Guidebook to Motor vehicle Rental Organizations in Costa Rica
Amount Comparisons for 2015
Car rental in Costa Rica is an opportunity to examine the distant seashores and tranquil corners of the breathtakingly beautiful nation. Journey without the limitations established by general public transport timetables and with independence in excess of team tours. For your unprepared traveler; even so, motor vehicle rental costs and providers generally is a impolite shock along with a blow to that trip finances.
Leasing a vehicle for the getaway will most likely be the most costly component of one's funds, so being familiar with the terms and handling expectations is vital. The data down below is not meant for being an exhaustive guide, but it surely should set you on the path in direction of an knowledgeable final decision for your automobile rental needs in Costa Rica.
Why is vehicle rental so pricey?
Website visitors from beyond Costa Rica will often be astonished by the cost of vehicle rental. Although resort rooms, cafe costs and excursions are lessen than the prices paid at your home, it might look Peculiar that car or truck rental need to be extra costly.
There are two easy causes for this large Value:
All cars in Costa Rica are imported and also a tax is imposed. As a consequence of this major taxation, the cost of purchasing a vehicle is greater than it would be in other industrialized nations. There are several automobile rental operators who lease older autos in an effort to lessen their charges.
The price of obligatory insurance plan (see underneath).
Components that Have an impact on Car or truck Rental Prices
• Required Coverage
3rd-occasion insurance plan, which can be often known as TPI, PDW (Partial Problems Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Legal responsibility Insurance coverage) as well as other acronyms, is really a legal requirement. Car rental operators must demand The shopper for this protection which might or might not be crystal clear while in the quotation gained by The client.
The insurance policy by itself is not the concern. In any case, many other countries need car renters to pay a compulsory coverage; which include: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, in addition to a amount of the U.S. states, like California. The difficulty that causes contention in Costa Rica is this Expense will not be always displayed Plainly on the vehicle rental operator's website or within a quote. Shoppers then learn the additional Charge in their rental upon arrival.
The cost of mandatory insurance may differ from corporation to corporation and can rely on the car classification that may be staying rented at the same time. The fee for a small sedan may be as minimal as $twelve daily, whereas a premium 4x4 auto may very well be up to $25 for insurance coverage on a daily basis. This is certainly Together with the rental Expense.
Credit cards in North The us commonly offer you automobile insurance as yet another perk on the bank card holder and so North People in america especially, are unused to needing to purchase insurance in addition to rental charges. Nonetheless, no credit card will deal with this insurance policies necessity.
Do talk to If your provided quote features 3rd-celebration coverage and Test the prices on the car rental operator's Web page.
• Collision Injury Waiver
This is not insurance plan, but a waiver. The fundamental level will have a deductible that differs, but could be just as much as $1,500. For an increased everyday rate, a zero deductible CDW can be obtained to relieve the renter of any money duty in the event of harm to, or theft thereof, the car.
Lots of renters will get their CDW through their charge card. Nonetheless, it is worthy of noting that the obligation for producing any insurance assert is on the customer instead of With all the car rental operator. Some renters may well select to invest in added in-house protection to prevent acquiring this duty.
There'll be automobile rental agencies which challenging sell their unique coverage designs by means of guaranteeing peace of mind, but eventually, this is the renter's conclusion. It truly is worth remembering that auto rental company personnel, like in other parts of the earth, will occasionally gain commission for insurance plan revenue.
If The shopper's credit card would not supply CDW, The shopper will likely be demanded to buy this in-dwelling coverage.
Car or truck rental operators need published proof that The client's charge card gives CDW. Talk to the car rental operator for the precise details of the things they require and in what variety. Some might acknowledge a forwarded email through the charge card organization, but Some others might request a printed copy for being introduced at the time of rental.
• Deposit
The deposit volume required will depend upon irrespective of whether the customer chooses to make use of the car rental operator's in-residence CDW or can take this coverage by way of a charge card. Anticipate to pay for a A great deal larger deposit If your in-house CDW is declined. The deposit can also count on vehicle design rented. This amount of money, that will be held about the renter's charge card till the tip of your rental time period, might be from $750 nearly around $three,five hundred. The deposit should take no more than five times to become refunded to your bank card on the automobile's return. Some motor vehicle rental businesses will take debit cards for deposit keep, however the return time for this sum normally takes months.
Do be sure that the deposit is calculated inside the holiday vacation price range being an sudden keep of a few thousand pounds on a charge card could normally seriously Reduce into getaway paying out.
• Airport Taxes
Customers that rent from the car or truck rental operator's counter within an airport developing are obliged to pay the airport tax.
