Costa Rica Car Rentals

Best Costa Rica Rent a Car Offers
from $39.00 per day, no hidden fees guarantee

The good news: Costa Rica is a small country that allows you to travel from the central Valley down to either coast in a short amount of time. That puts eco-adventure destinations within easy reach, even for day-trips. The bad news is that some roads, especially in more rural areas, can be a trial. Driving around Costa Rica in a rental car is a popular and convenient way to see the country. You can stop to take pictures, go down side roads or change your mind about your destination en route.

Renting a car is a good way to get around Costa Rica. It´s small country, consequently many parts of it are within easy driving distance. Roads are well marked, although rarely with the route numbers you see on maps. Instead, occasional signs along the road tell you the number of kilometers to a larger city. Major routes are well paved and easy to follow.

There is only one road that cross the whole country (Panamerican HighWay) that goes from Nicaraguan Border to Panama Border. San Jose Airport is located in the middle of the country, in Alajuela Province.

Insurance

Before you decide if you want to get around by car, there are some caveats to renting. On top of the daily or weekly rental cost, you need to buy Costa Rican Auto Insurance as yours is not valid here. We recommend getting as much insurance as possible, including no deductible. It may cost more, but remember these are foreign cars on foreign roads in a foreign land. Many of the secondary roads in the mountains and along the shore are unpaved, unless you count the dirt between the yawing potholes. Due to heavy rains, hot, sun tand mountainous terrain, even paved roads are susceptible to deterioration and occasional mudslide.

Rugged Terrain:

Unless you stick to the main tourism areas in the Central Valley, you ´ll need to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A few backwoods roads require you to cross small rivers without the aid of a bridge. Keep in mind Rent a Cars do not want you to cross the rivers in your car, even if it´s a 4x4.

Be cautious when driving in the mountains, where sudden fog or rain can envelope the road, reducing visibility to near zero. Another consideration is the lack of guardrails, even when there is a 1,000-meter drop on the side of serpentine, hairpin curves. Whata vista! In beach areas to the west, count on a lot of dust, especially in the dri season, and plentu of heat. Get a car with air conditioning if you are off for Guanacaste or Limón.

You ll sooon see that Costa Rca drivers are crazy, and roads are in unpredictable condition. Our best advice is to slow down. Sooner or later, you´ll be stuck behind a stinky, slow-moving truck and anxious to get where you ´re going – but don´t worry, be happy. This is your vacation, not a commute to work.

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Where to rent a car?

Every destination offers an office for car rentals, even at Tortuguero National Park you can get your car rental on your way out to keep exploring the country. The Car Rental company will add to your car a free-local calls mobile phone, road maps, 24 hours road assistance and helpful road information. Also, is very easy to rent a GPS, a great tool for first time vacationers.

Some locations are subject to a Drop Off fee that vary from where you want to pick your car up. This is becuase the door to door service is available and free of charge almost all over the country but if you need your car rental in a very special location probably there will be a fee to pay for.

Car Rental Insurance

The insurance system belongs to the government at this time, in few months there will be other companies offering this service meanwhile, there is a MANDATORY INSURANCE you have to purchase in Costa Rica that is known as Third Party Liability which protects only thirds (cars, houses, persons).

To have a partial protection for your car rental, the Colision Damage Waiver needs to be purchased at the time of getting the car. This insurance has a deductible from $950.00, means that all damages caused by you will be subject be paid for a maximum of the deductible fee. Many credit cards, specially those ones from USA and Canada have the CDW so, if you want to have a trouble-free time here be sure you have CDW in your credit card. You will save thounsands of dollars in case of accidents or damages.

Other very helpful option is the Super Liability Insurance know as Full Cover which covers totally not only the rental car but also damages to third parties. It is only $10-$20 more a day but is worth it.

Helpful Tips when Renting a Car in Costa Rica

Get a GPS, this is a great tool to drive Costa Rica. The sign system is poor and not easy to understand. The GPS is updated so you won´t get lost. Aprox. price $8 - $10 per day.
Get a good Road Map, the Car Rental Company will give you a very well marked road map.
Never drive in nighttime. Costa Rica is a very safe place but driving in night in like every where, dangerous.
Never leave values in the car. The thieves used to smash a window to still everything. Always keep an eye on the rental car.
Get all possible information from your rental car company, they do know what is going on about road conditions, shortcuts and more tips for you.

Drive safe, enjoy the country!!!