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

I 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 in style with backpackers, honeymooners, and expats alike. And whereas it’s small, there’s a ton to see and do. You possibly 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 may 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sound interesting, the truth is that ready within the scorching solar after which bouncing alongside bumpy roads in an outdated bus with out shocks or air-conditioning is just not for the fainthearted. If you need actual freedom to discover, you want a rental automotive.

That can assist you plan your journey, right here’s the whole lot you must find out about renting a automotive in Costa Rica.

Choosing the Proper Rental Automotive (and Rental Firm)

Earlier than you hire a automotive, learn and evaluate opinions for automotive rental firms. Whereas the usual huge firms can be found right here, there are many native ones too.

Upon getting narrowed down the record to a selected few, ask for quotes for the kind of automobile and journey dates that you just require. The quote ought to embrace necessary third-party insurance coverage, taxes, and some other surcharges, like airport tax. Most websites embrace all this data when getting a quote on-line.

Whether or not you might be reserving on-line or instantly with an agent, double-check the small print of your reservation. Crossing time zones could imply that your rental pickup time and even date is completely different in Costa Rica than your nation of departure. You will have to substantiate the time, date, and placement of your automobile’s pickup and drop-off, the automobile class, transmission, and protection required.

Factors to recollect when renting a automotive in Costa Rica:

• A guide transmission could also be cheaper than computerized and extra frequent in Costa Rica however ought to solely be chosen if you happen to can drive a stick shift.
• Returning your automotive at a vacation spot completely different from the place you picked it up will in all probability incur a further cost.
• Most rental firms is not going to assure a selected make and mannequin inside the rental class.
• Count on to hire for 24-hour intervals. Time your pickup and drop-off accordingly.
• Present your flight quantity earlier than you arrive, so the corporate can observe your flight.
• When you have an early flight, think about dropping off the automobile the evening earlier than and utilizing a resort shuttle to the airport.
• On-line journey businesses (OTAs) typically fail to incorporate all costs, so if you happen to e-book via one, you’ll want to verify the ultimate worth with the automotive rental firm, via which the pricing could also be extra clear.
• Most firms now provide an internet check-in course of to add paperwork equivalent to passports and driver’s licenses to chop time on the counter and get on the highway quicker.

My go-to rental automotive firm in Costa Rica is Vamos. You possibly can click on right here to get a quote. (You’ll get 5% off simply through the use of that hyperlink).
 

Arriving on the Airport

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

Native hustlers may 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 together with your firm’s emblem and ignore the hustlers.

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

Once you arrive on the rental workplace, the agent will fill in any excellent paperwork that has not been achieved on-line and conduct a automobile inspection with you. Though the agent will observe current injury, it’s best to take images or video of the automotive for backup functions.

Your automobile could not have a full gas tank while you choose it up, however the gas gauge stage ought to be logged on the inspection kind. You will have to return the automotive with the identical gas stage. Though you’ll not be reimbursed for a stage larger than the one registered, you may be charged whether it is under the beginning stage.

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

Paperwork Wanted for Renting a Automotive in Costa Rica

Right here’s the whole lot you must hire a automotive in Costa Rica:

Driver’s license – You should utilize your native driver’s license throughout 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 can be given a 180-day visa once they enter the nation, their driver’s licenses are solely legitimate for 90 days, and they are going to be required to depart Costa Rica and return to legally drive once more.

Bank card – You want a sound bank card in your title to pay the automotive rental and to put the deposit.

Passport – Your passport ought to be legitimate at some stage in 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 automotive rental firm has insurance policies concerning the age of the drivers it insures. Many do not need 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 at the least 25. Youthful drivers might be able to hire a automotive for a further surcharge and insurance coverage prices.
 

Insurance coverage Protection

Costa Rica has necessary third-party insurance coverage for automotive leases. It isn’t potential to acquire this protection some other approach. Verify that this price is included in your rental quote, because it’s typically overlooked, so it’s possible you’ll find yourself paying greater than what you initially thought.

A collision injury waiver (CDW) covers losses from injury to your rental automotive. That is legally required when renting a automotive in Costa Rica. Most firms provide varied tiers of insurance coverage, with varied deductibles. Many renters choose full protection for peace of thoughts, as then any injury that happens throughout rental is roofed. Some firms provide extra protection for tires and the windscreen (windshield), as they aren’t at all times 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 driving force’s bank card. A replica of the bank card firm’s phrases and situations is just not often ample.

One vital factor to notice is that the rental firm could maintain a deposit for the rental interval, which may very well be as much as $5,000 USD if the renter is utilizing their bank card supplier’s CDW. The deposit can be launched on the finish of the rental interval. Ensure you have a bank card that may take up this layer.
 