All those motor vehicle rental operators having a counter at San Jose's Juan Santamaria Worldwide Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/Nationwide, Finances, Greenback, Economic climate and Hertz. These organizations will insert yet another 12% tax towards the rental Expense.
People motor vehicle rental operators with a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) are: Avis, Price range and Financial system. These corporations will increase an additional 3% tax on the rental Charge.
To stay away from this tax, take an airport shuttle Using the automobile rental operator to an Business office Found beyond the airport grounds.
• Surcharges and Other Taxes
There are a number of other obligatory charges that automobile rental operators may possibly insert into your rental Price tag, display on-screen or display inside the estimate, or depart undisclosed right up until The shopper's arrival. These most likely concealed prices may seem little when viewed individually, but these are usually everyday charges, so they're going to insert up rapid!
These may well include things like:
• License Plate Rate: Fewer than $two day by day, but differs from company to company.
• Environmental Tax: Less than $1 daily.
• Revenue Tax: All revenue transactions in Costa Rica are subjected to some 12% authorities-imposed revenue tax.
• Vehicle Washing Payment: Deliver back an exceptionally dirty vehicle and also the cleaning fee might be added onto the final payment. One motor vehicle rental operator rates $twenty for this extra assistance.
• Gasoline Prices: If your gas tank is just not crammed to precisely the same degree as it had been At first in the rental time period, then the car rental business will charge (usually to the closest eighth of the tank). This demand is dictated by the vehicle rental operator and It's not at all matter for the governmentally set fuel cost that would be found at any fuel station.
Wherever Really should I Reserve the Motor vehicle?
A typical confusion for vacationers booking a rental car is the discrepancy concerning Intercontinental Internet websites for auto rental operators as well as the Costa Rican Site for the same brand. Frequently the Intercontinental Internet websites are unaware of, or fall short to disclose, insurances, taxes and surcharges which will be charged within the counter. This can be on account of The reality that several recognized car rental operator models in Costa Rica are certainly not a international branch of the branded motor vehicle rental operator, but as a substitute can be a franchise operation. This aspect is also truly worth thinking of regarding expectations concerning customer care together with other finer information. The Costa Rican franchise Place of work may have their own variety of running, aside from the same insurance policies and tips that The client may have professional in other portions of the entire world.
Understandably then, an online reservation is most effective manufactured with the nearby Web-site rather than the international website, wherever attainable. Quite a few corporations don't have an area Site. In this instance, do Verify the main points with an area team member via the telephone and ask for penned confirmation of the quote. Practical experience with Dwell chat on the Global Internet sites suggests that While employees is properly trained on stipulations governing the primary Business (normally U.S.A.); they understand very little in the insurance policies that have to be adhered to in Costa Rica.
Vehicle Rental Comparisons
In May well/June of 2013, I in comparison the pricing and services of quite a few vehicle rental operators in Costa Rica and posted the results. To my shock, the write-up is still currently being plagiarized frequently throughout the web which implies that it is continue to beneficial and so an update was required. The costs for this comparison were received in December 2014 and January 2015.
The ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism) states that there are 30 registered car rental operators with 8 others pending acceptance. Nevertheless, there are several much more organizations that rent cars and trucks to site visitors. The vehicle rental operators selected are All those that are most often used by vacationers:
Adobe
Alamo
Avis
Spending budget
Greenback
Economy
Fox
Hertz
Nationwide
Payless
Service
Thrifty
Toyota
USave
Vamos
Wild Rider
Exclusion of Firms from Final Comparison
Price range, Economy, Payless, and Toyota have been contacted, but these 4 organizations didn't offer precise online costs. Economy and Funds's Web-sites have a single rate, regardless of the dates entered and shoppers need to reserve a auto in order for them to honor the cost shown. Toyota's Site was regretably only Operating up until eventually March. Beyond that, the pricing shown $0 for the rest from the 12 months. Payless has this disclaimer on their own Web site: "Taxes and surcharges are certainly not within our Management and could alter all at once."
Sending unique inquiries for each period of time resulted in inconsistent results: Price range made available the same value for all a few investigated time periods when getting an e mail request, which is highly not likely; Financial state responded with various prices for a similar dates from various associates of staff members; and Toyota's emailed quotes for time intervals earlier March's prices indicated on the internet didn't correspond into the March prices quoted (perhaps the emailed quotations contained taxes which were not shown on the web). Payless can offer quotes by way of e mail and phone, but were not in line with pricing for various seasons.
Avis is barely excluded from the price comparison, as they do not have an intermediate SUV class inside their fleet.
