Renting a car in Costa Rica is a great idea if you want to travel on your own schedule and if you want to visit some destinations that are a bit more off the beaten path. My sister and I rented a car during our most recent trip to Costa Rica and we truly enjoyed driving around, and found driving in Costa Rica safe.
This is a country of spectacular natural beauty and vibrant culture. Situated in Central America, Costa Rica is known for its tropical climate, rugged coastline, sandy beaches, rainforests and biodiversity.
There are so many things to do in Costa Rica, you won’t know where to start! While San Jose is where you’ll find the historical and cultural landmarks, the many national parks highlight the country’s biodiversity. You’ll have a chance to spot all sorts of wildlife. Costa Rica is also a fabulous adventure sports destination!
If you want to take in all that the country has to offer, you should consider hiring a car in Costa Rica. Not sure if this is a good idea, and worried about the technicalities? Don’t worry. As I have said my sister and I got a car and I am ready to share all my best tips.
When I hire a car in Costa Rica (and anywhere else in the world), I use Discover Cars, my favorite comparison site. What I really appreciate about it is that they have a very powerful engine that helps you find the best car rental company in Costa Rica, pulls out the best deal for you, and allows free cancellation up to 48 hours before you actually pick up the car. They also have a budget-friendly full coverage policy.
Finally, let’s discover everything you need to know before you rent a car in Costa Rica.
Should You Rent A Car In Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a fairly small country but a mountain range right in the middle makes it a bit difficult to go around (and not a fun experience if you suffer from motion sickness).
While there are many tours, shuttles and public buses available to get you from place to place (for example to go on day trips from San José), the best way to take in all of the country has to offer and more is to hire a car in Costa Rica and embark on an independent adventure.
If you only plan to be in the country for a short time, hiring a car in Costa Rica will allow you to see more in a short time frame. Forget about waiting around for buses that only get you so far or having to follow an itinerary.
Having a car at your disposal equals ultimate freedom to do what you want when you want!
My sister and I ultimately decided to hire a car in Costa Rica because when we calculated the amount of money it would cost us to take the shuttles or local buses to move from one place to another, and then do guided tours to places that are can’t be reached by bus, we realized that a car rental in Costa Rica would be cheaper.
There’s definitely no need to have a car while you are in a city (for example in San José) as most of the things you’ll want to access are easily accessible by walking or taking a bus. Besides, parking can be a hassle in urban areas.
But let’s be honest – you don’t exactly go to Costa Rica to spend time in a city, do you?
You will want to visit Costa Rica national parks such as Manuel Antonio or Marino Ballena, check out gorgeous Costa Rica waterfalls such as Rio Celeste and Nauyaca, and get off the beaten path to visit the local indigenous communities or experience a home stay in a more rural area.
And this is why you need a rental car in Costa Rica!
Now that we’re clear on why you should be renting a car in Costa Rica, let’s see everything you need to know about it.
Want to have an idea of prices? Check out the prices of car rental in Costa Rica on Discover Cars, my favorite comparison site for car rental.
Remember that you can’t take your rental car across the border to Nicaragua or Panama.
How To Rent A Car In Costa Rica
Quick overview
Here are my expert tips to pick the best car rental in Costa Rica via Discover Cars:
Choose fully prepaid cars – this way, you don’t have to pay anything on arrival.
Pick a supplier with 8.0 or higher ratings – customer reviews matter!
Note down the amount required for the deposit. Remember the main driver must have a credit card. You can also pick companies that only request a debit card, but it will end up being overall more expensive.
Choose Full-to-Full fuel policies – this way you don’t have to pay unexpectedly high fuel charges.
Beware of the allowed mileage — if you are planning long road trips, go for unlimited mileage.
Read the pick-up instructions carefully. Pay attention to the location types — if you are renting a car in San Jose Airport, you will likely have to get out of the airport to pick up your car as most rental car companies have offices outside (a 5 to 10 minutes drive). Not all car rental companies offer a shuttle service to take you to their offices.
Rent a car online via Discover Cars
The best way to rent a car in Costa Rica is to do it online.
There are a selection of comparison sites where you can look for the prices of car rental in Costa Rica, but in my opinion, Discover Cars is the best way to rent a car in Costa Rica by a long shot.
This is personally my favorite way of renting a car in Costa Rica and anywhere in the world. I use them all the time, and obviously used them for my trip to Costa Rica.
