I highly recommend you reserve your car from your home country.  Don’t wait until you get to Costa Rica.   If you are planning to drive outside the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela I recommend that you rent a 4×4 vehicle.  Because some of the roads in the outlying areas are not in great shape.  You may encounter potholes and unpaved roads.

If you want to rent a minivan I recommend Toyota Rental Agency.

For all other types of vehicles there are many agencies located near the two international airports of Costa Rica.  Juan Santa Maria International near San Jose, the capital city and also Liberia International located in the northern part of Costa Rica  (in Guanacaste).

Car rental prices are quite high in Costa Rica  ( you can compare prices on the Internet) and gasoline is expensive, around $3.50 a gallon.  (In Costa Rica it is sold by the liter).  You can save a lot of money by getting the collision part of the insurance before you leave your home country through you major credit card.  I write extensively about this on my blog article under the category “Rent a Car In Costa Rica”   Please refer to that article.

People often ask me.  Should I rent a car on my vacation in Costa Rica?  And I say yes.  It is a very good way to travel at your own pace and see a lot of countryside you would not see otherwise.

The major tourist destinations in Costa Rica are easily accessible by car and most of the roads are good  (some few sections in the outlying areas have potholes).  The care rental company should provide you with a road map which is easy to follow  If you get confused in the small towns which do not have good road signs-just stop and ask.  Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful and usually speak enough English to help you out.

Read my article on safety tips when renting a car which is located also under the category “Renting a Car in Costa Rica”

I hope this is very helpful information for you.  Please go to contact us if you are in need of further help with your efforts to rent a car on your vacation to Costa Rica.  We have organized costaricalearn so that you can search by category. So you can read about the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica simply by clicking on the category you are interested in.  Plus read about the history, culture, food, and many other aspects of Costa Rica by selecting the category.

Happy reading!  From costaricalearn.com

There are many reasons.

1. A large portion of the cost of renting the vehicle is the insurance.  There is liability insurance coverage and then there is all the rest..collision, theft.  Ask the car rental agency to itemize each of the coverages and the cost. VERY IMPORTANT:  Reserve your rental vehicle before leaving your home country.  Then call you credit card company and ask if you can buy (from the credit card company) the insurance on the rental car.  My personal experience with American Express credit card company:  They said yes I could buy the insurance EXCEPT THE LIABILITY.  So I purchased a policy  (except for liability) thru American Express  BEFORE DEPARTING FROM THE US.

2. Maintenance on cars in Costa Rica is very high.   The roads are often not in good condition with potholes and bumps so the tires wear out quickly and have to be changed.

3. Auto mechanics in Costa Rica are not cheap and car parts are very expensive because they have to be imported and the gov slaps a big import tax on these parts, thus raising the price.

4. Costa Rica does not manufacture cars or trucks, or buses.  All are imported.  Adding to the cost of the car is the transportation from where ever it was manufactured to Costa Rica which very often is very high.

5.  Accidents in Costa Rica, such as fender bender  is common.  Costa Ricans in general are not good drivers, so we often see these fender bender accidents.

6.  If you are planning to drive outside of the San Jose (capital city) area, then rent a 4×4 vehicle.  They are higher off the ground and take the rough road conditions in Costa Rica much better than a regular car.

Suzuki Jimmy 4x4 I rented while visiting Costa Rica

I would like to tell you about a car rental company in Costa Rica that I have twice rented from and have been very pleased with their services.  The name is Solid Car Rental company. I rented from their main office near the San Jose International Airport.  A young man named Jonathan, who speaks very good English,  was assigned to help me.  He was courteous and prompt.

I rented a small vehicle, a Suzuki Jimmy 4×4, for my husband and me.  There was room for 2 more passengers in the back seat, plus a couple pieces of small luggage in the area behind the back seat.  But is was just my husband and me so we had ample room.  I choose the 4×4 because we planned to drive outside the central valley and some of the roads have potholes.  The vehicle was a 2008 with all new tires.

They delivered the car to me at my hotel located about 12 minutes outside Alajuela,  the town located right near by the San Jose International Airport.  Rates for car rentals are very similiar among all the many car rental agencies in Costa Rica.  But do look on the car rental web sites for any specials that might be offered, and do ask for specials if you call and speak to a sales person.

