Useful insights to help you book the perfect car hire in Costa Rica
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Other Information
What is the cheapest car hire agency in Costa Rica?
According to our data, Advantage is the cheapest car hire agency in Costa Rica. Users who book a rental car with Advantage often find prices below the £46 average daily rate each day. Depending on the city you visit, what type of car you’re interested in, and the length of your hire, you could find prices for as low as £7 each day when booking with Advantage.
What is the most popular car hire agency in Costa Rica?
Routes Car & Truck Rentals is the most popular car hire company in Costa Rica with 36% of momondo users selecting this agency in the past month. Routes Car & Truck Rentals also has 5 reviewsand a score of 3.6 out of 10, making this car hire agency a popular choice among travellers.
What car hire company in Costa Rica has the most locations?
If you plan on travelling to Costa Rica and hiring a car, then keep in mind that Avis is the car hire agency with the most locations. You are likely to find one of their 22 country-wide locations either at your destination airport or somewhere in the city centre. Consider visiting San José, the most popular city in Costa Rica. Avis has a large presence here with over 4 locations - many of which can be found within the airport and city centre.
What is the most popular type of car to hire in Costa Rica?
Travellers to Costa Rica usually opt to hire a SUV as their car of choice. This may be due to the weather during their stay, the activities they have planned, or their budget. In the past 30 days, 39% of our users rented a SUV for their trip to Costa Rica at an average cost of £40 per day.
Costa Rica car hire deals found on momondo
Find the car hire in Costa Rica that's right for you
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Small cars
£6 - £33
All Car Types
£15 - £54
The average price of a small car hire in Costa Rica is £13. The cheapest time to hire a small car in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 58% lower than the rest of the year at just £6 per day. A small car rental is typically 54% less expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for Costa Rica small car hire found on momondo in the past week.
The average price of a medium car hire in Costa Rica is £30. The cheapest time to hire a medium car in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 71% lower than the rest of the year at just £9 per day. A medium car rental is typically 4% more expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for Costa Rica medium car hire found on momondo in the past week.
The average price of a large car hire in Costa Rica is £48. The cheapest time to hire a large car in Costa Rica is in October. The price is 63% lower than the rest of the year at just £18 per day. A large car rental is typically 38% more expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a SUV hire in Costa Rica is £27. The cheapest time to hire a SUV in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 47% lower than the rest of the year at just £15 per day. A SUV rental is typically 7% less expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for Costa Rica SUV hire found on momondo in the past week.
The average price of a van hire in Costa Rica is £53. The cheapest time to hire a van in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 55% lower than the rest of the year at just £24 per day. A van rental is typically 44% more expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a pickup truck hire in Costa Rica is £34. The cheapest time to hire a pickup truck in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 48% lower than the rest of the year at just £18 per day. A pickup truck rental is typically 12% more expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a luxury car hire in Costa Rica is £41. The cheapest time to hire a luxury car in Costa Rica is in September. The price is 58% lower than the rest of the year at just £18 per day. A luxury car rental is typically 29% more expensive than the average rental car in Costa Rica. The average price of a car hire in Costa Rica can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for Costa Rica luxury car hire found on momondo in the past week.
Car battery died and it wasn’t resolved for 4 days. Switched to Alamo and it was night and day. I’ll never use Avis again.
2.0
Poor|Apr 2023
I'll never use kayak to book a car rental again. Your price was a long way from what Avis charged.
2.0
Poor|Apr 2023
I ordered a 4 x 4 and they gave me a 2wd!! Without telling me. Trip ruined!
2.0
Poor|Apr 2023
I looked up the insurance policies prior to arriving in Costa Rica after receiving e-mails from AVIS stating that there are optional insurances and upgrades available. I'm covered with all the requirements of Costa Rica through my insurance, plus have additional coverage with my credit card and above and beyond that we have an umbrella insurance policy that covers far beyond any liability waiver that they provide. At the counter they required me to purchase their insurance for $38.99 a day!! I showed them my proof of insurance and then they told me they needed a personal letter from my insurance company to them (not AVIS, but to their office in Liberia). While in line there were two other couples contacting their insurance companies struggling to get a letter faxed to their office. Apparently a digital copy or e-mail wouldn't work either. It is off-airport and once they have you there they make it very inconvenient to leave you there without a car. Additionally they placed a $2,000 hold on my credit card (usually made for those who decline insurance) so that shouldn't have been necessary since I was made to purchase theirs. I later found out that the agents behind the counter are incentivized by commission to sell the insurance and upgrades. The car was suppose to be given to me full - it was 1/2 tank, the front tires were bald, I had to stop and put air in the rear tire. For this reason I will never rent with AVIS again.
2.0
Poor|Mar 2023
If you want to wait 2 hours for your vehicle to be ready despite making the appointment, this is the place to go to.
Horrible. We paid way more than what whas announced, we've been downgraded and the worst part is that we've been scammed, we had to pay 550$ (in addition to the 1100$ we already paid for 9 days of rental). We've been insulted and even threatened by the employee when we asked questions about it. I still haven't received the deposit back (500$). So far, it's like I paid 2000$ for being downgraded, insulted and threatened. Shame on U-Save and shame on Kayak and Expedia for having those kind of scams on their website!!!