Here is the procedure to follow to pick the best can rental in Costa Rica:
Put your details in: select the location you want to rent the car from, and where you want to return it at the end of your trip, your dates of travel, and what type of car you want – I will talk more about the best kind of car to rent in Costa Rica in a bit.
Filter the selection by ratings – some people suggest a minimum rating of 7 out of 10 stars, but I recommend a rating of 8 minimum. The company we ended up using for our car rental in Costa Rica had a rating of 9.4 out of 10. Yes, the overall price is likely to be more expensive, but the best-rated companies usually offer a better service and you won’t have any hidden fees.
Select Full Coverage – This is a small additional daily fee (usually around $10 USD per day), that covers any damage to the car, repair work, towing, lost keys, windows or glass repairs, etc.
Once all is set, Discover Cars will give you a list of rental car companies and the prices. Keep in mind those may not be the final prices. I will talk about this in a bit.
My go-to comparison site for car rental is Discover Cars. It’s super competitive – you can use it to search the prices of all the main car rental companies in Costa Rica, and it will pull up the best deal for your class range. They allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before you are due to pick up your car too.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Costa Rica?
The price of a Costa Rica car rental varies a lot depending on the season and on the kind of car you rent.
A sedan is cheaper than a SUV or a 4WD but depending on the kind of trip you are planning, you will need a crossover as a minimum. That’s what my sister and I got for our trip.
If you visit Costa Rica in the low season (for example between October and November, like my sister and I did) you can expect to pay around $400 USD for a cross-over kind of SUV. The same car can cost $800 a week during shoulder season and $1200 in peak season.
The cost of renting a car in Costa Rica varies a lot also depending on how far in advance you book and which car rental company in Costa Rica you go with.
It’s usually cheaper if you pick up the car and return it to the same location.
Another thing that adds to the cost is renting an automatic car – so if you are visiting Costa Rica on a smaller budget and know how to drive one, look for a car with manual transmission.
Things that will further increase the price of your car rental in Costa Rica are having an additional driver, extras such as child seats (required for children under 12 years old), GPS, WiFi, etc. If you have a local SIM card or a data plan that allows you to navigate while in Costa Rica, you won’t need to get a GPS.
I also need to stress that advertised prices often don’t represent that final price because most companies only advertise the base rate without mentioning the many fees and insurance and the taxes.
That really good deal that you found online might not be so great after all. I always recommend reading the fine print and find out the total cost before booking by calling the offices before you pick up the car (remember, you have free cancellation with Discover Cars), and to be prepared for a higher final price.
When my sister and I booked our car rental in Costa Rica, we had to pay an additional $221.5 USD fee at pick up. Let me however point out that this was clearly stated in the confirmation email we received from Discover Cars. You need to read the confirmation email to avoid any surprises!
Want to have an idea of how much it costs to rent a car in Costa Rica? Check out the prices of car rental in Costa Rica on Discover Cars.
The cost of gasoline in Costa Rica
The cost of gas in Costa Rica varies a lot depending on may factors, but since it is regulated by the government and the same at all gas stations, you won’t have to shop around to find a cheap place to fill up your tank.
Gasoline in Costa Rica is actually quite cheap – at least by European standards. At the time of writing, a liter costs about $1.33 USD, and a gallon comes at $5 USD (Source Global Petrol Prices).
Only full service is available, which means you will have to go to the station and ask for someone to fill up your tank.
Car rental agencies in Costa Rica
Some of the car rental agencies in Costa Rica include Adobe Rent a Car, Alamo Rent a Car, Enterprise, Hertz, Vamos, Amigo Car Rental, Budget and Sixt Rent.
We used Discover Cars for our trip so that we could compare the prices and read online reviews for various companies, and we ultimately rented a car via Alamo. We had a great experience, with a very good car and excellent customer service.
Want to have an idea of prices of car rental in Costa Rica? Use Discover Cars to compare the prices.
What car should you rent for your Costa Rica trip?
Deciding which car to rent in Costa Rica is decisive as it will determine the kind of trip you can have, and also the amount of money you will be paying.
There are cars for any budget, from compact cars, compact sedans and sedans to crossover, SUV and 4WD and even vans (for up to 12 passengers) for rent.
When deciding on what kind of car you want to rent in Costa Rica, you need to consider the size of the group and remember that along with people comes luggage. If it is a larger group and each person has a big suitcase, you will need a larger car with more engine power, especially if you intend to drive on mountainous areas.
