Driving in Guatemala...

Personally, I would not attempt to rent a car. It's expensive relative to the price of public or even private transport and fairly dangerous....fast drivers!
The public buses are super cheap and private/tourist transport extremely cheap (compared to US or Europe) so doesn't seem worth the stress.

I also heard a couple first hand (and many 2nd/3rd/4th hand) accounts of car break ins and jackings.

Major road quality is quite good. The political party in control of the government always passes out thousands of patronage jobs to it's supporters to fix the roads.

I have rented a car for the last three times I went to Guatemala, never had a problem.
The road quality is quite good, and getting better.

You do have to drive with caution, however if I see how those public busses drive, I rather have my faith in my own hands.
Renting a car gives you freedom, you can go where ever and whenever you want.
Sure you can get robbed, the car can break down, but all of this can also happen in,let's say Amsterdam.

My advice is, if you have the money to rent a car,do it.
It is great.

Don Andres.

It's always a bit surprising the first time you cross the border into Guatemala from Mexico and realize the poor little sister has better roads... No, renting a car in Guatemala is fine and can be a lot of fun to have one, I've done it many times and it's certainly much less hassle than Mexico in the sense that you get stopped "less" for little shakedowns. Sure the drivers might be a little worse, but just drive extra defensively: no biggee.
I think the biggest issue is simply how having a car there changes the experience; I've enjoyed both ways very much. I love the way I don't have to worry about chicken bus schedules, etc., and can reach any hard to find place at my leisure, BUT, I also love just the ebb and flow of getting places organically, like they do, not being in a hurry. Plus finding parking, and always having to be a bit worried about the rental car, can be a bit tiresome. Your call!! But you'll have a great time if you rent a car there, it's simply a non-issue, really. In many ways safer and less hassle than Mexico to have a rental car IMHO

There is a very large deductible for damage to a rental car in Guatemala that has always put me off. It might be still as low as $2000, but I haven't checked recently. However, having your own vehicle puts you into an insular world, where you don't meet interesting people on buses and shuttles and this makes it a much less colorful experience. Also, there is some fabulous scenery in the highlands, but one of you won't be able to kick back and enjoy it as you drive along.

My few rental experiences in Mexico suggest that you might want off street parking at night for any rental car.

I live in Guatemala so drive here regularly. I agree with Mayaphile and for other reasons noted above, and more, would not recommend renting a car in Guatemala but every time I say this many people disagree, often the original poster, so do what you like, you will anyway. It really is a matter of personal preference .....some people want to do it, others don't. One person I advised not to do it rented a car and the car was broken into (window smashed and radio stolen) on the streets of Antigua...they said they would STILL have rented, so there you have it......the potential advantages may outweigh the potential disadvantages FOR YOU.....

We found driving in Guate, and the rest of CA, to be a lot more normal than we expected. Except for the city itself, its basically the same as anywhere. A bit more traffic, at higher speeds, on smaller highways, with bigger trucks, and lots more cargo going 20mph on a 60mph road. In the city, multiply all that by 10x. Would I recommend driving yourself? Absolutely. Ask my wife and you might get a different answer.

Back in May I got a rental car and I paid a weekly rate of something like $32 a day. This time, last week I called most of the local companies and www.economicarentautos.com (Tel: 2424-0598)gave me the best deal in town. For only two days that I needed the car, they gave me a daily rate of $29 incl everything. They normally charge you an extra 6% when paying with your credit card. In my opinion driving in guatemala is no different than driving here in south Florida where we have traffic fatalities not only on the roads but on the streets just about every day. Nowadas driving on the roads in guatemala is safer that it used to be, because normally on two-lane roads they have an extra lane for passing when going up hills. The only problem would be securing the car at night. Of course you find lots of places from hotels own parking to gas stations where they have a night watch. Most gas stations take credit cards but, Visa is normally the only one they take. I was able to use my MC but it wasn't easy to find a gas station that would take it. Picking up and returning the car went real smooth with those guys of La Economica. So, I don't hesitate on recommending them. Like I said they charged me Q225 a day and I was quoted rates by other companies from Q300 to Q350. They are very friendly and you can always bargain if they quote you a higher rate over the phone. I drove an automatic 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer that seats 5 pax, with unlimited mileage. They have an office at the airport and their main office is located a few blocks from the airport.

I live in California where owning a car is mandated by law. But I've only ever driven once in Guat. and that was back in the early '80s. Jeep and the two guys with me were holding G3s so no dangers of being cut off. Today...way to many things to look at to worry about watching the road. Those high deductibles would be an a good reason not to drive. You go down some country road and plow into some kid walking the family cow and you are stuck. Price of beef is too high today to risk it.