Before getting started, it is imporatnt to knoe that roads in Costa Rica are not tremendously developed. There are plenty of single lane paved roads in here. Even the main highway that goes from Panama to Nicaragua has single lanes. There are many unpaved roads in Costa Rica. If you want the freedom to travel anywhere in the country, four wheel drive vehicles are helpful.
While RocApply is committed to getting you the car of your choice it is important to note that there are age restrictions to who qualifies to drive here. If you want to rent a car in Costa Rica, you must be at least 21 years old (some rental car companies use 24 as the minimum driving age) and while other rental car companies offer optional covers for young drivers aged 18-21 years. Your country's license, issued a year or more previously, is valid for driving in Costa Rica for up to a period of 3 months after your entry date into the country.
RocApply top tips for renting a car in Costa Rica
- Car rental in Costa Rica is perfect if you want to head to the beach with family, visit a remote rainforest, or if you just want an easy way to get from the airport to your accommodation. For more space and the ability to discover the mountains, a four-wheel drive or SUV is ideal, but if you’re driving along the major roads, a saloon will suffice. If you want to explore the coast, a convertible is best for soaking up the sun.
- Costa Rican laws about car seats for children are stricter than those in the US. When you rent a car to or from an airport in Costa Rica, your child must be secured in a car seat if they’re shorter than 110 cm (43 inches). Larger children are required to use a safety booster seat until they are 12 years old or 145 cm (57 inches). You’ll have the option to rent a car seat or booster along with your rental car, which will cost around 2,924 SVC ($5 USD) per day per child’s seat. Hertz and Sixt offer these optional extras.
- Crossing international borders is forbidden when you rent a car in Costa Rica. However, some car rental companies may let you drop off your car in Costa Rica, cross the border on foot and pick up a new car on the other side of the border for a fee of around 29,585 SVC ($50 USD).
- The main benefit of renting a car in Costa Rica is the freedom it gives. Rather than wasting time waiting for public transport, you get to maximize your vacation time. Consider taking a road trip from La Fortuna to Monteverde, a 91-mile scenic route through a cloudy forest reserve at own pace.
- If you’re planning to rent a car in Costa Rica, you need to remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. You will notice that all road signs are in Spanish and that some roads may be unmarked and not signposted at all. There are several toll roads that connect major cities, including Puntarenas and San Jose, as well as airports. You can pay for tolls in local currency or US dollars.
You can now book and reserve a Car directly through RocApply.
