Final Up to date on January 2, 2023 by Kristin

Plan to lease a automobile in Costa Rica? Whereas gaining access to your personal automobile is an effective way to discover the island’s biodiverse nationwide parks and seashores, there are some things that it is best to take into accout earlier than exploring this eco-tourism hotspot by yourself.

Important Suggestions for Renting a Automotive in Costa Rica

You aren’t required to hold an Worldwide Driving Allow..

All you want is a legitimate license from your personal nation of residence. Residents of some international locations may also require a vacationer visa. The U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European international locations will not be on this record.

Nonetheless, if you happen to journey abroad rather a lot, an Worldwide Driving Allow is a good suggestion. It’s cheap and straightforward to get an IDP, which principally is only a translated model of your driver’s license, however you must apply earlier than you permit in your journey.

Guide from residence.

Don’t wait till you get off the aircraft to lease a automobile. It will likely be cheaper to e-book your automobile from america.

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Know your insurance coverage choices.

Costa Rica’s insurance coverage protection is extra sophisticated than within the U.S., beginning with a compulsory Supplemental Legal responsibility Insurance coverage (SLI) payment, which is typically known as Major Legal responsibility Insurance coverage (PLI), and covers third-party damages.

Non-obligatory protection contains the Collision Harm Waiver/Loss Harm Waiver, which covers injury to the automobile if you happen to get into an accident or the automobile is broken whereas driving on poor roads. Examine to see whether or not your bank card affords automobile rental protection abroad. If yours does, you can be coated so long as you employ the cardboard to pay for the rental.

There could also be gaps within the CDW and theft safety.

Be cautious that you’ll nonetheless face some dangers if CDW and SLI are all you’ve got. In Costa Rica, CDW insurance coverage won’t sometimes cowl injury resulting from vandalism or misuse. Minor injury to the outside of the automobile can nonetheless be taken out of your deductible. And whereas theft insurance coverage could cowl a stolen rental automobile, it won’t prolong to any private belongings you’ve got contained in the automobile. Carry valuables with you or depart them within the resort protected. If you wish to have zero legal responsibility, go for the Full Safety coverage on the counter.

Have a look at each U.S. manufacturers and native outfits.

Costa Rica has an abundance of automobile rental choices, a lot of that are native chains. It is possible for you to to lease with acquainted firms reminiscent of Nationwide, Alamo and Funds, nevertheless it’s price trying out Vamos Hire-A-Automotive, Adobe Hire a Automotive and FAST Hire a Automotive, too.

Pay in your rental in native forex, not US {dollars}.

Dynamic Forex Conversion could appear to be a handy service. It primarily affords you the selection of being charged within the native forex or your house forex. However if you happen to decide to pay in U.S. {dollars}, the rental automobile firm converts the acquisition quantity from the native forex in your behalf. However this course of fully pointless, since your bank card firm will course of the transaction in both forex, and you’ll pay by means of the nostril for the non-convenience.

Examine the automobile earlier than you drive away.

Regardless of how excited you might be to get behind the wheel of your trip automobile in Costa Rica, take time to defend your self from potential false injury claims by inspecting the automobile and paying attention to dings, dents and scratches. Doc all the things with photographs on the time you decide up and return the automobile.

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Be ready for rougher roads.

Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise, and generally exploring means getting off the primary highways. Notice that street indicators are in Spanish and distance is measured in kilometers as a substitute of miles,

Be careful for sky-high fines.

The one factor wild about your street journey ought to be the animals and surroundings you encounter alongside the best way. Driving recklessly or not paying consideration can value you large time in Costa Rica. Just a few behaviors that may snag you a positive embody: passing a automobile on a curve or on a bridge, parking in areas with yellow traces, not carrying a seat belt and rushing. The fines in Costa Rica are exorbitant. For instance, failing to lock your seat belt or speaking in your cellphone whereas driving can set you again $185.

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