The Final Information to Renting a Automotive in Costa Rica (Up to date 2024)

Posted: 1/25/24 | January twenty fifth, 2024

I really like Costa Rica. It was the primary place I visited on my own over 15 years in the past and the nation that set me on my nomadic journey. From its gorgeous seashores to its lush jungles, this biodiverse nation is common with backpackers, honeymooners, and expats alike. And whereas it’s small, there’s a ton to see and do. You can simply spend a month and nonetheless barely scratch the floor.

It’s additionally wonderful for road-tripping.

As a lot as a backpacking bus or hitchhiking journey would possibly initially sound interesting, the truth is that ready within the scorching solar after which bouncing alongside bumpy roads in an outdated bus with out shocks or air-conditioning just isn’t for the fainthearted. If you would like actual freedom to discover, you want a rental automobile.

That will help you plan your journey, right here’s every little thing you could find out about renting a automobile in Costa Rica.

Selecting the Proper Rental Automotive (and Rental Firm)

Earlier than you lease a automobile, learn and examine critiques for automobile rental firms. Whereas the usual huge firms can be found right here, there are many native ones too.

After getting narrowed down the checklist to a selected few, ask for quotes for the kind of car and journey dates that you simply require. The quote ought to embody necessary third-party insurance coverage, taxes, and another surcharges, like airport tax. Most websites embody all this data when getting a quote on-line.

Whether or not you might be reserving on-line or straight with an agent, double-check the small print of your reservation. Crossing time zones might imply that your rental pickup time and even date is totally different in Costa Rica than your nation of departure. You’ll need to verify the time, date, and site of your car’s pickup and drop-off, the car class, transmission, and protection required.

Factors to recollect when renting a automobile in Costa Rica:

• A handbook transmission could also be cheaper than automated and extra widespread in Costa Rica however ought to solely be chosen for those who can drive a stick shift.
• Returning your automobile at a vacation spot totally different from the place you picked it up will in all probability incur an extra cost.
• Most rental firms is not going to assure a particular make and mannequin throughout the rental class.
• Count on to lease for 24-hour durations. Time your pickup and drop-off accordingly.
• Present your flight quantity earlier than you arrive, so the corporate can observe your flight.
• You probably have an early flight, think about dropping off the car the evening earlier than and utilizing a resort shuttle to the airport.
• On-line journey businesses (OTAs) typically fail to incorporate all fees, so for those who e-book by way of one, make sure to verify the ultimate value with the automobile rental firm, by way of which the pricing could also be extra clear.
• Most firms now supply a web based check-in course of to add paperwork comparable to passports and driver’s licenses to chop time on the counter and get on the street sooner.

My go-to rental automobile firm in Costa Rica is Vamos. You may click on right here to get a quote. (You’ll get 5% off simply by utilizing that hyperlink).
 

Arriving on the Airport

Each worldwide airports in Costa Rica have automobile rental firm desks throughout the constructing; nevertheless, the places of work (the place you’ll get your automobile) are off-site. They often have a shuttle service to take shoppers to their places of work, most of that are situated inside a 10-minute drive of the airport.

Native hustlers would possibly inform you that your organization has gone out of enterprise to persuade you to go together with a special firm that may pay them a fee. Search for an indication along with your firm’s brand and ignore the hustlers.

In case your flight is delayed otherwise you miss your connection, contact the corporate along with your new estimated arrival time to keep away from having the reservation canceled as a no-show.

If you arrive on the rental workplace, the agent will fill in any excellent paperwork that has not been completed on-line and conduct a car inspection with you. Though the agent will observe current harm, you need to take pictures or video of the automobile for backup functions.

Your car might not have a full gas tank whenever you decide it up, however the gas gauge stage must be logged on the inspection type. You’ll need to return the automobile with the identical gas stage. Though you’ll not be reimbursed for a stage greater than the one registered, you’ll be charged whether it is beneath the beginning stage.

Returning the Car
Verify your drop-off location and time whenever you decide up the car. If you’re caught in visitors or are delayed for any purpose, contact the rental firm to keep away from a penalty. Be sure that your gas gauge is on the proper stage, or else head to a gasoline station earlier than you drop it off. The corporate’s consultant will examine your car with you after which course of the deposit reimbursement.
 

Paperwork Wanted for Renting a Automotive in Costa Rica

Right here’s every little thing you could lease a automobile in Costa Rica:

Driver’s license – You should use your native driver’s license through the rental interval so long as it’s printed within the Latin alphabet. In case your license is in a language that doesn’t use the Latin alphabet (e.g., Mandarin, Arabic), a world driving license is required. Your driver’s license have to be legitimate for the whole lot of your keep.

