Manual to Car Rental Organizations in Costa Rica

Fee Comparisons for 2015

Auto rental in Costa Rica is an opportunity to explore the distant beach locations and silent corners of this breathtakingly wonderful country. Journey without the constraints set by community transportation timetables and with independence above group excursions. For the unprepared traveler; even so, auto rental expenses and products and services can be quite a rude shock plus a blow to that getaway spending budget.

Leasing a vehicle to your family vacation will most likely be the most costly aspect within your spending plan, so knowledge the conditions and running anticipations is essential. The data beneath isn't intended for being an exhaustive handbook, nevertheless it ought to set you on the path towards an informed choice for your automobile rental wants in Costa Rica.

Why is car rental so expensive?

People from outside of Costa Rica are frequently amazed by the expense of car rental. When resort rooms, restaurant expenses and tours are lower than the prices paid at your home, it might surface Peculiar that auto rental ought to be additional high priced.

There's two easy factors for this superior Price tag:

All cars in Costa Rica are imported and a tax is imposed. On account of this large taxation, the price of purchasing a car or truck is bigger than it would be in other industrialized nations. There are numerous car or truck rental operators who hire older motor vehicles so that you can cut down their expenses.

The cost of required coverage (see below).
Variables that Affect Automobile Rental Charges

• Obligatory Insurance plan

Third-social gathering insurance policies, which may be known as TPI, PDW (Partial Problems Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Liability Coverage) together with other acronyms, is often a lawful prerequisite. Vehicle rental operators should cost The client for this protection which might or might not be obvious during the quotation acquired by the customer.

The insurance plan by itself is not the issue. In any case, all kinds of other international locations demand car renters to pay a mandatory coverage; including: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, as well as a variety of the U.S. states, like California. The issue that causes contention in Costa Rica is that this Price tag just isn't normally displayed clearly on the vehicle rental operator's Site or inside of a estimate. Shoppers then find the extra Charge of their rental upon arrival.

The expense of required insurance policies differs from company to firm and will rely upon the car category which is remaining rented as well. The fee for a little sedan may very well be as little as $twelve every day, While a quality 4x4 car could be just as much as $twenty five for coverage on a daily basis. This is certainly Besides the rental Price tag.

Charge cards in North The usa typically give vehicle coverage as yet another perk towards the charge card holder and so North Americans in particular, are unused to having to pay for insurance plan in addition to rental prices. Nonetheless, no charge card will go over this insurance policies necessity.

Do inquire If your offered estimate contains third-get together insurance policies and Test the costs on the car rental operator's Web site.

• Collision Destruction Waiver

This is not insurance plan, but a waiver. The fundamental stage will have a deductible that varies, but may very well be approximately $1,500. For a better every day amount, a zero deductible CDW may be obtained to relieve the renter of any fiscal duty in the event of harm to, or theft thereof, the motor vehicle.

Several renters will acquire their CDW as a result of their credit card. On the other hand, it truly is value noting that the responsibility for earning any insurance plan assert is on The shopper and never Together with the motor vehicle rental operator. Some renters might pick out to acquire added in-dwelling coverage to avoid having this duty.

There'll be car rental companies which challenging sell their own protection programs via guaranteeing assurance, but in the end, This is actually the renter's decision. It's well worth remembering that vehicle rental enterprise staff, like in other aspects of the whole world, will at times earn commission for insurance policy income.

If The shopper's charge card would not deliver CDW, the customer will likely be expected to buy this in-dwelling coverage.

Vehicle rental operators require penned proof that The shopper's credit card provides CDW. Check with the vehicle rental operator for the precise particulars of the things they demand and in what kind. Some may well accept a forwarded e-mail in the bank card business, but Many others may possibly ask for a printed copy for being presented at some time of rental.

• Deposit

The deposit amount needed will count on irrespective of whether the customer chooses to make use of the vehicle rental operator's in-home CDW or usually takes this coverage through a charge card. Be expecting to pay for a Significantly greater deposit If your in-residence CDW is declined. The deposit may also rely on car design rented. This amount, that can be held about the renter's bank card right up until the end in the rental period of time, may be from $750 around as much as $3,five hundred. The deposit should really consider not more than five days for being refunded on the bank card around the vehicle's return. Some auto rental businesses will settle for debit cards for deposit hold, although the return time for this quantity may take months.

Do make sure the deposit is calculated while in the holiday vacation funds as an unexpected keep of a few thousand bucks over a credit card could or else seriously cut into getaway paying.

• Airport Taxes

Shoppers that lease from a car rental operator's counter within just an airport building are obliged to pay for the airport tax.

