Prices from large companies as well as small ones in Costa Rica

Compare car rental companies Costa Rica

Car Rental & Rent a Car Deals in Costa Rica

Compare prices on car rental in the whole of Costa Rica with online booking. Through our search engine you can book a rental car in 3 simple steps. A car rented from us is free from surprises when you pick up the car. All our prices include airport fees, free mileage and necessary insurances, local taxes and fees. Let us help you find rental cars in Costa Rica online. Good prices on luxury, family and economy cars. If you only want to rent a cheap vehicle from a specific agency of your choice, you can choose that when you do your search.

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Advice and tips about renting a car in Costa Rica

Here we have put together some tips on what to consider when looking for a rental car in Costa Rica and regions/states such as San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaste.

Review the contract & terms carefully

Review and read the rental conditions before booking the rental car. Autoprio.com offers rental cars from several different rental car companies and the conditions differ between the different companies. Smaller companies may have administrative fees to be paid on site that relate to refueling after return. Any fees are stated during the booking. Review and read the contract when you pick up your rental car. Autoprio.com offers cheap rental cars from several different rental car companies in Costa Rica and the contract differs between the different companies. If there is something you do not understand in the contract, ask someone from the company on site or contact us directly.

Refuel the car before returning it

Different companies have different fuel conditions. If the car is to be refueled before return, do so to avoid extra fees from the rental car company. Some smaller companies have an administrative fee for refueling the car if it is to be left empty, which is stated in the conditions but not always in the total price. Look extra carefully at the refueling regulations! If the company has 'Pick up full, drop off empty' then there may be an administrative fee for refueling. Any fee is stated during the booking. It is often the cheaper companies that have 'Pick up full, drop off empty'.

Is free mileage / free miles included?

Check that free mileage is included in the rent. If free mileage is not included, check that the number of kilometers in the contract is sufficient. All major companies have unlimited mileage, but less expensive companies may have a maximum mileage per day.

Do a quick inspection upon pickup

Inspect and examine the rental car when you pick it up. Check that all damages, scratches and dents are included in the condition report. Check how big the deductible is! What often differentiates between smaller, cheaper companies in Costa Rica and larger global companies is the amount of the deductible. Also read the conditions carefully when it comes to how the car is to be returned. Smaller local companies may have an administrative fee if the car is to be returned with an empty tank. Any fee is stated in our terms and conditions when you apply.

Book as early as possible

Book as early as possible, it will usually be more expensive if you wait. In large cities such as San José, Puerto Limón, San Francisco, Alajuela, Liberia, Paraíso, Puntarenas, San Isidro de El General, Curridabat and San Vicente de Moravia, prices often rise the later you book. It can also be difficult to find cars at major airports such as San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, Tobías Bolaños Airport, Limón Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, Puntarenas Chacarita Airport, Guapiles Airport, Quepos La Managua Airport, Puerto Jiménez Airport, Golfito Airport and Tamarindo Airport, if you wait too long.

Compare prices from several companies and book the rental car on the Internet

Rent a car cheap in Costa RicaSearching and booking car rental on the Internet becomes cheaper and it is easier and takes less time. Compare many companies and sites to find the best price. Autoprio.com compares several companies at the same time in a single search via Cartrawler. We do not own any cars but only compare prices from different companies such as e.g. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Thrifty, National, Enterprise, Alamo and Dollar, etc.

Are there several of you who will drive the car? Where are you going?

Extra driver? If more than one person is driving the car, this must be stated at the time of booking or at the company upon arrival. Remember that there may be restrictions on driving the car to other countries and taking the car from or to islands such as .

Frequently asked questions about car rental & renting a car in Costa Rica

Can I book without a credit card in Costa Rica?

Yes. You can make a booking without a credit card with Autoprio.com in Costa Rica. Note that, even if you choose to pay by debit card, you will have to provide a valid credit card in the driver’s name at the time of pick-up since the rental agent requires a credit card from which to take the rental deposit. Credit cards accepted for pick-up are MasterCard, Visa, and in some cases American Express.

What are the most popular car rental locations in Costa Rica?

Based on searches on autoprio.com, the most popular cities to rent a car in Costa Rica are San Pedro, Alajuela, San Vicente de Moravia, San Isidro de El General, Turrialba, Paraíso, Liberia, San Francisco, San Miguel, San José, San Rafael Abajo, Puerto Limón, Curridabat, Puntarenas and Purral. The most popular airports are San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, Limón Airport, Tobías Bolaños Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, Guapiles Airport and Puntarenas Chacarita Airport.

Do I need an international driver’s licence in Costa Rica?

