At first look, Costa Rica could seem like small and straightforward to discover, however the reality is the nation’s adventure-packed locations are located additional than they appear.
Because of the nation’s well-established tourism business, travellers have many transportation choices in Costa Rica, together with buses, shuttles, and taxis. Well-liked vacationer cities are typically small and straightforward to get round on foot.
Nonetheless, attending to out-of-town sights and actions could be difficult. Some excursions embrace transportation, however in the event you plan to discover loads whereas in Costa Rica, the costs of transfers can add up fairly shortly.
Having spent a few years travelling throughout Costa Rica, we’ve tried and examined many various transportation strategies. We’ve travelled on buses, used shuttles, taxis, non-public drivers and even hopped on a number of boats.
Renting a automobile in Costa Rica is likely one of the choices to journey round.
Renting a Automobile in Costa Rica: Our Recommendation
As sustainable travellers, we’d like to advocate utilizing public transportation in Costa Rica – because it’s probably the most eco-friendly strategy to discover the nation. However the reality is, the public transport system in Costa Rica is underdeveloped, connecting principally large inhabitants hubs and main cities, and NOT vacationer locations. This makes the journey from Level A to Level B typically way more difficult than mandatory.
Our in depth expertise navigating the nation has confirmed that renting a automobile is the easiest way to get round in Costa Rica.
Renting a automobile in Costa Rica remains to be probably the most sensible and versatile possibility, particularly in the event you plan to go to extra distant areas and need to journey at your individual tempo.
Nonetheless, renting a automobile in Costa Rica is usually a difficult course of. Scams, confusion and an abundance of unreliable automobile rental firms make renting a automobile in Costa Rica, a giant supply of frustration for travellers.
To assist navigate the method and spotlight all of the pitfalls, scams and potential errors travellers make when renting a automobile in Costa Rica, we’ve put collectively this detailed information.
So, with out additional ado, let’s dive in and get you prepared to go to Costa Rica!
Right here is all the things you should find out about renting a automobile in Costa Rica.
Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Frequent Questions About Renting Automobile in Costa Rica
Do You Must Lease a Automobile in Costa Rica?
Technically, no. You will get round by public buses, excursions, or a personal shuttle.
Buses are low cost and protected however actually not handy, particularly in the case of travelling between vacationer locations. Excursions and personal shuttles are actually out there and handy, however they’re fairly expensive.
We’ve discovered that in the event you e-book properly upfront, you’ll be able to really get monetary savings in your journey by hiring a automobile and being your individual chauffeur.
Why Ought to You Lease a Automobile in Costa Rica?
In case you’re planning a visit and questioning, “Ought to I hire a automobile in Costa Rica?” The reply is sure!
You’ll be exploring Costa Rica at your individual tempo and may see extra of what the nation has to supply. Take into account that greater than 50% of the nation is densely forested and underdeveloped. Roads are sometimes windy and generally unpaved, and distances are typically a lot farther than you’d anticipate.
With a Costa Rica rental automobile, you’ve got the freedom to come back and go by yourself schedule. Spend as a lot time exploring nationwide parks as you want and benefit from the surroundings alongside the way in which. It’s far more handy, and driving your self normally finally ends up quicker than counting on buses or excursions. Plus, you’ll be capable to attain distant and off-the-beaten-path Costa Rica locations—which everyone knows are the perfect ones!
Automobiles for hire in Liberia Airport in Guanacaste
Is it Protected to Drive a Automobile in Costa Rica?
Sure! So long as you drive extra cautiously than you’d in your house nation, driving in Costa Rica is completely protected. That mentioned, there are numerous issues to look out for, and native drivers are notoriously unhealthy for signalling. Take a look at our driving ideas on the finish of this text for the perfect expertise.
Do I Want an Worldwide Driver’s License to Lease a Automobile in Costa Rica?
No, so long as your authentic driver’s license is at the least 2 years previous and written in Roman script. Which means that those that carry a US driver’s license or Canadian driver’s license don’t require a global driver’s license.
Nonetheless, in case your license is written in a special alphabet (ex., Cyrillic, Arabic, and so on.), you’ll need a global driver’s license. They’re normally round $20 USD and could be bought forward of time in your house nation. You’ll want your authentic license to accompany it.
