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How your tires will affect your driving performance
Puerto Rico’s roads and their effect on your tires
Ways to keep your tires performing well in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

How your tires will affect your driving performance

Believe it or not, tires can affect your overall driving performance and experience in a number of ways. The first is the difference a tire’s diameter makes. The smaller a tire’s diameter the better in terms of performance. Wider tires are harder to handle and make for an overall more difficult ride. Obviously, your tires need to be wide enough in order to fit the rims your car has. This is why you will typically find smaller cars are easier to handle at high speeds than larger vehicles, because their tires have less diameter.

Another way that your particular tires can affect your driving performance is the depth of the treads can impact how quickly you can stop. The deeper your treads are directly affect how quickly you can stop. This is obviously a crucial part of your performance when you are driving.

Next, how rigid your tires are will affect things like braking and traction. Softer tires do better with both of those things. However, softer tires are more likely to break down on roads with tougher conditions.

Finally, tire pressure is the most critical part of where tires will affect your driving performance. It impacts all of the above plus it will also affect your fuel efficiency. Tire pressure will negatively impact your driving both if they are underinflated or overinflated.

If they are underinflated, it can lead to steering issues and, much worse a flat tire. If they are overinflated, it can lead to your tires wearing out faster and even a possible blow out which you will want to avoid at all costs.
 

Puerto Rico’s roads and their effect on your tires

Unfortunately, the condition of Puerto Rico’s roads has never been great and still is not. Thankfully, they are finally starting to improve in the wake of Hurricane Maria. There still are a considerable number of cracks and potholes on the streets of Puerto Rico though.

These things can cause a tone of your damage to your tires and your car as a result. The various ways that cracks in the road or potholes can damage your tires includes puncturing it, damaging the sidewalls, and cracking/bending the actual wheel itself.

You will obviously want to avoid all of that. So, take it slow and keep your eyes peeling when you are driving in Puerto Rico in order to avoid hitting any potholes or cracks in the road.
 

Ways to keep your tires performing well in Puerto Rico

Regardless of the tires that you already have on your car in Puerto Rico, here is what you can do in order to maximize their performance:

• Proper inflation is everything – As was mentioned earlier, underinflated and overinflated tires are both problems for your tires. Check the pressure frequently but pay special attention when temperatures get really high or low.
• When it comes time for new tires, get them – Do not try and coast by on a set of tires that are too worn and or old. In general, you should look into getting new tires after every thirty five to forty five thousand miles driven or after five years of use, whatever comes first.
• Get your tires rotated – Many people will tell you that tire rotation is not important and they would be wrong. Rotating your tires is when the tires of your car are switched in position with each other. This prevents uneven wear on the tires. This is useful because you will not end up needing to get one new tire at a time.
• Perform visual inspections often – Always be vigilant in terms of visually inspecting your tires for blatant issues such as punctures or extremely warn areas of tread.
• Make sure the car’s alignment is not “pulling” – When your car’s alignment is said to be “pulling” one way or another, it means if you take your hands off of the steering wheel, your car will start to slightly and continually move left or right rather than stay straight. If this is the case, it will increase wear on some of your car’s tires. Get this fixed as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Your tires are much more important to your driving than most people think. When they are damaged or worn your driving will inevitably suffer. You run the risk of damage to your tires on some of Puerto Rico’s roads due to numerous potholes. So, when you have a car in Puerto Rico, be on the look out for potholes and cracks in the road. You should also drive slowly so you have more reaction time just in case you do see these things on the road. Finally, always take great care of your tires and inspect them for wear and damage frequently.

Jump to section:
The types of tickets you can get in Puerto Rico
How you can avoid a ticket in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

The types of tickets you can get in Puerto Rico

As with anywhere else with cars, roads and laws regarding them, you can get parking tickets and you can also get moving violations in Puerto Rico. The difference is that in Puerto Rico, you generally need to commit much more of a blatant infraction in order to get a ticket.

This is because traffic in Puerto Rico is pretty bad in terms of motorists obeying the law. Thus, police often overlook more minor infractions like speeding only a few miles over the speed limit. However, this ends of being even more of a reason for you to obey traffic laws and drive safely because it tends to be easier to get into an accident.

