Car rental in Costa Rica is an opportunity to explore the remote beaches and quiet corners of the breathtakingly beautiful nation. Travel without the constraints set by general public transport timetables with freedom over team tours. For the unprepared traveler; however, vehicle rental costs and services can be a impolite shock and a blow to that vacation price range.
Renting a vehicle to your vacation will probably be the highest priced part of your budget, so understanding the terms and managing expectations is essential. will not be meant to be an exhaustive manual, but it ought to set you on the road towards an informed choice for your car lease needs in Costa Rica.
The reason why car rental so expensive?
Visitors externally of Costa Rica are often surprised by the price of car rental. Whilst hotel rooms, restaurant monthly bills and tours are lower than the prices paid out at home, it may show up strange that vehicle rental should be more expensive.
There are two simple reasons behind this high expense:
All vehicles in Costa Rica are imported and a taxes is imposed. Because of this heavy taxation, the expense of purchasing a vehicle is higher than it would be in other industrialized nations. In order to reduce their costs, there are some automobile rental operators who rent older cars.
The cost of mandatory insurance coverage (see below).
Aspects that Affect Car Lease Costs
• Necessary Insurance
which might be known as TPI, PDW (Partial Damage Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Insurance) and other acronyms, is actually a legal requirement. Vehicle rental operators should charge the customer for this particular coverage which might or might not be clear inside the quotation received from the customer.
The insurance is not the issue. All things considered, many other countries need car renters to cover a mandatory insurance policy; including: New Mexico, France and Zealand, in addition to a number of the United states states, like California state. This expense is not always displayed plainly on the car leasing operator's website or perhaps in a quote. That's the matter that causes contention in Costa Rica. Consumers then discover the extra cost of their lease upon arrival.
The price of mandatory insurance is different from company to organization and will depend on the automobile category that is becoming rented as well. The price for a small sedan may be as little as $12 per day, whilst a premium 4x4 automobile could be as much as $25 for insurance policy per day. This is as well as the rental cost.
Charge cards in North America typically offer car insurance as being an additional perk towards the credit card holder therefore North Americans specifically, are unused to getting to pay for insurance along with rental costs. No credit card covers this insurance necessity, however.
If the given estimate includes third-party and view the prices on the vehicle rental operator's site, do ask.
• Collision Damage Waiver
A waiver, even though this is not really insurance. stage will come with a insurance deductible that varies, but tend to be as much as $1,500. For a higher every day rate, a absolutely nothing deductible CDW could be purchased to relieve the renter of any economic responsibility in case of harm to, or theft thereof, the vehicle.
Many tenants will obtain their CDW through their credit card. It is really worth noting that the obligation for making any insurance coverage claim is in the customer and not with all the car rental owner, however. Some tenants may choose to purchase extra in-home coverage to avoid possessing this responsibility.
Ultimately, this is actually the renter's decision, even though there will be car leasing agencies which tough sell their own insurance coverage plans through ensuring peace of mind. It is really worth remembering that vehicle rental company workers, like in other parts around the world, will sometimes make commission for insurance policy sales.
offer CDW, the customer will be required to purchase this in-home coverage.
Car leasing operators require created proof that the customer's credit card provides CDW. Ask the car lease operator for the precise details of what they need and in what type. Others might ask for a printed duplicate to be presented during the time of rental, although some may possibly accept a forwarded email from the bank card company.
• Down payment
The deposit quantity required will depend on whether or not the customer chooses to utilize the car rental operator's in-home CDW or will take this coverage via a credit card. If the in-house CDW is declined, expect to pay a significantly higher deposit. The deposit may also rely on car model leased. This amount, that will be held on the renter's credit card until the conclusion of the rental time period, can be from $750 up to just as much as $3,500. The deposit ought to take no more than several days to be refunded to the credit card around the vehicle's return. The come back time for this quantity can take weeks, although some car rental organizations will accept atm cards for deposit maintain.
Do ensure that the down payment is calculated within the vacation budget being an unexpected hold of some thousand dollars on a credit card could normally severely cut into vacation spending.
