Guide to Car Rental Companies in Costa Rica
Rate Comparisons for 2015
Car rental in Costa Rica is a chance to discover the distant seashores and quiet corners of this breathtakingly lovely nation. Travel with out the restrictions set by public transport timetables and with freedom over group excursions. For the unprepared traveler; nevertheless, automobile rental prices and companies could be a impolite shock and a blow to that trip funds.
Renting a automobile to your trip will most likely be the costliest a part of your funds, so understanding the phrases and managing expectations is essential. The info under shouldn't be meant to be an exhaustive guide, however it ought to set you on the trail in the direction of an knowledgeable resolution to your automobile rental wants in Costa Rica.
Why is automobile rental so costly?
Visitors from outdoors of Costa Rica are sometimes stunned by the price of automobile rental. While resort rooms, restaurant payments and excursions are decrease than the costs paid at residence, it might seem unusual that automobile rental must be extra pricey.
There are two easy causes for this excessive value:
- All automobiles in Costa Rica are imported and a tax is imposed. Due to this heavy taxation, the price of buying a automobile is increased than it will be in different industrialized international locations. There are some automobile rental operators who lease older automobiles as a way to scale back their prices.
- The value of necessary insurance coverage (see under).
Factors that Affect Car Rental Costs
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Mandatory Insurance
Third-party insurance coverage, which can be generally known as TPI, PDW (Partial Damage Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance) and different acronyms, is a authorized requirement. Car rental operators should cost the shopper for this protection which can or will not be clear within the citation obtained by the shopper.
The insurance coverage itself shouldn't be the difficulty. After all, many different international locations require automobile renters to pay a compulsory insurance coverage; together with: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, in addition to quite a lot of the U.S. states, like California. The problem that causes competition in Costa Rica is that this value shouldn't be at all times displayed clearly on the automobile rental operator's web site or in a quote. Customers then uncover the extra value of their rental upon arrival.
The value of necessary insurance coverage varies from firm to firm and can depend upon the automobile class that's being rented as effectively. The value for a small sedan could also be as little as $12 per day, whereas a premium 4x4 automobile might be as a lot as $25 for insurance coverage per day. This is along with the rental value.
Credit playing cards in North America normally supply automobile insurance coverage as a further perk to the bank card holder and so North Americans particularly, are unused to having to pay for insurance coverage on prime of rental prices. However, no bank card will cowl this insurance coverage requirement.
Do ask if the given quote contains third-party insurance coverage and verify the costs on the automobile rental operator's web site.
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Collision Damage Waiver
This shouldn't be insurance coverage, however a waiver. The primary degree will include a deductible that varies, however might be as a lot as $1,500. For the next each day fee, a zero deductible CDW could also be bought to alleviate the renter of any monetary duty in case of harm to, or theft thereof, the automobile.
Many renters will receive their CDW by means of their bank card. However, it's price noting that the duty for making any insurance coverage declare is on the shopper and never with the automobile rental operator. Some renters might select to buy further in-house protection to keep away from having this duty.
There will likely be automobile rental companies which onerous promote their very own protection plans by means of guaranteeing peace of thoughts, however finally, that is the renter's resolution. It is price remembering that automobile rental firm workers, like in different components of the world, will generally earn fee for insurance coverage gross sales.
If the shopper's bank card doesn't present CDW, the shopper will likely be required to buy this in-house protection.
Car rental operators require written proof that the shopper's bank card offers CDW. Ask the automobile rental operator for the precise particulars of what they require and in what kind. Some might settle for a forwarded e-mail from the bank card firm, however others might ask for a printed copy to be offered on the time of rental.
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Deposit
The deposit quantity required will depend upon whether or not the shopper chooses to make use of the automobile rental operator's in-house CDW or takes this protection by means of a bank card. Expect to pay a a lot increased deposit if the in-house CDW is declined. The deposit can also depend upon automobile mannequin rented. This quantity, which will likely be held on the renter's bank card till the tip of the rental interval, may be from $750 as much as as a lot as $3,500. The deposit ought to take not more than 5 days to be refunded to the bank card on the automobile's return. Some automobile rental companies will settle for debit playing cards for deposit maintain, however the return time for this quantity can take weeks.
