Car rental in Trujillo exists but plays second fiddle to drivers: Peru's northern capital runs on taxis, colectivos and arranged cars-with-driver, and the rental market is small, airport-and-city based, and best pre-booked rather than counted on at a walk-up desk. Think about whether you need it at all: Chan Chan's adobe citadel, the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna and Huanchaco's surf-and-reed-boat beachfront all sit within 20-30 minutes of the centre - distances taxis and tours cover cheaply. Self-drive starts to make sense for the wider north: the Chicama valley's ruins and surf, Cascas' wine country, or onward legs toward Cajamarca, where a pre-arranged car with clear insurance and assistance terms beats stitching bus schedules. Drive defensively in the city; Peruvian urban traffic asserts rather than yields.
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