Manual to Motor vehicle Rental Businesses in Costa Rica
Fee Comparisons for 2015
Motor vehicle rental in Costa Rica is an opportunity to check out the distant beaches and peaceful corners of the breathtakingly wonderful country. Journey with no limits set by public transportation timetables and with liberty over group excursions. For that unprepared traveler; however, automobile rental charges and products and services could be a rude shock plus a blow to that holiday vacation budget.
Renting a motor vehicle in your vacation will probably be the costliest portion within your budget, so comprehending the phrases and taking care of anticipations is very important. The information beneath is just not intended to generally be an exhaustive manual, however it must established you on The trail to an informed choice for your vehicle rental wants in Costa Rica.
Why is car or truck rental so highly-priced?
Visitors from outside of Costa Rica tend to be stunned by the price of car or truck rental. When lodge rooms, cafe bills and tours are reduced than the prices paid out in your own home, it may well surface strange that car rental ought to be much more expensive.
There are 2 basic good reasons for this significant Price tag:
All motor vehicles in Costa Rica are imported in addition to a tax is imposed. Resulting from this weighty taxation, the expense of buying a vehicle is higher than It could be in other industrialized international locations. Usually there are some vehicle rental operators who hire more mature motor vehicles in an effort to lessen their expenditures.
The expense of required coverage (see down below).
Things that Affect Car Rental Costs
• Mandatory Insurance
Third-bash coverage, which can be often known as TPI, PDW (Partial Problems Waiver), SLI (Supplementary Legal responsibility Insurance plan) together with other acronyms, is often a lawful prerequisite. Auto rental operators have to cost The client for this coverage which may or may not be distinct within the quotation received by the customer.
The insurance alone isn't the challenge. In spite of everything, a number of other international locations demand automobile renters to pay a mandatory insurance; including: New Zealand, Italy and Mexico, in addition to a amount of the U.S. states, like California. The difficulty that triggers competition in Costa Rica is that this cost is not normally exhibited Plainly on the car rental operator's Site or inside a quote. Prospects then explore the extra Value of their rental upon arrival.
The cost of required insurance plan differs from organization to business and will count on the vehicle group which is becoming rented as well. The expense for a little sedan could possibly be as tiny as $12 per day, Whilst a high quality 4x4 automobile might be as much as $twenty five for insurance plan every day. This really is in addition to the rental Price tag.
Bank cards in North The united states generally offer car or truck insurance policies as an extra perk to the charge card holder and so North Us citizens particularly, are unused to having to buy insurance policies on top of rental costs. On the other hand, no bank card will include this insurance prerequisite.
Do request When the specified estimate consists of third-occasion insurance policy and Verify the costs on the car rental operator's Web site.
• Collision Destruction Waiver
This is simply not insurance coverage, but a waiver. The essential stage will include a deductible that may differ, but may be around $one,five hundred. For a greater daily amount, a zero deductible CDW could be purchased To ease the renter of any economic responsibility in the event of damage to, or theft thereof, the auto.
A lot of renters will acquire their CDW as a result of their bank card. However, it can be well worth noting that the accountability for creating any coverage declare is on the customer rather than Using the motor vehicle rental operator. Some renters may possibly choose to acquire further in-dwelling protection to avoid acquiring this duty.
There'll be automobile rental organizations which challenging sell their unique coverage options by means of guaranteeing relief, but eventually, this is the renter's determination. It is worthy of remembering that vehicle rental corporation workers, like in other aspects of the entire world, will in some cases generate Fee for insurance policy gross sales.
If The client's charge card will not deliver CDW, the customer is going to be required to purchase this in-household protection.
Automobile rental operators require prepared evidence that The shopper's bank card supplies CDW. Talk to the car rental operator for the precise particulars of whatever they need As well as in what form. Some may possibly settle for a forwarded e-mail with the credit card corporation, but others may possibly request a printed copy being presented at enough time of rental.
• Deposit
The deposit amount of money necessary will count on whether or not The shopper chooses to use the automobile rental operator's in-dwelling CDW or requires this protection via a credit card. Be expecting to pay a Significantly bigger deposit When the in-property CDW is declined. The deposit could also rely on car or truck model rented. This sum, that may be held around the renter's bank card right until the end on the rental interval, may be from $750 approximately about $3,500. The deposit really should take no more than 5 times to become refunded on the charge card around the motor vehicle's return. Some car or truck rental agencies will take debit playing cards for deposit keep, however the return time for this volume normally takes weeks.
Do be certain that the deposit is calculated during the holiday price range being an unexpected hold of a few thousand pounds with a credit card could in any other case seriously Slash into vacation paying.