In terms of moving violations in Puerto Rico, you technically get pulled over for all the obvious things like speeding, running a red light or stop sign, driving with a headlight out etc.

You can also get parking tickets for parking in a restricted zone or handicapped space.

You should obviously avoid doing any of these things in order to avoid getting a ticket in the first place. However, if you do get a ticket in Puerto Rico, you will need to pay it.

Once you get a ticket in Puerto Rico, you will need to visit the CESCO office. This is similar to the DMV in America. It is especially similar because of the fact that it is seemingly always extremely busy. Expect to spend several hours there. This should serve as even more motivation to not get a ticket.

When you do visit the CESCO office in order to pay a ticket, your best bet is to bring cash. Some may accept credit and most will not accept a check. You will need to go online and find the CESCO office that is nearest to you and call them and ask what their hours are because they all operate under different hours.
 

How you can avoid a ticket in Puerto Rico

Avoiding a ticket in Puerto Rico is a much better option than having to pay one. In order to do this you need to stay focused and alert when you drive in Puerto Rico. As we mentioned, other drivers tend to drive a bit more carelessly than most other places. So, watch out for other drivers who might run a stop sign or who might change lanes without signaling.

You should also know that police do not pull people over by putting their lights on. Instead they always drive around with their lights on. When they put their siren on, that is when they intend for someone to pull over.

Although it seems like everyone else might be getting away with breaking the rules of the road, that does not mean that you will. Your best chance at avoiding a ticket is to always drive carefully and obey the rules of the road. If you are parking, check for signs. If you can not read the sign look for someone who can.
 

Conclusion

Do whatever you can to avoid a ticket in Puerto Rico, otherwise you will need to take the dreaded trip to the CESCO office. Stay alert and always drive with caution. If you do get a ticket, call your local CESCO office to find out when they open and close. Plan to spend a few hours there.

Jump to section:
Gorgeous motorcycle trips
Watch out for other drivers
Advice for riding your motorcycle in Puerto Rico
Final Word
 

Gorgeous motorcycle trips

Puerto Rico is a wonderful place to have your motorcycle because of everything that there is to see and how beautiful the weather is. There are several sights that you will not want to miss that are perfect to travel to with your bike.

The first of these are any of the several gorgeous beaches in Puerto Rico. This includes Luquillo Beach, Condado Beach, and Crash Boat beach. These beaches are all on the main island of Puerto Rico so riding your motorcycle there would be easy. There are other beaches such as Culebra, but they are located on other islands of Puerto Rico which would require that you take a ferry with the ability to carry your bike.

You can also take your bike to and around El Yunque National Rainforest. The rainforest features several waterfalls as well as several great hiking trails. You are not allowed to take your motorcycle on the trails, so either take a scenic ride around the outside of the forest or prepare to do some hiking.

Finally, you can also go for a ride around Old San Juan. Old San Juan is one of the most beautiful sights that you can see in Puerto Rico. The town features old colonial style buildings that are painted in incredible bright colors. There are also several historical sites for you to visit such as colonial forts.
 

Watch out for other drivers

The issue with having a motorcycle in Puerto Rico is the other drivers. Puerto Rico is unfortunately known for having some really bad and careless drivers at times. Drivers in Puerto Rico routinely run red lights and stop signs. They also do things like speed and turn right from the left lane. Police do not enforce traffic laws too strictly here.

So, if you are riding your motorcycle in Puerto Rico, always drive slowly and carefully. Most importantly, stay alert at all times because other drivers might not be paying attention.
 

Advice for riding your motorcycle in Puerto Rico

Before you ride your motorcycle in Puerto Rico, read these tips so you can stay safe and enjoy your ride:

• Check the forecast – Before you head out for a ride in Puerto Rico, always check the forecast. You do not want to get caught riding when sudden rain appears.
• Always wear your helmet – This goes without saying, but always wear your helmet when you are riding your motorcycle in Puerto Rico. It could end up saving your life.
• Leave some space between you and the car in front of you – Always give yourself some extra stopping distance. In Puerto Rico, you never know when someone might stop short abruptly.
• Look where you want to go – It is a long-known tip about riding a motorcycle that you should always look where you intend on going or stopping, not beyond it. So, if you are coming up on cars at a red light, you should look at and focus on the area that you want to stop at, not at the cars because you are then likely to hit them.
• Stay out of people’s blind spots – This is actually easier said than done. Always pay attention and stay out of people’s blind spots. This is especially important in Puerto Rico where driver’s tend to a bit more careless than in other areas.

