Renting a Car in COSTA RICA | Cost, Insurance, and Scams | Costa Rica Tour

[@Ellen-or3oj]

We just returned from Costa Rica where we rented a large SUV for our party of 6. We rented through Vamos in Liberia and had a great experience. The car was like new and we had no issues. The company was completely transparent with their pricing and they accepted our credit card insurance for the extra insurance. We just had to present the appropriate letter and documentation. Checking in and out was very efficient and they provided a free van to and from the airport. Would definitely use them again!

[@EricandSarah]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! So helpful for others booking their trip 😊

[@TheSavorySuitcase]

This is the company we have booked with for an upcoming trip in September, we got a lot of recommendations from others, so I'm so excited to see another good review!

[@dixiefunk5880]

We will be going there in March and so what is this about the credit card insurance?

[@randomthings-ie5mk]

What letter for insurance

[@jtmoore1995]

How do you go about getting the proper credit card letter and documentation we have both venture x and chase sapphire preferred that we have thought to use.

[@alexsuarez8156]

As a 20 yr old I paid about $105 per day in costa rica for a 4x4 which we mostly used for our airbnbs that had very steep entrances we got pulled over once for passing other cars they wanted $300 cash but we only had $50 in USD and that’s what they took lol if you’re driving slow and are holding up cars please move over a bit so cars can get through!!

[@ZachyR]

Hey great information and thank you for sharing it. Also I’m sorry about your experience about extortion. So if I can ask you through were you get the rental car?

[@meier_elias]

Hi @alexsuarez8156 Am I allowed to ask you where you booked your car? Me and my friends (also 20 years old) are going to costa rica soon and wonder If there are any problems with the age at the pick-up. I would be very greatful if you share your experiences with us. Thank you

[@vitaminb4869]

Son, you got scammed.

[@brithozierhozier4718]

Oh you're so matured for a 20 year old, everyone give him a round of applause now 🙄

[@alexsuarez8156]

@@brithozierhozier4718 enjoy your trip ☺️

[@fawndesiree9467]

Great video. One thing about the insurance is if you have a letter with your name and the credit card details along with stating the car insurance is covered you will not have to pay the extra. The letter has to be dated for the time of the rental.

[@esclass]

Incorrect. Liability mandatory in Costa Rica. CREDIT CARDS ONLY GOOD FOR EXTRA COVERAGE. Research research. Very important everyone.

[@samandnick]

How do you obtain this letter? We are going to Costa Rica in a few days and I have CDW with my credit card and I asked them for this letter and they said they couldn't do it or something and sent me a link to the benfits of the insurance.

[@jennelletrujillo8278]

Did you have any problem navigating from place to place? Did google maps work? What month did you visit. Thanks

[@Ali-7676]

Use Waze, I hear its better than Google Maps for CR.

[@zeinnaja]

I should have watched this earlier. I booked early through Hertz. The rental was for a week was $250. When I got there they said the mandatory govt fee. It made it a little over $400. No problem. The problem was the collision insurance which Amex( and most CC)already covers. They said if I decline their insurance they would put a $6k hold on my Amex. I needed the CC space for my hotel, food etc. I was basically strong armed to get their collision insurance which made the total $800 plus they still put an additional $1200 hold on my CC. That took away $2k available on my Amex :/

[@EricandSarah]

Shoot. So sorry to hear this but thank you for sharing your experience so others can read it! That’s definitely the issue with many rental companies… even if they don’t charge a lot more than quoted, they still might put a big hold on your credit card which limits your ability to travel freely. Hope you still enjoyed your time in Costa Rica!