Comparison Information and facts
Vehicle rental fee, all taxes and surcharges, and 3rd-celebration insurance policy expenditures are (supposedly) calculated and rated accordingly beneath determined by the 7 days's rental of the BeGo or comparable intermediate 4x4 from a San Jose/Alajuela spot (not with the airport).
Rates are calculated on the weekly basis and divided by 7 to deliver a day by day Price which can be far more quickly similar. As not all pricing is totally clear, the costs are as accurate as you possibly can determined by the data delivered from the vehicle rental operators' Internet sites, mobile phone phone calls, and/or e-mail. Airport taxes are not included in these figures.
Shoulder Period (Estimate for July 13 by way of twenty)
one. USave $forty three.37
two. Service $54.92
3. Fox $fifty five.sixty four
four. Hertz $fifty eight.seventeen
five. Adobe $60.13
6. Alamo $60.99
seven. Wild Rider $sixty two.86
eight. Greenback $sixty three.35
nine. Vamos $64.15
10. National $67.04
11. Thrifty $seventy four.39
Very low Time (Quotation for May 13 via 20)
1. Nationwide $37.04
2. USave $forty three.37
three. Greenback $forty six.forty nine
four. Adobe $fifty two.fifty seven
5. Vamos $53.15
6. Services $53.49
7. Hertz $fifty four.fifty nine
eight. Fox $fifty five.sixty four
nine. Wild Rider $fifty five.seventy one
ten. Alamo $sixty.ninety nine
eleven. Thrifty $74.39
Large Period (Quotation for March thirteen through twenty)
one. Greenback $55.92
2. USave $56.22
3. Hertz $56.37
4. Fox $fifty nine.36
5. Thrifty $64.sixty nine
six. Assistance $sixty six.sixty three
seven. Vamos $sixty seven.14
eight. Alamo $sixty nine.fifty six
nine. Wild Rider $70.00
ten. Adobe $70.sixty three
11. National $73.90
Summary of Comparison
Interestingly, There's not a single obvious high priced or affordable enterprise from Those people as opposed. The variation in position between seasons is marked and customers should think about their holiday dates when choosing the car rental operator. For instance, Thrifty appears as the most costly for both reduced and shoulder season, but are only in fourth position within the rankings for High Season.
It is also significant that pricing is not consistent with ranking with motor vehicle rental operators in other car types. Such as, Vamos' pricing is The most cost effective for your quality car or truck from the shoulder year; Despite the fact that they aren't very first in any rankings for your intermediate category and Adobe which appears aggressive are the most costly for this time frame and car or truck group.
Info on Automobile Rental Operators
Adobe Rent-A-Vehicle is a local motor vehicle rental operator which includes eleven places of work across the nation. The website is easy and simple to use with no apparent concealed expenditures. The obligatory insurance policies Expense is displayed as A part of the online quotation. The corporate gets combined critiques online, but more favourable than detrimental responses are made. Emails receive a reply in just 24 several hours, but might not totally answer the thoughts questioned.
Toll-Cost-free Telephone number: 1-855-861-1250
Child Seat: $three/working day
Booster: $1/day
Supplemental Driver: $three/day
GPS Method: $9/working day
Alamo will work in partnership with Nationwide and has 13 places of work across the country. As with many major names, Alamo Costa Rica can be a franchise and never a branch of Alamo alone. 3rd-social gathering insurance policy and fundamental CDW are A part of the net quotation, although the CDW may be refused on presentation of evidence of coverage through The shopper's bank card. This tends to make the pricing seem significant on 1st glance, specially when, contrary to other automobile rental operators, Alamo consists of airport taxes of their on the web quotation and so their pricing is truthful, but appears Substantially larger than other businesses Subsequently. Pricing differs around the Intercontinental Internet site of the organization, although the conditions and terms do condition the fees that could be paid out on arrival. This pricing discrepancy is the guide reason for negative opinions for this organization. Emails are responded to within just 24 hrs.
Toll-Free Cell phone number: 1-855-533-1196
Boy or girl Seat: $three/day
More Driver: $6/working day
GPS Technique: $12/working day
Avis' Site obliges a person to pick out an automobile security alternative, but it fails to Exhibit a last quotation full or price tag for the protection selected on line right up until an emailed quote is distributed. Coverage expenditures could be attained by clicking on the option 'Protections Explained' at The underside from the monitor.
