"My time's confined... how do I choose?"
Auto rental is usually a scorching subject for vacationers headed to Costa Rica. New research performed through the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) suggests that, after accommodations, renting a vehicle is the most important expenditure, averaging $702 for an eleven-day trip.
The world wide web is buzzing with destructive reviews discussing overcharging, inadequate customer support and mechanical breakdowns. You could have even penned one oneself!
A normal midsize (three - 4 Grownups) 4X4 rental runs amongst $fifty eight and $sixty five day by day with third party insurance coverage and charges can differ just as much as twenty percent among automobile rental firms, so looking at A fast evaluate will be time nicely invested after you compute the discounts.
And so the dilemma is; which rental enterprise offers the very best stability of honest value, capable customer support and reputable cars? I have investigated everything for yourself, so Continue reading!
Disclosure: This research was conducted in Might - July 2013. The following businesses had been chosen simply because they will be the most generally Utilized in Costa Rica. Some are regional firms; Other folks are Global franchises of identified model names. Comparisons incorporate: customer support, pricing plus the reservation course of action. The businesses are stated alphabetically rather than determined by particular or on the web Choices.
Take into account this data prior to renting:
Insurance
One of the biggest causes for problems is within the stack of unexpected prices introduced to your renter after standing with the rental firm's counter. Vacationers are usually fatigued after a lengthy flight and then are confronted by charges that were not anticipated, explained or budgeted.
Topping the list of grievances is definitely the non-disclosure of service fees affiliated with the mandatory 3rd-get together insurance at some time the reservation is designed.
In accordance with Costa Rican law, every single driver is needed to carry liability coverage to insure against accidents to 3rd parties. Vehicle rental companies frequently refrain from disclosing the cost of this policy while in the quoted rental amount to appear much more aggressive. Obligatory third-celebration insurance coverage can from time to time be just as much as double the motor vehicle's rental Charge. The only warranty towards insurance confusion is always to inquire In the event your estimate incorporates the third party insurance and demand on the prepared quotation.
Cost of Necessary Insurance coverage (also known as 3rd party or SLI)
Assume to pay in between $twelve and $fifteen everyday for this insurance coverage, depending on the make and product on the rented automobile and the rental motor vehicle company. This can be a legal ailment of the rental agreement and is normally not protected by charge cards and cannot be waived. It is a truth of renting a car or truck in Costa Rica.
Collision Hurt Waiver (CDW)
Because the name implies, this isn't insurance, but a waiver, which relieves the renter from any legal responsibility for damage to the rental car once the deductible is paid out (usually from $750 to $one,500). Some agencies have to have renters to get their CDW policy; thus negating any bank card program. For yet another payment, numerous organizations do give you a zero liability solution in which the renter will probably be freed from purchasing any damage to the car. Some corporations could set force upon renters to invest in the zero legal responsibility coverage; on the other hand, it really is entirely optional, Until it's during the wonderful print of their rental settlement.
Credit card coverage packages might deal with the CDW for any rental vehicle. Check out together with your preferred rental automobile enterprise to seek out which proof of insurance plan is needed after which you can request that from a bank card company just before arriving. In the event you make use of your credit card's CDW plan, anticipate to pay for a greater deposit to the automobile; all-around $1,five hundred to $2000 is frequent. The upper deposit makes sure that the charge card holder has adequate economical reserves to protect damages if needed. It is crucial to think about that if working with CDW coverage supplied by a credit card (in lieu on the rent a vehicle operator), all damages will be billed on the renter's charge card. The bank card enterprise will then reimburse the card holder for damages.
Additional Insurance coverage
Tires and windshields are not often included in insurance policies policies, Though supplemental guidelines can be taken out for covering these usually damaged things. Neither the inside nor the underneath on the vehicle could possibly be included. Often examine the fine print.
Common Course of action
Your bank card might be charged, or even a 'keep' placed, to the rental auto throughout the time with the rental agreement; i.e. from choosing up the rental until eventually you return it. Debit cards are commonly not appropriate.
Extra Expenses
Most corporations have surcharges For added motorists, automobile seats/boosters, cell phones, coolers, GPS and/or roof racks. The prices differ from company to corporation, but because these extras are billed in a day by day rate, it is actually really worth examining the full Price -- added solutions can add up very quickly! A GPS is all over $eight to $10 on a daily basis; on the other hand, some operators may provide discounted models. Expect to pay all around $five daily for a child seat and some dollars per day for all another 'niceties'. Vamos is notable for giving These types of selections and, through some promotions, even the GPS rental complimentarily. Alamo, Spending plan, Hertz and National cost the most for these more solutions; whereas another firms stated, demand a lot more reasonable price ranges.
