Guide to Car Rental Companies in Costa Rica

My times limitedhow do I choose?

Car rental is a hot topic for vacationers headed to Costa Rica. Recent research
conducted by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) indicates that, after
accommodations, renting a car is the largest expense, averaging $702 for an
eleven-day vacation.

The Internet is buzzing with negative reviews discussing overcharging, poor

customer service and mechanical breakdowns. You might have even written one
yourself!

A typical midsize (3 - 4 adults) 4X4 rental runs between $58 and $65 daily with
third party insurance and rates can vary as much as 20 percent among car rental
companies, so reading a quick review will be time well spent once you calculate
the savings.

So the question is, which rental company offers the best balance of fair price,
capable customer service and reliable vehicles? Ive researched it all for you, so
keep reading!

Disclosure: This research was conducted in May - July 2013. The following
companies were selected because they are the most widely used in Costa Rica.
Some are local companies; others are international franchises of recognized
brand names. Comparisons include: customer service, pricing and the
reservation process. The companies are listed alphabetically and not based on
personal or online preferences.

Consider This Before Renting

Insurance

One of the biggest causes for complaints is from the stack of unforeseen charges
presented to the renter once standing at the rental companys counter.
Vacationers are typically tired after a long flight and then are confronted by
costs that were not anticipated, explained or budgeted.

Topping the list of grievances is the non-disclosure of fees associated with the
mandatory third-party insurance at the time the reservation is made.

According to Costa Rican law, every driver is required to carry liability coverage
to insure against injuries to third parties. Car rental companies generally refrain
from disclosing the cost of this policy in the quoted rental rate to appear more
competitive. Mandatory third-party insurance can sometimes be as much as
double the vehicles rental cost. The only guarantee against insurance confusion
is to inquire if your estimate includes the third party insurance and insist on a
written quotation.

Cost of Mandatory Insurance (also called Third Party or SLI)

Expect to pay between $12 and $15 daily for this insurance, depending on the
make and model of the rented vehicle and the rental car agency. This is a legal
condition of your rental agreement and is generally not covered by credit cards
and cannot be waived. Its a fact of renting a car in Costa Rica.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

As the name suggests, this isnt insurance, but a waiver, which relieves the
renter from any liability for damage to the rental car after the deductible is paid
(usually from $750 to $1,500). Some agencies require renters to purchase their
CDW policy; thereby negating any credit card program. For an additional fee,
many agencies do offer a zero liability option where the renter will be freed from
paying for any damage to the car. Some companies may put pressure upon
renters to purchase the zero liability coverage; however, it is entirely optional,
unless it is in the fine print of their rental agreement.

Credit card insurance programs may cover the CDW for a rental vehicle. Check
with your chosen rental car company to find which proof of insurance is needed
and then request that from your credit card company prior to arriving. If you use
your credit cards CDW policy, expect to pay a higher deposit on the vehicle;
around $1,500 to $2000 is common. The higher deposit ensures that the credit
card holder has enough financial reserves to cover damages if needed. It is
important to consider that if using CDW coverage provided by a credit card (in
lieu of the rent a car operator), all damages will be billed to the renters credit
card. The credit card company will then reimburse the card holder for damages.

More Insurance

Tires and windshields are rarely included in insurance policies, although

additional policies may be taken out for covering these frequently damaged
items. Neither the interior nor the underneath of the vehicle may be covered.
Always read the fine print.

Standard Procedure

Your credit card will be charged, or a hold placed, for the rental vehicle during
the time of the rental agreement; i.e. from picking up the rental until you return
it. Debit cards are generally not acceptable.
Additional Charges

Most companies have surcharges for additional drivers, car seats/boosters, cell
phones, coolers, GPS and/or roof racks. The costs vary from company to
company, but since these extras are billed at a daily rate, it is worth checking
the total cost -- additional options can add up very quickly! A GPS is around $8
to $10 per day; however, some operators may offer discounted units. Expect to
pay around $5 daily for a child seat and a few dollars a day for all the other
niceties. Vamos is notable for offering most of these options and, during some
promotions, even the GPS rental complimentarily. Alamo, Budget, Hertz and
National charge the most for such additional options; whereas the other
companies listed, charge more reasonable prices.