No Toll-Free of charge Contact number
Youngster Seat: $5/working day
Additional Driver: $five/day
GPS Procedure: $9.ninety nine/day
Spending plan has an internet site that may be user friendly, but the pricing presented is as exactly the same for all seasons, suggesting that it's not right. E mail responses had been Commonly quick, but some were being left unanswered. Emailed quotations showed the exact same pricing for all seasons as the website did. Obligatory insurance coverage will not be integrated on the web quote, even so the small print states this is payable at the counter. Funds gets combined on line evaluations.
No Toll-Absolutely free Telephone number, but Stay Chat is offered
Little one Seat: $five/day
More Driver: $5/working day
GPS System: $14.ninety nine/day
Greenback appears to get pretty competitive premiums, but airport taxes will be utilized Should the automobile is staying collected through the airport's counters. A person could come across this in their stipulations, although not within their on the net quotes. Automobile washing demand is enforced for extremely soiled motor vehicles. There are actually four places of work in Liberia and San Jose. Email reaction is inside rent car in london 24 hrs. Dollar receives mixed opinions from on the net travel community forums.
Toll-Absolutely free Phone Number: 1-877-767-8651
Baby Seat: $5/day
Further Driver: $five/day
GPS Technique: $9/day
Financial system has twelve places of work across the place. They may have no Costa Rican Web site. Scroll down on their own web site to locate and click on insurance plan costs. Airport taxes usually are not A part of the quotation. Emails obtain possibly A fast response or no response in the least. Economy has the worst on the internet status of any significant name automobile rental operator in Costa Rica.
Toll-Absolutely free Contact number: 1-877-326-7368
Youngster Seat: $ten/working day
Additional Driver: $10/day
GPS Process: $fifteen/day
Fox operates in partnership with USave. Workplaces can be found at both of those international airports. Email messages get a reaction in just 24 hours. On the internet testimonials are frequently poor.
Toll-Totally free Telephone number: one-800-225-4369
Boy or girl Seat: $5/day
Further Driver: $10/working day (Except wife or husband)
GPS Method: $9.99/working day
Hertz has 6 places of work in the nation. Reservations could be manufactured via a Costa Rican Web-site. Initial on-line estimate isn't going to include things like gross sales taxes, but it does consist of the CDW -- Though CDW could possibly be waived with evidence of charge card protection. E-mail get a response inside 24 hours. Mediocre evaluations on journey message boards.
No Toll-No cost Contact number
Child Seat: $5/day
Further Driver: $13/day
GPS Technique: $twelve/working day
Countrywide will work in partnership with Alamo and it has 30 places of work in operation across the country. The company features a Central American Web site, in addition to the Worldwide internet site, which Plainly demonstrates the breakdown of pricing. CDW is A part of the web quotation, but it could be unchecked to secure a quotation with just the required coverage. Take note which the airport tax is A part of the web quotation in addition. Instant responses to questions are available through Live Chat on their website. Reviews are combined, but you'll find a lot more optimistic than damaging.
Free of charge Cellphone Get in touch with Alternative Through Site
Youngster Seat: $6/day
Booster: $6/day
Additional Driver: $5/working day
GPS Procedure: $twelve/working day
Payless is an element with the Global auto rental firm and has no Costa Rican Site. On the internet rates don't consist of third-party insurance, Whilst the data on This can be located by looking through the guidelines for your San Jose place. Emails receive a reaction in a lot less than 24 several hours, but are likely to refer back again to the website, instead of new info. Reviews tend to be more detrimental than beneficial.
Toll-Cost-free Telephone number: 1-800-PAYLESS
Child Seat: $five/working day
Booster: $five/day
Extra Driver: $10/working day
GPS Process: $nine.95/day
Service is an area corporation with five offices in the state. On an usually obvious Site, click on 'Reserve Now' and not 'Receive a Estimate' for a web-based cost check. Rember is definitely the staff members member described in evaluations on travel Discussion board for his handy customer support and the organization generally receives very good evaluations. Emails are answered in just 24 hrs and Typically provide asked for data.
U.S. Telephone number: 1-305-897-3718
Boy or girl Seat: $three.50/working day
More Driver: $3/day
GPS Procedure: $seven.50/day
Thrifty doesn't have a neighborhood Web site, So facts is throughout the international Web-site. Protection choices or information and facts pertaining to third-party coverage is just not supplied over the reservation webpage right up until a single clicks 'Protection Facts'. Email messages get a reaction inside 24 several hours, but might not solution locale-distinct concerns. Assessments are usually unfavorable as a consequence of pricing issues.
