Vehicle rental in Costa Rica is an opportunity to take a look at the remote seashores and silent corners of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Vacation without the limitations established by community transport timetables and with independence over group excursions. For the unprepared traveler; nonetheless, car or truck rental prices and services might be a rude shock along with a blow to that vacation budget.
Renting a car or truck to your getaway will most likely be the most expensive component of your respective spending budget, so comprehension the phrases and running anticipations is essential. The data below is just not intended to be an exhaustive manual, nevertheless it should really set you on the path in direction of an informed selection for your automobile rental needs in Costa Rica.
Why is vehicle rental so pricey?
Guests from outside of Costa Rica will often be amazed by the expense of car or truck rental. When lodge rooms, restaurant expenses and tours are decreased than the prices compensated at your home, it may look Weird that car rental ought to be a lot more high-priced.
There are 2 basic factors for this higher cost:
All cars in Costa Rica are imported along with a tax is imposed. Because of this hefty taxation, the expense of buying a auto is bigger than It might be in other industrialized international locations. There are some automobile rental operators who lease older motor vehicles so that you can lessen their expenses.
The cost of obligatory insurance policies (see beneath).
Aspects that Have an effect on Vehicle Rental Fees
• Necessary Insurance plan
3rd-get together insurance policies, which may be referred to as TPI, PDW (Partial Harm Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance plan) together with other acronyms, can be a authorized prerequisite. Automobile rental operators ought to cost the customer for this coverage which might or might not be apparent during the quotation received by The shopper.
The insurance by itself is not the difficulty. In any case, all kinds of other international locations call for car or truck renters to pay a compulsory insurance plan; like: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, as well as a quantity of the U.S. states, like California. The issue that triggers competition in Costa Rica is that this Value is just not constantly exhibited Evidently on the car rental operator’s website or in a very quote. Prospects then find out the additional cost in their rental on arrival.
The price of necessary insurance coverage differs from company to enterprise and will depend upon the vehicle group that is staying rented in addition. The expense for a small sedan could be as little as $twelve daily, Whilst a quality 4×4 motor vehicle may very well be just as much as $twenty five for insurance coverage a day. This can be in addition to the rental Charge.
Charge cards in North The united states commonly give car or truck insurance as a further perk into the bank card holder and so North Us citizens in particular, are unused to needing to pay for insurance policies along with rental fees. Nonetheless, no credit card will include this insurance need.
Do question Should the presented estimate features 3rd-party insurance policies and Examine the costs on the car rental operator’s Internet site.
• Collision Problems Waiver
It’s not coverage, but a waiver. The basic stage will include a deductible that varies, but can be up to $1,500. For a better every day charge, a zero deductible CDW may be purchased To alleviate the renter of any financial duty in case of harm to, or theft thereof, the car or truck.
Numerous renters will acquire their CDW by way of their charge card. However, it truly is worth noting which the accountability for making any insurance policies claim is on The shopper instead of While using the motor vehicle rental operator. Some renters may possibly select to purchase supplemental in-property protection to stop getting this obligation.
There’ll be automobile rental companies which tricky promote their own protection programs through guaranteeing relief, but finally, This is actually the renter’s choice. It really is worth remembering that vehicle rental enterprise employees, like in other areas of the earth, will occasionally earn Fee for insurance policy income.
If The shopper’s charge card will not deliver CDW, The client are going to be needed to purchase this in-house protection.
Automobile rental operators involve created proof that the customer’s bank card supplies CDW. Ask the car rental operator for the precise aspects of what they involve and in what kind. Some may well take a forwarded electronic mail with the bank card company, but Many others may well ask for a printed copy to be introduced at the time of rental.
• Deposit
The deposit quantity required will count on whether or not the customer chooses to make use of the auto rental operator’s in-dwelling CDW or usually takes this coverage by way of a credit card. Expect to pay a much better deposit When the in-residence CDW is declined. The deposit may depend on vehicle product rented. This sum, which can be held to the renter’s credit card till the tip on the rental interval, may be from $750 approximately around $3,500. The deposit need to just take no more than five days to be refunded into the charge card over the car or truck’s return. Some motor vehicle rental agencies will acknowledge debit cards for deposit keep, even so the return time for this total normally takes weeks.
Do ensure that the deposit is calculated during the holiday finances as an unexpected hold of some thousand pounds on a credit card could or else severely cut into getaway paying out.
• Airport Taxes
Shoppers that rent from a car or truck rental operator’s counter in just an airport creating are obliged to pay for the airport tax.
Those people motor vehicle rental operators that has a counter at San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/National, Funds, Dollar, Financial system and Hertz. These companies will insert a further 12% tax on the rental cost.
These car rental operators by using a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros Global Airport (LIR) are: Avis, Price range and Economic system. These providers will increase an additional three% tax towards the rental Value.
To stop this tax, get an airport shuttle While using the vehicle rental operator to an Business Positioned outside of the airport grounds.
• Surcharges and Other Taxes
There are a selection of other compulsory fees that vehicle rental operators may well incorporate into your rental Value, Show on-display screen or show within the estimate, or leave undisclosed until eventually The client’s arrival. These possibly hidden prices may appear small when viewed independently, but these are typically every day premiums, so they will increase up rapidly!
These may possibly consist of:
• License Plate Payment: Fewer than $two daily, but differs from organization to business.
• Environmental Tax: Lower than $one daily.
• Product sales Tax: All sales transactions in Costa Rica are subjected to your twelve% federal government-imposed gross sales tax.
• Motor vehicle Washing Payment: Carry back again an exceptionally dirty vehicle as well as cleansing price can be included on to the ultimate payment. Just one rent rolls royce dubai auto rental operator fees $20 for this additional assistance.
• Gasoline Expenses: In case the gas tank is not filled to the same stage as it was at the start of the rental period of time, then the car rental company will charge (commonly to the nearest eighth of the tank). This demand is dictated by the car rental operator and It’s not at all topic to the governmentally set gas price tag that will be identified at any fuel station.
Exactly where Ought to I Reserve the Car or truck?
A typical confusion for travelers scheduling a rental vehicle is the discrepancy among Intercontinental Web-sites for car rental operators as well as the Costa Rican Web site for the same manufacturer. Commonly the Global Internet websites are unaware of, or fail to disclose, insurances, taxes and surcharges that can be billed on the counter. This may be as a consequence of The truth that numerous regarded motor vehicle rental operator makes in Costa Rica are certainly not a international department with the branded car or truck rental operator, but alternatively really are a franchise operation. This variable can be really worth thinking of concerning anticipations regarding customer support as well as other finer particulars. The Costa Rican franchise Place of work can have their very own type of functioning, besides precisely the same procedures and tips that The shopper can have expert in other elements of the entire world.
Understandably then, an online reservation is ideal made through the neighborhood Site and not the Worldwide website, wherever feasible. Numerous businesses don’t have a local Web-site. In such cases, do Look at the details with an area workers member through the telephone and request published confirmation of your quotation. Knowledge with Reside chat about the Worldwide Sites suggests that Whilst personnel is experienced on terms and conditions governing the main office (typically U.S.A.); they realize tiny with the guidelines that needs to be adhered to in Costa Rica.
Vehicle Rental Comparisons
In Might/June of 2013, I compared the pricing and providers of numerous auto rental operators in Costa Rica and released the conclusions. To my surprise, the article remains currently being plagiarized regularly throughout the net which implies that it’s nonetheless valuable and so an update was demanded. The costs for this comparison have been acquired in December 2014 and January 2015.