If your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet (i.e. Arabic, Greek, Russian or Chinese) you will need to bring an international driving licence and your domestic licence in Costa Rica. If you are renting abroad (outside your country of residence, or outside where your license was issued), an international drivers licence is usually required regardless of the alphabet. International driver’s licences must be accompanied by the original domestic licence of the driver.

What is the best rental car company in Costa Rica?

Based on ratings and reviews on autoprio.com, the best car rental companies in Costa Rica are Europcar, Thrifty, Budget, National, Hertz, Avis and Sixt. You can find these car hire companies in cities like San Francisco, Curridabat, San Isidro de El General, Paraíso, San Vicente de Moravia, Puerto Limón, Liberia, Alajuela, Puntarenas and San José.

Which costs are included in the rental price in Costa Rica?

In the majority of cases the rental price includes breakdown assistance, tax, unlimited mileage, airport fee, third party liability protection and collision damage waiver. Please note that the costs included may vary depending on the car rental company and destination. The car hire company may also choose to ask you for a deposit or excess at the rental desk in Costa Rica. Make sure to check the rental conditions at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.

Are there extra charges for drop-off at a different location in Costa Rica?

Yes, in most cases the car rental agents like Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and Avis will charge an extra fee if you wish to return the vehicle at a different location in Costa Rica. We will clearly state whether the one-way fee is included in the rental price or what additional cost may arise at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.

How can I find car rentals near me in Costa Rica?

Do a search for the city, island or airport closest to you in Costa Rica. A search for country or e.g. island in Costa Rica lists the largest airports like Limón Airport, Golfito Airport, Puerto Jiménez Airport, Guapiles Airport, Tamarindo Airport, Tobías Bolaños Airport, Puntarenas Chacarita Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, Quepos La Managua Airport and San José-Juan Santamaría Airport. Then take a look at our map of cheap car hire companies to find the best rental cars near you.

How old do you have to be to rent a car in Costa Rica?

Most car hire companies have a minimum age limit of 21 years for rentals. However, requirements may vary depending on the car rental company and destination country. Please note that there may be additional charges if the main driver is under 25 or over 75 years old to cover the extra insurance cost. Any additional fee will be mentioned at the time of booking under summary of charges before you confirm the reservation at Autoprio.com.

How much do you charge for excess in Costa Rica?

The excess amount depends on the car hire company and the rented vehicle and it will be refunded within 10-28 days after the rental if there has been no damage. Cartrawler offer damage refund insurance in association with Autoprio.com insurance partners, which will allow you to claim for reimbursement in the event that you have been charged for collision damage or theft. This damage refund insurance can be purchased at the time of booking.

What is the cheapest car rental company in Costa Rica?

In the past 14 days, the cheapest rental cars were found on Autoprio.com at U-Save, Easycar, Apex, Economy, Green Motion, Mex, Firefly and Adobe in cities like San Francisco, Curridabat, San Isidro de El General, Paraíso, San Vicente de Moravia, Puerto Limón, Liberia, Alajuela, Puntarenas and San José, etc and at airports like San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, Limón Airport, Tobías Bolaños Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, Guapiles Airport and Puntarenas Chacarita Airport, etc.

Are there any cross-border charges if you want to leave Costa Rica?

The car rental agents like Europcar, Thrifty, Budget, National, Hertz, Avis and Sixt may choose to charge you for cross-border travel. Any fees will need to be paid at the rental desk in Costa Rica in local currency. We will state whether cross-border travel is allowed and in which countries at the time of booking under rental conditions at Autoprio.com.

Compare Rental Cars in Costa Rica - Search, Compare & Save

Cheap Car Rental in Costa RicaWe can offer car rental where every cost is included, no hidden fees and free cancellations or amendments up to 24-48 hours before you are supposed to pick up the car. An easy and safe booking of rental cars online. Autoprio.com can offer rental cars in the most cities, train stations and communities as well as airports in Costa Rica.

Here you can compare rental cars and hiring of vehicles from several companies in cities in Costa Rica. Look for and find the best prices on car rental. Search for and book directly in cities such as, San José, Puerto Limón, San Francisco, Alajuela, Liberia, Paraíso, Puntarenas, San Isidro de El General, Curridabat, San Vicente, San Vicente de Moravia, San José, Purral, Turrialba. We list prices from companies that are safe and quality assured so that there will not be any problems when you want to pick up your car.

