Rent a Car in Costa Rica

So you want to rent a car in Costa Rica, are you crazy?? No, seriously, though, what a great way to see this beautiful country! You have the freedom to go wherever you want when you want, and you have your own personal bubble! Renting a car in a foreign country can be a daunting task. So many questions to answer; who do you trust? How much will it cost? Is that really the best price? Is that really the price, period? Is there a deposit, and how much is it? Will I get my deposit back right away? At all? Not to worry, I have all those answers for you!

Right off the bat, To rent a car in Costa Rica does not have to be scary at all. There are close to 50 different car rental agencies in Costa Rica. These include your local agencies and more prominent, more recognized companies such as Alamo, Enterprise, and Hertz. It is not always easy to know where to turn to and who will have the best value for your money with so many options. One thing to be aware of when using one of the larger, more well-known companies is that they don’t always add things like local insurance, which is mandatory here. The price you see online is not always what you will end up paying, so you have to make sure you are looking at the correct location.

One of the most successful and trusted car rental agencies in Costa Rica is not one of the rental beasts. They are a local company called Adobe Rent a Car. Their success comes from their honesty and impeccable customer service. They are open about their fees, deposits, and vehicles. They have offices all over the country and are easily accessible.

You may have heard stories about rental agencies holding on to deposits for the slightest thing, and while that could happen, it is very rare. This is where the beauty of Adobe shines through. We recommend them because of their honesty in situations like this. not to mention they have very competitive prices and if you rent the vehicle for more than three days, they can deliver it to you. What?!

The last thing we want is for someone to visit our beautiful country and feel taken advantage of because that sucks!

A Valid Driver’s License – usually, you can use your driver’s license from your country unless it is in a language that uses characters in its alphabet like Japanese. In this case, you may want to inquire about an International Driver’s License. Be sure to check with your rental company on their rules for this.

Passport with a Valid Immigration Stamp – you will receive this stamp when you enter the country. Your stamp will be marked with 90 on it, meaning that you can remain in the country for 90 days. Your drivers’ license is valid in Costa Rica for those 90 days.

Minimum Age – Each company has its minimum age, so it would be wise to check with your chosen agency. The minimum age is usually between 18-21 years old, but in the case of Adobe Rent A Car, it is 23 years old.

Credit Card – You will be required to present a valid credit card in the drivers’ name on which there will be a deposit of $1000-$2500 depending on the agency. This will be returned to you but is not always immediate and can sometimes take a couple of weeks. Adobe does accept debit cards, but it can take between 24-72 hrs to get your deposit back like with a credit card.

The cost of renting a car in Costa Rica can differ significantly between agencies and the time of year and vehicle requested. Prices will be higher during peak travel months. Cars sell out quickly during the busy season (November to April), so we recommend you reserve your vehicle as soon as you book your trip to avoid any disappointment. (to look for cars, click here) If you can handle a little bit of rain, you will find wonderful deals during our wet season. You can expect to pay anywhere from $250 a week to $850 weekly during the high season, depending on the vehicle and add-ons.

In Costa Rica, you are required by the government to have a specific level of car insurance before you are allowed to rent. Many companies do not include this in their quotes, and you will end up getting a surprise when you go to pick your car up. In order to appear to keep prices competitive, many companies bury the fact that you need this insurance in the small print.

When you arrive at the rental car office to pick up your vehicle and realize it is an extra $25+ per day, you can either decline the rental and try to find another vehicle, wasting your hard-earned vacation time, or pay the additional fees. Neither is a great way to start your trip to Costa Rica.

Adobe Rent a Car is excellent with this, as they are upfront with all costs from the beginning, so you don’t have any surprises, again showing why they are a top recommendation and the main reason we have partnered with them. We want our visitors to come, enjoy and not break the bank.

While there is a lot to unpack here and be aware of, renting a car in Costa Rica is a fabulous way to explore both on and off the beaten track! If you are looking for a vehicle at a great price from a local, honest rental company, we highly suggest Adobe Rent a Car. Because they offer our guests a better price than what is on their website, making it even more enjoyable to rent from them, you can use the link below to check it out for yourself. Remember, the price you see is rarely what you will pay unless you rent from Adobe Rent a Car.

Happy Travels, Stay Safe, and whether you are here locally in Jaco, or traveling around the country, Pura Vida from the Bookybee Team!