Surcharges

Most companies add small incremental costs, such as license plate and
environmental fees, into the total tally. Be wary of operators who insert these
additional charges into the small print of the rental contract. Vehicles rented
direct at the airport incur airport taxes, which are a whopping 12% of your rental
cost!

The rental vehicle should be returned with the same amount of fuel, unless
otherwise indicated. If not, companies may charge above gas station rates for
missing fuel.

Vehicles

There is a debate over the vehicles supplied by rental companies: Older cars
allow the driver to blend in more than a shiny, new car. Having an older model
may have the indirect benefit of being less scrutinized by car rental agencies for
recent nicks and scratches, unlike a newer vehicle. However, a newer vehicle
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 a lower rate because their cars are typically three to five years old (versus
two to three). Online reviews would suggest that the local firms have no more
complaints concerning vehicle quality than transnational franchises; research on
forums, such as TripAdvisor.com, seems to indicate that customers frequently
appreciate driving a less-than-new vehicle through the wilds of Costa Rica. The
reasons are plenty, from road conditions to the notion of less-then-new vehicles
blending in better -- a newer vehicle may draw more unwanted attention.

The choices of rental cars in Costa Rica are mostly limited to makes and models
that maintain a competitive resale value, are a common brand in the country,
and are inexpensive to maintain. As such a rent-a-car operators fleet tend not to
be as diverse as the United States. Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hyundai
constitute the mainstay brands of most rental fleets.

Sometimes, drivers are charged for supposed damages to the vehicle upon
return. Once receiving the vehicle, renters should meticulously check for pre-
existing flaws and compare it with the vehicle inspection document used by the
rental car representative. Some renters suggest photographing or videoing the
vehicle from all angles, to avoid any disagreement between pre-existing and
recently damaged items.

Pricing

Car rentals in Costa Rica are pricier compared to other countries. Duties on
vehicles are high (as much as 50% of their value!), parts are costlier and
unforgiving road conditions contribute to higher wear and tear, generating higher
maintenance costs.

The rule is you get what you pay for -- there are other options than those rental
companies listed here, but they are not listed for a good reason. They simply fail
to offer basic customer service and/or a suitable vehicle condition required for a
(nearly) trouble-free vacation.

When comparing rental car charges, it is best to go directly to the Costa Rican
website of the rental car company, rather than trying to use their international
format or an intermediary (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, et al.). For the
same vehicles and reservation dates, the rates offered by the respective
international vs. Costa Rican websites for Alamo, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty
differed substantially.

To avoid confusion, print out all correspondence with the car rental company
with whom you have reserved a vehicle and bring this to the rental office with
the quote given at the time of reservation.

The following top ten chart ranks the companies from highest priced to lowest
and it includes the mandatory insurance charge. In the cases of Alamo and
Hertz, the figure contains their CDW fee as it is one of their rental requirements.
This price comparison is based on a weeks rental of a Daihatsu Bego, where
available (Dollar offers the Suzuki Vitara) from September 14 th - 21st, then again
in December to view both Green and High Season rates. The list quickly
demonstrates that the price variation depends greatly on the company -- for
basically the same service. These prices were obtained in June/July 2013.

Rental Car Companies Ranked According to Price

September December

10. Alamo $650.96 Alamo $650.96

9. Hertz $514.27 National $597.51

8. Adobe $449 Hertz $566.52

 7. Budget $455 Budget $555

6. National $428.01 Dollar $532

5. Thrifty $421.05 Thrifty $506.58

4. Service $374.43 Service $494.43

3. Vamos $370.30 Vamos $461.30

2. Dollar $364 Adobe $459

1. Wild Rider $350 Wild Rider $395

Alamo ranks number ten for both seasons, making it the most expensive
company. Budget, Hertz and National also rate low on the scale for economical
rental options.