Final Word

Puerto Rico is a fantastic place to ride a motorcycle in terms of weather and sights. It is not great when it comes to other drivers, traffic conditions and road conditions. Always stay alert and watch out for other drivers as well as potholes. Otherwise, get ready to hit the road and enjoy a gorgeous ride.

Jump to section
Puerto Rico’s parking regulations
Advice for avoiding a tow
Conclusion
 

Puerto Rico’s parking regulations

Just as anywhere else in the world, Puerto Rico has parking regulations and they are pretty strictly enforced. In popular areas like San Juan, parking can seem impossible at times. Just always keep in mind that if you park illegally, you can easily get towed.

Parking laws in Puerto Rico are very similar to those in the United States. You cannot park in a handicapped zone, in front on a hydrant, block a driveway, in front of a bus stop or obstruct traffic by parking in anyway. Some of these will just result in a fine of $50 – $200 dollars. However, if you do something like obstruct traffic or block a driveway, you will need to pay the fine plus you will be towed and then you will need to pay the cost of that. Being towed in Puerto Rico can easily cost over $200 so avoid that at all costs.
 

Advice for avoiding a tow

When you have a car in Puerto Rico, you can use the following advice to help avoid having your it towed when you are in Puerto Rico

• Know the time – If you are in a metered spot or a spot with a 2-hour time limit, for example, you should pay close attention to the time. You can even set a reminder on your phone for when it is time to go.
• Look for signs – When you park, take a few moments to look around and make sure that there are not any signs stipulating that you cannot park where you did.
• Give yourself some extra time to look for a spot – By leaving early and giving yourself a few extra minutes to find a parking spot, you will greatly reduce your chances of parking where you are not allowed and getting towed.
• Avoid driving – It might make life a bit more difficult, but if you avoid taking your car out you will be able to be a hundred percent certain that you will not get towed.
• Park with your wheels touching the curb – If there is no space around some of your tires, it will be more difficult for many to truck drivers to tow your car without damaging it.
• Park close to other cars – This is just about the same as the tire touching the curb trick. If there is not enough space between your car and another, this will make the car much more difficult to tow.
• Apply the parking brake – This will only serve to discourage tow truck drivers, but if there are other, more convenient, cars around to tow, the driver will likely pass your car by in favor of those.

Conclusion

The best ways to avoid being towed in Puerto Rico are to give yourself extra time to find legal parking and to avoid driving in the first place by making use of public transportation and taxis. Otherwise, pay close attention to where you park in Puerto Rico and take the time to look for signs as well as any time limits or meters.

Jump to section:
Traveling to Puerto Rico on a budget
Advice for saving money when you are in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

Traveling to Puerto Rico on a budget

Puerto Rico is a highly sought-after tourist destination. Thus, it can be expensive to visit the island. Local businesses know that they can raise their rates because tourists do not know any better.

The average cost of visiting Puerto Rico is actually $173 per day and $1,200 per week according to recent data. So, when you are in Puerto Rico, you should do your very best to budget and save.
 

Advice for saving money when you are in Puerto Rico

Saving money when you are in Puerto Rico does not necessarily mean that you need to become the world’s most frugal person. Here are some simple ways that you can save a few bucks while you visit Puerto Rico:

• Do things that don’t cost money – This sounds like it might be easier said than done but it actually is pretty easy. You can do things like take a walk in Old San Juan or a hike in the gorgeous mountains. You also have the option of doing some low-cost activities such as spending the day at the beach.
• Air Bnb’s – Rather than staying at some extremely expensive hotel, you can always opt for a room through Air BnB instead. These rooms are much cheaper than a hotel and do a much better job of presenting a local cultural experience.
• Do not travel during the peak tourism season – Peak tourism season in Puerto Rico is from December through May because the weather is a bit less wet and more temperate. However, Puerto Rico’s weather is almost always gorgeous year-round. You just might have one or two rainy days or humid days. So, travel there outside of those months if you are interested in a cheaper overall stay.
• Plan ahead – Set your budget with specific spending limits before you depart for your trip. Define how much you plan to spend on things like dining, transportation and a room.
• Take advantage of “local” spots – This is a particularly important tip when it comes to saving money in Puerto Rico. There are a lot of “mom and pop” type businesses that you can choose to patronize over larger chain businesses. For example, try and eat at local restaurants rather than a McDonalds.