Keep in mind that whereas driving across the nation, you’ll need to have your passport or photocopy of your passport on you always in case of a visitors cease. The officers will need to examine that you just have a sound vacationer visa.
Max in Vamos Automobile Rental workplace ready for the rental automobile to be processed.
Are Rental Automobiles Costly in Costa Rica?
Costs can differ relying in your car and the time of 12 months. In the course of the 2020 pandemic, many automobile rental firms have let go of their inventories, inflicting critical provide/demand points within the nation. This has restricted the availability of Costa Rica automobile leases and elevated the final automobile rental prices.
Prior to now, it was attainable to hire a automobile in Costa Rica for as low cost as $1/day (plus $10-15 in necessary insurance coverage expenses), however now the lowest we’ve got seen is nearer to $10-20/day (plus $10-20 in necessary insurance coverage). Within the excessive season, automobile leases in Costa Rica price wherever between $50-$100/day.
Identical to within the US and Canada, any further options additionally carry a price ticket. Issues like GPS, WiFi, automobile seats, and totally different drop-off places will all add to the price.
And don’t overlook to consider fuel costs. Gasoline costs in Costa Rica are typically larger than in the USA and different nations on account of excessive taxes and transportation prices. In February 2023, the value of fuel in Costa Rica was round 730CRC or USD $1.30 per litre.
It’s vital to notice that fuel costs in Costa Rica differ relying on the area, the time of 12 months, and different components. Moreover, some fuel stations in distant areas could have larger costs on account of transportation prices.
Max testing the automobile for hire.
Causes To not Lease a Automobile in Costa Rica
Don’t hire in the event you’re saving on prices
In case you choose to preserve your prices as little as attainable, public transportation is a less expensive different. Cross-country buses can be found to get you from wherever within the nation. The routes will hardly ever be direct, however the costs are reasonably priced, and buses are typically in good situation.
The draw back is that you just’ll should sacrifice the comfort of getting your individual wheels and limiting the place you’ll be able to go.
Don’t hire in the event you’ve booked non-public excursions
Organized actions and non-public excursions to discover Costa Rica typically embrace transportation, so that you gained’t want to fret a couple of automobile rental. That is particularly useful if you’ll principally stick with standard vacationer hubs.
Don’t hire in the event you’re not a assured driver
Lastly, in the event you’re not probably the most assured driver, you would possibly really feel a bit uncomfortable driving abroad like Costa Rica. With bumpy, unnamed and generally windy roads and little or no signage, driving in Costa Rica is usually a difficult expertise. Skip the automobile rental in Costa Rica if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea!
Shuttle pick-up at Liberia Airport
What Form of Automobile Ought to You Lease in Costa Rica?
Costa Rican automobile rental companies supply many various choices for rental automobiles. Don’t anticipate enormous American-style vehicles, however compact and mid-size SUVs are widespread.
Sedan
For low cost rental automobiles in Costa Rica, go for a sedan. You’ll have choices like a Hyundai Accent or Toyota Yaris, that are nice for zipping round.
SUV
If you would like a extra outfitted journey cellular, ask the rental automobile company for an SUV. One thing like a Toyota Rav4, Geely Gx3, or Hyundai Tucson is equally compact and sturdy.
4×4
If you would like to have the ability to go off the crushed path, Costa Rica automobile rental firms supply a number of 4×4 SUVs. These gained’t be low cost, however having a 4×4 is useful in the event you plan to do numerous adventuring. A typical Costa Rica 4×4 rental can be a Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota 4Runner or Suzuki Jimmy.
Suzuki automobile
Do You Want a 4×4 in Costa Rica?
Whilst you don’t must hire a 4×4 in Costa Rica, we do advocate getting a high-clearance car. This fashion, you’ll really feel extra comfy driving over potholes and dust roads with out the additional prices of a 4×4 rental.
In case you stick with the primary vacationer areas and nationwide parks, you gained’t want 4×4. However, there are a few locations alongside the Guanacaste Coast or within the South Pacific, like Uvita and the Osa Peninsula, the place a 4×4 rental automobile is really helpful and even mandatory within the wet season. We advocate you go for a Costa Rica Jeep rental or related SUV to sort out these roads.