• Airport Taxes
Buyers that hire from a vehicle rental operator's counter in an airport making are obliged to pay the airport tax.
These automobile rental operators that has a counter at San Jose's Juan Santamaria Intercontinental Airport (SJO) are: Alamo/National, Price range, Greenback, Overall economy and Hertz. These providers will add an extra twelve% tax to your rental Price tag.
Those vehicle rental operators by using a counter at Daniel Oduber Quiros Global Airport (LIR) are: Avis, Spending plan and Economy. These businesses will incorporate a further three% tax into the rental cost.
To prevent this tax, get an airport shuttle Together with the car or truck rental operator to an Business located outside of the airport grounds.
• Surcharges as well as other Taxes
There are a variety of other obligatory costs that car or truck rental operators may perhaps increase into the rental Price, Show on-display or demonstrate while in the quotation, or go away undisclosed right until The shopper's arrival. These potentially hidden expenses might look tiny when seen independently, but these are usually each day premiums, so they can increase up speedy!
These may include:
• License Plate Charge: Lower than $2 everyday, but differs from organization to organization.
• Environmental Tax: Below $one day-to-day.
• Income Tax: All profits transactions in Costa Rica are subjected to your twelve% govt-imposed profits tax.
• Car or truck Washing Cost: Provide again an extremely soiled auto plus the cleansing price could possibly be extra on to the final payment. One particular automobile rental operator expenses $20 for this additional services.
• Fuel Costs: When the fuel tank is not filled to the same amount as it absolutely was Initially of your rental interval, then the vehicle rental firm will cost (typically to the nearest eighth of a tank). This charge is dictated by the car rental operator and it is not issue into the governmentally established gasoline price tag that might be identified at any gas station.
Exactly where Should I Reserve the Vehicle?
A standard confusion for tourists reserving a rental auto may be the discrepancy among international websites for car rental operators as well as Costa Rican Web-site for the same brand name. Often the Global websites are unaware of, or fall short to reveal, insurances, taxes and surcharges that could be charged on the counter. This may be due to The truth that a lot of acknowledged car rental operator models in Costa Rica are usually not a international branch in the branded vehicle rental operator, but alternatively certainly are a franchise operation. This factor is usually worthy of thinking about when it comes to expectations about customer support along with other finer particulars. The Costa Rican franchise Business could possibly have their own personal type of operating, in addition to precisely the same guidelines and guidelines that The shopper could have skilled in other parts of the earth.
Understandably then, a web based reservation is very best made from the neighborhood website instead of the Global website, where ever attainable. Several companies do not need a neighborhood website. In such cases, do Examine the details with an area workers member via the phone and ask for penned affirmation from the quotation. Knowledge with live chat over the Worldwide websites implies that While team is qualified on terms and conditions governing the most crucial Business office (usually U.S.A.); they fully grasp tiny of the procedures that should be adhered to in Costa Rica.
Motor vehicle Rental Comparisons
In Could/June of 2013, I compared the pricing and companies of numerous motor vehicle rental operators in Costa Rica and revealed the conclusions. To my shock, the article remains to be becoming plagiarized on a regular basis across the online market place which indicates that it's even now useful and so an update was expected. The prices for this comparison ended up obtained in December 2014 and January 2015.
The ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism) states there are thirty registered car or truck rental operators with eight Some others pending approval. Having said that, there are numerous extra companies that hire automobiles to readers. The car rental operators picked are Individuals which happen to be most frequently employed by vacationers:
Adobe
Alamo
Avis
Spending plan
Dollar
Overall economy
Fox
Hertz
National
Payless
Assistance
Thrifty
Toyota
USave
Vamos
Wild Rider
Exclusion of Businesses from Closing Comparison
Spending budget, Overall economy, Payless, and Toyota were contacted, but these 4 companies did not deliver correct on the net prices. Overall economy and Spending budget's Sites have one price tag, whatever the dates entered and clients will need to reserve a motor vehicle to ensure that them to honor the value revealed. Toyota's Web site was however only working up until finally March. Further than that, the pricing displayed $0 for the rest of your yr. Payless has this disclaimer on their own website: "Taxes and surcharges will not be in just our Manage and should change all at once."
Sending unique inquiries for each period of time resulted in inconsistent success: Spending budget made available the same value for all a few investigated time periods when getting an e mail ask for, which is highly not likely; Financial state responded with various prices for a similar dates from various customers of team; and Toyota's emailed quotes for time intervals earlier March's prices indicated on the internet didn't correspond into the March prices quoted (perhaps the emailed quotations contained taxes that were not proven on the web). Payless can offer quotes by way of e mail and phone, but were not in step with pricing for various seasons.
