Kerry B. Says:
I plan to go to Panama from January to March, 2024. Is it cost effective to buy a cheap car and resell it when leaving?
IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch Says:
Hi Kerry,
This is not unheard of in Panama, expats often source and sell their cars through the expat grapevine. Joining Facebook groups for your destination of choice in Panama is the best way to start tapping into that grapevine.
Just go to Facebook, put the town name in the search field, and see which groups come up. Facebook will tell you if the group is active, or if it regularly gets a certain number of posts.
People in these groups may offer to assist you for a fee, and you may find that they can save you money and headaches if you’re new to the country and unfamiliar with the region. My friends and neighbors in Coronado, Ann and Peter, got someone to buy a car for them and leave it at our building, so it was waiting for them when they flew in from the States.
It was terribly convenient and they had a great experience, but of course you want to be careful. One good way to try and ensure you don’t get scammed or ripped off is to use someone that has lots of other expats vouching for them. That’s what Ann and Pete did.
Here in Coronado there are a few small car rental outfits that offer much lower rates on long-term car rentals than international outfits like National. Coronado Car Rental, Trinity, and Active Auto come to mind (I have used the first two).
So, depending on where in the country you’re going to be, you may find it simpler to rent… and not as cost-prohibitive as you might have thought.
And of course, if the town you’re planning to visit is very walkable or bikeable—say, Bocas Town in the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro or the mountain haven of El Valle—you may find you don’t need a car. Or maybe you only need or want one part of the time.
I manage fine with land and water taxis (and my own two feet) in Bocas Town, and El Valle is flat and great for biking (though it can be very wet from August through November).
Recently I was car-less in Coronado for a week while my little Hyundai was in the shop in Panama City. I rented a car for a couple days and ran some important errands. The rest of the time, I got everything I needed delivered to my door. Friends and neighbors were happy to drive when we went out to lunch or dinner. (I’ll make it up to them now that I’ve got my car back.)
You may find you can play it by ear and mix and match…
Happy exploring.
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