4.0
Mediocre|Dec 2024
500$ dollar hidden charges when we picked up the car was very disappointing. If this would have been known I would have went with my regular rental company and collected points in my account. The car was not as advertised.
8.0
Very Good|May 2024
Very good experience. Staff was courteous and helpful. SUV was basic but cleaned and worked well.
2.0
Poor|May 2024
The car never resembled Nissan X trail And I phoned up to change the car halfway way the rental period very poor 2 wheel drive no power
6.0
Okay|Jan 2024
The car was all beat up. The prices were very high for a beat up car and it is far away from the airport.
10.0
Wonderful|Aug 2023
A little surprise when we discovered the quoted rate did not include mandatory local liability insurance for Costa Rica. Yes it was addressed in the fine print of our confirmation, but could have been made more clear up front. Nevertheless great car and great value overall.
The next bus shuttle was in an accident with us in it on the way to the rental company and they were not apologetic for us having been in there accident. Then the rental car was very very damaged. They also required a $1468. Insurance premium on top of the rental fee even though what my credit card insurance would cover it. This fee was not disclosed at time of booking.
10.0
Wonderful|Feb 2024
Super professional, A+
2.0
Poor|Aug 2023
It was a scam, added hidden fees
2.0
Poor|Aug 2023
They forced an additional $350 mandatory insurance on me at pick up that was never disclosed when I made the reservation
2.0
Poor|Jul 2023
We ordered a cheap car, but the fee was very high. Stay away from this firm
2.0
Poor|Jul 2023
The rental company pulled a bait and switch. They tried to charge two hundred dollars more for the rental than my quoted price then tried to post a 1,800.00 hold for the rental. I would never ever suggest Next Car.
Learn everything there is to know about hiring a car in Costa Rica so you can be properly prepared for your next trip
What side of the road do people in Costa Rica drive on?
Whether you hire or own a car in Costa Rica, you are required by law to drive on the right. Keep in mind that if you do not feel comfortable driving on this side of the road, you can always call a taxi or opt for a ride share.
How good are the roads in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has a road quality score of 2.9 on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is the lowest rated score. This puts Costa Rica at 116 out of 137 countries for road conditions. You may find that depending on where you travel within Costa Rica that the road quality will vary.
What is the drink driving limit in Costa Rica?
2.38 mg/l is the legal BAC limit in Costa Rica. Any higher and you will be considered driving under the influence and may receive monetary fines, licence restrictions, and other penalties. Keep in mind that you must also be at least 18 years of age to consume alcoholic beverages, and it is not recommended to operate a motor vehicle under the influence.
How much does petrol cost in Costa Rica?
As of last week, the average price of petrol in Costa Rica was £1.24 per litre. According to our data, Costa Rica has neither the most expensive nor the cheapest petrol prices in the world. Kuwait currently has the least expensive at £0.26 per litre, while Hong Kong has the most expensive at £3.11 per litre. Keep in mind that petrol prices change regularly and may be different during your travel dates.
When did momondo last update prices for cars in Costa Rica?
Prices for cars in Costa Rica were last updated today.
How many operators does momondo search for cars in Costa Rica?
As of June 2026, there are 699 operators available to choose from for cars in Costa Rica.
How old do you have to be to hire a car in Costa Rica?
The minimum age for drivers varies by country, including Costa Rica. In many EU countries drivers must be 18 years old. As a rule, you’ll need to be 21 to hire a car abroad, and a young driver surcharge may be applied if you are under 25. We recommend reading through the policy of your chosen rental company before booking.
What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in Costa Rica?
When renting a car in Costa Rica, all drivers must present a full valid driving license. An International Driving Permit is required if the driving license is written in a language different to that of the country of rental and may be necessary to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you are renting abroad, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend checking with the individual rental company you are booking with.
Why use momondo?
Why should I use momondo to book a car hire in Costa Rica?
You should use momondo to book a car hire in Costa Rica because it could save you time and money. momondo fetches and allows you to compare car hire prices and policies from thousands of car hire websites.
How does momondo help me find the best car hire deal in Costa Rica?
momondo enables you to find the best car hire deal in Costa Rica by providing useful filters to narrow your search. Filters include, but are not limited to: price, body type, rental company and specific policies that you may want.
Does momondo show car hire deals in Costa Rica with free cancellation?
Yes, whether it is for cars in Costa Rica or elsewhere, momondo allows you to filter specifically for policies that offer free cancellation.
Can I hire a car with a fair fuel policy in Costa Rica on momondo?
Absolutely! momondo offers this feature when searching for a car hire in Costa Rica.
Can I find a car hire in Costa Rica which offers enhanced cleaning on momondo?
Yes, momondo shows deals with enhanced cleaning services for hire cars in Costa Rica.
Can I search for car hire in Costa Rica with unlimited mileage on momondo?
momondo offers a filter specifically for unlimited mileage on car hire in Costa Rica.
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