Hertz Car Rental ΓÇö Downtown Paramaribo
The familiar red-and-yellow badge on a Paramaribo side street, run by local operator Realcar N.V.
Why Go
Suriname is one of the only countries in South America where you drive on the left, and outside the capital the road network thins out fast. Picking up wheels from a name you already know ΓÇö right in the historic center of Paramaribo ΓÇö takes a lot of the guesswork out of a country most travelers arrive at underprepared.
The Experience
This isn't a glossy airport counter; it's a working downtown branch tucked onto Van 't Hogerhuysstraat, a quiet residential street a short ride from the Waterkant and the UNESCO-listed old town. Realcar N.V. is the Hertz franchisee for Suriname, so the fleet, paperwork, and insurance follow the global playbook ΓÇö but the vibe is unmistakably Surinamese: small office, personal handover, and staff who'll happily sketch out which roads are paved, which aren't, and where the next fuel stop is once you leave greater Paramaribo. Expect a walk-around inspection, a quick primer on left-hand driving, and keys in hand rather than a self-service kiosk.
What to Try
For city-only use ΓÇö Fort Zeelandia, Commewijne day trips, Jodensavanne ΓÇö a standard sedan is plenty. If you're heading toward Brownsberg, the Upper Suriname River put-ins, or the Nickerie rice country, ask specifically about a 4WD or higher-clearance SUV; the interior tracks and rainy-season potholes eat compact cars for breakfast. GPS as an add-on is worth it: signage outside Paramaribo is inconsistent and offline maps often lag behind reroutes.
Insider Tip
Suriname drives on the LEFT (like neighbouring Guyana), which trips up almost every first-timer arriving from Brazil, French Guiana, or the US. Take ten minutes in the surrounding residential grid before merging onto the Ringweg ΓÇö and bring an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence, because the downtown branch will ask for it even when the airport counter sometimes doesn't. Also: this location closes early Saturday and all day Sunday, so time your pickup and drop-off accordingly to avoid an unplanned extra rental day.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Van 't Hogerhuysstraat 23, Paramaribo. Hours: MonΓÇôFri 08:00ΓÇô17:00, Sat 08:00ΓÇô13:00, closed Sunday. Phone: +597 400409. Operated as Hertz by local franchisee Realcar N.V. Minimum age typically 21; bring passport, home driver's licence, and an International Driving Permit. Book online through Hertz for the best rates and to lock in vehicle class ΓÇö walk-ins are possible but the downtown fleet is smaller than the airport (PBM) counter. No toll roads in Suriname; fuel is widely available in the capital but sparse once you head inland, so top up before long drives.
Pair It With
- Fort Zeelandia — Anchor your first drive with a short hop to Paramaribo's 17th-century riverside fort ΓÇö an easy way to test left-hand driving before venturing further.
- Commewijne plantation loop — A classic half-day self-drive across the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge to former coffee and cacao estates like Frederiksdorp and Peperpot ΓÇö exactly the kind of trip a rental unlocks.
- Kersten Motors service network — Kersten is the parent group behind several of Suriname's automotive services; useful to know the name if you need roadside help outside the capital.
- Torarica Hotel & Casino — A common base for business and leisure travelers picking up a car downtown ΓÇö five minutes away and an easy meeting point for handovers.