Facts about Costa Rica

Costa Rica (Republic of Costa Rica) is located in North America and is a country that has about 4,516,000 inhabitants. The capital is San José which has 335,000 inhabitants. Total surface/area 51,100 km² / 19,730 mi². North America’s 10th largest when it comes to the surface area and the 11th regarding its inhabitants. Other names are República de Costa Rica, Republic of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the 132th largest country in the world when it comes to the surface and the 124th regarding its inhabitants. The country is divided into seven regions/counties/states where the largest are San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaste. .cr is the most common domain ending for websites in this country. +506 is the country code to use to make a call to the country. Cerro Chirripó (3842 m / 12,605 ft), Cerro Ventisqueros (3812 m / 12,507 ft), Cerro Kámuk (3549 m / 11,644 ft), Cerro de la Muerte (3451 m / 11,322 ft) and Cerro Echandi (3163 m / 10,377 ft) are the five highest mountains of the country. San José (c. 335000 pop), Puerto Limón (c. 63100 pop), San Francisco (c. 55900 pop), Alajuela (c. 47500 pop), Liberia (c. 45400 pop) are the five largest communities. Weather and maps of cities, the country etc. in Costa Rica. Get suggestions on experiences, attractions, museums and destinations that could be worth a visit during your trip to the country. Panama, Nicaragua are neighboring countries. Is it included in the price to cross national borders? Usually not, the car rental company may charge a fee to cross national borders to Panama, Nicaragua. All additional costs are paid directly at the rental desk in the local currency, Colon (CRC). It is stated in the rental terms and during the booking whether it is allowed to cross national borders and to which countries. Spanish, English are languages used in the country. Colon (CRC) is the currency used to make payments within the country.

Activities & tourist attractions in Costa Rica

Spend a day looking on animals? Refugio Zoologico la Selva, Rescate Animal ZooAve, Butterfly Conservatory, Mariposario Bosque Mariposa, The Frog Pond of Monteverde, MiniZoo y Jardín Yori, Herpetario Monteverdes, Refugio Herpetologico de Costa Rica, África Safari Adventure Park, Centro de Rescate Las Pumas, Serpentario Viborana, Refugio de Aves Monteverde, Zoológico la Marina, The Bat Jungle Live Bat Exhibit and Parque Zoológico y Jardín Botánico Nacional Simón Bolívar (Zoológico Simón Bolívar) are aquariums, zoos, animal parks, tropicarium, tropical house and terrarium. Looking for activities and experiences with the kids? Balneario el Cerro, Balneario Ojo de Agua, Centro Turístico el Asturiano, Parque Marino del Pacífico, Balneario Victoria, Quinta el Edén, Turu Ba Ri Nature & Adventure Park Aerial Tram, Balneario Hacienda Juan Viñas, Parque Nacional de Diversiones Dr Roberto Ortiz Brenes (Parque de Diversiones), Centro Recreo del INS, Balneario la Arboleda, Balneario Piedra Rajada, Centro Turistico el Lago, Paradero Turístico San Buenaventura, Centro Turístico los Mangos, Water park Villa Fantasía, Balneario los Patios, Parque Viva and Balneario Natural are theme parks, water parks or amusement parks located in Costa Rica.

Cheap car rental with unlimited mileage in Costa Rica

There are many different models and sizes of cars to choose from. Fleet list in Costa Rica: Compact elite, Economy elite, Small SUV, Exotic cars (Exotic), Convertible, Mini elite, Fullsize elite, Luxury elite, Mini cars (Mini), 7 seater minivan (7 seat minivan), Luxury cars (Luxury), 5 seater minivan (5 seat minivan), Fullsize cars (Fullsize), Minivan, Intermediate, Medium SUV, Hybrid cars, SUV / Jeep (SUV), Cargo van, Small-medium truck-lorry (Small-medium truck), Compact cars (Compact), Economy cars (Economy), Special cars (Special), Intermediate elite, Premium cars (Premium), 9 seater minivan / Minibus (9 seat minivan), Estate, Moped, Standard cars (Standard), Large truck-lorry (Large truck), Electric cars. Big cities and popular destinations have more car types to choose from. If you want to rent a luxury car then search at the major airports and the most popular destinations in the major regions such as San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaste etc. It can also be harder to find and book special cars during peak season, if you do not search well in advance, before you need your rental car.