Avis is barely excluded from the price comparison, as they do not have an intermediate SUV group of their fleet.
Comparison Information
Automobile rental fee, all taxes and surcharges, and 3rd-party insurance policy expenditures are (supposedly) calculated and rated accordingly beneath determined by the 7 days's rental of the BeGo or similar intermediate 4x4 from a San Jose/Alajuela spot (not with the airport).
Rates are calculated on a weekly basis and divided by 7 to offer a day by day Price which can be far more quickly equivalent. As not all pricing is completely transparent, the prices are as precise as feasible based on the information offered through the car or truck rental operators' Web-sites, phone calls, and/or email messages. Airport taxes will not be A part of these figures.
Shoulder Time (Quotation for July 13 through 20)
1. USave $43.37
two. Assistance $fifty four.ninety two
3. Fox $55.64
4. Hertz $58.17
5. Adobe $sixty.13
6. Alamo $60.ninety nine
seven. Wild Rider $sixty two.86
eight. Greenback $sixty three.35
nine. Vamos $sixty four.fifteen
ten. National $67.04
11. Thrifty $seventy four.39
Low Season (Estimate for May possibly thirteen as a result of twenty)
1. National $37.04
2. USave $43.37
3. Dollar $forty six.forty nine
four. Adobe $fifty two.fifty seven
five. Vamos $fifty three.fifteen
six. Service $53.49
7. Hertz $54.59
8. Fox $55.sixty four
nine. Wild Rider $fifty five.seventy one
ten. Alamo $sixty.99
11. Thrifty $74.39
Higher Period (Estimate for March 13 by way of twenty)
one. Greenback $fifty five.ninety two
two. USave $fifty six.22
three. Hertz $fifty six.37
four. Fox $fifty nine.36
five. Thrifty $sixty four.sixty nine
6. Support $66.63
seven. Vamos $sixty seven.fourteen
eight. Alamo $sixty nine.fifty six
nine. Wild Rider $70.00
ten. Adobe $70.sixty three
eleven. Countrywide $seventy three.ninety
Summary of Comparison
Apparently, You can find not one clear costly or inexpensive organization from Individuals in comparison. The variation in rating amongst seasons is marked and buyers need to look at their family vacation dates When picking the vehicle rental operator. One example is, Thrifty seems given that the most expensive for both equally small and shoulder time, but are only in fourth posture from the rankings for top Time.
It is additionally major that pricing will not be in keeping with position with car or truck rental operators in other car or truck groups. One example is, Vamos' pricing is The most affordable for the high quality motor vehicle inside the shoulder period; Though they aren't initial in any rankings for the intermediate category and Adobe which seems aggressive are the most costly for this period of time and auto class.
Information on Vehicle Rental Operators
Adobe Rent-A-Car is a local motor vehicle rental operator which includes eleven places of work across the nation. The website is simple and simple to use with no clear concealed expenditures. The obligatory insurance policies Expense is displayed as part of the online quotation. The corporate gets combined critiques online, but extra favourable than detrimental responses are made. Emails receive a reply in just 24 several hours, but might not completely solution the questions questioned.
Toll-Absolutely free Cell phone number: 1-855-861-1250
Kid Seat: $three/day
Booster: $one/working day
Further Driver: $3/working day
GPS Procedure: $nine/day
Alamo functions in partnership with National and it has 13 workplaces across the country. Just like quite a few massive names, Alamo Costa Rica is actually a franchise and not a department of Alamo by itself. Third-celebration insurance and primary CDW are A part of the online quotation, although the CDW can be refused on presentation of proof of protection by The client's credit card. This makes the pricing feel substantial on very first glance, specially when, contrary to other automobile rental operators, Alamo consists of airport taxes of their on the web quotation and so their pricing is truthful, but appears Substantially increased than other businesses Subsequently. Pricing differs within the international Web page of the business, although the conditions and terms do condition the fees that could be paid out on arrival. This pricing discrepancy is the guide reason for unfavorable assessments for this firm. Email messages are responded to in just 24 hrs.
Toll-Free of charge Phone Number: one-855-533-1196
Kid Seat: $three/day
Additional Driver: $six/day
GPS Procedure: $twelve/day
Avis' Web page obliges a single to select an auto safety possibility, nonetheless it fails to Show a remaining quotation whole or price for that coverage picked on the internet until an emailed estimate is sent. Protection expenses may very well be acquired by clicking on the option 'Protections Discussed' at the bottom with the display.