Conclusion

Visiting Puerto Rico is an experience that everyone owes to themselves at least once in their lifetime. The weather is incredible, and the sights are unforgettable. However, Puerto Rico can easily turn into an expensive experience. So, you need to plan ahead and look for ways that you can save during your trip. This includes traveling during non-peak tourism months and choosing an Air BnB instead of a hotel.

Jump to section:
Emission test
Liability insurance
Marbete
Conclusion
 

Emission test

An emission test is required of all vehicles older than two years in Puerto Rico. You will be able to get this test at most gas stations. If you do not get this test you will be denied your “marbete” and will not be able to drive legally.
The vast majority of cars will pass the test easily. However, the following things could cause a car to fail emissions testing, so get these things taken care of before you get your test:

• Worn out spark plugs – When your car’s spark plugs get used too much, they can easily contribute to emission levels. Get your spark plugs changed each and every year.
• Air filters that are not clean – Air filters work to reduce emissions but cannot do their job if they are clogged up with dirt. Be sure you get your cars air filters changed at least once per year.
• Leaky gas cap – If your gas cap is leaking it can easily be the reason that your car fails it’s emission test. Be sure that

Liability insurance

All cars in Puerto Rico MUST have liability insurance. If private insurance is too expensive, you have the option of paying a hundred bucks to the government for bare minimum coverage during the registration process. If you are caught driving without liability you face a fine as well as a suspension of your license.
 

Marbete

The “Marbete” is the tags that you need on your car in order to be able to drive legally in Puerto Rico. You will need to either first purchase your liability insurance or provide proof of private insurance coverage.

You can get more information about the marbete by visiting Puerto Rico’s department of Transportation website
Once you get your marbete sticker, you will need to make sure that it is affixed to your window on the lower right-hand side about six inches from the bottom. However, you should not do this until the official date that the marbete goes into effect.
 

Conclusion

Just like anywhere else, there is some unexpected red tape to get through before you can drive legally in Puerto Rico. You should take care of these things such as the marbete as soon as you have the chance. You will still need to do this, even if you ship your existing car to Puerto Rico.

Jump to section:
What you need to have to register your car in Puerto Rico
The process of registering your car in Puerto Rico
Important facts about registering your car in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

What you need to have to register your car in Puerto Rico

Registering your car in Puerto Rico is not fun but is something that you will absolutely need to do. If you get pulled over in Puerto Rico and your car is not registered, the penalty will be at least a hundred dollars and you could get points on your license which will lead to an increase of insurance rates.

When you are registering your vehicle in Puerto Rico, you do not need to know how to speak Spanish, but it will help make the process a bit smoother if you know at least a little bit of Spanish. Most of the people you will end up dealing with will know at least a little bit of English.

The physical things that you will need are a unexpired and clean Puerto Rico driver’s license, a clean title on the car and the excise tax papers proving you are all paid-up with the port.

If you are not a Puerto Rico resident the process will be a bit more difficult. You will need your unexpired US driver’s license, a clean title on the car, the import papers, the tax papers, your passport, your social security card and some sort of paperwork that proves you own property in Puerto Rico or that you are renting.

If you are not a resident, the process will take longer and will be more difficult. We recommend that you work on becoming a resident before you do anything else.
 

The process of registering your car in Puerto Rico

The process is a long one, but it is something that you need to do to be able to drive legally in Puerto Rico. The first thing that you will need to do is to stop at a DTOP office. This will likely be a long wait, so be sure you have a couple of hours to spare.

There, you will get a form filled out called “Expedicion Comprobantes de Pago”, this is quite important. It serves as a request for an emissions test (which you will have to get) as well as a bill for you to pay to the Hacienda office. You will need to start the process all over and do that long wait again if you lose it and need another copy.