Driving in Costa Rica is just not for the light-hearted
Computerized vs Guide Costa Rica Automobile Leases
Costa Rica rental automobiles are normally out there in each automated and handbook. Select no matter you’re comfy with, contemplating that the roads in Costa Rica can be somewhat tough, and you’re much less more likely to spend time in visitors on a freeway.
A handbook rental automobile in Costa Rica can be cheaper, however be sure to’re assured driving a handbook automobile up hills and down windy roads earlier than you decide to this feature.
Costa Rica Rental Automobile Insurance coverage Defined
That is in all probability probably the most complicated and irritating a part of automobile rental in Costa Rica, so please READ CAREFULLY!
There are a number of kinds of Automobile Insurance coverage chances are you’ll come throughout whereas renting a automobile in Costa Rica.
Third-Celebration Legal responsibility Insurance coverage
Third-party legal responsibility is MANDATORY automobile rental insurance coverage in Costa Rica and is required by Costa Rican regulation. It protects drivers in case of an accident or injury introduced on by third-party and in addition to within the case of damage to bystanders.
Some rental automobile firms let you organize legal responsibility insurance coverage by way of a 3rd occasion, however many mechanically add it to your invoice. It could even be known as third-party legal responsibility safety or supplemental legal responsibility insurance coverage.
Keep in mind, third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage in Costa Rica is normally NOT included within the estimated rental worth, so put together to pay a further day by day payment of wherever between $10-30/day.
If that is the one insurance coverage you decide to get to your automobile rental in Costa Rica, be ready to supply proof of further protection for Collision Injury (as defined beneath) and put down a injury deposit of $2000-3000, relying on the car.
River crossing in Costa Rica
Collision Injury Insurance coverage (Legal responsibility Injury Waiver)
In case of an accident, different injury, or theft, the renter or approved driver of the car is liable for any loss or injury to the rental car. This contains bumps, scratches, windshield cracks, and extra extreme injury on account of an accident.
Collision Injury insurance coverage, also referred to as Collision Injury Waiver, CDW for brief, or Legal responsibility Injury Waiver, LDW for brief, reduces your legal responsibility in case of an accident or injury to the car. This prolonged safety can both be bought by way of the automobile rental firm or obtained by way of your Credit score Card Insurance coverage or Journey Insurance coverage suppliers.
River crossings within the wet season can turn out to be extraordinarily harmful
How do you get a CDW/LDW?
Automobile safety by way of Collision Injury Insurance coverage is a frequent perk supplied by many premium bank cards; nonetheless, when renting a automobile in Costa Rica, proof of this protection is commonly required in writing. It’s not sufficient to easily say, “Legal responsibility Insurance coverage is roofed by my bank card,” and decline the legal responsibility insurance coverage altogether.
Most companies require proof of Legal responsibility Protection, sometimes within the type of a letter out of your bank card or journey insurance coverage supplier. Be certain that this letter exhibits:
- Full identify of the cardholder/renter
- Final 4 digits of the bank card that can be used to hire the car
- Particularly describes the kind of legal responsibility protection included and its limitations
If you’ll depend on your bank card to cowl Legal responsibility Insurance coverage to your automobile rental in Costa Rica, be certain that it covers the next:
- Chosen automobile class class (Van, SUV, 4×4, and so on.)
- Extra drivers
- Rental interval – be sure that it’s not restricted to simply 7 or 14 days
- Restrictions on the place the car could also be pushed (off-road, and so on.)
- Nation-specific restrictions – be certain that Costa Rica is roofed!
We advocate calling the telephone quantity on the again of your bank card to inquire in regards to the phrases and situations of Rental Auto Safety Plans out there along with your particular card.
Must you get into an accident or injury your rental automobile in any method, and a declare turns into mandatory, you’ll be responsible for the total quantity of the damages, as much as the full worth of the car upfront.
Your bank card (or journey insurance coverage, if relevant) can be responsible for 100% of damages to and/or theft of the car. It will likely be your duty to submit and comply with by way of on the declare. When/if the declare course of is profitable, the bank card firm will reimburse you for all of the bills.