Please read my article “Guide to Renting a Car in Costa Rica, Saving Time and Money”  It’s under that same name in the categories.  There I talk about, among many other things, the importance of obtaining collision insurance through you major credit card company  BEFORE  you depart from you home country.

Solid Rental Car company has satellite offices in Liberia at the Liberia International Airport and in most of the other heavily trafficked tourism destinations.  All these are listed on their web site.

Learn more about Solid Rental Car Agency at www.solidcarrental.com Rates you see there DO NOT  include the insurance.   Call their 800 toll free number listed on the web site to ask all your questions and get  personal service.

Here at  costaricalearn.com we would love to hear about your experience with renting a car in Costa Rica so we can share it with our readers.  Just click comment or reply and let us share your stories.

First, go on the Internet and find the names of  some of the agencies.  After thoroughly reading their Internet sight, call the 800 toll free number and talk to a sales representative.  Look for courtesy and knowledge of their products. Check out at least three different agencies.

Reserve your vehicle before departing from your home country.

1. First, ask do you have any specials?

2. Is the vehicle straight shift or automatic, does it have radio, and air conditioning.

3. How old is the vehicle.  Should ask for the newest one they have..should not rent  a vehicle that is more than  2-3 years.

4. If you plan to pick up in one area and drop off in another, ask for the cost of the drop off fee.

5. Ask if they will deliver the car to your hotel and pick it up at your  hotel.  Most of the agencies offer this service.

6. Ask where they are located.  Most agencies are located across the street from the San Jose International Airport.   Many of the agencies also have offices at the Liberia International Airport.   Additionally, some agencies have offices in the major tourism destinations around Costa Rica.   Including the Osa Penninsula.

7. If you want to rent a mini van.  I found that Toyota Rental Car Agency rents Toyota mini vans in two different sizes,  one is a ten passenger and the other one is larger.  They will even provide a driver at extra cost.  However,  the sales person told me that the insurance purchased through a major credit card in your home country does not cover mini vans.  I suggest that you double check this with  your credit card company.

8. Do I need to rent a 4×4?  If you are going outside the valley of San Jose ,  Alajuela,  Grecia,  and Atenas.  Then yes you need a 4×4 because of the condition of the roads.

9. Most of the car rental agencies offer to rent  1. cell phones   2. baby seats  (required by law in Costa Rica)  GPS .  You can obtain a good road map from the agency so you may not  need a GPS.

10.  Insurance-is the most confusing part of renting the car.  Please refer to my previous article on renting a car in Costa Rica.  Look at my categories and you will see ” Renting a Car In Costa Rica Saving Time and Money”   Here you will find valuable information on how to save money on insurance when you rent the car

Observe all traffic laws.  Breaking any traffic law carries a very large monetary fine.  Yes, it’s  hundreds of dollars and driving while under influence of alcohol  can carry a jail sentence.

Speed  limits are in kilometers.  Major highways  is 60 km to 80 km     Within  City limits are  40 km    school districts 15-20 km and the children are usually all out in the street when school is opening and closing so observe this and go slow!

Costa Ricans generally are aggressive drivers and some drive recklessly.

Here at costaricalearn.com we would love to hear if you have had a good experience with a car rental agency in Costa Rica so we can share it with our readers.  At the end of this article simply click on comment or reply.

Prices: My readers have said:  Renting a car in Costa Rica is confusing and seems expensive- why is the price so high?    The cost is made up of three parts:  1.cost of the car itself   2. liability insurance which your have to buy in Costa Rica when you rent the car  which is around $20 per day  3. collision insurance.    Your options are:  You can buy it in Costa Rica  (expensive) when you rent the car  …only way to know how much is to ask a quote from the car rental agency you use.  OR a BETTER and  cheaper way is to buy this collision insurance  through your major credit card company  in your home country (before you depart).

ONE ODDITY WHEN YOU RENT A CAR IN COSTA RICA:  You will be asked to sign a credit card voucher for a specific amount which is around $850-$950.    IF YOU DO NOT HAVE COLLISION INSURANCE THROUGH YOUR CREDIT CARD and you have an accident,  the agency will keep this money and use it as a “deductible” when repairing the car.  If you have bought collision Insurance  thru your credit card in your home country, this deductible is waived and  this money will be returned to you when you turn the car in.   I always tell people–make sure this  credit card voucher  is torn up “in your presence”  when you turn the car in.