Driving in Costa Rica

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

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

Fuel stations – Just be sure you know in case your rental automobile is fueled by fuel or diesel. This data ought to be on the automobile inspection report if you happen to’ve forgotten. Fuel stations will not be self-service, so be ready to ask for the type of gas you want in addition to the quantity.

In case you’re renting one of many EVs which might be beginning to kind a part of fleets in Costa Rica, then plan your route across the community of charging stations throughout the nation. You possibly can study 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 obtainable however doesn’t at all times have correct data. It additionally tends to underestimate journey occasions, so it’s best to take that into consideration when planning your itinerary if you happen to plan to make use of it.

Regardless of Costa Rica’s official tackle system, which consists of calles (roads that run north-south) and avenidas (avenues that run west-east), nearly all locals give instructions utilizing landmarks, and few can present instructions utilizing highway 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 could use landmarks that not exist however had been recognized properly sufficient to stay in dwelling reminiscence. So it’s possible you’ll be directed to go 600 meters south of the place “the place the massive mango tree was once” or to show left after “the grocery store that was once pink.” Fortunately, Waze is a navigation lifesaver, however you may develop to benefit from the quirky tico (Costa Rican) approach of discovering locations!

Parking – At all times park in safe parking tons, and don’t go away valuables in an unattended automobile, as break-ins can happen.

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

Extra Rental Concerns

Many automotive rental firms cost a each day worth for gear or providers past the fundamental rental prices. It’s best to take this into consideration when budgeting your journey. These can embrace:

Extra drivers – Count on to pay a each day charge for every driver added to your rental settlement after the principle driver. (Vamos Lease-A-Automotive presents extra drivers with out further price.) It is sensible to have at the least one extra driver to share the burden for longer journeys or to take over if the principle driver is feeling underneath the climate.

Roof racks – In case you’re touring with a number of baggage or surfboards, then renting a roof rack at a each day charge could also be an answer to a cramped automobile inside.

Child or automotive seating – In case you’re touring with kids, Costa Rican regulation about seating (see under) is strictly enforced. Both deliver your individual baby seat or hire one at a each day charge from the corporate.

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

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

Wi-Fi – Keep related all through your journey with out paying extortionate roaming costs through the use of a Mi-Fi (cell Wi-Fi) machine out of your rental firm. It’s often quick sufficient to add your newest vacay pics onto Instagram, connect with your Spotify road-trip playlists, and navigate with Waze, however downloading films might be an excessive amount of to anticipate. Web protection in Costa Rica is large, however don’t rely on it in case you are touring off the crushed observe.

Accidents – If you’re concerned in a visitors accident, verify that nobody is damage then transfer to security off the highway. Don’t transfer the automobile. Name the transit police and your insurance coverage firm. You also needs to name your automotive rental supplier to evaluate if the automotive could be pushed, if a mechanic is required onsite or if the automotive must be exchanged and towed. The automobile could 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) on account of insurance coverage restrictions. If you wish to go to these locations, you’ll be able to organize to drop off your rental automobile on the border and reserve a automotive to be delivered when you’ve crossed it.
 

11 Driving Ideas for Costa Rica

1. Hold an in depth eye on pace restrict indicators, as this will change rapidly inside a brief distance.

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

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

4. Drivers within the different lane could 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. Pace bumps could also be huge and may very well be unmarked. Keep vigilant.

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

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

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

9. In case you’re touring outdoors of the Central Valley or essentially the most visited vacationer spots like Jaco, hire an SUV for the upper clearance that the automobile presents. For extra rural locations, a 4×4 could also be required, particularly within the wet season. Be at liberty to ask your automotive rental supplier for recommendation on one of the best automobile on your itinerary.

10. Flat tires will not be often lined by in-house or bank card insurance policies. In case 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, it’s best to current your driver’s license, passport, and the paperwork offered by the automotive rental firm. Site visitors tickets could be issued by officers, however the fee can solely be made in a financial institution or by way of your automotive rental firm. Ought to a police officer ask you for money, name the police instantly or your automotive rental firm for help. Don’t pay any bribes.

Costa Rica is an attractive nation and considered one of my favourite locations in Central America. To make sure you profit from your go to and get off the crushed path, hire a automotive. You’ll have extra freedom and adaptability, and have the ability to discover past the usual vacationer websites. I can’t advocate it sufficient!

Click on right here to get a quote from Vamos Lease-A-Automotive. You’ll get an computerized 5% off simply through the use of this hyperlink!