SG Car Rental
A low-key local rental desk on Brusselstraat for road-tripping Suriname on your own terms
Why Go
Suriname rewards travelers who wander ΓÇö from the wooden colonial lanes of Paramaribo out to the Commewijne plantations, the coast at Weg naar Zee, and the jungle roads south. SG Car Rental is one of those small, family-run counters that quietly makes that kind of freedom possible, handing over a clean, dependable car without the corporate markup you'd pay at the airport chains.
The Experience
Tucked on Brusselstraat just east of the city center, SG Car Rental feels less like a rental office and more like stopping by a neighbor who happens to keep a yard of tidy sedans and compact SUVs. There's no glossy showroom and no pushy up-sell ΓÇö you talk directly with the owner, sort paperwork over a coffee, and you're on the road. The fleet leans practical: fuel-efficient runabouts that handle Paramaribo's narrow one-ways and are still comfortable for the two-hour push to Nieuw-Nickerie or the ferry landing at Meerzorg. Because it's a small operator, expect a personal handover: a walk-around, a quick sketch of where to fuel up, and a real phone number you can actually reach if anything comes up.
What to Try
Pick up an economy car for a day-trip loop through Commewijne ΓÇö cross the Wijdenboschbrug bridge, wind past Frederiksdorp and Marienburg's old sugar ruins, and be back in Paramaribo for dinner. If you're staying longer, ask about weekly rates for a run out to Brownsberg Nature Park or up the East-West Link toward Albina. The Weg naar Zee coastal mudflats and Hindu temple make an easy sunset drive that's almost impossible without your own wheels.
Insider Tip
Message ahead on WhatsApp at +597 883-3663 rather than just walking in ΓÇö availability is tight because the fleet is small, and locking in a car a day or two out (especially over weekends and Surinamese holidays) is the difference between driving off and being told to try tomorrow. Confirm whether the rate includes insurance and a spare tire, ask for the owner's number for after-hours issues, and photograph every panel at pickup ΓÇö standard practice with any independent rental here.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Brusselstraat 32, Paramaribo (VR29+838), about a 10-minute drive from the historic inner city. Phone/WhatsApp: +597 883-3663. Email: tiesje78@hotmail.com. Payment is typically cash (SRD or USD) ΓÇö confirm card options in advance. You'll need a valid driver's license (an IDP is recommended for non-Dutch/English licenses), a passport, and a credit card or cash deposit. Remember: Suriname drives on the LEFT, a holdover that surprises most South American road-trippers. Fuel stations are plentiful in Paramaribo but sparse once you head into the interior ΓÇö top up before you leave town.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient Paramaribo base within short driving distance ΓÇö park on-site and use SG's car for day trips out to Commewijne or the coast.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — An easy dinner stop on your way back into town after a day on the road, no need to hunt for parking downtown.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Getting to river-tubing put-ins on your own schedule is exactly what a rental car unlocks ΓÇö beats waiting on tour transfers.
- 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe Guide — A classic Paramaribo terrace for a cold Parbo beer once the keys are back ΓÇö a fitting bookend to a Suriname road trip.