[@davidjackson7336]

Thanks for sharing your very common story about the added insurance. I read about it so many times online as well as overhearing others at the rental counter. One CC for holds (rental car and hotels) if your limit allows and another CC for actual expenditures. Just rented a compact car back in 11/23 for $179 for 8 days from the airport and with only the mandatory insurance included. No extra insurance is needed as many CCs will cover you. Bring the needed docs just in case you need to produce them as I did. I was ready for their nonsense. Regardless of the high pressure sales pitch of how "you will be responsible if anything happens to our vehicle", I knew what was required as I read sooooo much about these scare tactics and this being my second rental in CR. On my last visit to CR in November, I got a quote from every rental agency, on the lowered level of the airport, for the same vehicle as to compare apples to apples, with only the mandatory insurance required. Now I had something to work with if one agency failed to deliver on the exact figure when I actually got to their rental counter. It happened to me as I thought it would. Different figure of additional $120 at the actual counter. I told the counter agent to call back at the airport and speak to his coworker as I was just quoted a different figure with him. After a few words exchanged, I was back at the $179 figure that I was expecting to pay with all fees and taxes included. You have to hold your ground on these individuals as it's additional profit and possibly commission for these guys. Returned the vehicle and there were no issues. Keep a watchful eye on your CC statement for any unsuspected charges.

[@bodvargregersen5161]

This video on Costa Rica was absolutely spectacular! The filming and editing of the beautiful scenery was stunning as well. The drone footage adds to the professional quality of the video. People love to watch great travel videos. Your tips for renting cars was real helpful. I am a serious amateur photographer, so I know how difficult it must be to make such professional videos as the ones you produce!

[@EricandSarah]

Thanks Bodvar! So glad you enjoyed it (we put a lot of time and effort into it). As we said in the livestream, you always have the kindest comments to share. We appreciate it 😊

[@mariekays8570]

@@EricandSarah how do you book with this rental company? Planning a trip in February 2023 😊

[@EricandSarah]

@@mariekays8570 Jairo’s info is in the description! :)

[@fernandomoz8]

We are planning to go to Costa Rica for 10 days for our honey money, what side of Costa Rica would you recommend us ? The pacific side of the Caribbean side . Thank you 🎉 and pura vida

[@EricandSarah]

@@fernandomoz8 definitely the Pacific coast and Monteverde/La Fortuna area!

[@jpylp]

Great tips! While We haven’t been to Costa Rica, we have rented vehicles in Colombia, Ecuador and Puerto Rico in the last year. I would agree to stay away from the third party booking companies. We always book directly with the rental companies and have never had an issue.

[@EricandSarah]

Very helpful advice! Now that we know what it’s like to have a rental car we might be wanting one in every country 😂

[@jpylp]

@@EricandSarah it is nice to have the freedom to stop whenever and wherever you want. 😀

[@donminecuador6044]

Booking directly with the rental companies is not the advice that was given in this video. Reference 11:30 of the video.

[@EricandSarah]

@@donminecuador6044 still a helpful tip when booking rental cars in other countries though! 😄

[@ib516]

I rented through Jairo as well. I was very happy. It's not cheap.

[@EricandSarah]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s not cheap to rent a car but definitely more convenient!

[@imericwilliams]

Thanks so much for this info you guys, I’ll actually be going with this rental company for my Costa Rica 🇨🇷 trip. So excited, pura vida!

[@EricandSarah]

That’s so great! We had a really good experience with them!

[@Mollyjaleighingram]

Hi there! I go for a 10 day trip to Costa Rica, at the end of April! Do you think that I should get a four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive vehicle. I’ll be driving back-and-forth from destinations like, lIberia, La Fortuna, Mont Verde, and Santa Teresa

[@EricandSarah]

Nope! No need for a four wheel drive anymore. Everywhere was easy to get to and had a paved road in and out.

[@Surrealblues]

Did you remember or know if AWD is needed anywhere?

[@EricandSarah]

Not really that necessary. We had AWD, but there was not any point where we felt like we needed it. The blogs that have said that are a bit outdated. The only time you need that is if you're really going out into the jungle. But for going to all the main tourist spots, you're good to go with 2WD!

[@HecttorGarcia95]

How far is the company from the airport?

[@EricandSarah]

They can arrange airport drop off if you want :)

[@GladysandKenny]

We definitely think it worth renting a car! When we are traveling we don’t mind using public transportation but unfortunately there are places we renting a car is a must and Costa Rica is one of those places.