The size and make of the vehicle determines the price of the Rental Car: Some of the agencies may  run specials on their web site.  It’s worth doing a google search for these specials, usually seen in the low season for tourism–not the high season of December  thru March.

One factor in your decision to choose a rental car company: Does the the company have an agency in the location where you will be staying?

Here are tips for  Renting a Car in Costa Rica:  Request  a vehicle that is no more than 2 years old, preferably a new car.     (If you rent for longer periods of time,  ask for a special  rate)   Buy the collision part of the insurance  thru your major credit card company  in your home country-before you depart for Costa Rica.

Make the reservation for your rental car BEFORE  you depart your home country to save yourself a lot of time.   The Internet  makes that a lot easier now.

Where are the car rental agencies in Costa Rica .

1. International airports which there are two in Costa Rica.  San Jose International Airport which is named Juan Santa Maria International Airport and the second is located in northern Costa Rica.  It is called Liberia International  Airport.  These two locations have the most selections of rental car agencies.   HOWEVER  many car rental agencies have branch agencies in the most popular tourist destinations around the country.  SO  you need to ask the agency you are thinking of using if they have a agency location where you will be staying.

Requirements To rent a vehicle: 1. You must be  21 years of age, hold a valid drivers license from your home country, and a current passport (which you should keep with you while driving the car.)  If you are stopped by the police they will want to see your passport.     2.  specify: automatic transmission or straight shift.    Most all the rental cars come  with air conditioning.   3.  Tell them if you want to rent a phone usually for $10 per day to make local calls WITHIN  Costa Rica, not  international calls.    4.  Be sure the agency provides a  Costa Rica map.

Do  I need to rent a 4×4? If you are traveling outside the areas of San Jose and Alajuela, then yes you need a 4×4.  The roads  in the rural areas are not always good and you can encounter potholes.

In the central valley of San Jose, Alajuela, Escazu,  and Santa Ana areas:  Ask the car rental company if they will  deliver the vehicle to your location and pick it up at your location

Inspect the vehicle well for scratches or bumps, if any write them all down on the form provided by the car rental company.   Check the spare tire for adequate air and make sure it is locked.   Don’t drink alcohol and drive, you could go to jail!   The  liability insurance will not cover driving under influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or negligent acts such as driving through rivers. Do: wear seat belts. It’s the law and the fine is over $100!    Don’t: Speed because the fine is over $200!  The speed limit on the autopisto is 55 miles per hour. ( approx. 90 kilometers per hour)   It seems the Costa Ricans  don’t drive  within this speed limit,  but believe me the cops are all along  the interAmerican Highway  (Highway 1)  waiting to give you a big ticket!

Road signs are not always good out side the larger cities and distances are longer than they look on a map.  Costa Ricans are very helpful so feel free to stop and ask someone if you feel lost.

I recommend you do not drive in San Jose,  the streets are not well marked, big buses are everywhere.  Putting it simply:  It’s very hard to navigate in this city, so make it easy on yourself and  take a taxi.

Now I have rented the vehicle.  What else should I know?

Roads in Costa Rica  are mountainous and winding.  Unless you get off the beaten path,  most are in pretty good repair but you may encounter  potholes.  Mountainous areas can be foggy, especially at night  so try not to drive at night.    Fill your gas tank in the towns.

Costa Rican drivers are famous for being aggressive and reckless.  And you will think, “Well how do they get away with driving like they do?”  That’s a big puzzle to all the tourist!

Keep the vehicle locked at all times and do not leave valuables visible in the car such as cameras, etc. (may get your window busted)  Especially stopping at restaurants.

Park the vehicle is a secure parking area. (Take valuables out first)   Do not leave it parked on the side of the street.

How much does gasoline cost?  Around $3.50 per gallon  Price varies with price of oil on world market. (in Costa Rica it is sold in liters)

What are the road conditions?  Depends on where you are. The roads in the central valley  and north into Guanacaste and over to the NW beaches are good.  If you go off the beaten path to   remote areas  the roads are not in good repair, and  have potholes.  And you need a 4×4 vehicle.   The rainy season is harder to drive because water fills up the potholes and you cannot see them,  so  drive slowly.

