General	Surfing	Car Rentals	Drive times

COSTA RICA CAR RENTAL QUESTIONS

How old do you need to be to rent a car in Costa Rica?
You need to be at least 21 years of age.

Can I take the car rental outside of Costa Rica?
No – mostly for insurance reasons you will not be able to take the car out of the country.

Is it safe to drive in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America and it is generally very safe to drive within the country. Tico Travel™ recommends that you only drive long distances during the day time.

What type of credit cards are taken?
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Diners club are accepted for deposits.
NOTE: A deposit must be left at time of rental and can ONLY be left with a credit card.

What Type of Insurnance is included?
There is basic mandatory by Costa Rican law and cannot be declined. There is additional optional insurance you can take upon your arrival. Speak to your Tico Travel Representative for further details.

We are flying into San Jose but we would like to drop off our vehicle in another location. Is this possible?
Yes, you can pick up the vehicle at any of the agencies countrywide locations, and drop them off at any of the others. Depending on the drop off location, a small surcharge may apply.

Are there automatic transmission vehicles available? Manual?
Both automatic and manual transmission are available, however, it will depend on availability and the model as not all models are available with this option.

What is the best type of car to rent in Costa Rica?
A 4x4 is our car of choice. The size of the 4x4 vehicle will depend on the amount of people traveling. For a list of available cars see our Costa Rica Car Rental Section. 

Can I use someone else’s credit card for the deposit?
Sorry, no one other than the person named on the credit card may use that credit card for the deposit. The owner of the credit card must be present at the time of rental.

Are there any special tips for traveling to Costa Rica?

Photocopy Passport.

In Costa Rica foreigners must travel with their passport or a copy of their passport on hand. Authorities such as transit official and immigration may require seeing these documents in routine traffic stops. If you don’t have time to make a photocopy before arriving, ask the Economy rent a car agent to make a copy for you.

At the airport.

When you arrive know this, the bank inside the airport will be the best place to change currency in Costa Rica. Although most places accept US denominations, it is always a good idea to carry local currency. Before exiting the terminal look for the Economy rent a car agent located directly in front of customs
The Car rental agencies we use accepts all valid drivers license’s from countries all over the world. Please make sure your license is not expired..

At the rental agency.

Be sure that your entire luggage is with you after exiting the shuttle bus. The most important step here is to look over your vehicle with caution. Point out any damages you see, paying special attention to the windshield, spare tire and tools to change a flat tire. If you do not feel comfortable with that particular vehicle just inform the agent and they will be happy to change it for another similar vehicle. Make sure you get good directions before heading out of from the car rental agency. The car rental companies and agents have maps available and can give you directions.