Toll-Totally free Contact number: 1-800-344-1705
Child Seat: $five/day
Booster: $five/day
Supplemental Driver: $twelve/day
GPS Process: $11.ninety nine/day
Toyota is a big identify; nonetheless, Regardless that their Internet site appears Qualified in the beginning look, it basically doesn't get the job done, or at the very least it wasn't operating in order to get hold of quotations later than March 2015. Their on line rates do not incorporate sales taxes. E-mails receive rapid responses, but estimates for various seasons seemed to be contradictory. Having said that, Toyota has an excellent standing on journey forums. Eight offices are located across the nation.
Free of charge Phone Phone Option Through Website
Little one Seat: $5/day
Cooler: $one.50/working day
Further Driver: $three/day
GPS Process: $10/working day
USave works in partnership with Fox and it has a few Place of work destinations. Insurance policy solutions are proven for the web quote, but it surely should be chosen and 'recalculate' pressed, before it truly is A part of the pricing. Email messages get a response in 24 hours. The business acquire All round lousy critiques, While there are a few constructive comments created on vacation discussion boards.
Toll-Cost-free Phone Number: 1-800-467-3659
Baby Seat: $5/day
More Driver: $10/working day
GPS Procedure: $9.ninety five/working day
Vamos is a local firm that is a well-liked choice for Excursion Advisor and Lonely World professionals as a consequence of their customer support and pricing. The website is easy to use with itemized fees Evidently exhibited. The Dwell Chat possibility allows prompt personalized prices and responses from English-Talking team. The corporate has a few workplaces.
Toll-Cost-free Cell phone number: 1-800-950-8426
Youngster Seat: cost-free
Booster: no cost
Supplemental Driver: absolutely free
GPS Technique: $8/day
Wild Rider is a little, nearby business Found only in San Jose. The website is simple with 3rd-celebration insurance included in the pricing. Firstly of the exploration, the pricing wasn't updated, but this has because been remedied. This car rental operator stands out by owning only beneficial testimonials and so is extremely suggested by vacation Discussion board customers. Proprietor, Thorsten, replies in the hour to inquiries all through Workplace hrs.
U.S. Cell phone number: one-917-477-7712
Boy or girl Seat: $5/day
GPS Technique: $eight/working day
Overall Summary
Clarity
Adobe, Alamo, National, Provider, Vamos, and Wild Rider present apparent and complete charges on their own Internet websites. One other car rental operators had been considerably less clear with surcharges or taxes, for instance airport taxes or gross sales taxes. Pricing on additional extras were not often effortless to search out, and Avis, Thrifty and Toyota needed to be contacted for these details.
Communication
Levels of conversation have enhanced due to the fact the main comparison, even though it would seem wise to request a neighborhood amount and make sure responses Along with the Costa Rica Business of the international vehicle rental operators, as Worldwide chat operators or People replying to e-mails, will not generally feel a hundred% confident about local policies and may even give incorrect info.
Be prepared to exchange several e-mails in an effort to get whole responses to issues with many providers: Spending plan and Economy were particularly prone to this -- requesting a great deal of information to be able to give a quotation. It isn't unreasonable that associates of employees Operating inside a second language might skip elements of an e-mail, so present concerns in distinct and simple language.
Live Chat on both the Budget and Vamos websites mean information can be provided right away and remains documented, compared with a cell phone simply call.
Pricing
The comparison earlier mentioned demonstrates the pricing amongst firms is dependent seriously around the season and car category remaining thought of, in lieu of a transparent Minimize selection among much more or less expensive rental rates.
Prospects should look at the pricing of other objects, for example further drivers or GPS system, and people will want to match auto seat rental pricing. Wild Rider gives the very first extra driver for free, Vamos never demand for almost any extras, besides the GPS, and generally, the international corporations have increased expenses for these extras compared to the local providers.
So Who Do I Hire From?
It is obvious that the local motor vehicle rental operators remain trumping the large names in their transparency and customer care when evaluating their Internet sites and on-line reviews. The primary difference through the earlier price comparison from two or three yrs in the past is that the pricing happens to be tougher to equate.
Adobe, Alamo, and Nationwide seem to level properly as Worldwide car rental operators. It is actually value noting that National is the most costly in significant period for the intermediate classification, nevertheless the cheapest in low year. Adobe and Alamo are middle-ranked for pricing.
Wild Rider is outstanding in possessing zero bad assessments, but is simply based in San Jose and it has a Considerably smaller sized fleet of motor vehicles. Of the opposite nearby corporations, Provider and Vamos arrive out perfectly and Vamos' cost-free further extras will attract funds-minded travelers and people with younger kids. Company also offers these extras at low each day charges.