• Airport Taxes
Clients that rent coming from a car rental operator's counter within an airport terminal building are obligated to pay the airport terminal tax.
Those automobile rental operators having a counter at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/Money, Hertz, Economy, Nationwide and Budget. These businesses will add an additional 12% tax for the rental cost.
Individuals car rental operators with a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) are: Budget, Avis and Economy. These companies will add an extra 3% income tax to the rental price.
To avoid this tax, get an airport shuttle with the car lease operator to an workplace located outside of the airport terminal grounds.
• Surcharges and Other Taxes
There are a variety of other obligatory fees that automobile rental operators might add into the lease cost, display on-screen or show in the quotation, or leave undisclosed until the customer's coming. concealed costs may seem little when viewed independently, but these are typically everyday rates, so they will prove to add up fast!
These could include:
• Permit Plate Fee: Under $2 every day, but differs from organization to company.
• Environmental Tax: Lower than $1 everyday.
• Sales Income tax: All sales dealings in Costa Rica are subjected to a 12% authorities-imposed product sales tax.
• Automobile Washing Fee: Restore an exceptionally dirty vehicle and the cleaning cost may be added on the final payment. A single car rental owner charges $20 for this additional support.
• Fuel Fees: If the fuel tank will not be filled to the very same level as it was at the start of the leasing period, then the automobile rental company will charge (usually for the nearest eighth of any tank). This demand is dictated from the car rental user and it is not susceptible to the governmentally set up fuel price that might be found at any service station.
Where Should I Save the Vehicle?
A common misunderstandings for travelers arranging a rental vehicle is the discrepancy in between international websites for car rental operators and the Costa Rican website for the same company. Frequently the worldwide websites are not aware of, or fail to reveal, surcharges, taxes and insurance coverages that will be charged in the counter. Instead are a business operation, even though this might be due to the fact that many acknowledged car rental user brands in Costa Rica are not an international branch of the labeled car rental owner. This factor can also be worth considering in terms of objectives concerning customer service as well as other finer details. The Costa Rican business office may have their particular style of operating, aside from the same policies and guidelines that the client may have experienced in other regions of the world.
Understandably then, an online reservation is better made through the nearby website and not the international site, whenever you can. A number of companies do not possess a local website. In cases like this, do check the details using a local staff fellow member via the telephone and request for written confirmation from the quote. Experience with reside chat on the global websites suggests that whilst staff is trained on conditions and terms governing the primary office (usually United statesA.); they fully grasp little of the guidelines that must be adhered to in Costa Rica.
Vehicle Rental Comparisons
In May/June of 2013, I compared the rates and services of a number of car lease operators in Costa Rica and released the findings. To my surprise, this article is still being plagiarized regularly across the Web which suggests that it must be still useful therefore an update was required. The prices for this particular comparison were acquired in December 2014 and January 2015.
The ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism) states there are thirty registered vehicle rental operators with eight others pending approval. There are many much more agencies that lease cars to guests, however. The car lease operators selected are the types which are most frequently utilized by travelers:
- Adobe
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Money
- Economy
- Fox
- Hertz
- National
- Payless
- Support
- Thrifty
- Toyota
- USave
- Vamos
- Wild Rider
Exclusion of Businesses from Final Assessment
Spending budget, Payless and Economic climate and Toyota have been contacted, but these several companies did not supply accurate online prices. Economy and Budget's websites have one price, whatever the dates entered and customers need to save a vehicle in order for these to honor the price proven. Toyota's website was unfortunately only operating up until March. Over and above that, the rates displayed $ for your remainder of the year. Payless has this disclaimer on their website: "Income taxes and surcharges usually are not within our control and might change without notice."
Sending individual queries for each time period ended in inconsistent results: Spending budget offered the same cost for all three researched time periods when getting an email request, which can be highly unlikely; Economic climate responded with different quotations for the same dates from different members of personnel; and Toyota's emailed quotes for periods of time past March's costs indicated online failed to correspond to the Mar rates quoted (probably the emailed quotes covered taxes that were not shown online). Had been not consistent with pricing for different periods, though payless can offer quotes via e mail and telephone.
