How to rent a car in Costa Rica – the ultimate guide

One way to explore Costa Rica and easily get to places in this small but full of attractions country is by renting a car. Therefore, I have prepared a little report for you on the advantages and disadvantages of this solution, the costs associated with it and other important matters that you must take into account when renting a car in Costa Rica. Hopefully, this will help you decide if this way of traveling is right for you. I have been traveling every pore of Costa Rica for 1.5 months with a rented car and I am very glad that I did.

Why you should rent a car in Costa Rica?

Comfort of sightseeing and getting around

In my opinion, the main argument that speaks for renting a car in Costa Rica is the comfort of moving around the country and reaching even its farthest (and often most beautiful) places. Thanks to this, you are completely independent of other factors, such as bus timetables, delays, or other limitations related to the use of public transport, including the fact that you cannot get everywhere by bus. When you have your own mode of transport you are not limited by any means – you can stop wherever you want to, for example, admire the views, or change your plans at any time to see an interesting place that you just found out about. For example, when I came to Costa Rica, I had a specific plan of places that I want to see, but at the urging of the locals I met along the way, I modified it strongly, adding new, less touristic places. I couldn’t get to them by any other means of transport than the car. The comfort of renting a car is also the possibility of sightseeing at your own pace. If you are people who value the freedom to travel anywhere and at any time, renting a car is the right choice when visiting Costa Rica

Cost is comparable or lower than private transfers

In many cases, the cost of renting a car can be comparable or even lower than private transfers. By adding up the cost of renting private buses, car rental becomes much more attractive. An example is a private transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, which costs a total of USD 160- 200 one way. You then need to take a taxi or book a private tour to get around La Fortuna. For those traveling on their own, or for couples, this is not always the most economical option. Instead, you can rent a car for around USD 300 a week (of course, the final price will depend on the season, car class, and insurance) and have complete freedom of sightseeing.

A way to keep social distance and avoid crowds

It is worth looking at this firstly through the prism of the times we live in – that is, through the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The use of a car means the possibility of maintaining the recommended social distance – we are not exposed to constant contact with other people, as we would be for example when using public transport. In addition, companies that rent cars in Costa Rica must follow all sanitary guidelines and protocols of the Ministry of Health to keep customers safe. It is also a way to avoid the crowds.

Why renting a car in Costa Rica might not be the right choice?

The stress of driving a car in other countries

On the other hand, there are also several reasons why renting a car in Costa Rica may not be the best choice. If the thought of driving in a foreign country stresses you a lot, I advise against renting a car in Costa Rica. Road infrastructure in Casta Rica is not the best, and driving a car requires additional responsibility and good driving skills in more difficult conditions.

Visiting only one or two places

If you only plan on visiting one or two places in Costa Rica, renting a car might just be pointless. If you are staying, for example, for 2 or 3 days in San Jose and, for example, a week in one of the coastal towns – it will be enough to use public transport and sometimes taxis. Many hotels also offer private airport transfers.

Limited budget

Also, if your budget is very limited, there is no point in renting a car. Traveling by bus is much cheaper and allows you to reach many and interesting places in Costa Rica. However, you have to take into account the fact that such travel takes more time and you are dependent on the timetable of public transport.

Requirements for renting a car in Costa Rica

Documents necessary to rent a car in Costa Rica

To be able to rent a car in Costa Rica, as a foreigner, you must have:

  • original passport with a valid stamp that is a tourist visa,
  • a valid original driving license issued in any country, however, if your license is not in the Latin alphabet, you will need an international driving license. In addition, you cannot use a temporary paper copy or a photocopy of your driving license in Costa Rica.
Minimum age to rent a car in Costa Rica

The minimum age for renting a car in Costa Rica varies by the car rental company:

  • Adobe Rent a Car 23 years of age (there is no maximum age limit and older drivers do not need to pay any additional insurance or fees),
  • Alamo Costa Rica21 years of age,
  • Budget Costa Rica25 years of age (there is an additional fee of USD 10 per day for drivers aged 21-25),
  • Hertz Costa Rica25 years of age.