Surcharges
Most companies include modest incremental charges, which include license plate and environmental service fees, into the full tally. Be wary of operators who insert these extra expenses to the smaller print of your rental contract. Vehicles rented direct on the airport incur airport taxes, that happen to be a whopping twelve% within your rental cost!
The rental car must be returned Along with the exact amount of fuel, Unless of course in any other case indicated. Otherwise, firms may well demand higher than gas station rates for missing fuel.
Automobiles
There exists a discussion in excess of the cars equipped by rental corporations: More mature cars and trucks allow the driver to blend in greater than a shiny, new vehicle. Possessing an older design could hold the oblique advantage of currently being a lot less scrutinized by car or truck rental organizations for the latest nicks and scratches, compared with a more recent auto. Having said that, a more recent auto may be more roadworthy. This debate carries on into the different vehicle makes and models. Generally, Costa Rican firms are able to rent their vehicles for just a lessen level for the reason that their cars and trucks are generally a few to 5 years outdated (as opposed to two to a few). On the web testimonials would propose the neighborhood firms have no more complaints concerning auto high-quality than transnational franchises; investigate on message boards, for instance TripAdvisor.com, would seem to point that consumers usually recognize driving a considerably less-than-new automobile with the wilds of Costa Rica. The reasons are plenty, from road disorders to your Idea of considerably less-then-new autos blending in much better -- a newer auto may well attract a lot more undesirable interest.
The choices of rental cars and trucks in Costa Rica are typically restricted to can make and versions that preserve a competitive resale benefit, are a standard model inside the nation, and are reasonably priced to take care of. As a result a rent-a-car operator's fleet are likely never to be as varied as The us. Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hyundai constitute the mainstay models of most rental fleets.
From time to time, motorists are charged for supposed 'damages' into the car or truck upon return. As soon as acquiring the car or truck, renters need to meticulously check for pre-existing flaws and Look at it Along with the automobile inspection document employed by the rental car or truck consultant. Some renters recommend photographing or videoing the vehicle from all angles, to stop any disagreement amongst pre-existing and recently harmed objects.
Pricing
Vehicle rentals in Costa Rica are pricier compared to other nations around the world. Responsibilities on automobiles are high (just as much as 50% of their benefit!), areas are costlier and unforgiving road disorders add to larger wear and tear, building increased maintenance prices.
The rule is you obtain Everything you pay for -- you will discover other available choices than those rental providers shown here, but they don't seem to be shown for a great rationale. They basically fail to provide simple customer service and/or an acceptable car ailment essential for any (practically) difficulty-free trip.
When comparing rental car or truck costs, it's best to go on to the Costa Rican website with the rental vehicle enterprise, as an alternative to trying to use their Global format or an middleman (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, et al.). For the same motor vehicles and reservation dates, the charges made available from the respective Global vs. Costa Rican websites for Alamo, Finances, Hertz and Thrifty differed substantially.
To stay away from confusion, print out all correspondence With all the vehicle rental firm with whom you might have reserved a car and convey this towards the rental Business With all the quotation provided at enough time of reservation.
The next major 10 chart ranks the businesses from optimum priced to cheapest and it involves the mandatory coverage charge. From the circumstances of Alamo and Hertz, the determine includes their CDW payment as it is among their rental requirements. This price tag comparison is based on every week's rental of a Daihatsu Bego, where offered (Dollar presents the Suzuki Vitara) from September 14th - 21st, nevertheless in December to perspective the two Environmentally friendly and Higher Year prices. The checklist immediately demonstrates that the price variation depends tremendously on the corporation -- for fundamentally the exact same services. These charges were acquired in June/July 2013.
Rental Motor vehicle Businesses Rated In accordance with Value
September
ten. Alamo $650.ninety six
9. Hertz $514.27
8. Adobe $449
7. Budget $455
6. Countrywide $428.01
5. Thrifty $421.05
4. Assistance $374.43
three. Vamos $370.thirty
2. Greenback $364
one. Wild Rider $350
December
10. Alamo $650.ninety six
nine. National $597.fifty one
eight. Hertz $566.52
seven. Spending plan $555
6. Greenback $532
five. Thrifty $506.58
4. Assistance $494.43
3. Vamos $461.thirty
2. Adobe $459
1. Wild Rider $395
Alamo ranks range 10 for the two seasons, rendering it the most expensive organization. Finances, Hertz and National also charge very low on the scale for cost-effective rental selections.