Avis is only excluded from your price comparison, because they do not have an intermediate SUV category within their fleet.
Comparison Details
Car rental level, all taxes and surcharges, and 3rd-party insurance fees are (supposedly) determined and ranked properly below based on the week's rental of a BeGo or similar intermediate 4x4 from a San Jose/Alajuela location (not from your airport).
Rates are calculated on a regular basis and split by seven to supply a daily cost that is more easily comparable. totally transparent, the prices are as accurate as you can based on the information offered from the car lease operators' websites, calls, and/or emails. Airport terminal taxes are not contained in these figures.
Shoulder joint Season (Quote for July 13 via 20)
1. USave $43.37
2. Service $54.92
3. Fox $55.64
4. Hertz $58.17
5. Adobe $60.13
6. Alamo $60.99
7. Crazy Rider $62.86
8. Money $63.35
9. Vamos $64.15
10. National $67.04
11. Thrifty $74.39
Low Season (Estimate for May 13 through 20)
1. National $37.04
2. USave $43.37
3. Dollar $46.49
4. Adobe $52.57
5. Vamos $53.15
6. Service $53.49
7. Hertz $54.59
8. Fox $55.64
9. Wild Rider $55.71
10. Alamo $60.99
11. Thrifty $74.39
High Period (Quote for Mar 13 through 20)
1. Dollar $55.92
2. USave $56.22
3. Hertz $56.37
4. Fox $59.36
5. Thrifty $64.69
6. Support $66.63
7. Vamos $67.14
8. Alamo $69.56
9. Crazy Rider $70.00
10. Adobe $70.63
11. National $73.90
Breakdown of Comparison
Interestingly, there is certainly not one crystal clear expensive or inexpensive company from these compared. The variety in ranking in between seasons is noted and customers should look into their vacation times when choosing the car lease operator. Are only in 4th position in the search rankings for High Season, however for example, Thrifty seems as the most pricey for both low and shoulder season.
It is additionally significant that prices are not consistent with ranking with vehicle rental operators in other car groups. For example, Vamos' prices are the cheapest for a high quality vehicle in the shoulder joint season; although they are certainly not first in any search positions for the intermediate group and Adobe which appears competitive are the most expensive for this time car and time period category.
Information on Automobile Rental Operators
Adobe Rent-A-Car is actually a local car lease operator that has 11 offices across the country. The site is quick and simple to use with no evident hidden costs. The mandatory insurance expense is displayed as part of the on the web quote. More positive than negative comments are produced, though the company gets mixed reviews online. E-mails receive a reply inside 24 hours, but might not fully answer the questions asked.
Cost-Free Telephone Number: 1-855-861-1250
Child Seating: $3/day
Booster: $1/time
Additional Driver: $3/day time
GPS System: $9/day time
Alamo works together with National and has 13 offices across the country. Similar to many big brands, Alamo Costa Rica is a franchise rather than a branch of Alamo itself. Thirdly-party insurance coverage and basic CDW are included in the on the internet quotation, although the CDW may be refused on presentation of evidence of coverage through the customer's credit card. Appears much higher than other companies as a result, even if this makes the pricing seem to be high on first glimpse, especially when, unlike other car rental operators, Alamo includes airport terminal taxes in their on the web quotation and so their pricing is honest. The stipulations do state the fees that will be compensated on arrival, although pricing is different in the international website in the company. This prices discrepancy is the guide cause of negative testimonials for this company. Email messages are responded to within 24 hours.
Cost-Free Telephone Number: 1-855-533-1196
Child Seating: $3/day
Additional Motorist: $6/day
GPS Method: $12/day
It fails to show a final quotation complete or price for your coverage selected on the web until an emailed quote is directed, although avis' web site obliges one to pick a car protection alternative. Coverage costs might be obtained by simply clicking on the option 'Protections Explained' at the bottom of the display.