The cost of renting a car in Costa Rica

The total cost of your car rental in Costa Rica depends on several factors including the type of car you rent, insurance, and season.

Car rental in Costa Rica is most expensive from late December to late April, as well as on Christmas, New Year, and Holy Week. If possible, book the car at least two months in advance, it greatly reduces the cost of the rental. The cheapest time to rent a car in Costa Rica is during the low season, which is from May to November.

Renting a mid-size SUV in Costa Rica for a week in October could be a cost of around USD 260. You can pay up to USD 600 a week for the same car on Christmas and New Years. In February, it could be around USD 550 per week. However, the price is subject to availability, insurance, extras, taxes, fees, etc.

Gasoline cost

When renting a car in Costa Rica, you should also consider gas prices. Currently, the cost of gas in Costa Rica is about USD 3.96 per galon. Diesel is cheaper, around USD 0.75 per liter. On average, during a week-long trip in Costa Rica, tourists travel about 500 km. In an SUV, a full tank of fuel costs about USD 65.

Additional costs

Washing a car in a car wash costs about USD 10 – 20. You cannot smoke in rental vehicles in Costa Rica and the company will charge you a fine if you break this ban, usually around USD 100. An additional fee will be charged for picking up and returning the car at different offices. It can range from USD 20 to 200 depending on your location. Other additional costs include GPS and Wi-Fi.

How to save on car rental in Costa Rica?

It is also worth knowing how to save on car rental in Costa Rica. One way to save is off-season travel when prices are lower. Another way to save is by renting a car with a manual gearbox, renting a car with an automatic gearbox is more expensive and it can be an additional cost of USD 10 – 40 per week. Renting a sedan in comparison to an SUV will also save you a lot of money, especially for those traveling alone or couples.

If your car rental company allows you for credit card insurance instead of the insurance they offer, you can also save a lot of money.

Be sure to also check possible pickup and return locations for return fees. It is best to pick up and return the car in the same office, as this way you avoid paying the fee. If you plan to stay in Costa Rica for at least a month or more, monthly rentals are beneficial, most agencies offer a monthly rate which is more attractive.

The process of renting a car in Costa Rica

It’s best to start renting a car in Costa Rica by choosing a company. The first step when making a decision about choosing a company should be a visit to a comparison engine (I always use RentalCars.com) and learning about the specific details of the company’s offer. You can choose from:

  • Adobe Rent a Car,
  • Alamo Costa Rica,
  • Enterprise Costa Rica,
  • Hertz Costa Rica,
  • Sixt Costa Rica,
  • Thrify Costa Rica,
  • Budget Costa Rica,
  • Poas,
  • Mapache,
  • Vamos.
Number of offices

One of the important factors when deciding which Costa Rican car rental company to choose is the number of offices. Some companies may only have two offices: one at San Jose Airport and one at Liberia Airport. This applies especially to local rental companies.

Transparency of fees

It is also worth paying attention to the transparency of any fees. The company you trust should present all taxes, fees, insurance, and deposits in a clear and understandable manner. Not all companies are completely transparent on these matters. Oftentimes, the websites of local rental companies only show the price of the car rental, not the cost of insurance and fees, so at first glance, it will look incredibly cheap (USD 5-10 a day) but when you go to pick up your car, you will be charged with all those insurance and fees that you knew nothing about. That is why I would recommend using the services of international insurance companies that have standardized rental rules worldwide.