Do be sure that the deposit is calculated within the trip funds as an sudden maintain of some thousand {dollars} on a bank card may in any other case severely lower into trip spending.
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Airport Taxes
Customers that lease from a automobile rental operator's counter inside an airport constructing are obliged to pay the airport tax.
Those automobile rental operators with a counter at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/National, Budget, Dollar, Economy and Hertz. These corporations will add a further 12% tax to the rental value.
Those automobile rental operators with a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) are: Avis, Budget and Economy. These corporations will add a further 3% tax to the rental value.
To keep away from this tax, take an airport shuttle with the automobile rental operator to an workplace situated outdoors of the airport grounds.
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Surcharges and Other Taxes
There are quite a lot of different compulsory charges that automobile rental operators might add into the rental value, show on-screen or present within the quote, or depart undisclosed till the shopper's arrival. These doubtlessly hidden prices could seem small when considered individually, however these are usually each day charges, so they are going to add up quick!
These might embrace:
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License Plate Fee
: Less than $2 each day, however differs from firm to firm.•
Environmental Tax
: Less than $1 each day.•
Sales Tax
: All gross sales transactions in Costa Rica are subjected to a 12% government-imposed gross sales tax.•
Car Washing Fee
: Bring again an exceptionally soiled automobile and the cleansing price could also be added onto the ultimate fee. One automobile rental operator costs $20 for this extra service.•
Fuel Charges
: If the gas tank shouldn't be crammed to the identical degree because it was in the beginning of the rental interval, then the automobile rental firm will cost (normally to the closest eighth of a tank). This cost is dictated by the automobile rental operator and it isn't topic to the governmentally set gas value that may be discovered at any fuel station.Where Should I Reserve the Vehicle?
A standard confusion for vacationers reserving a rental automobile is the discrepancy between worldwide web sites for automobile rental operators and the Costa Rican web site for a similar model. Frequently the worldwide web sites are unaware of, or fail to reveal, insurances, taxes and surcharges that will likely be charged on the counter. This could also be resulting from the truth that many acknowledged automobile rental operator manufacturers in Costa Rica will not be a international department of the branded automobile rental operator, however as an alternative are a franchise operation. This issue can also be price contemplating when it comes to expectations regarding customer support and different finer particulars. The Costa Rican franchise workplace might have their very own type of working, other than the identical insurance policies and pointers that the shopper might have skilled in different components of the world.
Understandably then, an internet reservation is finest made by means of the native web site and never the worldwide website, wherever doable. Various corporations wouldn't have an area web site. In this case, do verify the small print with an area employees member through the phone and ask for written affirmation of the quote. Experience with dwell chat on the worldwide web sites means that whereas employees is educated on phrases and situations governing the primary workplace (normally U.S.A.); they perceive little of the insurance policies that have to be adhered to in Costa Rica.
Car Rental Comparisons
In May/June of 2013, I in contrast the pricing and companies of quite a lot of automobile rental operators in Costa Rica and revealed the findings. To my shock, the article remains to be being plagiarized repeatedly throughout the Internet which means that it's nonetheless helpful and so an replace was required. The costs for this comparability have been obtained in December 2014 and January 2015.
The ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism) states that there are thirty registered automobile rental operators with eight others pending approval. However, there are a lot of extra companies that lease automobiles to guests. The automobile rental operators chosen are these that are most often utilized by vacationers:
Adobe
Alamo
Avis
Budget
Dollar
Economy
Fox
Hertz
National
Payless
Service
Thrifty
Toyota
USave
Vamos
Wild Rider
Exclusion of Companies from Final Comparison
Budget, Economy, Payless, and Toyota have been contacted, however these 4 corporations didn't present correct on-line charges. Economy and Budget's web sites have one value, whatever the dates entered and clients want to order a automobile to ensure that them to honor the value proven. Toyota's web site was sadly solely working up till March. Beyond that, the pricing displayed $zero for the rest of the yr. Payless has this disclaimer on their web site: "Taxes and surcharges are not within our control and may change without notice."