In case of an accident:  DO NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE.   Call 911   and then call your rental car company.  Be sure to have the traffic police write out a report.  And give you a copy.

Beware: If you have a flat tire and people stop to help you.  ( Especially after leaving the car rental agency, the airport,  or a restaurant.)  watch your purse and personal belongings in your car.  The following is a true story.  The tires of the rental car were punctured before I left the international airport, and the guys who did it followed me until the tire went flat, then offered to help change the tire.  While I was not paying close attention one of them stole my purse.  I didn’t realize it until they had left the scene.

Don’t pick up hitchhikers.

Don’t park the car by the side of the road, only in guarded parking lots and don’t leave any valuables inside which are visible, esp cameras, binoculars, etc.

Car theft is not uncommon in Costa Rica.

Frequently asked Questions:   Do I really need a 4×4.  This depends on what part of the country you plan to drive to.  Actually to make the long story short: If you are driving in the central valley of San Jose areas, Alajuela, Escazu, Santa ana, Grecia, Atenas,  then a regular automobile will do.  However, if you plan to drive other places into the countryside, it’s best to rent a 4×4.

I see smaller car agencies on the internet which rent 4×4 for less money than the major agencies. So how can they do this?  In most cases these vehicles are older than two years of age.  You just need to double check that the vehicle appears to be VERY well maintained, that the tires on it are good.  Also do some checking around about the  reputation of the agency.

Can I take my rental car across the border into Nicaragua or into Panama?   No,  however, check with your rental car company.  There are several options, for example having the company pick up the rental car at the border and then getting into another rental car immediately after crossing the border.

Here at costaricalearn we would love to hear from you.  Was this guide useful to you when you rented a car in Costa Rica?   Did the information help you save time and money? Simply click on comment or reply at the end of this article.

Ask for a map of Costa Rica when you rent your car.

Don’t drive at night.  Fill your tank with gas in the towns.   Costa Ricans are very nice and helpful so don’t hesitate to stop and ask directions if you need additional help.

Again:  Every credit card is different.  Call  yours and ask .

If your credit card does offer car rental coverage,  you will save money by buying the portions thru them that covers everything  except the liability portion.   A large portion of the money you pay to rent the car in Costa Rica  goes to insurance.

Ann welcomes questions and will answer them timely.  Just click at the bottom of the post  no comment  then post your question.

Then what do I do?  Best is to hire a taxi to drive you into San Jose.  Or,  you can take a public bus into the city from all the surrounding towns and once you are there, hire a taxi-which is inexpensive.

Rush hour around San Jose is bad, so avoid it if you can.  Between hours of  7 a.m. until around 8:45 a.m.   Then 4:30 p.m. until 7:  p.m.

There is only one main highway from San Jose to the international airport which is the Pan American highway also known as highway 1.  This road continues north all the way into Nicaragua.  Plan plenty of time to get from San Jose to the international airport.  Traffic is always heavy along this strip of highway 1.

What do I do if I need to drive my rental car thru San Jose to get to the highway to Limon  and on to the Caribbean  beaches?   Answer: what I did was hire a taxi to lead me thru San Jose to the road to Limon.    I tried it on my own and  very quickly got lost!   I tried  reading a map  of San Jose which proved of no help.  (Because many of the streets do not have names)

Arenal Volcano on Cloudy Day

We are renting a car  on our vacation to Costa Rica and want to know the best and most direct driving route from San Jose international airport to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna.   We are renting a 4×4 vehicle near  the airport.

Answer to your questions by  The Costa Rica Expert: Your drive will take  around 3-4 hours depending on how fast you drive.  Many of the roads are over mountains so you have to drive slow.  Don’t drive a night.  Keep in mind that the sun sets at 5:30  p.m.

