Car Hire in Costa Rica – Your Perfect Adventure.

To qualify to rent a car, you will need to be at least 21 years old and have held your driver's licence for at least 1 year or 2 years with some suppliers. Drivers under the age of 26 and above 65 might be subject to a surcharge locally called a young driver fee or senior driver fee. Drivers under 18 cannot rent a car in Costa Rica. As terms and conditions are unique for each supplier, always make sure to read them carefully before booking. For example, Amigo Car Rent has a minimum age requirement of 24. If this is your first car hire, please always consult our age requirements section for the most up to date information.

Both the Young Driver Surcharge and the Senior Driver Surcharge can be viewed by clicking the ‘i’ info icon during the online booking. Alternatively, it is set out in the car hire voucher’s terms and conditions. The fee is paid locally and we provide this information solely for informational purposes.

Although it is possible to rent a car for a one-way trip in Costa Rica, this usually incurs additional costs. When you search online and choose the one-way option, rental companies will display the relevant prices and conditions. These costs often vary depending on the type of vehicle, the rental period and the pick-up and drop-off locations. If you wish to drive outside Costa Rica, this unfortunately is not permitted with any of our Costa Rican suppliers. You can find the exact prices and conditions by clicking on the 'i' info icon. Alternatively, you will find this information on your car hire voucher.

Yes - You will need a valid Yes, you will need a valid credit cards to collect your car. It must be in the name of the main driver and have enough credit to cover the deposit. Depending on the vehicle type, some providers require more than one credit card. We accept Visa and Mastercard physical credit cards. We do not accept prepaid cards, digital wallets, virtual credit cards, cash or debit cards for deposits. Occasionally, providers will accept debit cards, but this usually requires you to pay a substantial premium for additional insurance. If you do not have an authorised credit card or the required deposit, the vehicle may not be released, in which case you will lose your reservation and your money. Deposits are only refunded in Costa Rica if the vehicle is returned in the same condition. For full payment details, click the ‘i’ icon or refer to your car hire voucher’s terms and condition.

Driving in Costa Rica can be challenging as you will come across mountainous roads, gravel paths and unfit coastal roads. In and around San José you can expect large motorways with excellent road conditions. However, the further you go from developed areas, the road conditions tend to be poorer. Some roads have steep drops on both sides, and the rainy season wreaks the rural roads with landslides and flooding. In rural areas, the norm is gravel or dirt roads. Signs are equally missing in many parts of the country. This being said, in the most travelled tourist areas, signage is well-positioned and easy to see.

Petrol stations (Bombas or Gasolineras) are found in every town, but there are parts of the country without them. Both petrol and diesel are available. Always keep in mind the road rules and regulations whilst in Costa Rica. Everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a seat belt. Going over 75 mph (120km/h) or 12 mph (20km/h) in certain areas is considered speeding. In addition to police controls, there are also traffic cameras positioned around the country that report the vehicle license plate number directly to the authorities. If you drive over 93mph (150km/h) you also risk going to prison.

Talking or texting while driving is not permitted. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is taken seriously with a blood alcohol level of 0.050 being the limit. Higher than 0.075 will result in going to prison. Child car seats are mandatory for children under 12 or smaller than 1.45 meters. Driving on beaches is strictly prohibited.

San José has a rotating ban on rush-hour traffic to reduce congestion and fuel consumption. The ban bars certain licence plate numbers from driving during certain times of the day, Monday to Friday from 7h am to 8h30 am and from 4h pm to 5h30 pm. Licence plates ending in 1 and 2 are banned on Monday; 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday and 9 and 0 on Friday. If you have a breakdown do not panic and call for assistance and inform both the rental supplier and Auto Europe.

Yes, most motorways have tolls such as on Route 27 (San Jose to the Pacific coast) and parts of the Interamerican Highway (Route 1). Cash is accepted. Toll fees are usually inexpensive, around $0.15 to $1.30 USD. Payment can be in local currency or USD. Some tolls also accept credit cards. There are three types of motorway toll lanes. Manual or regular lanes – where you stop at the booth, pay and get the change. Voluntary lanes – where you pay with 100 colones coins only, as you cannot pay with anything else and you do not get change. It is understood you forfeit your change for getting through faster. Quick pass lanes – this is a transponder system that allows you to pass with only a few seconds stop. These lanes are exclusive to those using the quick pass transponder. If used without it you’ll get a fine.

The minimum car hire insurance coverage required by law is included in the basic rental price at the time of booking. This typically comprises of Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP) and Limited Liability insurance (with or without an excess). Please note that this basic insurance does not cover all situations or types of damage. For more comprehensive cover, we recommend selecting our Full Protection Cover option during the booking process. This offers extended cover for any vehicle damage. The total cost of full coverage depends on the type of vehicle and the rental period. For more information, click on the 'i' info icon during the booking process or read the terms and conditions on your rental voucher.

Local providers may offer additional insurance options at the time of collection. However, if you have already purchased our Full Protection Cover, these additional policies are usually unnecessary. Examples include Breakdown Assistance, Personal Effects Insurance (PEI), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Travel Insurance and Roadside Assistance, to name but a few. These insurances are optional, and Auto Europe neither endorses nor profits from them. Please note that locally purchased insurance will not be refunded, even if it later proves to be unnecessary. For more information, please refer to our section on insurance cover for hire vehicles.

Yes, if your British driving licence is a photo card, you can drive in Costa Rica as long as you have held it for 1 year - 2 years for some suppliers. Paper licences are not accepted. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required if your national licence is not in the Roman Alphabet. Some car hire companies may ask for an IDP regardless, so it is advisable to check with your chosen provider beforehand.

When renting a vehicle, you will need to present either a valid DVLA check code or a printed certificate showing all endorsements. These endorsements must be printed and presented at least 21 days before the start of the rental period. Further information can be found in the DVLA changes section.

Yes, you can add extra drivers to your car hire in Costa Rica. In some locations, we regularly offer special promotions where an additional driver is free-of-charge, this is known as a Free Additional Driver. If this is not the case, there will be an additional cost for each extra driver. Each additional driver must provide the same documentation as the main driver, i.e. valid identification and a driving licence. To ensure insurance coverage, all additional drivers must be listed on the rental agreement at the time of collection. If an unlisted driver is involved in an accident, the main renter will be responsible for all resulting costs.