Sending particular person inquiries for every time interval resulted in inconsistent outcomes: Budget supplied the identical value for all three investigated time intervals when receiving an e-mail request, which is very unlikely; Economy responded with completely different quotes for a similar dates from completely different members of employees; and Toyota's emailed quotes for time intervals previous March's costs indicated on-line didn't correspond to the March charges quoted (maybe the emailed quotes contained taxes that weren't proven on-line). Payless can present quotes through e-mail and phone, however weren't in keeping with pricing for various seasons.
Avis is just excluded from the value comparability, as they don't have an intermediate SUV class of their fleet.
Comparison Information
Car rental fee, all taxes and surcharges, and third-party insurance coverage prices are (supposedly) calculated and ranked accordingly under based mostly on the week's rental of a BeGo or related intermediate 4x4 from a San Jose/Alajuela location (not from the airport).
Rates are calculated on a weekly foundation and divided by seven to offer a each day value which is extra simply comparable. As not all pricing is totally clear, the costs are as correct as doable based mostly on the data supplied from the automobile rental operators' web sites, cellphone calls, and/or emails. Airport taxes will not be included in these figures.
Shoulder Season (Quote for July 13 by means of 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. Wild Rider $62.86
8. Dollar $63.35
9. Vamos $64.15
10. National $67.04
11. Thrifty $74.39
Low Season (Quote for May 13 by means of 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 Season (Quote for March 13 by means of 20)
1. Dollar $55.92
2. USave $56.22
3. Hertz $56.37
4. Fox $59.36
5. Thrifty $64.69
6. Service $66.63
7. Vamos $67.14
8. Alamo $69.56
9. Wild Rider $70.00
10. Adobe $70.63
11. National $73.90
Summary of Comparison
Interestingly, there's not one clear costly or low cost firm from these in contrast. The variation in rating between seasons is marked and clients ought to contemplate their trip dates when selecting the automobile rental operator. For instance, Thrifty seems as the costliest for each low and shoulder season, however are solely in fourth place within the rankings for High Season.
It can also be vital that pricing shouldn't be in keeping with rating with automobile rental operators in different automobile classes. For instance, Vamos' pricing is the most affordable for a premium automobile within the shoulder season; though they don't seem to be first in any rankings for the intermediate class and Adobe which seems aggressive are the costliest for this time interval and automobile class.
Information on Car Rental Operators
Adobe Rent-A-Car is an area automobile rental operator that has eleven workplaces throughout the nation. The web site is easy and simple to make use of with no obvious hidden prices. The necessary insurance coverage value is displayed as a part of the web quote. The firm receives blended critiques on-line, however extra constructive than unfavorable feedback are made. Emails obtain a reply inside 24 hours, however might not absolutely reply the questions requested.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-855-861-1250
Child Seat: $3/day
Booster: $1/day
Additional Driver: $3/day
GPS System: $9/day
Alamo works in partnership with National and has 13 workplaces throughout the nation. As with many huge names, Alamo Costa Rica is a franchise and never a department of Alamo itself. Third-party insurance coverage and primary CDW are included within the on-line citation, though the CDW could also be refused upon presentation of proof of protection by means of the shopper's bank card. This makes the pricing appear excessive on first look, particularly when, in contrast to different automobile rental operators, Alamo contains airport taxes of their on-line citation and so their pricing is sincere, however seems a lot increased than different corporations consequently. Pricing is completely different on the worldwide web site of the corporate, though the phrases and situations do state the charges that will likely be paid on arrival. This pricing discrepancy is the lead reason behind unfavorable critiques for this firm. Emails are responded to inside 24 hours.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-855-533-1196
Child Seat: $3/day
Additional Driver: $6/day
GPS System: $12/day
Avis' web site obliges one to pick a automobile safety choice, however it fails to show a ultimate citation whole or value for the protection chosen on-line till an emailed quote is distributed. Coverage prices could also be obtained by clicking on the choice 'Protections Explained' on the backside of the display.