It is very important observe that though most vacationers shall be given a 180-day visa after they enter the nation, their driver’s licenses are solely legitimate for 90 days, and they are going to be required to go away Costa Rica and return to legally drive once more.

Bank card – You want a sound bank card in your identify to pay the automobile rental and to position the deposit.

Passport – Your passport must be legitimate all through your keep. Legally, vacationers should carry it with them always. The transit police will wish to see it and your entry visa in case you are pulled over.

A Notice on the Minimal and Most Driving Age
Every automobile rental firm has insurance policies relating to the age of the drivers it insures. Many would not have a most age, however some set a restrict of 70-75 years outdated. The authorized age to drive in Costa Rica is eighteen; nevertheless, most firms require that drivers be a minimum of 25. Youthful drivers could possibly lease a automobile for an extra surcharge and insurance coverage prices.
 

Insurance coverage Protection

Costa Rica has necessary third-party insurance coverage for automobile leases. It isn’t attainable to acquire this protection another method. Examine that this value is included in your rental quote, because it’s typically ignored, so you could find yourself paying greater than what you initially thought.

A collision harm waiver (CDW) covers losses from harm to your rental automobile. That is legally required when renting a automobile in Costa Rica. Most firms supply numerous tiers of insurance coverage, with numerous deductibles. Many renters choose full protection for peace of thoughts, as then any harm that happens throughout rental is roofed. Some firms supply extra protection for tires and the windscreen (windshield), as they don’t seem to be all the time lined by the CDW.

In case your bank card supplier has a CDW as a perk, you’ll be able to waive the in-house CDW. Simply observe that you will want to deliver a letter that explicitly states the quantity of protection, that Costa Rica is included within the areas lined, and the final 4 digits of the motive force’s bank card. A duplicate of the bank card firm’s phrases and circumstances just isn’t often ample.

One vital factor to notice is that the rental firm might maintain a deposit for the rental interval, which might be as much as $5,000 USD if the renter is utilizing their bank card supplier’s CDW. The deposit shall be launched on the finish of the rental interval. Be sure to have a bank card that may take up this accretion.
 

Driving in Costa Rica

Right here are some things to bear in mind whereas driving in Costa Rica:

Velocity limits – Indicators are in kilometers fairly than miles, and pace limits are usually decrease than you’d count on, with a 90 km/h (55 mph) restrict on main highways. Velocity limits change with restricted warning between areas, so keep alert to signage.

Gasoline stations – Just be sure you know in case your rental car is fueled by gasoline or diesel. This info must be on the car inspection report for those who’ve forgotten. Gasoline stations usually are not self-service, so be ready to ask for the form of gas you want in addition to the quantity.

Should you’re renting one of many EVs which can be beginning to type a part of fleets in Costa Rica, then plan your route across the community of charging stations throughout the nation. You may be taught extra about these right here.

Navigation – Use Waze, which is up to date in actual time by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, so that you’re conscious of accidents or different conditions that will have an effect on your journey time. Google Maps is on the market however doesn’t all the time have correct info. It additionally tends to underestimate journey occasions, so you need to take that into consideration when planning your itinerary for those who plan to make use of it.

Regardless of Costa Rica’s official deal with system, which consists of calles (roads that run north-south) and avenidas (avenues that run west-east), virtually all locals give instructions utilizing landmarks, and few can present instructions utilizing street or avenue numbers. It’s useful to know {that a} block is often described as 100 meters.

So as to add to the confusion, a location might use landmarks that not exist however have been identified nicely sufficient to stay in residing reminiscence. So you could be directed to go 600 meters south of the place “the place the massive mango tree was” or to show left after “the grocery store that was pink.” Fortunately, Waze is a navigation lifesaver, however you would possibly develop to benefit from the quirky tico (Costa Rican) method of discovering locations!

Parking – All the time park in safe parking tons, and don’t go away valuables in an unattended car, as break-ins can happen.

In the previous couple of years, there have been instances of the transit police issuing fines and eradicating license plates from automobiles parked on yellow traces at common vacationer spots like Manuel Antonio. The headache on this scenario is that the car can’t be pushed with out plates and have to be towed again to the workplace, the place it stays off the street till the automobile rental firm reclaims the plates from the related authority. It is a time-consuming and costly process, so be conscious of the place you park!
 

Further Rental Issues

Many automobile rental firms cost a every day value for tools or companies past the fundamental rental prices. You must take this under consideration when budgeting your journey. These can embody:

Further drivers – Count on to pay a every day price for every driver added to your rental settlement after the principle driver. (Vamos Lease-A-Automotive gives extra drivers with out further value.) It is smart to have a minimum of one extra driver to share the burden for longer journeys or to take over if the principle driver is feeling beneath the climate.