All those vehicle rental operators using a counter at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/Nationwide, Spending budget, Greenback, Financial state and Hertz. These firms will insert a further twelve% tax towards the rental Expense.

Individuals automobile rental operators using a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros Worldwide Airport (LIR) are: Avis, Funds and Financial state. These firms will incorporate an extra 3% tax into the rental Expense.

To stay away from this tax, consider an airport shuttle While using the automobile rental operator to an Business office Found beyond the airport grounds.

• Surcharges and various Taxes

There are a variety of other compulsory fees that car or truck rental operators might include in to the rental cost, display on-display or present within the estimate, or go away undisclosed till The client's arrival. These perhaps hidden expenses may perhaps appear to be smaller when viewed separately, but these are usually day-to-day rates, so they'll add up rapidly!

These could involve:

• License Plate Payment: Under $two daily, but differs from corporation to company.

• Environmental Tax: A lot less than $1 day by day.

• Revenue Tax: All profits transactions in Costa Rica are subjected to your 12% federal government-imposed sales tax.

• Car Washing Rate: Bring back an exceptionally filthy car along with the cleansing charge may be included onto the ultimate payment. One vehicle rental operator rates $twenty for this extra service.

• Fuel Rates: In the event the gas tank will not be filled to a similar level as it absolutely was At first of the rental time period, then the car rental enterprise will cost (ordinarily to the nearest eighth of the tank). This cost is dictated by the car rental operator and It's not necessarily subject to the governmentally set fuel selling price that will be discovered at any gas station.

The place Should I Reserve the Motor vehicle?

A standard confusion for tourists booking a rental motor vehicle is definitely the discrepancy in between Global websites for motor vehicle rental operators as well as Costa Rican Internet site for a similar brand name. Commonly the Global websites are unaware of, or are unsuccessful to reveal, insurances, taxes and surcharges that should be billed at the counter. This may be on account of The point that lots of regarded car or truck rental operator makes in Costa Rica are certainly not a overseas department on the branded auto rental operator, but instead really are a franchise operation. This variable is usually well worth looking at with regards to anticipations relating to customer support together with other finer facts. The Costa Rican franchise Business office can have their own individual sort of operating, besides exactly the same guidelines and rules that the customer can have skilled in other parts of the globe.

Understandably then, an online reservation is finest designed throughout the local Web page and not the Worldwide internet site, wherever doable. Numerous providers do not need an area Site. In such cases, do Test the main points with an area team member through the telephone and ask for written confirmation of your quote. Practical experience with Stay chat to the Worldwide Web sites suggests that whereas team is trained on terms and conditions governing the principle Business office (generally U.S.A.); they comprehend minimal of the policies that need to be adhered to in Costa Rica.

Auto Rental Comparisons

In May/June of 2013, I when compared the pricing and expert services of numerous auto rental operators in Costa Rica and printed the results. To my surprise, the posting continues to be being plagiarized routinely throughout the world wide web which implies that it's even now beneficial and so an update was expected. The prices for this comparison have been acquired in December 2014 and January 2015.

The ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism) states that there are 30 registered car or truck rental operators with 8 Some others pending acceptance. Nonetheless, there are numerous a lot more businesses that lease automobiles to guests. The car rental operators picked are All those that are most often utilized by tourists:

Adobe

Alamo

Avis

Spending budget

Greenback

Financial state

Fox

Hertz

National

Payless

Provider

Thrifty

Toyota

USave

Vamos

Wild Rider

Exclusion of Corporations from Closing Comparison

Spending plan, Economic system, Payless, and Toyota were being contacted, but these four providers didn't present exact on the internet premiums. Overall economy and Funds's Internet websites have one particular rate, regardless of the dates entered and customers have to have to order a motor vehicle to ensure that them to honor the value demonstrated. Toyota's Web site was unfortunately only Performing up until eventually March. Over and above that, the pricing shown $0 for the remainder of the yr. Payless has this disclaimer on their own Web page: "Taxes and surcharges are usually not within our Management and should change suddenly."

Sending individual inquiries for each time frame resulted in inconsistent benefits: Spending budget offered exactly the same price for all three investigated time intervals when obtaining an electronic mail request, which is highly unlikely; Financial system responded with various prices for the same dates from unique members of team; and Toyota's emailed prices for time durations past March's prices indicated on-line didn't correspond for the March fees quoted (perhaps the emailed quotations contained taxes that were not proven on the web). Payless can offer prices by way of e-mail and phone, but weren't according to pricing for various seasons.