No Toll-Free Phone Number
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $5/day
GPS System: $9.99/day
Budget has an internet site that's simple to make use of, however the pricing given is as the identical for all seasons, suggesting that it isn't right. Email responses have been usually quick, however some have been left unanswered. Emailed quotes confirmed the identical pricing for all seasons as the web site did. Mandatory insurance coverage shouldn't be included on the web quote, however the small print states that that is payable on the counter. Budget receives blended on-line critiques.
No Toll-Free Phone Number, however Live Chat is obtainable
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $5/day
GPS System: $14.99/day
Dollar seems to have very aggressive charges, however airport taxes will likely be utilized if the automobile is being collected from the airport's counters. One might discover this of their phrases and situations, however not of their on-line quotes. Car washing cost is enforced for very soiled automobiles. There are 4 workplaces in Liberia and San Jose. Email response is inside 24 hours. Dollar receives blended critiques from on-line journey boards.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-877-767-8651
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $5/day
GPS System: $9/day
Economy has twelve workplaces across the nation. They don't have any Costa Rican web site. Scroll down on their web page to seek out and click on on insurance coverage prices. Airport taxes will not be included within the quote. Emails obtain both a fast response or no response in any respect. Economy has the worst on-line popularity of any huge title automobile rental operator in Costa Rica.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-877-326-7368
Child Seat: $10/day
Additional Driver: $10/day
GPS System: $15/day
Fox works in partnership with USave. Offices are situated at each worldwide airports. Emails obtain a response inside 24 hours. Online critiques are typically poor.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-225-4369
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $10/day (until partner)
GPS System: $9.99/day
Hertz has six workplaces within the nation. Reservations could also be made by means of a Costa Rican web site. Initial on-line quote doesn't embrace gross sales taxes, however it does embrace the CDW -- though CDW could also be waived with proof of bank card protection. Emails obtain a response inside 24 hours. Mediocre critiques on journey boards.
No Toll-Free Phone Number
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $13/day
GPS System: $12/day
National works in partnership with Alamo and has thirty workplaces in operation throughout the nation. The firm has a Central American web site, in addition to the worldwide website, which clearly reveals the breakdown of pricing. CDW is included within the on-line quote, however it might be unchecked to get a quote with simply the necessary insurance coverage. Note that the airport tax is included within the on-line quote as effectively. Instant responses to questions can be found by means of Live Chat on their web site. Reviews are blended, however there are extra constructive than unfavorable.
Free Phone Call Option Via Website
Child Seat: $6/day
Booster: $6/day
Additional Driver: $5/day
GPS System: $12/day
Payless is a part of the worldwide automobile rental firm and has no Costa Rican web site. Online quotes don't embrace third-party insurance coverage, though the data on this can be discovered by studying the insurance policies for the San Jose location. Emails obtain a response in lower than 24 hours, however are likely to refer again to the web site, moderately than new info. Reviews are extra unfavorable than constructive.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-PAYLESS
Child Seat: $5/day
Booster: $5/day
Additional Driver: $10/day
GPS System: $9.95/day
Service is an area firm with 5 workplaces within the nation. On an in any other case clear web site, click on on 'Reserve Now' and never 'Get a Quote' for an internet value verify. Rember is the employees member talked about in critiques on journey discussion board for his useful customer support and the corporate typically will get good critiques. Emails are answered inside 24 hours and usually present requested info.
U.S. Phone Number: 1-305-897-3718
Child Seat: $3.50/day
Additional Driver: $3/day
GPS System: $7.50/day
Thrifty doesn't have an area web site, thus info is thru the worldwide web site. Coverage choices or info concerning third-party insurance coverage shouldn't be supplied on the reservation webpage till one clicks 'Protection Information'. Emails obtain a response inside 24 hours, however might not reply location-specific questions. Reviews are often unfavorable resulting from pricing complaints.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-344-1705
Child Seat: $5/day
Booster: $5/day
Additional Driver: $12/day
GPS System: $11.99/day
Toyota is a giant title; nevertheless, though their web site seems skilled at first look, it merely doesn't work, or at the least it was not functioning as a way to receive quotations later than March 2015. Their on-line quotes don't embrace gross sales taxes. Emails obtain quick responses, however quotes for various seasons gave the impression to be contradictory. However, Toyota has a very good popularity on journey boards. Eight workplaces are situated throughout the nation.