Insurance

Insurance is undoubtedly one of the most confusing things in car rental in Costa Rica (again, we are talking about local car rental companies, not international companies like Hertz or Alamo – everything is clear there). This is because each company sells insurance differently. The basic insurance package when renting a car in Costa Rica is:

  • Civil liability insurance – liability insurance is obligatory when renting a car in Costa Rica, its amount and the amount of compensation depends on the company where you rent the car,
  • Car protection – the insurance covers damage to the rented vehicle in the event of an accident, as well as financial losses caused by theft, it is not compulsory insurance, you can use credit card insurance instead,
  • Extended coverage – insurance is 100% optional, it is an add-on and includes, among others, breaking windows, acts of vandalism, roadside assistance 24/7, also covers damages incurred as a result of the actions of third parties.

Deposit

The car rental deposit in Costa Rica can be quite high. The amount of the deposit depends on the type of insurance you get and can range from USD 300 to as much as USD 7,000. For example, if you only take obligatory insurance, your deposit could be USD 3,000. If you opt for each insurance, your deposit could be around USD 500, and if you opt-out of one insurance, your deposit could be USD 5,000. Therefore, you should make sure that the credit card you are using has a sufficiently large deposit limit. Another important thing to know is that it is not possible to make a cash deposit in Costa Rica.

Do you need a 4×4 car in Costa Rica?

My answer, after weeks of traveling all over the country, is: ABSOLUTELY! The conditions of the roads in Costa Rica can be quite bad. Even national roads often lead through the mountains, they are full of turns and slopes. Tourist attractions or national parks located in the mountains or in the jungle, hotels on the slopes, coffee plantations that can be visited. It all requires an additional booster.

Since you are coming to this amazing country, you definitely want to experience it fully. It would be a shame not to be able to get to all these amazing places due to technical limitations. So I would not be saving on this at all. This is your ticket to the comfort and exploration of the country. As I will show you in the next posts – there are places here that you will simply want to see, and which only local residents reach (with 4×4 cars).

Renting a car in Costa Rica – what else you need to know

Pickup and return of the car at the airport

The international airports of San Jose and Liberia are too small for car rental to operate inside, so all offices are approximately 1.5km from these airports. Car rental companies offer transportation to their office, but some have a fee and usually, these companies call it an airport tax. The same applies when returning the car.

Fuel and mileage

Some companies offer the option of choosing pre-paid fuel. In some cases, customers may refuel the car before returning the car or return it empty and the company will charge you the appropriate fee. Most of the car rental companies in Costa Rica offer cars with gas engines. Mileage restrictions may also apply.

Add-ons

You can also choose various types of add-ons. Common extras include GPS, Wi-Fi hotspot, child/booster seats, SIM card, fridge, and surf stands. Prices vary by company.

Condition of the car

When looking for a rental car, ask the rental company for the age of the car. Some cheap companies in Costa Rica use slightly older cars (5 years or older). International rental companies guarantee that the cars are not more than one year old. It matters when it comes to vehicle wear. So, once again, I recommend you to go with large companies with standardized standards.

Other important information
  • in some parts of Costa Rica an off-road, 4×4, 4wd, or high suspension vehicle is necessary,
  • it is not possible to take rental vehicles from Costa Rica across the border,
  • do not lose the car’s registration papers, if you do so, you may be fined,
  • if you have an accident, report it to the car rental company as soon as possible
  • damage caused by driving over rivers or bodies of water is not covered by any type of insurance, the same applies to driving while under the influence of alcohol or other illegal substances.
  • do a thorough inspection of the car before renting – take photos and inform the company if you notice any scratches, dents, or cuts.

More posts from Costa Rica are coming soon. I’ll show you places that many Costa Ricans don’t even know about.

In the meantime check out my INSTAGRAM @travel_and_keep_fit and IG stories – every day I share my trip and   show the most beautiful places.

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Welcome on my blog about traveling, active lifestyle and chasing all the crazy dreams. I have been on 6 continents and in more than 100 countries so far, but I still have so much to explore :)

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Author picture

Welcome on my blog about traveling, active lifestyle and chasing all the crazy dreams. I have been on 6 continents and in more than 100 countries so far, but I still have so much to explore :)

< read more >