[@jeweljohn2001]

Do we need a 4 by 4 car in Guanacaste? Or can we drive a regular rental car? Help!

[@Mr.Steve-O]

You guys rock, was up at Arenal in 1999 and it was epic !!

[@EricandSarah]

Such a beautiful place!!

[@cynthiaziegler6558]

Can you rent a car there with just a debit card and not a credit card?

[@Surrealblues]

What about using GPS to navigate? How was your experience?

[@billgalli5991]

Waze is the best. Google takes you down farm roads

[@jacquelinepadilla4033]

Thank you so much for the great information. I was wondering did you have any issues with navigation? What did you use to get around? My husband and I will be in La Fortuna for 5 nights just trying to figure out if we should rent a car.

[@yaya169]

Ok i see nobody has asked this question, are there automatic cars or not?? My husband doesn't know how to drive stick, i do but I've never driven on a lot of rain or narrow curves and that makes me nervous!!! Thank you for all the tips and hopefully they help us🥰 we leave this may!!🥰🥰

[@EricandSarah]

All the cars we had were automatic! You just have to specify to the rental agency :)

[@tanveerhussain8277]

Great Video guys..! Question - do you need any permission either out of US or into Costa Rica for your drone cam?

[@chironsaide6225]

I am going in may me and my wife, what did you guys do about cell service?

[@EricandSarah]

Awesome! We usually get SIM cards directly from the Claro store. If you Google a San José “Claro servicio al cliente” store, you’ll be able to get a SIM card and prepaid 1-month card. Ask for “prepago un mes” and they’ll help you out.

[@Alex-do8yu]

How can i book with Jairo ???

[@EricandSarah]

His contact info is in the description!

[@scottanderson5225]

We are concerned about leaving our luggage in the car between accommodations. For example, if we make a stop at Rio Celeste after checking out of one place and heading to La Fortuna, will there be a risk of car break-in if we leave all our luggage in the car at the parking lot while we hike the trail? Thanks!

[@EricandSarah]

Rio Celeste has a good parking lot with security/attendants. I would trust my stuff there! I just wouldn’t leave belongings in the car if you were parking on the side of the road to hike somewhere.

[@vladivostokcanada]

We rented a car en Costa Rica back in 2018 and it was ridiculously expensive and no car rental place wanted to accept our car insurance we had to pay theirs Plus all roads out of San José metropolitan area suck and dangerous as they are mostly curves and cliffs poorly signed narrow and rain and fog do not help a bit Better ride the bus

[@EricandSarah]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Helpful for others to know :) Although the roads are very windy, we found they were all well maintained so maybe they’ve improved a lot since 2018.

[@shirleywhitlock3756]

@@EricandSarah also u can bring electric bikes and get extra batteries here, but u can put ur bike in the bus, Iam Costa Rican and I won’t rent a car with my credit card I would use a debit visa so u pay what u charge...

[@shirleywhitlock3756]

@@EricandSarah you can buy a car is cheaper than renting, my friends sell good cars also u not always will have a flat,and a local would fixe it for you gladly... that if u will be there 4 months, u just better get a car...the Uber is nice to use also, you can tell the driver to come get u at a time u choose... have fun God bless,....

[@mschriewer]

Great video and very useful information around car rental and situation with streets in Costa Rica. Thanks a mill for that.

[@gutimolina72]

Dry season in Costa Rica only apply for the pacific coast, especially Guanacaste, no rain from november until May. The rest of the country will be green

[@EricandSarah]

We were happy to find that out!

[@christophizzle]

Thank you so much for making your Costa Rica videos! I will be traveling in Guanacaste, Alajuela, and Puntarenas for 10 days starting next week and have been doing a ton of research on car renting. I booked with Payless a couple months ago for $448 with liability insurance included. I also printed my proof of CDW insurance from my credit card company to show them, so fingers crossed that's what I will actually pay 🤞🏻. Have you done any night driving? If so, is it ok or would you advise against it? I'm trying to figure out how much I should squeeze out of my days given that I'll be there for a limited amount of time. Thanks!