No Toll-No cost Telephone number
Child Seat: $five/day
More Driver: $5/working day
GPS Method: $nine.99/working day
Price range has a web site that is certainly easy to use, although the pricing offered is as the exact same for all seasons, suggesting that it is not accurate. E-mail responses had been Commonly quick, but some ended up left unanswered. Emailed quotations showed the same pricing for all seasons as the web site did. Necessary insurance is just not included on the net estimate, nevertheless the compact print states that this is payable for the counter. Spending budget gets combined on line evaluations.
No Toll-No cost Telephone number, but Are living Chat is offered
Boy or girl Seat: $5/working day
Additional Driver: $five/working day
GPS Program: $fourteen.99/working day
Dollar appears to obtain extremely aggressive rates, but airport taxes is going to be used In the event the auto is becoming gathered from the airport's counters. A single may perhaps locate this inside their terms and conditions, but not of their on-line prices. Car washing cost is enforced for incredibly dirty autos. There are actually four workplaces in Liberia and San Jose. Electronic mail response is within just 24 several hours. Dollar gets blended critiques from on the net travel discussion boards.
Toll-Absolutely free Phone Number: 1-877-767-8651
Baby Seat: $5/day
More Driver: $five/day
GPS Technique: $nine/day
Financial system has twelve places of work around the region. They have got no Costa Rican website. Scroll down on their site to find and click on insurance policies prices. Airport taxes aren't A part of the quotation. Emails obtain both A fast response or no response in any way. Financial state has the worst on-line popularity of any major identify vehicle rental operator in Costa Rica.
Toll-Free of charge Contact number: one-877-326-7368
Kid Seat: $10/working day
Supplemental Driver: $10/day
GPS Technique: $fifteen/working day
Fox functions in partnership with USave. Workplaces can be found at both equally international airports. Email messages receive a reaction in just 24 hours. On-line testimonials are commonly weak.
Toll-Totally free Telephone number: one-800-225-4369
Baby Seat: $five/day
Extra Driver: $10/working day (Until wife or husband)
GPS System: $9.99/working day
Hertz has 6 places of work in the country. Reservations could be manufactured via a Costa Rican Web-site. Initial on-line quote will not incorporate gross sales taxes, but it does consist of the CDW -- Even though CDW could be waived with evidence of bank card protection. E-mail get a response inside 24 hrs. Mediocre testimonials on journey message boards.
No Toll-No cost Contact number
Child Seat: $5/day
Extra Driver: $13/day
GPS Technique: $twelve/working day
Countrywide will work in partnership with Alamo and it has 30 places of work in Procedure across the country. The company features a Central American Web site, in addition to the Worldwide internet site, which Plainly demonstrates the breakdown of pricing. CDW is A part of the web quotation, but it could be unchecked to secure a quotation with just the required coverage. Take note which the airport tax is A part of the web quotation as well. Instant responses to questions are available through Live Chat on their Web site. Critiques are mixed, but you will find much more good than unfavorable.
Free of charge Cellphone Get in touch with Alternative By way of Site
Kid Seat: $6/day
Booster: $6/day
Additional Driver: $five/working day
GPS Process: $twelve/working day
Payless is a component on the Global automobile rental organization and has no Costa Rican Web site. On-line estimates do not include 3rd-bash coverage, Whilst the data on This can be located by reading through the guidelines for your San Jose place. Emails get a reaction in a lot less than 24 hrs, but often refer back to the website, rather than new information. Assessments tend to be more adverse than optimistic.
Toll-Free of charge Phone Number: 1-800-PAYLESS
Boy or girl Seat: $five/working day
Booster: $5/day
Additional Driver: $ten/working day
GPS Technique: $9.95/working day
Assistance is a neighborhood organization with five offices during the place. On an normally very clear Web site, click on 'Reserve Now' instead of 'Have a Estimate' for an internet price Look at. Rember could be the personnel member pointed out in critiques on vacation Discussion board for his valuable customer service and the company frequently will get excellent critiques. E-mail are answered within just 24 hrs and Usually provide asked for data.
U.S. Telephone number: one-305-897-3718
Baby Seat: $3.50/working day
Added Driver: $3/working day
GPS Process: $7.50/working day
Thrifty doesn't have a local Web-site, Consequently details is through the Intercontinental Internet site. Coverage options or facts with regards to third-bash insurance policies just isn't provided to the reservation webpage until finally one clicks 'Security Data'. Emails get a response within 24 several hours, but might not answer site-certain questions. Opinions are regularly negative resulting from pricing grievances.