If this feels like a little bit of a scary gamble and you’ve got any doubts that your bank card will cowl you for the damages, it could be a good suggestion to go for automobile rental firm Collision/Legal responsibility Injury Protection as a substitute.
Collision Injury Waiver reduces this legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident or injury, and most automobile rental firms in Costa Rica will supply Primary and Full Collision Injury insurance coverage.
Max at a river crossing in Costa Rica
Primary Collision Injury Waiver
Primary Collision Injury Waiver normally provides one other $10-15/day on prime of third-party legal responsibility, bringing the complete price of insurance coverage to your automobile rental to $20-30/day. Primary LDW or CDW reduces your legal responsibility to a certain quantity (normally below $1000) – so that is the quantity of deposit that can be charged to your bank card on the day of rental along with the precise worth of the rental car.
Full Collision Injury Waiver
Full Collision Injury Waiver frees the renter from monetary duty attributable to accident, theft, or complete loss, besides within the case of negligence. The everyday worth of Full LDW or CDW is $30-40 per day along with Third Celebration Legal responsibility charge and brings the full insurance coverage worth to your automobile rental to $50-60 per day.
Full CDW reduces your automobile rental deposit to < $500 on the day of the rental and offers you the final peace of thoughts when driving in Costa Rica.
Driving by way of Samara, Costa Rica
One of many automobiles out there to hire in Vamos from Liberia airport
Necessities for Renting a Automobile in Costa Rica
There are 5 main necessities wanted to be able to hire a automobile in Costa Rica:
- Legitimate driver’s license: From your house nation with an accompanying worldwide driver’s license if mandatory. These should be originals, not photocopies.
- Unique passport: Your passport will need to have a sound vacationer visa stamp and never be a photocopy.
- Meet the minimal age: The minimal age for renting a automobile in Costa Rica is 21. All rental automobile firms in Costa Rica have their very own insurance policies. For instance, Adobe Lease a Automobile is 23 whereas Hertz and Funds is 25. Funds will enable youthful drivers for a further payment, however others don’t supply this feature.
- Cash/room in your bank card for deposit: Based mostly in your chosen insurance coverage protection, your deposit can vary from $500-$3000. You’ll want a bank card to pay the deposit, as debit playing cards aren’t accepted.
- Costa Rica automobile rental insurance coverage: As famous above, third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage is necessary for Costa Rica rental automobile firms.
The Streets of Manuel Antonio
The Strategy of Renting a Automobile in Costa Rica
Analysis
How do you discover automobile leases in Costa Rica? First, begin by doing all of your analysis on-line to search out the perfect automobile rental in Costa Rica to your wants and funds. Select your rental automobile firm primarily based on worth, availability, and automobile rental places.
There are many giant worldwide automobile rental firms like Avis, Financial system, Funds, Costa Rica, and Alamo, Costa Rica. There are additionally smaller native firms like Adobe Lease a Automobile, Hertz Costa Rica, and Vamos Automobile Rental Costa Rica that provide aggressive charges and automobile choices. If you wish to hire a automobile in San Jose, Costa Rica, you’ll have numerous choices, however different places are extra restricted.
Examine costs, however don’t get fooled by the charges. Keep in mind that the most cost effective worth won’t ever embrace third-party insurance coverage or legal responsibility insurance coverage. Be ready to pay $15-30 per day or extra. For the precise automobile rental worth – contact the corporate immediately.
Choose up
When you’ve booked your rental automobile, you’ll be able to choose it up from the organized location. Most automobile rental firms in Costa Rica have a number of pick-up and drop-off factors. There are many rental automobiles in San Jose, Costa Rica, together with Tamarindo, Jaco, La Fortuna, and Puerto Viejo.
Keep in mind that as a result of San Jose Airport and others are small, the precise rental workplaces are situated a couple of minutes away. Shuttles are sometimes out there to switch you to the automobile rental workplaces.
Inspection & Charges
When you get to the rental workplace, you’ll want to do a radical inspection of the car. Take pictures of any injury, even when it’s a brand-new automobile.
At this level, you’ll go over all the fees and pay your safety deposit. Ensure to ask questions on any positive print in the event you’re uncertain of something.
Examine the automobile for any damages earlier than pick-up/return!
