought when renting the car.


Remark by Vic Webmaster Havana-guide.com

First, let me state this clearly the majority of car rentals in Cuba runs without difficulties.
But, when human injury is involved the consequences in Cuba are huge. It's forbidden to the foreigner to leave Cuba (guilty or not) before a decision of the judge, and this can take 3-6 months.

I have no specific details about the Cody Lecompte case, but my guess is that he was not familiar with the Cuban roads and the way some Cubans behave on the roads. Was this very young guy experienced enough to drive in often chaotic traffic situations?

I recall a similar accident with a Belgian woman in a rented car in Cuba. The woman drove during heavy rain, got a flat tire and caused a fatal accident with a cyclist. She blamed the accident on the Cuban rental car. But one can also ask the question: is it wise to drive a car during heavy rain, and low visibilty on unfamiliar roads. She was scentenced to three years prison in Cuba.
If I rent a car in Havana, I hire a Cuban driver too to be relaxed all the time.

Cuba rent a car