Dcars Car Rental Suriname
Locally-run wheels for exploring Paramaribo and beyond
Why Go
A homegrown Paramaribo rental outfit that quietly earns its reputation through word-of-mouth rather than flashy marketing ΓÇö the kind of place where the staff remember your name and the keys come with actual road advice.
The Experience
Walking into Dcars on Fred Derbystraat feels less like a corporate rental transaction and more like borrowing a car from a well-organized friend. Founded in 2006 as D&D Leasing NV, this family-scale operation has spent nearly two decades building a fleet of 50+ vehicles that spans compact runabouts, SUVs built for Suriname's less-forgiving back roads, pickup trucks, cargo vans, and the occasional convertible. The office sits in a central Paramaribo neighborhood within easy reach of the historic city center, and the internationally trained staff handle paperwork in Dutch, English, and Sranan Tongo without making you feel like just another booking number. Because they'll pick you up anywhere within Paramaribo city limits at no charge, you can skip the taxi-to-airport-counter shuffle that comes with the bigger international chains.
What to Try
Ask about an SUV or 4x4 if you're planning to leave the paved coastal strip ΓÇö the drive to Brownsberg Nature Park, the Commewijne plantations, or the road toward Atjoni all reward a vehicle with real ground clearance. For a Paramaribo-only trip, a compact is plenty and easier to squeeze into the narrow colonial-era side streets around the Waterkant. If you're staying longer than a couple of weeks, ask about their long-term leasing rates, which are the original core of the business and often more competitive than daily rates stacked up.
Insider Tip
Book by WhatsApp (+597 876-9090) rather than email ΓÇö response times are dramatically faster, and you can send a pin of your hotel for the complimentary in-city pickup. Confirm in writing whether the quote includes insurance and mileage, and ask specifically about a second driver if your travel partner plans to share the wheel. Left- and right-hand drive vehicles are both available, which is unusually useful in Suriname where right-hand imports are common.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Frederik Derbystraat 60, Paramaribo. Phone: +597 473-494 or WhatsApp +597 876-9090. Email: dcarsrental@yahoo.com. Typical hours: Monday-Friday 08:00-17:00, Saturday 09:00-13:00, closed Sunday ΓÇö arrange after-hours or Sunday pickup in advance. Free pickup and drop-off within Paramaribo city limits. Bring your passport, a credit card for the deposit, and your home-country driver's license (an International Driving Permit is recommended but not always required for short stays ΓÇö confirm when booking). Fuel is sold in liters and stations are widespread in the city but sparse once you head south.
Pair It With
- Brownsberg Nature Park — A day trip that genuinely needs a rental ΓÇö public transport doesn't reach the park entrance, and having your own vehicle lets you leave early to catch the howler monkeys.
- Commewijne plantation loop — The former coffee and cacao estates across the river from Paramaribo are best strung together by car, with easy stops at Frederiksdorp and Peperpot.
- Paramaribo historic inner city — Park the car and walk ΓÇö the UNESCO-listed wooden colonial center is compact, and Dcars' central location means you can drop the vehicle and stroll straight in.
- Jodensavanne — The remains of the 17th-century Jewish settlement south of the city are a straightforward self-drive that's a headache to reach without your own wheels.