Do you need a 4WD in Costa Rica?
Not necessarily. This depends on when you are visiting Costa Rica, and on the kind of trip you have planned. If you are visiting during the dry season, a car with high clearance such as a small crossover is perfectly fine. During the rainy season, you may want a 4WD if you plan to drive on mountain roads.
If you don’t mind paying a bit more and want extra peace of mind, having a 4WD can get you out of some sticky situations if you plan to travel in remote areas where gravel roads can be muddy and rough.
My sister and I visited in the rain season and drove on some gravel roads in the area of Uvita and Manuel Antonio (for example to visit Nauyaca Warterfalls) and we thought that our compact SUV was perfectly fine for that kind of trip.
Should you get an automatic car?
Again, this is up to you. We are used to driving manual transmission cars in Europe, so my preference when renting a car anywhere in the world is for a manual transmission car too.
Automatic transmission cars are a bit more expensive, but it’s a difference worth paying if you are not confident in driving a manual transmission car, or if you aren’t comfortable driving a manual car in a foreign country. This is probably the best option if you are used to driving on the left side of the road like in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
My sister and I selected a manual transmission car when we looked for a rental car in Costa Rica, but somehow ended up with an automatic transmission one.
What’s Needed To Rent A Car In Costa Rica
There are certain specific requirements you need to fulfill in order to rent a car in Costa Rica. Let’s look into the details.
Documents needed to rent a car in Costa Rica
In order to be able to drive in Costa Rica, you will need the following documents:
- Your passport (the original, not a copy);
- A visa stamp on your that proves your eligibility to stay (and drive) in the country: Once the date on the tourist stamp expires, you’re no longer eligible to drive in the country and temporary driver’s licenses and copies of the original are not accepted.
- A valid driver’s license (again, the original and not a copy) that won’t expire during the car rental period.
Can you drive in Costa Rica with a US driver’s license? You can. In fact, any driver license in Latin script is accepted. You will need to have an international driver’s license if your license is in Russian, Arabic or Japanese (for example).
Credit or debit card
This is a standard requirement anywhere in the world. Whoever rents a car in Costa Rica, will also need a credit card. Once you go to pick up your car, the card will be swiped for a safety deposit. If you use a credit card, the money will be put on hold.
Some companies will allow you to use a debit card if you sign a waiver form, and this will be charged: the money will be returned after you return your car (provided there’s no damage to it). The process may take up to 45 days.
How much is the safety deposit?
The amount of money put on hold via your credit card when you hire a car in Costa Rica varies a lot depending on the kind of insurance you get (more about this in a bit). If you only get the basic insurance, the typical amount put on hold is $3000. But if you get full coverage insurance, it may be lower.
Make sure your credit card has a big enough limit to cover for the safety deposit as most companies won’t accept payment via one card, and safety deposit via another card.
Minimum age for renting a car in Costa Rica
It varies between 21 and 25 years of age, and this depends on the company. Most car rental companies in Costa Rica require the designated driver to be at least 25, but Adobe Rent a Car has a minimum age of 23, and Alamo of 21. Sixt allows you to rent a car even at the age of 18.
Normally, when you look for a rental car on Discover Cars you will need to insert the age of the designated driver as a criteria for the search anyways. Keep in mind that some companies will ask to pay an additional fee for young drivers.
On the other hand, there is no real maximum age to rent a car in Costa Rica, but some companies require senior drivers to pay an additional insurance fee too.
Insurance needed when renting a car in Costa Rica
Deciding which insurance to get when hiring a car in Costa Rica is not easy.
Here’s what’s needed and what you can leave out:
PERSONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE – All car rental companies will require you to have liability insurance. Personal Liability Insurance covers medical expenses for passengers in the event of an accident. You can’t remove it from the costs of your car rental, and you can’t use your credit card insurance to cover for that.
CAR PROTECTION INSURANCE OR COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER (CDW) – This kind of insurance is what protects your car in case of accidents or damages. It is not compulsory and you can remove if you use your credit card – before doing this, you will need to enquire with your credit card company to make sure if they would cover for this.
EXTENDED PROTECTION INSURANCE – This kind of insurance is optional and what you’d need to protect the car against acts of vandalism, damages to the body of the car (for example to tires, glass and windows, lost keys, towing expenses, and more), or if you ever need road assistance. It would also cover any damage to 3rd parties. You can add it to your car rental agreement.