After that, you should take that form to a garage in Puerto Rico and get an emissions test. This will cost somewhere from about $20 to $50 dollars depending on where you go. This will only take a few minutes, then (assuming your car passed the emissions test) you will get a certificate stating that it passed.

At this point, you will need to visit a Hacienda office in order to pay your fees. The lines here might be extremely long, so be prepared to wait once again. You can always try finding a Hacienda office in a more remote area of Puerto Rico as they normally have shorter lines there. Be sure you bring cash with you because some of these offices might not be accepting credit cards.

They will give you a receipt. Take this receipt back to the DTOP office. They will check that to make sure you paid and then they will inspect your car (again) to make sure that the information you provided is accurate and that the car you are trying to register is not actually stolen. You will then get a filled-out form called “Informe de Investigation”, bring this form back into the office afterwards and you will finish up the registration process there.

Once you get your window sticker for your registration, place it on the inside of your windshield as soon as you can.

Important facts about registering your car in Puerto Rico

Keep these facts in mind when you are going to register your car in Puerto Rico:

• It is easy to get a ticket for expired registration – One of the most commonly given out tickets is for expired registration. This is because it gets instantly checked any time that you get pulled over. The stickers are even readable if you are parked or sitting at a light, so make you get your car registered every year as soon as you get the chance.
• Do not lose any of the documentation you receive – As we mentioned above, do not lose any of the official documentation that you get from the DTOP office or Hacienda office. If you do, you will need to go back and wait all over again.
• You need to become a citizen or at least get a place before you can register your car – You must be able to prove residency in Puerto Rico in order for you to officially register your car. So, you will either need a Puerto Rico driver’s license or you will need documentation proving that you own a home or are renting an apartment.
• Get ready to wait – The lines at the DTOP and Hacienda offices are almost always very long. Bring a book or something to keep yourself occupied because the wait is usually over an hour long.
• There is almost no way that you will be able to complete the registration process in only one day – Between the wait and the fact that you have no choice but to travel between offices several times it is all but impossible to finish up the process in just one day. Also keep in mind that offices might be randomly closed or short-staffed which will obviously add to your wait time.

Conclusion

Registering your car in Puerto Rico is a complicated process, especially if you are not yet an official citizen. Be ready to spend several days completing the registration process and waiting in line. Make sure that you have all the required documentation before you head to the DTOP of Hacienda offices.

Just because registering your car in Puerto Rico can be difficult does not mean that getting it there needs to be. You can always ship your car with Puerto Rico Car Transport so that you can focus on the rest of your move!

Jump to section:
The weather and the best times to visit Puerto Rico
How you can get around in Puerto Rico
The best places and sights to see in Puerto Rico
Final word
 

 

The weather and the best times to visit Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate which makes it a highly visited vacation spot. The temperatures generally range from 70 degrees to 90 degrees throughout the year. There is a rainy season which generally lasts from April through November.

However, it really does depend on where you are in Puerto Rico because some areas get well over a hundred inches of rain per year while others get less than fifty. The areas that tend to get the most rain are the mountains like Pico del Este and the El Yunque rainforest. Coastal areas like San Juan get much less rain.

Late summer and fall are when you tend to have the risk of a tropical storm or a more serious hurricane such as Maria a few years back. So, we recommend that you avoid planning a trip to Puerto Rico until you get closer to those times when you can check a forecast before you book a flight.

In the end, the best overall time to take a trip to Puerto Rico is the last two weeks of April and the entire month of May. This is after the busy season that takes place during winter months ends and before the semi-rainy and busy summer months begin.
 

How you can get around in Puerto Rico

Getting around in Puerto Rico can seem complicated, especially when you are visiting for the first time. If you are visiting an area like San Juan and are not going anywhere else, you can easily get away with walking, taking taxis and/or public transportation. Ride share apps like Uber are pretty limited or even non-existent in most areas of Puerto Rico.

However, there is so much more of Puerto Rico that you should see than any one particular area. So, your options to get from one area of the island to another are to rent a car, ship your car to Puerto Rico, or by taking Carros Publicos.

Renting a car, especially depending on what area in Puerto Rico you are doing so in, can get quite expensive quickly. If you are only staying for a handful of days, it could be a feasible option. However, for longer trips you should consider shipping your own car to Puerto Rico.