Avis is simply excluded from the worth comparison, as they don't have an intermediate SUV classification within their fleet.

Comparison Facts

Motor vehicle rental fee, all taxes and surcharges, and third-celebration insurance coverage costs are (supposedly) calculated and rated appropriately down below dependant on the 7 days's rental of a BeGo or related intermediate 4x4 from the San Jose/Alajuela area (not through the airport).

Charges are calculated with a weekly foundation and divided by seven to provide a daily Price that is more effortlessly similar. As not all pricing is totally clear, the prices are as precise as you possibly can based on the data delivered in the car or truck rental operators' Internet sites, cell phone phone calls, and/or e-mails. Airport taxes will not be A part of these figures.

Shoulder Period (Quote for July thirteen as a result of 20)

one. USave $forty three.37

2. Provider $fifty four.ninety two

3. Fox $fifty five.sixty four

4. Hertz $58.17

5. Adobe $60.thirteen

six. Alamo $60.ninety nine

seven. Wild Rider $sixty two.86

eight. Greenback $63.35

nine. Vamos $64.fifteen

10. Nationwide $sixty seven.04

eleven. Thrifty $seventy four.39

Small Time (Quotation for Could 13 by 20)

one. National $37.04

2. USave $43.37

three. Dollar $forty six.49

four. Adobe $52.fifty seven

five. Vamos $53.fifteen

six. Company $fifty three.49

seven. Hertz $fifty four.59

eight. Fox $fifty five.sixty four

9. Wild Rider $55.seventy one

10. Alamo $sixty.99

eleven. Thrifty $74.39

Superior Season (Quote for March 13 by way of 20)

1. Dollar $fifty five.92

two. USave $56.22

three. Hertz $fifty six.37

4. Fox $fifty nine.36

five. Thrifty $sixty four.69

six. Assistance $66.63

7. Vamos $sixty seven.fourteen

eight. Alamo $sixty nine.fifty six

nine. Wild Rider $70.00

10. Adobe $70.63

11. Countrywide $seventy three.90

Summary of Comparison

Apparently, There's not 1 very clear high priced or affordable corporation from those in contrast. The variation in position between seasons is marked and customers must take into consideration their holiday vacation dates when choosing the car rental operator. By way of example, Thrifty seems because the most expensive for the two low and shoulder period, but are only in fourth situation from the rankings for High Year.

It is also significant that pricing isn't consistent with ranking with car or truck rental operators in other automobile groups. One example is, Vamos' pricing is The most cost effective for any high quality auto during the shoulder season; Despite the fact that they aren't very first in any rankings for the intermediate classification and Adobe which appears aggressive are the most costly for this time frame and vehicle class.

Info on Automobile Rental Operators

Adobe Lease-A-Auto is an area auto rental operator which has eleven workplaces across the country. The website is simple and simple to operate with no obvious concealed costs. The necessary coverage Value is displayed as Section of the net quotation. The business gets mixed opinions on the internet, but a lot more good than adverse reviews are created. Emails receive a reply in 24 hrs, but might not entirely answer the queries requested.

Toll-Cost-free Cell phone number: one-855-861-1250

Child Seat: $three/working day

Booster: $1/day

Extra Driver: $three/working day

GPS System: $9/day

Alamo is effective in partnership with Countrywide and has 13 workplaces across the nation. Just like numerous huge names, Alamo Costa Rica can be a franchise and never a department of Alamo by itself. Third-occasion insurance and primary CDW are included in the online quotation, although the CDW could be refused upon presentation of proof of protection through the customer's credit card. This would make the pricing seem to be higher on initial look, specially when, in contrast to other automobile rental operators, Alamo involves airport taxes in their on the internet quotation and so their pricing is truthful, but seems much better than other firms Therefore. Pricing is different about the Intercontinental Web site of the corporate, although the terms and conditions do state the fees that may be paid on arrival. This pricing discrepancy is definitely the guide reason behind damaging opinions for this corporation. Email messages are responded to in just 24 hrs.

Toll-Free Contact number: 1-855-533-1196

Youngster Seat: $three/working day

More Driver: $6/working day

GPS Program: $twelve/working day

Avis' Internet site obliges just one to choose an automobile defense selection, nevertheless it fails to Show a last quotation full or price for the protection picked online right until an emailed quote is sent. Protection fees may very well be received by clicking on the option 'Protections Stated' at the bottom from the monitor.