Company Summaries

Adobe (http://www.AdobeCar.com)

Website is clear and easy to use, but pricing and even the vehicles listed are not
the same as those given by an office representative over the phone. Mandatory
insurance costs are not shown with the list of vehicles and rental charges, but
they are clearly displayed on the following page as a customer moves towards
booking a reservation. Mixed customer reviews online. Email response is less
than 24 hours, but may not provide all requested information.

Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. No Live Chat.

10 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $19 daily

Additional charges: GPS $9/day, child seat $5/day

Alamo (http://www.AlamoCostaRica.com)

Website is clear and easy to use, but prices differ against quotes received over
the phone. Mandatory insurance costs are not given with the list of vehicles and
rental charges, but they are clearly displayed on the following page as the
customer moves towards making a reservation. Mixed customer reviews online.
Email response is less than 24 hours.

No toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number or Live chat

 14 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $11.95 daily, but must also take their CDW at
$12.95 daily

Additional charges: GPS $12/day, child seat $6/day

Budget (http://www.Budget.co.cr)

Website is basic, but easy to use. Prices online differ to the quotations given by
a representative over the phone and depending on whether the international or
Costa Rican website is used. Mandatory insurance costs are given along with the
list of vehicles; however, the other charges are not listed. Mixed customer
reviews online. Email response is more than 24 hours.

No toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. No Live Chat on Costa Rican
website.

10 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: included in the listed price

Additional charges: GPS $10.95/day, child seat $12/day (the most

expensive of the top ten)

Dollar (http://www.DollarCostaRica.com)

Website is clear and easy to use. Prices quoted differ if calling from the U.S. or in
Costa Rica. Mandatory insurance costs are not given with the list of vehicles and
rental charges, but they are clearly displayed on the following page as a
customer moves towards a making a reservation. Mixed reviews online, but
generally receives positive feedback. Email inquiries answered within 24 hours.

Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. No Live Chat.

3 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $16 daily

Additional charges: GPS $9/day, child seat $5/day

Hertz (http://www.HertzCostaRica.com)

Website is clear and easy to use. Mandatory insurance costs are not given
besides the list of vehicles and rental charges, but they are clearly displayed on
the following page as the customer moves towards a booking a reservation.
Mixed customer reviews online. Email response less than 24 hours.
 Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number and Live Chat (although it
seems to be permanently offline)

7 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $17.43 daily, but their CDW is also a requirement

Additional charges: GPS $12/day, child seat $2/day

National (http://www.NatCar.com)

Website is clear and easy to use. Mandatory insurance costs are not given along
with the list of vehicles and rental charges, but they are clearly displayed on the
following page as a customer moves towards making a reservation. Mixed
customer reviews online, but more positive than negative. Email response less
than 24 hours.

Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. Live Chat.

22 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $25 daily (the most expensive of the top ten)

Additional charges: GPS $12/day, child seat $6/day

Service (http://www.ServiceCarRental.com)

Website is clear and user friendly with just a slight confusion in that an online
quote is obtained by clicking on Reserve Now and not the Get a Quote option.
The response to a phone inquiry was to use the website. Mandatory insurance
costs are given along with the list of vehicles and rental charges for the low
season charges and on the second page of the other quotation page. Rember is
a highly recommended sales representative who is mentioned in many online
reviews for the high level of his customer service. Generally online reviews are
positive for Service. Email response is less than 24 hours, although all
information requested may not be received.

U.S.A phone number, but not toll-free. No Live Chat.

5 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $15 daily

Additional charges: GPS $5.99/day, child seat $2.99/day

Thrifty (http://www.Thrifty.com)

Costa Rican version of the website is impossible to use and you are asked to
register for a user name and password. Mandatory insurance costs are not given
along with the list of vehicles and rental charges. A customer has to click on
Protection Options on the U.S. website and select the mandatory insurance by
clicking on it -- implying that it is optional and not a required cost. Thrifty tend to
receive mixed reviews online. Email response is more than 24 hours.

Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. No Live Chat.

4 offices nationwide

Mandatory insurance: $19.99 daily

Additional charges: GPS $10/day, child seat $5/day

Vamos (http://www.Vamos4x4.com)

Website is clear and easy to use. Mandatory insurance costs are not given along
side the list of vehicles and rental charges, but are clearly displayed on the
following page as the customer moves towards booking a reservation. Anibal, a
representative, is frequently mentioned in online reviews for his high level of
customer service skills. General Manager, George Schwarzenbach is known on
Trip Advisor for his upfront and honest responses to customers posts.

In recent years, Vamos has received very positive reviews online. Email
response is less than 24 hours. Live Chat has instant response time to inquiries.

Toll-free U.S.A and Canada phone number. Live Chat.

3 offices nationwide
Mandatory insurance: $11.95 daily
Additional charges: GPS $8/day, child seat free

Wild Rider (http://www.Wild-Rider.com)

Website is clear and easy to use. Mandatory insurance costs are given next to
the list of vehicles. Wild Rider is the only car rental firm in Costa Rica with no
visible bad reviews online. Owner, Thorsten, is often praised for his efficiency
and customer service, despite the very limited resources the company has at
hand. Emails receive very prompt and detailed responses in less than 12 hours.

No toll-free phone number or Live Chat

1 office -- no Liberia airport office

Mandatory insurance: included

 Additional charges: GPS $8/day, child seat $5/day

Comparison Review

Customer Service

Vamos and Wild Rider respond quickly and efficiently to email or live chat
inquiries. Adobe, Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Service respond to email
inquiries in less than 24 hours, but Adobe and Service did not provide all the
information requested (possibly a language barrier). Budget offers a free phone
service, but it appears to be always busy. Hertzs live chat appears to be
constantly offline. During the past year, customers who posted to online review
sites expressed a particular satisfaction with the customer service offered by
Service, Vamos and Wild Rider.

Clarity

Adobe, Alamo and Budget have different rental prices posted on their websites
than those quoted over the phone. Telephone prices were lower than that
quoted on the website in the cases of Adobe and Alamo, but yet higher in the
case of Budget. Adobe also offers different vehicle models over the phone as
compared to their website. International car rental firms with both a Costa Rican
and international website appear to have pricing differences between the two
sites.

Budget and Wild Rider include the mandatory insurance in their rental prices, but
Budget states that other charges which will be presented at the counter in the
small print on their website. Rental prices for car seating had to be verified on
the phone as they are not listed on the Budget website.

All other companies with the exception of Thrifty (a U.S. website), clearly show
the mandatory insurance cost with the quotation given. Thriftys Costa Rican
website is simply unusable.

Pricing

Service, Vamos and Wild Rider consistently offer the best rates for both Green
and High seasons, although Dollar has one of the lowest Green season rates
available, while Adobe has a cheaper High season rate. Vamos offer the best all
inclusive rates, given that most options are offered for free.

Adobe, Dollar, Service, Thrifty and Wild Rider remain competitive with their
pricing of items such as child seats. Alamo, Hertz and National are the most
expensive companies to rent from and their additional option costs are also more
expensive.
So, whats your rental recommendations?

Overall, the Costa Rican companies seem to trump the multi-nationals with
better pricing, service and clarity.

Service offers a generally high-level of customer service and fairly competitive

pricing at both international airports.

Vamos can offer efficient booking and continued high-level of customer service
with competitive pricing, as well as free additional options at both SJO and LIR
airports.

Wild Rider is very highly rated for a rental with clear and economical pricing and
excellent customer service, but they are only in San Jose.

Now youre ready to book your rental car after seeing how the
competition compares. Good luck and happy travels!