Free Phone Call Option Via Website
Child Seat: $5/day
Cooler: $1.50/day
Additional Driver: $3/day
GPS System: $10/day
USave works in partnership with Fox and has three workplace areas. Insurance choices are proven for the web quote, however it have to be chosen and 'recalculate' pressed, earlier than it's included within the pricing. Emails obtain a response inside 24 hours. The firm obtain general poor critiques, though there are some constructive feedback made on journey boards.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-467-3659
Child Seat: $5/day
Additional Driver: $10/day
GPS System: $9.95/day
Vamos is an area firm that could be a in style alternative for Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet consultants due to their customer support and pricing. The web site is simple to make use of with itemized costs clearly displayed. The Live Chat choice permits instantaneous personalised quotes and solutions from English-speaking employees. The firm has three workplaces.
Toll-Free Phone Number: 1-800-950-8426
Child Seat: free
Booster: free
Additional Driver: free
GPS System: $8/day
Wild Rider is a small, native firm situated solely in San Jose. The web site is easy with third-party insurance coverage included within the pricing. At the beginning of this analysis, the pricing was not updated, however this has since been remedied. This automobile rental operator stands out by having solely constructive critiques and so is very really helpful by journey discussion board customers. Owner, Thorsten, replies inside the hour to inquiries throughout workplace hours.
U.S. Phone Number: 1-917-477-7712
Child Seat: $5/day
GPS System: $8/day
Overall Summary
Clarity
Adobe, Alamo, National, Service, Vamos, and Wild Rider present clear and full charges on their web sites. The different automobile rental operators have been much less clear with surcharges or taxes, similar to airport taxes or gross sales taxes. Pricing on further extras weren't at all times simple to seek out, and Avis, Thrifty and Toyota needed to be contacted for these particulars.
Communication
Levels of communication have improved for the reason that first comparability, though it will appear smart to request an area quantity and ensure solutions with the Costa Rica workplace of the worldwide automobile rental operators, as worldwide chat operators or these replying to emails, don't at all times appear 100% assured about native insurance policies and will even give incorrect info.
Be ready to change quite a lot of emails as a way to get full solutions to questions with quite a lot of corporations: Budget and Economy have been significantly susceptible to this -- requesting numerous info as a way to give a citation. It shouldn't be unreasonable that members of employees working in a second language might miss points of an e-mail, so current questions in clear and easy language.
Live Chat on each the Budget and Vamos web sites imply info may be supplied immediately and remains to be documented, in contrast to a cellphone name.
Pricing
The comparability above reveals that the pricing between corporations relies upon closely on the season and automobile class being thought of, moderately than a transparent lower alternative between roughly costly rental charges.
Customers want to think about the pricing of different objects, similar to further drivers or GPS system, and households will need to examine automobile seat rental pricing. Wild Rider presents the primary further driver totally free, Vamos don't cost for any extras, besides the GPS, and basically, the worldwide corporations have increased costs for these extras than the native corporations.
So Who Do I Rent From?
It is obvious that the native automobile rental operators are nonetheless trumping the large names of their transparency and customer support when evaluating their web sites and on-line critiques. The distinction from the earlier fee comparability from a few years in the past is that the pricing has turn out to be tougher to equate.
Adobe, Alamo, and National appear to fee effectively as worldwide automobile rental operators. It is price noting that National is the costliest in excessive season for the intermediate class, but the most affordable in off-season. Adobe and Alamo are middle-ranked for pricing.
Wild Rider is phenomenal in having zero dangerous critiques, however is just based mostly in San Jose and has a a lot smaller fleet of automobiles. Of the opposite native corporations, Service and Vamos come out effectively and Vamos' free further extras will attraction to budget-minded vacationers and households with younger youngsters. Service additionally presents these extras at low each day charges.
Last however Certainly not Least...
If you will have made it right through this text, then you are ready to start your analysis into your trip automobile rental, armed with details and able to acknowledge these costs which are simply too good to be true! Have an exquisite (and inexpensive) trip in lovely Costa Rica!
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