Guide to Car Rental Companies in Costa Rica

Rate Comparisons for 2015

Car rental in Costa Rica is a way to explore the remote beaches and quiet corners of the breathtakingly beautiful country. Travel with no restrictions set by public transport timetables and with freedom over group tours. For the unprepared traveler; however, car rental costs and services can be a rude shock and a blow to that particular vacation budget.

Renting a vehicle for your vacation will likely be the most expensive part of your budget, so understanding the terms and managing expectations is extremely important. The info below isn't meant to be an exhaustive manual, but it should set you on the road towards an informed decision for your car or truck rental needs in Costa Rica.

How come car rental so expensive?

Visitors from beyond Costa Rica are often surprised by the expense of car rental. While hotel rooms, restaurant bills and tours are less than the prices paid at home, it could appear strange that car rental should be much more costly.

You will find two simple reasons for this high cost:

All vehicles in Costa Rica are imported and a tax is imposed. For this reason heavy taxation, the expense of purchasing a vehicle is greater than it would be in other industrialized countries. There are a few car rental operators who rent older vehicles to be able to reduce their costs.

The price of mandatory insurance (see below).

Factors that Affect Car Rental Costs

• Mandatory Insurance

Third-party insurance, which may be referred to as TPI, PDW (Partial Damage Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance) and other acronyms, is a legal requirement. Car rental operators must charge the customer for this coverage that might or might not be clear in the quotation received by the customer.

The insurance itself isn't the issue. In the end, many other countries require car renters to pay for an essential insurance; including: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, in addition to a number of the U.S. states, like California. The issue that causes contention in Costa Rica is this cost is not always displayed clearly on the car rental operator's website or in a quote. Customers then discover the extra cost of their rental upon arrival.

The price of mandatory insurance varies from company to company and will depend on the car category that's being rented as well. The cost for a tiny sedan may be as low as $12 each day, whereas a premium 4x4 vehicle could possibly be around $25 for insurance per day. This is in addition to the rental cost.

Credit cards in North America usually offer car insurance being an additional perk to the charge card holder and so North Americans particularly, are unused to presenting to cover insurance together with rental costs. However, no charge card will cover this insurance requirement.

Do ask if the given quote includes third-party insurance and check the prices on the car rental operator's website.

• Collision Damage Waiver

This is not insurance, but a waiver. The fundamental level will feature a deductible that varies, but could possibly be around $1,500. For an increased daily rate, a zero deductible CDW may be purchased to alleviate the renter of any financial responsibility in the event of damage to, or theft thereof, the vehicle.

Many renters will obtain their CDW through their credit card. However, it is worth noting that the responsibility for making any insurance claim is on the customer and not with the car rental operator. Some renters may choose to purchase additional in-house coverage to prevent having this responsibility renta de autos en Monterrey.

You will see car rental agencies which hard sell their very own coverage plans through guaranteeing peace of mind, but ultimately, here is the renter's decision. It's worth remembering that car rental company employees, like in other areas of the entire world, will sometimes earn commission for insurance sales.

If the customer's charge card does not provide CDW, the customer is likely to be required to purchase this in-house coverage.

Car rental operators require written proof that the customer's charge card provides CDW. Ask the car rental operator for the actual information on what they might require and in what form. Some may accept a forwarded email from the charge card company, but others may ask for a printed copy to be presented during the time of rental.

• Deposit

The deposit amount required will depend on whether the customer chooses to use the car rental operator's in-house CDW or takes this coverage through a credit card. Expect to pay for a higher deposit if the in-house CDW is declined. The deposit may also rely on car model rented. This amount, which will be held on the renter's charge card before the end of the rental period, can be from $750 around around $3,500. The deposit should take only five days to be refunded to the charge card on the vehicle's return. Some car rental agencies need debit cards for deposit hold, but the return time for this amount will take weeks.

Do make sure that the deposit is calculated in the vacation budget being an unexpected your hands on a few thousand dollars on a charge card could otherwise severely cut into vacation spending renta de autos en Monterrey.