No Toll-Free of charge Phone Number

Kid Seat: $5/day

Further Driver: $5/working day

GPS System: $nine.99/working day

Funds has a web site that is certainly user friendly, nevertheless the pricing given is as the identical for all seasons, suggesting that it is not correct. Electronic mail responses were being Generally speedy, but some were still left unanswered. Emailed quotes confirmed a similar pricing for all seasons as the web site did. Necessary insurance coverage isn't included on the net quote, although the modest print states this is payable on the counter. Finances receives blended on the net opinions.

No Toll-Totally free Telephone number, but Live Chat is offered

Little one Seat: $five/working day

Additional Driver: $five/day

GPS System: $fourteen.ninety nine/working day

Greenback appears to get quite competitive charges, but airport taxes is going to be used In case the car is being gathered in the airport's counters. 1 might uncover this in their conditions and terms, although not of their online prices. Motor vehicle washing charge is enforced for very filthy cars. You will find four offices in Liberia and San Jose. E-mail response is inside of 24 hrs. Dollar gets combined critiques from on the internet journey forums.

Toll-Cost-free Phone Number: one-877-767-8651

Baby Seat: $5/working day

Added Driver: $5/day

GPS Method: $nine/day

Economic system has twelve workplaces within the region. They have got no Costa Rican Internet site. Scroll down on their page to find and click on insurance policies costs. Airport taxes are not included in the estimate. Emails receive possibly A fast response or no reaction whatsoever. Economic climate has the worst on the web popularity of any large identify car or truck rental operator in Costa Rica.

Toll-Totally free Cell phone number: one-877-326-7368

Child Seat: $10/working day

More Driver: $ten/day

GPS Process: $15/day

Fox works in partnership with USave. Offices are located at each Intercontinental airports. Email messages receive a reaction in 24 hours. On-line assessments are frequently inadequate.

Toll-No cost Cell phone number: one-800-225-4369

Child Seat: $5/working day

Extra Driver: $ten/working day (Except if wife or husband)

GPS Process: $9.99/day

Hertz has 6 workplaces in the place. Reservations may be built through a Costa Rican Site. Preliminary on the net estimate isn't going to consist of product sales taxes, but it does include the CDW -- Even though CDW can be waived with proof of bank card protection. Emails receive a reaction inside 24 several hours. Mediocre reviews on travel discussion boards.

No Toll-No cost Phone Number

Boy or girl Seat: $five/working day

Supplemental Driver: $thirteen/day

GPS Procedure: $twelve/working day

National performs in partnership with Alamo and has thirty workplaces in Procedure across the country. The corporate includes a Central American Web site, together with the international web page, which clearly demonstrates the breakdown of pricing. CDW is included in the online quote, but it may be unchecked to obtain a quote with just the obligatory insurance plan. Notice that the airport tax is A part of the online quote at the same time. Prompt responses to issues can be found through Live Chat on their Web site. Critiques are mixed, but you will discover far more favourable than detrimental.

Free of charge Mobile phone Contact Selection By way of Website

Little one Seat: $6/working day

Booster: $6/working day

Extra Driver: $five/day

GPS Technique: $twelve/day

Payless is an element with the international automobile rental firm and it has no Costa Rican Site. On line prices usually do not incorporate 3rd-party insurance policies, While the knowledge on This can be located by examining the procedures with the San Jose location. E-mails receive a response in below 24 hrs, but are likely to refer back to the website, rather than new details. Evaluations are more damaging than positive.

Toll-Free of charge Cell phone number: 1-800-PAYLESS

Youngster Seat: $5/working day

Booster: $five/day

Supplemental Driver: $10/working day

GPS Program: $9.ninety five/day

Assistance is an area business with 5 offices within the region. On an otherwise crystal clear Web-site, click 'Reserve Now' and never 'Get a Quote' for an internet rate Verify. Rember is the team member stated in evaluations on vacation forum for his valuable customer service and the corporation normally receives good assessments. Email messages are answered inside of 24 hours and Generally supply asked for information and facts.

U.S. Cell phone number: one-305-897-3718

Baby Seat: $three.fifty/working day

Further Driver: $three/day

GPS Process: $seven.50/working day

Thrifty doesn't have a local Web-site, thus info is from the Worldwide Web page. Coverage selections or data concerning third-celebration insurance plan will not be furnished about the reservation webpage until eventually 1 clicks 'Defense Info'. Emails get a reaction inside 24 hrs, but may not reply site-unique concerns. Testimonials are usually unfavorable as a consequence of pricing problems.

