What you need to know before renting a car in Costa Rica

07 Jul What you need to know before renting a car in Costa Rica

Posted at 18:02h in Costa Rica, Travel Tips by Caroline Rose 0 Comments

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POV: You’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, you Google searched rental cars in Costa Rica and you are completely blown away by how cheap they are per day! Well there’s a little more to that story…that $15-30 per day price you’re seeing doesn’t capture the entire picture. Here’s what you need to know before renting a car in Costa Rica – especially if you’re on a tight budget.

When renting a car in Costa Rica, insurance is mandatory to buy, and no your travel credit card insurance will NOT be accepted. Also be prepared to put down a large deposit.

When I first booked a car in Costa Rica, it was for a 3 day weekend trip to La Fortuna from San Jose. I got it off RentalCars.com for about $25 a day with no insurance, because I have a Chase travel credit card, which covers rental car insurance.

However, when my friend and I showed up at Avis to pick up our car, we were slapped with a fat bill that tripled the amount we expected to pay and we also had to put down a $2,000 USD deposit.

At first we thought for sure we were being scammed (which it kind of is if you count very small footer language a scam), but after talking to several other unhappy customers returning their cars, they admitted the same thing happened to them. What they thought would be a $200 a week 4×4 car, ended up being upwards of $700 for the week.

So this expensive surprise is one most travelers to Costa Rica experience. No matter if you call your credit card company, present your credit card insurance, plead and make a fit, the renters simply will not give you the car without buying insurance directly from them (not through RentalCars or with your credit card company) and putting down a hefty deposit you may not have been prepared for, until now.

Now, I did read quite a few articles and blogs after my poor experience, that state it’s actually not mandatory or law in Costa Rica to have car insurance. However, renters refuse to give you a car unless you buy insurance which, as I said, will double if not triple the total price of the car.

Sooooo, now you know.

Still want to rent a car? Here’s what you should do:

1. You can still rent through a website like RentalCars as they do give good deals per day on cars. However, just know that cheap price is not the total price. You’ll also need to pay for insurance directly with the car rental company when you pick up the vehicle. You should expect to pay $50-60 per day for a sedan and $75 – $100 per day for a 4×4.

2. If you reserve a car though RentalCars or another car rental search platform, don’t buy car insurance online because you’ll still need to get it directly from the rental company when you pick up your car.

3. If you’d prefer to purchase everything in one place, you can also reserve a car directly with a company. Popular ones are Adobe, Alamo, Budget, Economy, and Avis (which I don’t recommend).

My first car was experience in Costa Rica was through Avis and on top of it being a poor experience because of the hidden fees, unfortunately the car was also pretty shitty. On the other hand when I booked again later with Alamo I had incredible customer service, a free upgrade and a really nice car. So I highly recommend Alamo.

4. Compare prices. Costs will vary and keep in mind some companies charge extra if you’re under 30.

5. Get liability insurance (it’s the “mandatory” one) but you can decide if you’d like to add Roadside Assistance. If you’re nervous about popping a tire or being stranded then additional Roadside Assistance may be a good add-on.

6. Research the roads where you’re traveling to determine if you need a 4×4 or not. The roads are actually pretty good in Costa Rica and I didn’t get a 4×4 once, however I didn’t go off the beaten path either.

7. When you pick up your car, bring your passport, drivers license, a credit card to put down the deposit. An international driver’s license is not required in Costa Rica, so don’t worry about obtaining one.

8. Take photos of any dents or scratches before driving the car off the lot.

9. Download and use Waze, it works best in Costa Rica compared to Google Maps.

10. Have cash for tolls outside of San Jose. They’re usually only a couple 100 colones so it’s good to have smaller bills or coins.

11. Be prepared for more expensive gas, when I was there (June 2021) it was about 713 colones per liter which is about $4.35 USD per gallon. Also make sure to double count your change when paying cash at gas stations.

12. Find or bring some friends to split the fees. A $60 car plus gas won’t hurt as much when you’re splitting it 3 ways 😅

Now, consider yourself lucky that you’re prepared and not in for a surprise when picking up your rental car.

Happy driving and have fun on your road trip through Costa Rica!

More Resources for Your Trip to Costa Rica

Planning your own trip? Here’s some resources I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Costa Rica along with some recommendations:

Hostels

If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Below are some of my recommendations, click to search for availability!

La Fortuna: Selina
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Selina
Manuel Antonio: Hostel Plinio OR Selina
Monteverde: Outbox Inn OR Camino Verde
Tamarindo: La Botella de Leche
Santa Teresa: Zeneidas Surf Garden
San Jose: Selina

Hotels

Booking.com is the way to go when searching for hotels in Costa Rica because they typically offer free cancellation with plenty of affordable to more luxurious stays.

Flights

It’s possible to fly to Costa Rica into either San Jose or Liberia. To find the best deal & prices I recommend using Skyscanner.

Getting Around Costa Rica

Domestic flights aren’t really a thing in Costa Rica, so that leaves two ways to get around: bus and renting a car. Renting a car is extremely popular in Costa Rica, but I recommend reading this blog post first before doing so. Buses are the most affordable option (esp. as a solo traveler) to getting around Costa Rica. My favorite way to navigate buses in Costa Rica is using Rome2Rio.

Insurance

Travel insurance is a must for every trip to ensure you’re covered in unexpected situations. My go to is WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here.

Tours & Experiences

A lot of experiences in Costa Rica you can do on your own like hiking, sunbathing and surfing at the beach. I always recommend checking blog posts for inspiration. If you’re interested in tours though for difficult experiences to do on your own then I suggest using GetYourGuide & Viator.

Know Before You Go

Check out my Costa Rica Destination Page here for information on visas, health requirements, currency, outlets, and more.

*The above resources include affiliate links and I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. By using my links you’re merely supporting what I love to do: write this blog! I only recommend products/companies that I use myself.