Carros Publicos is basically a town car service that operates in the main areas of Puerto Rico such as San Juan. All you need to do is to find these cars which usually assemble in areas where they feel they will pick up the most fares such as near the airport. We are recommending these over taxis because the rates are much lower.

If you need to get from the main island of Puerto Rico to the other islands like Culebra and Vieques, you can take a ferry or even a short flight. You can find more information about the Puerto Rican ferries here.
 

The best places and sights to see in Puerto Rico

If you are planning on visiting Puerto Rico for the first time, you should plan on taking trips to visit at least some of the following places:

• El Yunque National Rainforest – This rainforest is almost thirty thousand acres in size and is as lush and beautiful as any other rainforest in the world. It also includes a ton of different types of wildlife from exotic birds to rare frogs.
• San Juan – San Juan is Puerto Rico’s oldest city but it is likely also the most picturesque. It is full of amazing colonial style buildings in the old San Juan portion, has the Bacardi Rum Distillery, beautiful beaches and much more.
• Mosquito Bay – This is one of three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. However, Puerto Rico, although it has three, is one of the only places in the world that has a bioluminescent bay. So, you will not want your chance to visit one of these while you can. A bioluminescent bay is a bay that glows bright blue at night due to rare microorganisms that live in the water (they pose no harm to humans). Mosquito Bay is the brightest of these bays in the entire world.
• Rincon – One of the best beach spots in all of Puerto Rico, which is known for its many gorgeous beaches, Rincon is a spot you really should not miss on your trip to Puerto Rico. The beach features incredible surfing as well as occasional views of humpback whales depending on the time of year that you visit.
• San German – San German has the same sort of incredible old colonial architecture that San Juan has but it is minus the crazy crowds. It is also known for being an area on the island with some of the very best food. On top of that, it has a museum, art gallery and even a water park. So, you will not have any trouble trying to spend a full day here.

Final word

When you are visiting Puerto Rico for the very first time, know that you are about to see some breathtaking sights and will not soon forget your experience there. Just try to avoid hurricane season in the late summer into the fall. Also, you should try and plan what you will end up doing and what you will see during your trip in advanced. Doing so will help save you money, time and stress.

Jump to section:
Keep your car comfortable in Puerto Rico
Keep your car dry
Keep your car cool
Keep your car clean
Final word
 

Keep your car comfortable in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate all year long. This means temperatures will always range from warm to hot and humidity will almost always be pretty high. So, it will take some effort on your part to keep the inside of your car comfortable and cool.
Because of the hot, humid and tropical weather, Puerto Rico also sees a bunch of precipitation throughout the course of the year. So, you will also need to make an effort to keep your car dry and clean in order to keep it comfortable.
 

Keep your car dry

As we just mentioned, there is a considerable amount of precipitation in Puerto Rico each year. As much as a quarter of these rain totals are from hurricane related weather. So, the expression “when it rains, it pours” really holds true for the precipitation in Puerto Rico.

Regardless of when it rains in Puerto Rico, you should take some preventative steps in order to keep the inside of the car dry. You can do this by making sure that you have some better-than-average floor mats in the vehicle. You should also try and keep any wet or damp items out of the car like coats.

Once the rain has stopped, you can open your windows to help dry out the car. If you are really serious you can even fill something porous with kitty litter and leave it in the car. This will help absorb moisture.
 

Keep your car cool

The next major thing that you need to do to keep the inside of your car comfortable in Puerto Rico is to keep it cool. As we mentioned earlier, it gets quite warm and humid in Puerto Rico so keeping the temperature in your car down should be a priority.

Keeping your car cool can be as simple as turning the air conditioning on or opening the windows on days that are not as hot. However, you can spare the expense of cranking up the air conditioning for too long by taking a few preventative steps first. For starters, you can make sure that you park in the shade or a garage. If that is not an option, you can always purchase and use a window visor when your car is parked.

Next, you can also get a car that has cloth seats. If you already have a car that has leather seats, then you can throw some blankets over the seats while you are not in the car. This will keep the temperature of the surface of the seats down.
 