Returning Your Rental Automobile in Costa Rica
Except in any other case organized, return your rental to the identical place you picked it up with a full tank of fuel. When you’ve got a late-night flight and the workplace is just not out there, some firms have a chosen drop-off level.
They might let you go away the automobile within the car parking zone of San Jose Worldwide Airport with keys within the glove field. In case you do go the after-hours automobile rental San Jose Worldwide Airport Costa Rica route, simply you’ll want to organize this forward of time.
If the corporate identifies any injury, that is when your pictures through the inspection can come in useful.
Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Ideas for Renting a Automobile in Costa Rica
Do your analysis
There are execs and cons to each standard rental automobile firms and smaller suppliers. Whereas large firms are dependable, they could have larger prices and extra charges. In the meantime, smaller native firms doubtless have fewer places, choices, or decrease insurance coverage protection. In case you go for an unknown firm, simply be certain that they’re legit and reliable.
Know what your on-line quote contains
Virtually all on-line quotes don’t embrace necessary insurance coverage. Keep in mind to funds a further $15-30 for third-party and Legal responsibility insurance coverage per day. If you wish to keep away from hidden charges, we advocate renting with Vamos Costa Rica.
Affirm pricing with the automobile rental company
If you wish to ensure in regards to the closing worth, name the rental firm or ship a WhatsApp to search out out. In the course of the excessive season, double-check and make sure that your automobile is reserved. Now we have heard too many tales of individuals whose automobile leases had been booked however not there upon arrival. That is particularly vital in the event you booked by way of a third-party aggregator web site.
Concentrate on further or hidden charges
Learn the positive print and be careful for issues like license plate payment, airport payment, or expenses for limitless mileage. There’s additionally all the time a one-way payment in the event you choose up and drop off from totally different places.
Be ready to place down a safety deposit
Your deposit is predicated on what insurance coverage you chose. This could vary from $500-3000 for a number of days rental. Be certain your bank card restrict will enable for that. Observe that it’s not attainable to pay the deposit (or the rental payment) in money.
Examine the rental automobile as quickly as you choose it up
At all times take detailed photos and movies of your automobile through the walk-through so that you don’t get blamed for any injury upon return. Even in the event you’re utilizing the perfect automobile rental firm in Costa Rica, that is vital to guard your self.
Report incidents instantly
In case you get into an accident, report it to the rental automobile firm ASAP. Observe that no automobile rental firm will cowl any injury related to crossing rivers.
Don’t smoke in your rental automobile
That is normally a part of your rental settlement and can incur a hefty positive in the event you do.
Playa Flamingo from above.
Ideas for Driving in Costa Rica
Drive fastidiously
Obey the pace restrict. Bear in mind that the usual of driving in Costa Rica is just not nice and could be harmful. Folks aren’t large followers of utilizing their flip indicators or ready for the sunshine to show inexperienced. Street situations can even differ, with numerous bumps and potholes. Be particularly sluggish and cautious at river crossings.
Concentrate on pace limits (in kilometres per hour, not miles)
Highways have minimal and most pace limits, whereas most secondary roads are 60 km/h (37 mph) or 40 km/h (25 mph) in city areas.
Obtain a navigation app
For cellphone apps, we advocate Waze over Google Maps. It’s community-based and up to date consistently by locals, which we discover higher than all the opposite navigation apps. Simply do not forget that most avenue names and numbers don’t actually exist, so put together for obscure, landmark-based instructions.
Obey ceda el paso on bridges
This implies “yield” or “give method.” When approaching a one-lane bridge, you’ll want to yield to oncoming visitors.
Keep away from driving at night time
With poor street situations, restricted shoulders and few avenue lights, driving at night time could be harmful. In case you should, drive slowly and use your excessive beams.
Earlier than you hit the street, learn our detailed submit on Driving in Costa Rica for a full listing of ideas, warnings and recommendation.
Keep away from driving at night time.
Remaining Ideas
All in all, Costa Rica renting isn’t all that totally different from that of the US or Canada. The primary takeaways are to do your analysis, purchase the right insurance coverage, and drive fastidiously. Renting a automobile whilst you expertise Costa Rica helps you to discover the nation in the easiest way attainable.