Company Summaries
Adobe
Web site is obvious and simple to operate, but pricing as well as the cars mentioned aren't similar to All those given by an Place of work agent around the telephone. Obligatory coverage expenses usually are not demonstrated While using the list of autos and rental prices, but They are really clearly shown on the next web site as a client moves toward scheduling a reservation. Mixed consumer testimonials on the net. Electronic mail response is below 24 several hours, but may well not provide all requested data.
Toll-absolutely free U.S.A and Canada contact number. No Live Chat.
10 workplaces nationwide
Obligatory insurance plan: $19 daily
Extra expenses: GPS $nine/working day, boy or girl seat $5/day
Alamo
Web site is obvious and convenient to use, but selling prices vary against estimates acquired in excess of the cell phone. Required insurance costs aren't provided Together with the listing of motor vehicles and rental rates, but they are clearly displayed on the next webpage as The client moves toward building a reservation. Blended shopper reviews on-line. Email response is under 24 hrs.
No toll-cost-free U.S.A and Canada cell phone number or Stay chat
fourteen places of work nationwide
Required coverage: $eleven.ninety five daily, but must also take their CDW at $12.95 every day
Extra costs: GPS $12/day, youngster seat $6/day
Price range
Site is simple, but user friendly. Charges on the web vary on the quotations presented by a consultant in excess of the mobile phone and dependant upon if the Global or Costa Rican Internet site is utilised. Obligatory insurance policy fees are provided combined with the list of automobiles; nevertheless, the other charges are not listed. Blended shopper assessments on line. Electronic mail reaction is a lot more than 24 hrs.
No toll-cost-free U.S.A and Canada telephone number. No Reside Chat on Costa Rican Web site.
10 offices nationwide
Mandatory insurance: included in the mentioned rate
More prices: GPS $ten.95/day, kid seat $12/working day (the most costly of the highest 10)
Dollar
Web site is clear and easy to use. Price ranges quoted vary if contacting through the U.S. or in Costa Rica. Necessary insurance coverage expenses are not specified Along with the listing of autos and rental expenses, but They're clearly exhibited on the subsequent website page like a consumer moves towards a earning a reservation. Blended testimonials on the internet, but usually gets beneficial opinions. E-mail inquiries answered inside 24 several hours.
Toll-absolutely free U.S.A and Canada cell phone number. No Reside Chat.
3 places of work nationwide
Obligatory insurance policies: $16 daily
More fees: GPS $9/day, baby seat $five/day
Hertz
Website is evident and user friendly. Necessary insurance prices will not be provided besides the listing of autos and rental costs, but they are Plainly shown on the following webpage as the customer moves to a reserving a reservation. Mixed shopper opinions on the internet. Email reaction below 24 several hours.
Toll-free U.S.A and Canada contact number and Dwell Chat (although it is apparently completely offline)
seven workplaces nationwide
Necessary insurance: $seventeen.43 day by day, but their CDW can be a necessity
Supplemental fees: GPS $12/working day, little one seat $2/working day
Nationwide
Website is evident and simple to operate. Necessary insurance expenditures usually are not specified combined with the list of cars and rental expenses, but they are Plainly displayed on the subsequent website page as a purchaser moves in the direction of generating a reservation. Blended customer assessments on line, but far more constructive than detrimental. E-mail response less than 24 hours.
Toll-cost-free U.S.A and Canada telephone number. Stay Chat.
22 places of work nationwide
Obligatory insurance plan: $twenty five day by day (the costliest of the best ten)
Additional fees: GPS $12/working day, child seat $six/day
Provider
Website is evident and user friendly with merely a slight confusion in that an online quote is acquired by clicking on 'Reserve Now' and never the 'Get yourself a Quote' solution. The response to your telephone inquiry was to implement the website. Obligatory insurance coverage expenditures are offered together with the list of autos and rental charges with the very low season fees and on the 2nd website page of one other quotation website page. Keep in mind is often a really recommended gross sales representative who is talked about in several on-line opinions with the higher standard of his customer care. Normally on-line reviews are favourable for Company. E mail response is fewer than 24 hours, Whilst all facts asked for will not be been given.
U.S.A telephone number, although not toll-cost-free. No Live Chat.