Keep your car clean

Finally, a big part of comfort for many people is being in spaces that are neat and clean. Being in a car is no different. Keeping your car clean is something that everyone knows the basics of. However, take note of the following tips to make keeping your car clean even easier:

• Clean the floor mats whenever you get the chance – The floor mats are almost always the dirtiest part of a car. That is because you and anyone else that enter your car end up tracking a bunch of dirt into the car on your shoes without even knowing it.
• Keep cleaning supplies in your vehicle – In case you or someone else spills something like coffee or food in your car, you will have the necessary supplies handy. We recommend keeping cleaning wipes, spray and a cleaning cloth.
• Make it a point to clean the car regularly – You should clean out your car on a regular basis. We recommend making it a point to clean out your car at least once each month. If you choose to do it more frequently than that, even better.
• Pay attention to the details – When you are cleaning your car do not skip smaller and harder to clean areas in your car like the cup holders. The less frequently that you clean them the more difficult they will be to clean later on.
• Keep some sort of a garbage can in your car – If you keep some sort of a trash can or small garbage bag in the car you will never need to just leave garbage in there.

Final word

Taking care of the interior of your car is important when it comes to maintaining the level of comfort that you and any of your passengers feel when you are in the car. This means taking preventative steps in order to keep the car dry, cool and clean on a regular basis. Some of these steps will need to be taken more frequently than others. For example, keeping your car cool will be an every-day process whereas cleaning it might only take place once each month.

Jump to section:
Traveling or moving to Puerto Rico for the first time
How you can get to Puerto Rico with your car
Avoid making these mistakes in Puerto Rico
Final word
 

Traveling or moving to Puerto Rico for the first time

When you are traveling to Puerto Rico for the first time, it is important to prepare for the climate, culture and in general before you even start your trip there. For example, many people do not know that American citizens do not even need a passport in order to travel there.

You definitely do not need to know how to speak Spanish because the tourist industry is so large and important that the popular areas on the island will pretty much always have someone who speaks English. However, if you plan on visiting one of the smaller and lesser known areas or towns, it could be useful to know some basic Spanish or at least have a translation app on your phone.

Another thing that many people do not know upon their first trip to Puerto Rico is that you can use the US dollar as currency without having to exchange it.

If you plan on driving when you are here, you should know that traffic is a bit tricky. That is because typical driving etiquette is not really common in Puerto Rico. This means that you will see people driving through stops signs and red lights all the time, people will turn left from the right lane, and people will even stop in the middle of the road for seemingly no reason.
 

How you can get to Puerto Rico with your car

If you are going to Puerto Rico and you would rather skip the expense of renting a car and the unreliability of public transportation, you can always ship your car to Puerto Rico. Shipping your car to Puerto Rico is easy and convenient. You just need to book your shipment, prepare for your shipment, travel to Puerto Rico yourself and then pick your car up at the port.

Avoid making these mistakes in Puerto Rico

Keep these common mistakes that people make when they first travel to Puerto Rico in mind when you travel or move there yourself:

• Spending too much time and money at the hotel – The amenities at hotels can be extremely expensive, especially in comparison to local places in Puerto Rico. You will always be better off doing things like eating at local businesses rather than the hotel.
• Visiting areas heavily affected by the recent earthquakes – There are some areas which were unfortunately hit hard by the recent earthquakes. For now, you will want to avoid these areas. You can always donate to the recovery efforts if you please.
• Getting pickpocketed – This happens a bit more than normal in densely crowed public areas and on public transit in Puerto Rico. So, if you end up in one of these areas, always be aware.
• Thinking you need to know Spanish in order to travel there – English is the second most widely spoken language in Puerto Rico, so you do not need to know Spanish in order to be able to visit.
• Keeping a tight schedule – Most people in Puerto Rico operate on what is known as “island time” which means deadlines are not strictly adhered to and people take their time getting from one place to the next. So, do not try and zip around the island. Take your time and enjoy the beautiful sights and weather.

Final word

Going to Puerto Rico for the first time might seem overwhelming but it definitely does not need to be. When you realize that you do not even need a passport or to exchange your money, it should seem like a much more possible and easy experience. Just be sure you avoid making some of the more typical mistakes that people tend to make and you will be able to get the most out of your time in Puerto Rico.