Roof racks – Should you’re touring with a number of baggage or surfboards, then renting a roof rack at a every day price could also be an answer to a cramped car inside.

Child or automobile seating – Should you’re touring with youngsters, Costa Rican regulation about seating (see beneath) is strictly enforced. Both deliver your personal little one seat or lease one at a every day price from the corporate.

Costa Rican seating legal guidelines for youngsters are primarily based both on age or weight/peak:

• Rear-facing child seat: Required for youngsters lower than a 12 months outdated and beneath 22 lbs (10 kg)
• Youngster seat: For these as much as 4 years outdated or lower than 40 lbs (18 kg) and beneath 3’7”
• Booster seat: For these 5 to 12 years outdated, 40 kilos or extra, and nonetheless beneath 4’9”
• Seat belt: For these 4’9” or taller or over the age of 12

Wi-Fi – Keep linked all through your journey with out paying extortionate roaming fees by utilizing a Mi-Fi (cell Wi-Fi) system out of your rental firm. It’s often quick sufficient to add your newest vacay pics onto Instagram, hook up with your Spotify road-trip playlists, and navigate with Waze, however downloading motion pictures might be an excessive amount of to count on. Web protection in Costa Rica is broad, however don’t depend on it in case you are touring off the overwhelmed observe.

Accidents – If you’re concerned in a visitors accident, verify that nobody is harm then transfer to security off the street. Don’t transfer the car. Name the transit police and your insurance coverage firm. You also needs to name your automobile rental supplier to evaluate if the automobile might be pushed, if a mechanic is required onsite or if the automobile must be exchanged and towed. The car might be moved as soon as the transit police give permission.

Crossing the Border – Rental automobiles can’t be taken to neighboring international locations (Nicaragua or Panama) attributable to insurance coverage restrictions. If you wish to go to these locations, you’ll be able to prepare to drop off your rental car on the border and reserve a automobile to be delivered when you’ve crossed it.
 

11 Driving Suggestions for Costa Rica

1. Maintain a detailed eye on pace restrict indicators, as this will change rapidly inside a brief distance.

2. You’re renting a automobile, not a ship, so resist the temptation to drive by way of rivers (even when the locals are doing so). Insurance coverage insurance policies are voided if the car is pushed by way of any physique of water. And the digital parts of contemporary automobiles are prone to expertise costly harm in water.

3. On the same observe, it’s unlawful to park on the seashore. That is to guard wildlife, comparable to turtles. Even when locals are doing it, discover a safe parking zone as an alternative.

4. Drivers within the different lane might flash their lights as they’re coming towards you. That is often a warning that there are transit police forward or that there’s an upcoming impediment.

5. Velocity bumps could also be huge and might be unmarked. Keep vigilant.

6. Bridges could also be one lane, so you could search for signage that signifies which course has precedence.

7. If driving a manual-transmission car, change gears when driving downhill, and don’t experience the brakes or else the pads might overheat.

8. Use warning whereas driving at evening. Roads are sometimes poorly lit, and cyclists or pedestrians might use the street edge in locations the place there’s no sidewalk. Plan to reach at your vacation spot by sundown or round 5:30pm. Maintain your eyes peeled for sloths or different wildlife crossing the street.

9. Should you’re touring exterior of the Central Valley or probably the most visited vacationer spots like Jaco, lease an SUV for the upper clearance that the car gives. For extra rural locations, a 4×4 could also be required, particularly within the wet season. Be at liberty to ask your automobile rental supplier for recommendation on the very best car in your itinerary.

10. Flat tires usually are not often lined by in-house or bank card insurance policies. Should you get a flat tire, a neighborhood storage can often repair it for lower than $20 USD.

11. If you’re pulled over by the transit police, you need to current your driver’s license, passport, and the paperwork supplied by the automobile rental firm. Visitors tickets might be issued by officers, however the fee can solely be made in a financial institution or by way of your automobile rental firm. Ought to a police officer ask you for money, name the police straight or your automobile rental firm for help. Don’t pay any bribes.

Costa Rica is a fantastic nation and certainly one of my favourite locations in Central America. To make sure you take advantage of your go to and get off the overwhelmed path, lease a automobile. You’ll have extra freedom and adaptability, and be capable to discover past the usual vacationer websites. I can’t suggest it sufficient!

Click on right here to get a quote from Vamos Lease-A-Automotive. You’ll get an automated 5% off simply by utilizing this hyperlink!