[@EricandSarah]

Hey! Keep us posted on how your rental with Payless goes when you arrive :) We didn’t do much night driving but not sure we would recommend it. The roads are quite narrow and windy so it can be dangerous at night. It might be okay along the coast as the highways are a bit straighter, but we personally wouldn’t do it in the mountains.

[@EricandSarah]

Also it often rains at night which can make driving even more unsafe.

[@christophizzle]

Got it! Thank you for your input! I will try to avoid night driving as much as possible and I will be sure to keep you posted on my Payless experience. Thanks!

[@christophizzle]

Update: My trip has concluded, and I can officially say Payless is a great choice for car rental in Costa Rica. I ended up truly paying just $448 for 10 days with the liability insurance included for a 4WD vehicle. When I looked into all other companies, including Vamos, Car Rentals Costa Rica & USA, and other locally recommended companies along with bigger companies, EVERYWHERE was $800+ for the same type of vehicle for the same amount of time. The one thing that was a little shocking was that they do require a $3,000 hold on your credit card during your trip, but that is basically just added insurance for them so they know you're good for at least that amount if the vehicle is damaged. So if you don't have a decent credit limit or you're uncomfortable with this, you would have to pay nearly double the amount somewhere else and have a $500 to $1,000 hold on your credit card (for most places) for the duration of your trip. I had no issues with the vehicle inspection at the end of my trip. The Suzuki Jimny I rented was already beat up with minor scratches, scrapes, and dents everywhere when I rented it, but nothing that affected its performance. I just made sure to point out everything during the initial walk-around. So when I brought it back, everything was fine and I wasn't charged anything extra and my $3,000 hold was returned instantly. From my experience, I would highly recommend renting from Payless in Costa Rica to save a lot of money! I hope this is helpful! I know there a lot of overreacting comments and negative reviews out there on the internet for most places, so I just wanted to share that it's not always a bad experience! ¡Pura Vida!

[@EricandSarah]

@@christophizzle thank you for the update!! So helpful for others. Glad you had such a positive experience! And yes the credit card deposit is something we forgot to mention in our video… Alamo charged a lower amount but definitely important to check your limit before renting a car so you don’t get stuck!!

[@JustThink2000]

Thanks! I’m on my way there next week

[@EricandSarah]

Awesome! Enjoy!!

[@johnheaney6383]

Thank you for the information!

[@andreavanderwel3573]

Great job, guys! Your drones shots are always so beautiful 😍

[@EricandSarah]

Thanks Andrea! 😄

[@thesuziespeak]

Great video thank you for the car rental advice

[@faithosakpamwan6336]

Me and friends are going in June we’re so ready

[@EricandSarah]

Oh how exciting!! Enjoy!!

[@viniciusreis6407]

i think in to go to costa rica now in February, and visit la fortuna then travel to monte verde then go to san jose, do u think i need a 4x4??

[@EricandSarah]

No need for a 4x4 to get to either of those places! You may want to take it slightly slower on the hill up to Monteverde, but from what we experienced, it was not an issue!

[@viniciusreis6407]

@@EricandSarah thank u!! I tried to look street view in google, but don’t have it. I was looking for mud street or river in the roads. I will take a SUV just for the case need a high car! But not 4x4, thank u!!!!

[@Sara0767]

Thank you for this video. I'm also planning on renting a car from Jairo. I'm debating if I should choose full coverage or basic coverage for the car. Any suggestions? This will be our first time in Costa Rica so I'm not sure how driving there is.

[@EricandSarah]

We went with basic because our credit card covered extra! But personally we always think it’s a good idea to have extra if your card doesn’t cover it. You could ask Jairo for details about what each level of insurance covers :)

[@Sara0767]

Thank you!

[@nancykidston]

Great video, thank you! Can you tell me which way is better to rent a car, online or on-site when we get there?