Toll-Free Cell phone number: 1-800-344-1705
Boy or girl Seat: $5/day
Booster: $five/day
Supplemental Driver: $12/day
GPS Technique: $11.ninety nine/day
Toyota is a big title; nevertheless, Regardless that their Internet site appears Qualified initially look, it just does not get the job done, or a minimum of it wasn't working in an effort to obtain quotations later than March 2015. Their on the net quotes usually do not consist of gross sales taxes. Email messages acquire fast responses, but rates for various seasons appeared to be contradictory. However, Toyota has a great status on vacation boards. Eight offices are located across the nation.
No cost Phone Contact Alternative Through Web page
Boy or girl Seat: town car $five/day
Cooler: $1.50/day
Further Driver: $3/working day
GPS Technique: $ten/working day
USave is effective in partnership with Fox and it has three Workplace places. Insurance policy possibilities are demonstrated for the web quotation, but it really needs to be selected and 'recalculate' pressed, before it can be included in the pricing. E-mails get a response within just 24 hours. The corporate receive Total weak evaluations, Whilst there are several beneficial feedback manufactured on travel community forums.
Toll-No cost Telephone number: one-800-467-3659
Child Seat: $5/working day
Extra Driver: $ten/working day
GPS Program: $nine.95/day
Vamos is an area business that is a popular option for Trip Advisor and Lonely Earth industry experts due to their customer care and pricing. The website is simple to use with itemized prices clearly shown. The Stay Chat option allows fast personalized rates and responses from English-speaking workers. The corporate has three workplaces.
Toll-Absolutely free Phone Number: 1-800-950-8426
Little one Seat: no cost
Booster: totally free
Added Driver: no cost
GPS Method: $8/working day
Wild Rider is a little, nearby firm Found only in San Jose. The website is easy with 3rd-bash insurance coverage included in the pricing. Firstly of the study, the pricing was not current, but this has since been remedied. This vehicle rental operator stands out by obtaining only beneficial reviews and so is highly advisable by vacation Discussion board customers. Proprietor, Thorsten, replies in the hour to inquiries all through office hours.
U.S. Cell phone number: one-917-477-7712
Boy or girl Seat: $5/day
GPS Program: $eight/working day
Overall Summary
Clarity
Adobe, Alamo, National, Support, Vamos, and Wild Rider give apparent and complete prices on their Sites. One other motor vehicle rental operators were significantly less transparent with surcharges or taxes, for instance airport taxes or gross sales taxes. Pricing on additional extras were not usually straightforward to search out, and Avis, Thrifty and Toyota needed to be contacted for these aspects.
Communication
Levels of communication have improved considering that the 1st comparison, even though it would appear smart to request a local quantity and make sure solutions Along with the Costa Rica Office environment of your international vehicle rental operators, as international chat operators or Individuals replying to email messages, tend not to generally appear to be a hundred% self-assured about local policies and may even give incorrect info.
Be prepared to exchange several email messages in an effort to get entire solutions to issues with a variety of providers: Spending plan and Economy were particularly prone to this -- requesting a great deal of information to be able to give a quotation. It isn't unreasonable that associates of employees Operating inside a 2nd language could skip elements of an e-mail, so present concerns in distinct and simple language.
Reside Chat on each the Spending budget and Vamos Web sites imply info may be provided instantly and is still documented, unlike a cellular phone connect with.
Pricing
The comparison higher than reveals which the pricing involving corporations is dependent greatly within the period and vehicle category being considered, rather then a transparent Slice decision amongst a lot more or cheaper rental prices.
Customers need to evaluate the pricing of other goods, for instance added drivers or GPS method, and families will want to match motor vehicle seat rental pricing. Wild Rider presents the primary further driver at no cost, Vamos don't demand for virtually any extras, other than the GPS, and normally, the Worldwide firms have bigger prices for these extras as opposed to neighborhood businesses.
So Who Do I Rent From?
It is evident the neighborhood vehicle rental operators are still trumping the massive names inside their transparency and customer service when comparing their Web-sites and on the net evaluations. The main difference from the former fee comparison from a number of many years back would be that the pricing is becoming more difficult to equate.
Adobe, Alamo, and Countrywide appear to charge well as Intercontinental auto rental operators. It really is worth noting that Countrywide is the costliest in higher time for that intermediate class, yet The most cost effective in lower period. Adobe and Alamo are Center-rated for pricing.
Wild Rider is exceptional in having zero terrible evaluations, but is only situated in San Jose and has a much lesser fleet of autos. Of the other area companies, Services and Vamos occur out properly and Vamos' totally free supplemental extras will attract spending budget-minded tourists and family members with young little ones. Support also offers these extras at very low everyday rates.