Cars you can rent in Costa Rica are e.g. Intermediate elite, etc. Intermediate: e.g. Toyota Avensis, Fullsize elite, Small-medium truck-lorry, etc. 7 seater minivan: e.g. Suzuki APV, Peugeot 807, Chrysler Voyager, 5 seater minivan, Estate, etc. 9 seater minivan / Minibus: e.g. Hyundai H1, Renault Trafic, etc. Fullsize cars: e.g. BMW 3 Series, etc. Luxury cars: e.g. Toyota Fortuner, Economy elite, Large truck-lorry, etc. Standard cars: e.g. Great Wall Coolbear, Hyundai Sonata, Electric cars, etc. Compact cars: e.g. Ford Focus, Nissan Versa, Nissan Almera, etc. Mini cars: e.g. Chevrolet Sonic, Kia Picanto, Moped, Mini elite, Premium cars, etc. SUV / Jeep: e.g. Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Fortuner, BMW X5, Ford Expedition, Compact elite, Small SUV, Medium SUV, etc. Cargo van: e.g. Mitsubishi L200 Pickup, Nissan Pickup, Special cars, etc. Minivan: e.g. Toyota Minibus, Hyundai H1, Toyota Hiace, Luxury elite, Convertible, etc. Economy cars: e.g. Toyota Yaris Sedan, Volkswagen Gol G6, Toyota Yaris, Hybrid cars, Exotic cars, etc. However, in smaller cities and on islands like Isla Zahino, Isla Yuca, Isla de la Viuda, Viradores Norte, Isla Violín, Isla Verde, Isla Mogote, Isla Venado, Isla Uvita, Isla Toro, Isla Tolinga, Isla Sombrero, Isla San Lucas, Isla San José, Isla Saíno, Isla Plata, Boat Rock, Isla Colorada, Isla Piedra Lara Colón, Isla Piedra Blanca, Isla Pelada, Isla Pan de Azúcar, Isla Pájaros, Isla Pájaro, Isla Pájara, Negritos Afuera and Negritos Adentro etc, the range is smaller.

Parking regulations and traffic regulations

Driving a rental car in Costa Rica is not that difficult, but as in most countries there are parking and traffic regulations you must abide by. It is better to learn the most important parking and traffic regulations before your trip to avoid fines and make your trip safe. If you are planning to rent a car in the larger cities such as San José, Puerto Limón, San Francisco, Alajuela, Liberia, Paraíso, Puntarenas, San Isidro de El General, Curridabat, San Vicente, San Vicente de Moravia, San José, Purral, Turrialba, you had better plan ahead! You might have trouble finding parking and there is often traffic, especially during rush hour.

What to consider when looking for a rental car in Costa Rica?

How do you find the cheapest rental car in Costa Rica? Book your car online, it is cheaper, easier and saves time. Book as early as possible, it becomes more expensive the closer you get to your trip. Book before you leave, especially if you are going to collect your car at an airport, such as San José Juan Santamaría International Airport, San José Tobías Bolaños International Airport, Limón International Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, Puntarenas Chacarita Airport, Guapiles Airport, Quepos La Managua Airport, Puerto Jiménez Airport, Golfito Airport and Tamarindo Airport. When you are searching with us you will find the best prices. Payless, Alamo, Green Motion, Mex, National, Adobe, Dollar, Thrifty, Apex, U-Save, Keddy By Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Enterprise, Firefly, Hertz, Avis, Economy, Easycar, Europcar are the companies autoprio.com compares in Costa Rica to find the best price.

Destinations in Costa Rica

Compare car rental and find cheap hire cars in regions such as: Car Hire San José, Hire a Car Cheap Alajuela, Cheap rental cars Cartago, Heredia, Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaste. Cheap Pickup Truck Rentals in Costa Rica. Find the best hire cars and the cheapest car rental in towns such as: Compare Rental Cars San José, Compare Rental Cars Puerto Limón, Rent a Car San Francisco, Alajuela, Liberia, Paraíso, Puntarenas, San Isidro de El General, Curridabat, San Vicente de Moravia, Purral, Turrialba, San Miguel, San Pedro, San Rafael Abajo, Quesada, Ipís, Cartago, Chacarita and San Juan. Car hire where every cost is included, no hidden fees and free cancellations/amendments up to 24-48 hours before you are supposed to pick up the car in Costa Rica. Compare car hire and van rental in airports such as: Car Rental San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, Car Rental Tobías Bolaños Airport, Cheap Van Rental Limón Airport, Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, Puntarenas Chacarita Airport, Guapiles Airport, Quepos La Managua Airport, Puerto Jiménez Airport, Golfito Airport, Tamarindo Airport, Nosara Airport, Tambor Airport and La Fortuna Arenal Airport.

Car rental companies we compare in Costa Rica

Firefly, Alamo, Dollar, Sixt, Green Motion, Thrifty, Easycar, Enterprise, Economy, U-Save, Adobe, Apex, Europcar, Keddy By Europcar, National, Budget, Hertz, Payless, Avis and Mex are the companies that autoprio.com compares in Costa Rica.

Car Hire & Rent a Car Costa Rica Customer Reviews & Feedback