[@ruffneck718]

Great video thank you guys.

[@sinyabraham697]

Do you have a ph: no: to contact Jairo? Automated msg is coming when I tried the link you shared for the rental car. Asking to deposit $500 & passport. Is that the way it works?

[@EricandSarah]

@@sinyabraham697 hey! Jairo’s company only has a Facebook page so here it is facebook.com/CarRentalsCostaRicaAndUSA You can message him on there or his WhatsApp number is [phone]. Definitely don’t give your passport and deposit to anyone through an automated link!

[@leandronavarrete567]

Thank you very much for this video!

[@EricandSarah]

Hope it was helpful! 😄

[@matavar06]

Glad to see you enjoying our tiny country guys! Kepp it up ;)

[@EricandSarah]

We’re loving Costa Rica 😄

[@tdottravels]

Nice editing and beautiful drone shots😁

[@EricandSarah]

Thank you! 😄

[@Mollyjaleighingram]

Hey guys! I have a question about money! We’re traveling there in the next 10 days!! I’m super curious about money, and just purchasing things in general. All of our accommodations, excursions, and the car rental has been paid for on our credit card… But for daily things like gas, groceries, restaurants etc., do you guys recommend us using a credit card, or bringing USD, or Costa Rican money?

[@EricandSarah]

If you’re driving around, we would bring some cash along! You can definitely pay with credit card at a lot of restaurants, but for toll booths and such, you’ll want cash. Just make sure you get a card with no foreign transaction fees. Charles Schwab in the states and Scotia Passport Infinite in Canada. A lot of places will try charge in USD but make sure they charge in Colones. Overall, it’s a bit of a mix, but definitely nice (and cheaper) to have some Costa Rican Colones.

[@karltraveldude7817]

Thank you , enjoy ...

[@evelyneleblanc7119]

Hi! Thank you for the helpful tips! I just looked at the link you gave for Jairo! We are hoping to book a car for March. How did you contact him ? Through what’s app? Also I just got an automatic response from him that said you need a $500 deposit … seems right ? Or no?

[@EricandSarah]

Hey! So glad you found it useful! Yes, a $500 deposit is typical and it goes towards the entire cost. If you have any questions or doubts, you can definitely ask him too - he’s very good at explaining the process :)

[@evelyneleblanc7119]

Thank you !! Just feels weird making plans like this on what’s app … feels shady but so far so good. He has been helpful.

[@alejandravalencia5339]

How was the process. Feeling uneasy as well. What documents did you have to send to rent a car?

[@carlosrc.7316]

Can I have jairo information, I love to have a good time like you did!!

[@EricandSarah]

It’s on the video description! :)

[@shakash3158]

Thanks for the video. We are heading to CR for 2 weeks in mid January 2023. We are renting a car as we will be traveling ALL OVER to both coasts and we like to explore, so it was a no brainer for us to have our own transportation. But I have a tangent question in regard to renting your own car: One issue that I am trying to reconcile is that I have read so much regarding theft in CR, such that everyone says do not ever leave ANYTHING in your car. I realize this is good common sense advice, and I would never leave electronics or wallet, etc out in plain site in a car ANYWHERE in the world including in any city here in the USA, but I have to say I have never heard soooo many people commenting on this in regard to CR. We have travelled and stayed in many locations in Mexico and we even owned a house in Ecuador and did a ton of driving all over that country. We often had our luggage with us in the car as we had to constantly check in and out of hotels and drive to the next town, stopping on the way to check out the sites, stop by a road side beach and grab a quick swim, and eat in restaurants, etc. We are hoping to do the same in CR, but now I am sacred to death that we will have all of our stuff stolen and be left with only the clothes on our back during the first 2 days!! I saw that you had tory car packed to the gills. How did you guys do in regard to the issue of theft? Any comments on this subject? Thanks.