For your peace of mind, I suggest getting Full Coverage via Discover Cars when hiring a car in Costa Rica. This will include your liability insurance, our car protection insurance, as well as an extended protection insurance that will also protect you in case of theft. It’s not expensive – usually in the range of $10 USD per day.
9 More Things To Know When Hiring A Car In Costa Rica
Here are a few more things worth noting when you hire a car in Costa Rica.
Book in advance
Renting a car in Costa Rica at the last minute is not a good idea if you are traveling in peak season. My sister and I booked our car literally a week before the day we were meant to pick it up, but we visited in the rainy season when request is very limited.
For this reason, it’s always best to book in advance to ensure that a car is available when you need it. There can be a shortage of rental cars in Costa Rica during peak season!
While it’s possible to rent in person at the airport upon arrival or at a local outlet in one of the cities, I recommend booking your car online via Discover Cars.
Check the car conditions before you drive off
Before driving off the lot with your rental car, be sure to walk around the car and take photos of its conditions to ensure you don’t get penalized for scratches or dents that were already there.
Also check for safety issues, such as worn tires, because it’s not unheard of for even the most reputable companies to rent out cars that are not up to standard.
In fact, I recommend steering away from any super cheap rental car deals in Costa Rica, as some companies rent out older cars (5 years or more) and these cars are usually worn and may have problems.
Toll roads in Costa Rica
There are some toll roads in Costa Rica. In particular, if you picking up your car rental in San José Costa Rica you will have to pay some highway tolls to leave the city – these can vary and can be up to around $3.
Download maps
One thing that will help you navigate Costa Rica is maps. Google Maps is definitely a good app to use, as well as Maps.me – however, even if you have a local SIM card, some places are so remote that you may end up with no phone reception and unable to use the apps.
You can get around this issue by downloading maps offline. It can be a life saver!
Rental car scams in Costa Rica
Like everywhere, rental car scams happen in Costa Rica. Most people complain that they have been scammed because of the additional costs they have to pay when they finally pick up the car.
One way to get around this issue is to select companies that allow full-prepayment (Discover Cars offers this option) so that you don’t get surprise fees.
In any case, I recommend to read the fine print in the voucher you receive in your email confirmation, and go through every detail in the email as that’s where you will see if there is any additional fee to pay once you pick up the car.
No smoking in the rental car
As non-smokers, this is absolutely liberating as you will be sure that your car rental won’t reek of cigarette smoke. If you do smoke in the car, the company may fine you for a professional cleaning of the interior of the car, and this can easily go up to $120 USD.
Keep your car clean
Make sure to remove everything from your car rental before you return and pay attention to any possible thing that may cause you to get a fine by the car rental company.
Things such as food stains, coffee stains, vomit, dried-out mud and sand may end up in an additional cleaning fee that the card rental company will charge to your credit card. It’s cheaper to take your car to a car wash in that case (this is usually in the range of $20 USD).
Don’t drink and drive, and don’t cross rivers!
Drinking and driving is bad anywhere in the world, and you should never do it, but if you are driving in Costa Rica, there’s one more reason not to: no insurance will ever cover you for any damage or accident you cause because you were driving under the influence of alcohol.
Likewise, no matter the kind of car you have, you should not cross rivers or other bodies of water with your car because no insurance will cover you for damage this may cause.
Change your flat tire
If you have a flat tire with your rental car in Costa Rica, you will have to change it yourself. Once you do, call the car rental company so that you can pick up a new tire – and keep in mind that flat tires are not covered by any insurance.
Final Tips
Driving in Costa Rica can be a lot of fun, but it can also be incredibly challenging, depending on when you visit. While road conditions are generally good close to cities, they aren’t quite as good in rural areas, and they can get bad during the rainy season.
You should also beware of pedestrians walking along the street – many places don’t have a sidewalk – as well as animals crossing the road (there are lots of stray dogs around, unfortunately) – for this reason I really do not recommend driving at night.
Finally – and this is a rule that really applies to any country – never leave your valuables in sight in the car, especially when leaving!
My post How To Drive In Costa Rica provides lots of valuable information and tips on driving in the country: I strongly advise you to read it!
Further Readings
Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica? These posts should be useful:
- A Quick Guide To Tortuguero
- 10 Best Things To Do In Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
- A Guide To Cano Island, Costa Rica
- What To See And Do In La Fortuna
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