No Toll-Free Phone Number
Kid Seat: $5/day
Further Driver: $5/day
Gps system System: $9.99/day time
site that is easy to use, however the pricing given is really as the same for all periods, suggesting that it is not correct. Some were kept unanswered, though e-mail responses were usually fast. Emailed quotations showed the same rates for all seasons because the website did. Necessary insurance is not provided on the online quotation, but the small printing states that this is payable at the counter-top. Budget gets mixed online evaluations.
Live Chat is offere, even though no Toll-Free of charge Phone Numberd
Kid Seat: $5/day
Extra Driver: $5/day
Gps system System: $14.99/day time
charges, but airport income taxes will be applied when the vehicle is being accumulated from the airport's surfaces. Not in their on the web quotes, even though one might find this within their conditions and terms. Car cleansing charge is forced for very unclean vehicles. There are 4 offices in San and Liberia Jose. Email response is within 24 hours. Buck receives mixed evaluations from online journey forums.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-877-767-8651
Child Seat: $5/day time
Additional Driver: $5/time
GPS System: $9/day time
Economy has 12 offices around the nation. They have no Costa Rican website. Browse down on their web page to find and click on insurance costs. Airport taxation are not included in the estimate. Emails receive possibly a quick response or no response whatsoever. Economy has the most severe online reputation of any big name vehicle rental operator in Costa Rica.
Cost-Free Contact Number: 1-877-326-7368
Child Seating: $10/day
Additional Car owner: $10/day
GPS Program: $15/day
Fox functions in partnership with USave. Workplaces are located at equally international airports. E-mails receive a response inside 24 hours. Online testimonials are generally poor.
Cost-Free Contact Number: 1-800-225-4369
Child Chair: $5/day
Additional Car owner: $10/day (unless husband or wife)
GPS System: $9.99/day
Hertz has six offices in the nation. Reservations may be created through a Costa Rican website. It does range from the CDW -- although CDW could be waived with evidence of credit card coverage, despite the fact that initial online estimate does not include product sales taxes. Emails obtain a response within round the clock. Mediocre reviews on travel forums.
No Toll-Free of charge Phone Number
Child Chair: $5/day
Additional Car owner: $13/day
GPS Method: $12/day
National operates in partnership with Alamo and contains thirty offices functioning across the country. The company features a Central American site, as well as the international website, which clearly reveals the breakdown of pricing. estimate, but it may be unchecked to get a quote with only the mandatory insurance policy. Remember that the airport taxes is included in the on the internet quote as well. Quick responses to queries are available through Reside Chat on their website. Testimonials are mixed, but there are more positive than negative.
Free Phone Call Alternative Via Website
Kid Seat: $6/day
Increaser: $6/day
Additional Motorist: $5/day
GPS Method: $12/day
Payless is part of the international automobile rental company and contains no Costa Rican website. quotations do not include thirdly-party insurance coverage, although the information on this might be found by reading the policies for the San Jose location. obtain a response in less than round the clock, but tend to recommend back to the website, instead of new information. Reviews are more unfavorable than positive.
Cost-Free Contact Number: 1-800-PAYLESS
Kid Seat: $5/day
Increaser: $5/day
Additional Car owner: $10/day
GPS Program: $9.95/day
Services are a local company with five offices in the united states. On an otherwise very clear website, click on 'Reserve Now' and not 'Get a Quote' to have an online price check out. Rember is the personnel member mentioned in reviews on journey forum for his helpful customer service as well as the company generally will get good reviews. E-mails are answered within round the clock and normally supply requested information.
United states Phone Number: 1-305-897-3718
Kid Seat: $3.50/day time
Additional Driver: $3/time
GPS System: $7.50/day
Thrifty lacks a local website, therefore information is through the worldwide website. Coverage alternatives or information regarding 3rd-party insurance coverage is not provided in the reservation webpage right up until one clicks 'Protection Information'. May not respond to location-certain questions, although e-mails receive a response inside 24 hours. Reviews are often negative due to prices complaints.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-344-1705
Child Seat: $5/time
Booster: $5/day
Further Driver: $12/day
Gps system System: $11.99/time
label; however, even though their internet site appears professional initially, it simply does not function, or at least it was not functioning in order to get quotations later than March 2015. Their on the internet quotes do not consist of sales taxes. Quotes for different periods appeared to be contradictory, however emails receive quickly responses. Toyota has a good reputation on travel forums, nonetheless. Eight offices are situated across the country.
