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Rent a car
Renting your own vehicle to discover Costa Rica in a autotour journey has many advantages such as moving at your own pace and adapting your itinerary according to your desires, saving money compared to a guided journey or visiting places that are difficult to access by public transportation.
Nevertheless, the idea of renting and driving a vehicle in an unknown country can be stressful and that is why Atípico Costa Rica works with rental agencies selected for the quality of their fleet and their service to English-speaking customers.
GET 5% DISCOUNT WITH OUR PARTNERS BY MENTIONING ATÍPICO COSTA RICA!
SHOULD YOU RENT A 4X4 VEHICLE ?
Many secondary roads are not paved in Costa Rica, so yes, we recommend renting a 4x4 vehicle (especially if you want to get off the beaten path and still have some comfort).
However, not all locals drive SUVs! Depending on your budget and the activities that motivate your stay, our excellent knowledge of the road network will also allow us to propose you an itinerary that can be done in a city car.
HOW TO GET AROUND COSTA RICA ?
Postal addresses as we know them in the United States are not common in Costa Rica. Here you can find your way by street names, intersections and buildings like schools or supermarkets. The most reliable smartphone application to get to your destination without getting stuck by an impassable river is Waze. We recommend all travelers to download it before their departure. On the negative side, it requires an internet connection (we invite you to read our article "stay connected"). An alternative is the Maps.me application which works without an internet connection.
OUR TIPS FOR A SAFE TRAVEL :
Avoid driving at night! Outside of the GAM (San José Metropolitan Area) the roads are poorly lit, as are many pedestrians and cyclists! Add to this an abundance of wildlife and potholes and a night drive can become exhausting.
Respect the rules of the road! Outside the cities, the speed limit is 80 km/h in most of the country.
Opt for guarded parking! In tourist destinations, it is possible to leave your car under the surveillance of locals wearing yellow vests, nicknamed "watchies". You can thank them with a few dollars, usually when you get back on the road. Whatever your destination, do not leave anything of value in your vehicle.
WHICH INSURANCE SHOULD I TAKE OUT?
Two insurances are mandatory to rent and drive a vehicle in Costa Rica:
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The Third Party Waiver (TPW) or Liability Insurance (LI) - in Spanish "Seguro Obligatorio para Vehículos Automotores" (SOA) - covering damages to third parties.
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The Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covering damage to the vehicle (except for the underbody and roof) and theft.
It is possible to skip this second insurance if you are able to provide proof of coverage in Costa Rica (especially for 4x4 vehicles).
RENTAL WITH OUR PARTNERS :
Our trusted partners offer you the choice of picking up your rental vehicle upon your arrival at the airport or delivering it to your hotel the next morning.
Take the time to check the condition of your vehicle, with photos and/or videos to avoid any risk of misunderstanding. An omission can happen without any bad intention from our partner!
The rental is done exclusively by credit card. In addition to the total price of the rental, you will have to make a deposit which will be debited only in case of an accident. The amount of the deductible depends on the model of your vehicle as well as your coverage rate; in fact it is possible to buy it back partially or totally for a few extra dollars per day, so you can travel with peace of mind!
JUMBO CAR COSTA RICA
Located 5 minutes from the SJO international airport, Jumbo Car has a recent fleet of city cars and sports cars 4x2 and 4x4, all equipped with air conditioning.
Mandatory insurances (LI & CDW) are included in the total price. Jumbo Car also offers the possibility to buy back the deductible or to extend the civil liability.
Take advantage of a 5% discount on the total price of your rental (excluding extras and options) by entering the promo code ATIPICO.
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