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Review
Car hire companies in the Caribbean very considerably in terms of standards and service. It is worth being absolutely sure that you are in touch with the most reliable company on island for St Lucia car rentals. In this we can recommend Drive-A-Matic Car Rentals, who are based right in Rodney Bay Village, in the heart of the busiest tourist area on the island. They have a great track record as a friendly and reliable company who deliver on time. Islanders talk of never having had a complaint, which is always a good sign.
Their base at Rodney Bay, close to the Rex St Lucian Hotel, is situated in the north of the island, but Drive-A-Matic is happy to deliver to anywhere on the island free of charge. This includes both airports (except on certain one-day hires, see below), so you can pick up a car on arrival if you know your way around and wish to drive. Otherwise you can have it dropped at your hotel or villa. They will also issue your local driving permit at the same time, on presentation of your own licence from home. You are able to drop off anywhere you choose too, at your villa, hotel or at the airport.
About two thirds of Drive-A-Matic’s fleet is Jeeps. Although the main roads in St Lucia have had a lot of work done on them recently and are in relatively good condition, if you know that you will be going off the beaten track, then it might be a good to hire a Jeep. Many of the interesting sites and remoter beaches in St Lucia are to be found at the end of unmade tracks which become muddy after rain. Drive-A-Matic also have number of minibuses for hire aswell.
Drive-A-Matic in St Lucia is the sister company of Drive-A-Matic Barbados, the largest car rental company in that Barbados. Bernie Weatherhead, founder and owner of Drive-A-Matic Barbados, opened up the St Lucia operation with Timothy Boyce and John Dulieu in 1993. Having started with just seven vehicles and a small number of staff, Drive-A-Matic now has 46 vehicles. The company has moved several times since its creation but is now based right in Rodney Bay, and is now run by Sianna Charles.
Hirers who come through DefinitiveCaribbean are entitled to a 5% discount for their St Lucia car hire arrangements. |
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Staff
There are nine staff altogether at Drive-A-Matic in St Lucia. Reservations and delivery staff are Anisa, Rebecca, Sylvine and Donna. |
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Prices
| 01 May – 15 December 2007 & 2008 | | Group | Vehicle Type Examples | Per day 1-day | Per day 2-5 days | 1 wk | Extra days | | Group A | Small car: Suzuki Alto (A), 4 dr, 4 str | 48 | 45 | 270 | 39 | | Group B | Small car: Suzuki Ignis (A), 4 dr, A/C, 5 str, CD | 58 | 53 | 330 | 48 | | Group C1 C2 C3 | Soft top: Suzuki 4x4 (M) 4 str Sedan car: (A), A/C, 5 str Hard-top: 4x4 (A), A/C, 5 str | 65 | 60 | 360 | 52 | | Group D1 D2 | Fully loaded car: Toyota Corolla, 5str Large van: (A), A/C, 7 str | 75 | 65 | 390 | 56 | | Group L1 | Suzuki Vitara/Daihatsu Terios: 4x4 (A) 5 dr, A/C, CD, 5 str | 78 | 75 | 450 | 65 | | Group L2 | Suzuki Grand Vitara: (A), 5 str, A/C | 90 | 84 | 525 | 75 | | Group L3 | Suzuki XL7/Subaru Forrester: 4 x4, (A), 7 Str, A/C | 105 | 100 | 650 | 92 | | Group L4 | Luxury Car: BMW X3, BMW 5 Series, Land Rover Discovery | n/a | 175 | 1,050 | 150 | | 16 December-30 April 2007-08 | | Group | Vehicle Type Examples | Per day 1-day | Per day 2-5 days | 1 wk | Extra days | | Group A | Small car: Suzuki Alto (A), 4 dr, 4 str | 56 | 53 | 326 | 47 | | Group B | Small car: Suzuki Ignis (A), 4 dr, A/C, 5 str, CD | 66 | 61 | 386 | 56 | | Group C1 C2 C3 | Soft top: Suzuki 4x4 (M) 4 str Sedan car: (A), A/C, 5 str Hard-top: 4x4 (A), A/C, 5 str | 73 | 68 | 416 | 60 | | Group D1 D2 | Fully loaded car: Toyota Corolla, 5str Large van: (A), A/C, 7 str | 83 | 73 | 446 | 64 | | Group L1 | Suzuki Vitara/Daihatsu Terios: 4x4 (A) 5 dr, A/C, CD, 5 str | 86 | 83 | 506 | 73 | | Group L2 | Suzuki Grand Vitara: (A), 5 str, A/C | 98 | 92 | 581 | 83 | | Group L3 | Suzuki XL7/Subaru Forrester: 4 x4, (A), 7 Str, A/C | 113 | 108 | 706 | 100 | | Group L4 | Luxury Car: BMW X3, BMW 5 Series, Land Rover Discovery | n/a | 200 | 1,225 | 175 |
All rates are quoted in US$ and may differ during peak periods. Key: A=Automatic, M=Manual, A/C= Air Conditioning, str= Number of passengers, CD= CD player, dr= Number of doors You will be entitled to a 5 % discount providing you let Drive-a-Matic know that you have come through DefinitiveCaribbean at the time of enquiry |
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Terms & Conditions
Drivers must be over 25 years old and have held a licence for over two years. If a driver is over 65, a doctor’s certificate must be provided.
A local driving permit is required to drive in St Lucia will cost US$21 (a 1 day permit costs US$12) and is valid for 3 months. It can be issued by Drive-A-Matic when they deliver the car. You will need to show your licence from home. Additional driver charge US$3 per person, per day.
There is a US$5 Government Tax per rental day.
Insurance is included in the price of the car rental. A Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is offered at US$15 per day (US$65 per week) and will reduce liability to US250 as long as the vehicle is operated in accordance with the contract.
Mileage is unlimited
Vehicles are rented with US$15 worth of petrol/gasoline and should be returned empty.
Child seats are available at US$5 per day
Payment is made at the end of the rental agreement. No deposit is required, but hirers must leave an imprint of their credit card, or a credit card number and expiry date.
Credit cards accepted include: VISA, MasterCard and American Express. Cash is also accepted |
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Delivery
Drive-A-Matic Car Rentals will deliver your vehicle to your accommodation free of charge anywhere on the island, including both airports. (For one-day hires out of Hewanorra Airport in the south there is a US$30 delivery charge.) They have no booths there but they are happy to meet you on arrival. Please be aware that deliveries to hotels and villas in the Soufrière area cannot take place until early afternoon (it is a long trip from Rodney Bay). Vehicles may be left at the airport on departure by prior arrangement. |
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Reservations
It is worth bearing in mind that there can be a shortage of cars in St Lucia at the time of the Jazz Festival in May and also over Christmas, from early December until early January, when many St Lucians return from abroad to see their family. It is worth booking your car in advance for those periods.
To make further enquiries or a reservation for your St Lucia car rental, please use the WEB, TELEPHONE OR DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES link at the top of this review. |
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5% off if you mention DefinitiveCaribbean...
Please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you deal with Drive-A-Matic Car Rentals in order to collect your 5% discount for your St Lucia car hire arrangements. |
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