How to compare rental car categories

A sedan or hatchback suits one to four people with cabin luggage. An SUV or MPV (seven seats, usually with the third row folding) is the usual family choice and handles rough side roads and floods better. A van carries eight to fifteen people and is the standard for groups, often with a driver. A pickup is for cargo or unpaved roads. Car pages on 13C show seats, transmission, fuel type and category, and you can filter by type on Find a car.

Highways between cities and the main coastal roads are paved. Roads to beaches, waterfalls and mountain barangays can be steep, narrow or unpaved, and some flood in heavy rain. If that's your plan, favour ground clearance (SUV, MPV, pickup) over a low sedan, and ask the business whether the car is allowed on those roads or on a ferry.

Smaller cars cost less per day and use less fuel; most are automatic, but check. Diesel SUVs and vans are more economical on long drives. Compare the mileage limit and excess-kilometre fee, not just the daily rate, if you plan to cover a lot of ground. Weekly and monthly rates, when a business offers them, are usually much cheaper per day.