Costa Rica Car Rental??

[knighttime]

I know there are a ton of people that have visited Costa Rica on this site so I wanted to see if anyone had advice on car rental for our upcoming trip? Where to book? What insurance requirements? Etc?

Thanks in advance

[kingranch]

what city?

I know a guy that can get you a car in Liberia. I can send you his whatsapp
Ive also had good luck w sixt

ins is govt regulated and mandatory. Expect to put a min of 500 some even 2000 deposit

[bsills]

I’ve only been to Costa Rica once, but with thats aid no way I would drive a car over there. I drive in the “Big City” everyday and still wouldn’t try it. Roads are narrow, lots of traffic, and people walking up and down the sides of the road. I was surprised we didn’t have a wreck or hit a pedestrian every time we took a ride.

[Mary]

Where will you be staying? That would be my first consideration on car rental, or not.

I have driven in Costa Rica a few times in the past, and have had no issues. However, this year, we stayed in Manuel Antonio to fish in Quepos. We did not rent a car because the hotel we were staying at was tough getting in and out of since it was right next to the gate of the park. I knew this in advance and just had the hotel pick us up at airport. You can taxi everywhere you need to go very easily.

[Montec man]

We always rent ATV's to get around on. The roads are like driving national forest roads here, at least around the Nicoya peninsula where we go. Will be there next week!

[Chago]

Call your destination and ask which rental company is reputable. Also, check with your local insurance company on coverage but plan on buying their local insurance.

It is a different world and most roads are bad with little to no signs. We traveled about five years back and rented a vehicle and GPS. The vehicle was fine and standard, which was great. That being said, our travel was adventurous as it rained and a few roads washed out. Our two hour trip turned into four!

The locals were very nice and helpful. We never felt unsafe with the people but the roads on a good day are average.

[TxMedic]

We use Enterprise when we go and have had no issues. Driving outside the city is easy. Driving in Liberia or SJ is a goat rope and a half. This time, we booked a driver to get to the resort and had a rental car delivered…much better process!

[squirrel]

Alamo is good, I get the full insurance.

[Phorizt]

I forget which one but we just used one of the major american rental car companies when we went last year. They had shuttle busses from the Airport to the rental car place. Drove all over Costa Rica for 8 days with no issues. Just get as small of a car as you can fit in and it will make things easier. Wouldn't want to try to drive an F350 around down there.

The one thing you need to know when planning and looking at maps is that it will take you 2-4x longer to get anywhere than you would think just by looking at a map and judging based on your experience driving in the states. We spent way too much time in the car bc all of the excursions I planned didn't look like they were very far away but driving there is very slow no matter where you are. We went from San Jose to La Fortuna, Liberia, Tamarindo and back.

[bsills]

Where will you be staying? That would be my first consideration on car rental, or not.

I have driven in Costa Rica a few times in the past, and have had no issues. However, this year, we stayed in Manuel Antonio to fish in Quepos. We did not rent a car because the hotel we were staying at was tough getting in and out of since it was right next to the gate of the park. I knew this in advance and just had the hotel pick us up at airport. You can taxi everywhere you need to go very easily.

That's where we went, no way I would want to drive from Manuel Antonio to Marina Pez Vela and back everyday. That was always one of out craziest adventures every day

[TX CHICKEN]

Once you get out of SJ or Liberia it’s not bad at all. Don’t speed! I drove all over a few years ago and no issues at all but as mentioned above it will take you longer than you think when looking at a map.

[CentralTXHunter]

Just be careful on what you are actually renting. We reserved a 4 wheel drive SUV. Landed, got to national car rental. They gave me the keys. Go out back and it was a Suzuki Jimny. Our luggage barely fit in the back, it was a stick and every time I shifted, I hit my wife in the knee because it was so small, lol. We made the most of it and it was actually pretty fun to drive. Just was not what I was expecting at all! If you go up to Arenal, just be careful. Roads are narrow and those tour buses absolutely fly around corners and take up the whole road.


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[dosrobles]

One that comes with a driver

[TexaRican]

Drove from Liberia to Tamarindo and rented with National. Not quite as easy doing emerald isle at U.S. airport locations but not bad at all. I was glad they upsold me to a SUV since the final road to our hotel had some huge potholes and washout areas. Saw some econobox cars high center on it.

As for driving in that country - no big deal at all.

[Mike Honcho]

Just be careful on what you are actually renting. We reserved a 4 wheel drive SUV. Landed, got to national car rental. They gave me the keys. Go out back and it was a Suzuki Jimny. Our luggage barely fit in the back, it was a stick and every time I shifted, I hit my wife in the knee because it was so small, lol. We made the most of it and it was actually pretty fun to drive. Just was not what I was expecting at all! If you go up to Arenal, just be careful. Roads are narrow and those tour buses absolutely fly around corners and take up the whole road.


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This was my experience too. Four grown men with luggage reserved an SUV and were given a small 4 door sedan because that’s all they had. You can argue all you want with them but that’s just how it is with rental cars these days, regardless of where you are (stateside or outside the US). We made the most of it and it worked but was less than ideal.