[@EricandSarah]

Excellent question! Yes, we did have our car packed to the gills pretty well. But we also never had our car out of sight when we were moving around like that. When we got to our accommodations, we emptied the car completely. The rule for car thieves is never leave anything in the open. If they can see that there is something worth stealing in the car, then they will risk breaking in and stealing it. To us, it's completely fine to leave things in the car, as long as you leave them in the trunk and completely out of sight. We follow this rule even in Canada. The only time we ever had someone break a window was in Canada and that was because we had left an empty amazon box in the back seat - our mistake. Lock your doors (even if you're just going into the gas station), clean out your car, and if you need to keep something in there, just drop it into the covered trunk. I should note that the only reason we had so much stuff in the trunk was because we had 5 of us (including a baby) packed in the car. Try renting a car with a separate trunk space that can't get broken into unless they can open the trunk manually. Hope this helps a little! Good luck and let us know if you have more questions!

[@-Zardoz-]

How did everything go in CR? What was your total expense for the car rental?

[@romyenglish]

There is NO mandatory insurance. I got there, they tried to shove it down my throut I told them that my visa covers me for 3rd part liability. They accept it. Game over.

[@EricandSarah]

Actually that is incorrect. You are required by law to pay for the basic coverage (no credit card coverage counts as it doesn’t match EXACTLY to the government requirements). It’s typically only about $10-20 and then the other insurance is optional. Maybe this has changed since you visited but I did want to clarify for anyone reading this comment 😊

[@robrelish]

@@EricandSarah Not true. If you book the rental with a CHASE card like the Amazon Prime Visa, its covered, you don't need to pay any additional insurance

[@simsrodriguez3545]

Does gps work Google maps??

[@dgsantos8]

Thank you for the Tip!!!!! 😉

[@EricandSarah]

If you're interested in travel insurance for your upcoming trip, check out Safety Wing! safetywing.com/?referenceID=thebomsaway&Ambassador What do you think? Is it worth it to rent a car in Costa Rica?? We'd love to hear details of your experience (good or bad) if you've rented a car in CR! Any other companies you'd recommend?

[@pinheadlarry4538]

Do you need a drivers license to rent a car?

[@EricandSarah]

You will need a valid drivers license, yes. But not necessary to have an international drivers license.

[@Steevsy]

Is this Jairo guy for real? I am booking a car for a surf trip and the rental process/scam thing is a lot... If he is for real - I'd love to use him to just avoid the headache.

[@GMaski]

What's going on? You started the trip in a Suzuki, and at 9:25 minutes you're driving a Toyota. What kind of car did you finally rent?

[@EricandSarah]

We rented the Suzuki for the first part of our trip, spent a week at the beach so didn’t need a car, and then picked the Toyota for the second half of our trip :)

[@jc-1579]

Sharing to everyone of Jesus Christ, He is coming back. We are spiritually saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord God and Savior.

[@rorybellamy2533]

Did Eric say ? with the brother sister " and their Baby"

[@EricandSarah]

Hahaha yeah but he meant “sister-in-law”. We often just call her sister cause it’s easier… but don’t worry… no blood relation ;)

[@petrmacel9529]

If you make title about renting the car do not waste my time with other things!

[@EricandSarah]

The whole video is about renting a car and if it’s a good idea / worth it to do in Costa Rica. If it was just a video of us getting a rental car it would be about 45 seconds.

[@walta10]

Very misleading and dishonest title. only 1 minute if this video is actually about renting a car and there was no detail given. Waste of 14 minute if you actually came here to get information about renting a car

[@EricandSarah]

Did you actually watch the video? Haha. We gave prices, pros and cons, where we rented from, our personal experience whether it was worth it and more … not convinced you actually watched it through 🧐

[@henryoh9658]

Bro get to the point, what a terrible video. Did not learn anything about actual RENTING i dont care where you went

[@joking6052]

Eric, I missed your info regarding the car rental broker that you guys use . Where do I find his number or office ? Thank you in advance. Ill be there in a couple of weeks.

[@EricandSarah]

Jairo’s Facebook info is linked in the description! You can message him through there :)

[@joking6052]

@@EricandSarah Can I do that without a FB account ?