5 places of work nationwide
Mandatory insurance policies: $fifteen every day
More charges: GPS $5.ninety nine/working day, kid seat $two.ninety nine/day
Thrifty
Costa Rican Edition of the web site is impossible to work with and you simply are asked to sign-up for just a consumer title and password. Required insurance coverage charges are usually not offered combined with the listing of vehicles and rental expenses. A purchaser has got to click on "Defense Selections" on the U.S. Site and choose the required insurance coverage by clicking on it -- implying that it is optional rather than a demanded Price. Thrifty often get blended critiques on the internet. E mail reaction is more than 24 hrs.
Toll-cost-free U.S.A and Canada contact number. No Live Chat.
4 workplaces nationwide
Obligatory coverage: $19.99 every day
Further prices: GPS $ten/day, kid seat $5/working day
Vamos
Web page is evident and easy to use. Necessary insurance policies expenditures are usually not given along aspect the list of cars and rental prices, but are Evidently displayed on the following webpage as The client moves toward scheduling a reservation. Anibal, a agent, is frequently talked about in on the internet testimonials for his significant volume of customer service abilities. Common Manager, George Schwarzenbach is thought on Excursion Advisor for his upfront and straightforward responses to shoppers' posts.
Recently, Vamos has received extremely good evaluations on the web. E mail reaction is a lot less than 24 several hours. Are living Chat has prompt response time to inquiries.
Toll-totally free U.S.A and Canada telephone number. Reside Chat.
3 workplaces nationwide
Necessary insurance policies: $eleven.ninety five day-to-day
More prices: GPS $eight/working day, baby seat no cost
Wild Rider
Web-site is evident and easy to use. Necessary insurance policy fees are provided close to the list of autos. Wild Rider is the sole automobile rental agency in Costa Rica without any noticeable undesirable testimonials on the web. Proprietor, Thorsten, is frequently praised for his effectiveness and customer support, despite the really restricted sources the organization has at hand. Email messages obtain extremely prompt and comprehensive responses in lower than 12 hours.
No toll-free phone number or Are living Chat
one Business -- no Liberia airport Office environment
Obligatory insurance plan: provided
Added fees: GPS $8/day, kid seat $5/working day
Comparison Evaluate
Customer care
Vamos and Wild Rider reply promptly and proficiently to e-mail or Reside chat inquiries. Adobe, Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Service reply to e mail inquiries in below 24 hrs, but Adobe and Service did not provide all the data asked for (quite possibly a language barrier). Funds offers a free of charge telephone service, but it seems being constantly hectic. Hertz's Reside chat appears to be frequently offline. Over the previous yr, clients who posted to online evaluate web-sites expressed a certain fulfillment Using the customer service made available from Provider, Vamos and Wild Rider.
Clarity
Adobe, Alamo and Price range have various rental prices posted on their own Internet websites than Individuals quoted more than the phone. Phone charges have been reduce than that quoted on the web site from the situations of Adobe and Alamo, but but greater in the situation of Funds. Adobe also offers different auto styles above the telephone as compared to their Web page. Worldwide vehicle rental corporations with equally a Costa Rican and Worldwide website surface to own pricing variations between The 2 web sites.
Budget and Wild Rider include things like the obligatory insurance coverage of their rental charges, but Spending budget states that 'other rates' that can be presented within the counter while in the little print on their own Internet site. Rental costs for motor vehicle seating needed to be verified to the cellphone as they are not stated within the Budget Web page.
All other businesses aside from Thrifty (a U.S. Internet site), clearly exhibit the necessary insurance Value Using the quotation specified. Thrifty's Costa Rican Internet site is simply unusable.
Pricing
Assistance, Vamos and Wild Rider regularly give the most effective rates for equally Green and Significant seasons, Though Greenback has among the lowest Inexperienced season costs accessible, when Adobe has a cheaper Significant period level. Vamos supply the most beneficial "all inclusive" charges, on condition that most possibilities are offered totally free.
Adobe, Dollar, Provider, Thrifty and Wild Rider remain aggressive with their pricing of items for example child seats. Alamo, Hertz and Nationwide are the most expensive firms to rent from and their supplemental alternative prices may also be dearer.
"So, what is your rental advice?"
General, the Costa Rican corporations seem to trump the multi-nationals with greater pricing, service and clarity.
Provider provides a typically superior-degree of customer care and pretty aggressive pricing at miami car rental both Global airports.
Vamos can give effective scheduling and continued substantial-level of customer support with aggressive pricing, in addition to cost-free additional alternatives at both of those SJO and LIR airports.
Wild Rider is extremely remarkably rated for a rental with obvious and inexpensive pricing and outstanding customer care, but they are only in San Jose.
"Now you are wanting to guide your rental auto just after viewing how the Levels of competition compares. Good luck and satisfied travels!"