Toll-Cost-free Cell phone number: one-800-344-1705

Child Seat: $5/working day

Booster: $5/working day

Further Driver: $twelve/day

GPS Procedure: $eleven.99/day

Toyota is a major name; however, Although their Site appears Qualified to start with look, it merely won't work, or at the very least it was not working so that you can obtain quotations afterwards than March 2015. Their on the web offers do not consist of revenue taxes. Emails obtain quick responses, but prices for different seasons gave the impression to be contradictory. However, Toyota has a fantastic reputation on journey discussion boards. 8 workplaces can be found across the nation.

Free Telephone Connect with Choice By way of Site

Boy or girl Seat: $five/day

Cooler: $1.fifty/working day

Additional Driver: $three/day

GPS System: $10/day

USave is effective in partnership with Fox and has three Office environment locations. Insurance policy selections are revealed for the net estimate, but it should be chosen and 'recalculate' pressed, just before it's included in the pricing. Emails receive a reaction within just 24 hours. The corporate obtain overall poor assessments, Despite the fact that usually there are some positive opinions designed on vacation community forums.

Toll-Free of charge Phone Number: 1-800-467-3659

Boy or girl Seat: $five/working day

Extra Driver: $10/day

GPS System: $9.ninety five/day

Vamos is a neighborhood enterprise that is a well-liked choice for Excursion Advisor and Lonely Earth specialists as a consequence of their customer support and pricing. The web site is simple to use with itemized rates clearly displayed. The Reside Chat possibility permits instantaneous personalized rates and responses from English-Talking personnel. The company has a few workplaces.

Toll-Absolutely free Contact number: 1-800-950-8426

Baby Seat: no cost

Booster: totally free

Supplemental Driver: cost-free

GPS System: $eight/day

Wild Rider is a small, local company Found only in San Jose. The web site is simple with 3rd-bash insurance plan included in the pricing. Initially of the analysis, the pricing was not current, but this has since been remedied. This car rental operator stands out by having only good critiques and so is very advisable by travel forum people. Proprietor, Thorsten, replies within the hour to inquiries for the duration of office hrs.

U.S. Cell phone number: 1-917-477-7712

Boy or girl Seat: $5/day

GPS Procedure: $8/working day

Total Summary

Clarity

Adobe, Alamo, Countrywide, Services, Vamos, and Wild Rider deliver very clear and comprehensive costs on their own Web-sites. The opposite vehicle rental operators had been fewer transparent with surcharges or taxes, such as airport taxes or product sales taxes. Pricing on supplemental extras weren't often straightforward to seek out, and Avis, Thrifty and Toyota had to be contacted for these facts.

Communication

Levels of communication have enhanced considering that the 1st comparison, even though it would appear wise to ask for a local quantity and make sure answers Along with the Costa Rica Business from the international automobile rental operators, as Intercontinental chat operators or those replying to emails, will not always look one hundred% self-confident about community procedures and will even give incorrect info.

Be ready to exchange several e-mail as a way to get total responses to inquiries with many organizations: Funds and Economic climate were particularly susceptible to this -- requesting quite a bit of knowledge to be able to give a quotation. It isn't unreasonable that users of staff Doing the job inside of a second language may overlook aspects of an electronic mail, so existing queries in very clear and simple language.

Live Chat on the two the Finances and Vamos Sites mean information could be presented right away and remains to be documented, as opposed to a mobile phone contact.

Pricing

The comparison above exhibits the pricing amongst organizations relies upon intensely on the time and motor vehicle category being considered, rather then a transparent Slice alternative in between more or less costly rental premiums.

Shoppers should look at the pricing of other products, for instance additional motorists or GPS process, and families will want to match vehicle seat rental pricing. Wild Rider provides the initial supplemental driver without spending a dime, Vamos do not cost for virtually any extras, other than the GPS, and normally, the Global firms have increased costs for these extras when compared to the area organizations.

So Who Do I Hire From?

It is obvious that the area motor vehicle rental operators remain trumping the massive names within their transparency and customer care Illinois to New York Car Transporters when comparing their Web-sites and on-line opinions. The primary difference through the former amount comparison from a few several years ago is that the pricing happens to be tougher to equate.

Adobe, Alamo, and National manage to amount very well as Intercontinental vehicle rental operators. It really is truly worth noting that Countrywide is the most expensive in higher year for the intermediate group, still the cheapest in low time. Adobe and Alamo are middle-ranked for pricing.

Wild Rider is outstanding in possessing zero terrible reviews, but is only situated in San Jose and has a Significantly lesser fleet of vehicles. Of the opposite neighborhood firms, Services and Vamos appear out properly and Vamos' free added extras will attract budget-minded tourists and people with young youngsters. Assistance also provides these extras at very low day by day rates.