Free Call Option Via Web site
Child Seat: $5/time
Cooler: $1.50/time
Additional Driver: $3/time
GPS System: $10/day time
USave works together with Fox and has a few office locations. Insurance policy options are shown for that online quote, but it must be selected and 'recalculate' pressed, just before it is included in the prices. Emails get a response within twenty four hours. all round poor reviews, despite the fact that there are some positive remarks made on journey forums.
Cost-Free Telephone Number: 1-800-467-3659
Child Chair: $5/day
Additional Motorist: $10/day
GPS Method: $9.95/day
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-950-8426
Child Seat: totally free
Booster: free
Further Driver: free
Gps system System: $8/day
Wilderness Rider is a tiny, local company situated only in San Jose. The website is easy with third-party insurance within the pricing. This has because been remedied, despite the fact that at the start of this study, the pricing had not been up to date. vehicle rental operator sticks out by having only good reviews and so is extremely recommended by journey forum users. Owner, Thorsten, replies within the hour to inquiries during business office hours.
U.S. Telephone Number: 1-917-477-7712
Child Chair: $5/day
GPS Method: $8/day
Overall Conclusion
Clarity
Adobe, Support, Alamo, Vamos and National and Wilderness Rider provide complete and clear rates on the websites. The other vehicle rental operators have been less transparent with surcharges or taxation, such as airport taxation or sales taxation. Pricing on extra extras were not really easy to find, and Thrifty, Toyota and Avis needed to be contacted for these specifics.
Communication
It might seem wise to ask for a local number and ensure answers with the Costa Rica office in the international car lease operators, as global chat operators or those replying to emails, do not constantly seem 100% assured about local plans and may even give wrong information, although degrees of communication have increased since the first assessment.
To acquire full answers to concerns with a number of organizations, be prepared to exchange numerous emails: In order to offer a quotation, Economy and Budget were especially prone to this -- requesting plenty of information. It is not silly that members of personnel working in a second words may miss elements of an email, so provide questions in very clear and simple language.
Stay Chat on both your budget and Vamos internet sites mean information may be provided instantly and it is still documented, in contrast to a phone call.
Rates
The comparison previously mentioned shows that the rates between companies will depend on heavily on the automobile and season group being considered, instead of a clear cut selection between more or less pricey rental rates.
Consumers need to consider the prices of other items, including additional drivers or GPS system, and families will want to examine car seat rental prices. Wild Rider provides the first additional car owner for free, Vamos tend not to charge for any additional items, except the Gps navigation, and in general, the international firms have higher charges for these particular extras than the nearby companies.
So, who Do I Rent From?
It is actually clear that the community car rental operators are still trumping the major names in their openness and customer services when comparing their internet sites and online reviews. The rates has become more difficult to equate. That is the distinction from the previous level comparison from a few years ago.
, and Countrywide seem to rate nicely as international automobile rental operators.Alamo and Adobe It really is worth noting that National is the most pricey in high time of year for the intermediate group, yet the cheapest in low season. Alamo and Adobe are middle-positioned for pricing.
Is only based in San Jose and has a lot smaller fleet of automobiles, though wild Rider is exceptional in having zero poor reviews. Of the other local Vamos, Support and firms emerge well and Vamos' free additional additional items will appeal to price range-minded family members and travelers with young children. Service also provides these extras at low daily charges.
Last but Most certainly not Least...
You are willing to begin your research in your vacation car lease, armed with facts and able to recognize those rates that are just also good to be true, in case you have made it all the way through this short article! Have a wonderful (and affordable) vacation in stunning Costa Rica!
So now you know it all, what exactly are you waiting for? Get booking your leasing vehicle for an remarkable vacation that you'll remember for all the proper reasons.
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