From the airport head  north on highway 1 (Inter American  highway) .   for approx.  15 miles and turn right at the San Ramon exit.  (the exit before is the Naranjo exit)  follow the road thru the town of San Ramon;  you will see the huge cathedral of San Ramon on your left as you pass thru town.  Watch for the signs to Tigra -La Fortuna- Arenal but  you have to be very alert to see them.  (do not go toward Cuidad Quesada!)  If uncertain stop and ask.  Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful.  Once you are out of town,  you are going to go over the mountains and this scenery is beautiful.  A segment of it is often foggy so  I  advise  you not to drive at night.   In approximately 1 hour you will come to a very small village called Tigra.  Just keep following the signs to La Fortuna -Arenal.  Gorgeous scenery of ornamental plant farms, papaya plantations, and lush green vegetation everywhere.  Rains  a lot so the 1000 shades of green are always here.  When you get to the little town of La Fortuna you will take a left turn at the main intersection which takes you on a stretch of road for about 6 miles.  Here are many small and large hotels and the famous Tabacon hot springs.  After Tabacon  hot springs you can take a left at the next  dirt road which takes you to the entrance to the Arenal Volcano National Park.   On past a small river  leads you up thru the jungle to the Arenal Observatory Lodge.  However: if you turn right just past the little river, the road leads you for about 4 miles (along Arenal Lake) to Rancho Margot-a self sustainable ranch which welcomes tourists.

If you want to see the beautiful large Arenal Lake stay on the main road.  From  Tabacon Hot springs , about 4 miles , the lake will appear on your left.   Boats line up there early in the day to take tourist around the lake to see birds and wildlife, and of course the mighty Arenal’s firey eruptions.

What condition are the roads in?  Taking this route the roads are good.  Passing through the mountains some of the roads are narrow and winding,  just get an early start,  take you time and drive slow.  Especially from June thru Mid November  ( the rainest season).   Arenal Volcano is located in the San Carlos valley known as the bread basket of Costa Rica which gets a lot of rain.  That’s why you see all the trees,  flowering plants, and crops so lush and green.

What is best time of year to see the Arenal crater and the eruptions?  It’s a “hit and a miss”   Clouds often cover the volcano but eary morning is best bet to see it.  The month of March has the least rainfall, so you have a better chance this month.

Can you recommend a restaurant  along the way?  We always wait until we get to La Fortuna which has several small locally owned restaurants sprinkled around the town square.   However, there are some small family owned restaurants on the road from San Ramon to La Fortuna,  I just dont’ have experience with them.

Please read my blog post on “Driving in Costa Rica, Tips for Safe Driving” under the travel category.  I welcome questions just clik no  comments and you can ask a question.

Answer:   Yes, in your situation (considering what you want to do while you are in Costa Rica) renting a car in Costa Rica would be a good decision.   The main roads in Costa Rica are in good repair and have directional signs.  Gas is not so expensive (compared to Europe). It’s around $3.50 a gallon.  If you are planning to drive “off the beaten path” a 4×4 vehicle is what you should rent.  Because some of these roads, esp in the rainy season have rough spots in them.  A good road map (given to you by your car rental company)  shows very well the main roads.  And Costa Ricans are very kind and helpful, just stop and ask if you need  additional directions.

Keep in mind:  Costa Rica is a mountainous country.  Distances as you see them on the map are deceiving and takes longer than it looks on the map.   Many of the roads wind around and around the mountains and require slow driving.  Drive during day light hours only, not at night,  and fill your tank with gas when you are in a town.  Distances between some gas stations are long.

A car gives you freedom to stop when you want and stay as long as you want.  You get to know the country better this way.  The small villages and rural farms are some of the prettiest parts of Costa Rica.

There are many many car rental agencies in Costa Rica.  You can find them by searching google.  Many of the main tourist areas outside the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela  have car rental agencies.  When inquiring about the cost of rentals be sure to ask them to specify exactly what insurance coverage you are getting.

The rental car agencies also rent cell phone by the day (around $10 per day) to make calls  within Costa Rica only.

I have 2 different blog post that teach you about renting a car and driving in Costa Rica.  I invite you to read these.  posted 3-6-09 category travel   “Renting a Car in Costa Rica:  Things You Should Know.” and  posted 3-24-09 category travel “Renting a Car in Costa Rica: Tips for Saving Time and Money”.

Disadvantage of bus tours:  If you take a tour bus you probably would be with a lot of other tourist, make a lot of stops along the way, and  take longer to get there.  You would not be able to stop exactly where you want and stay as long as you want.

I welcome questions;  at end of the blog post you will see no comment,  simply click on it and post your  comments and questions.