Renting a car in Costa Rica is the best way to explore—get off the beaten path and have the freedom to do what you want. There are some important things you’ll want to know before you rent, so we put together this guide that’ll walk you through the whole process.
Renting a car in Costa Rica can be an absolute game-changer for exploring off the beaten path—but only if you know what to expect. From hidden fees to unpredictable road conditions, there are a few things we really wish we had known before booking our rental.
That’s why we’ve put together this complete guide to help you avoid common pitfalls and make your trip as smooth (and affordable!) as possible.
We’re covering everything—from the best deals and insurance must-knows to whether you really need a 4WD. Plus, we’ll share our top tips to help you save money and steer clear of headaches on the road (pun intended!).
Where to book a rental car in Costa Rica
Let’s be real, you’re here because you want to rent a car in Costa Rica, and you want us to show you where to book.
Well, here you go: We recommend booking through DiscoverCars.com.
Discover Cars pulls information from a large number of companies to find you the best price for your rental car. They also include the mandatory insurance that the Costa Rican government requires when renting a car, whereas most of the large aggregate sites do not (more on this further down in the article).
This way you know you won’t have any surprise costs when you land and start your travels. Check what’s available for your time in Costa Rica:
Our experience renting a car in Costa Rica: Why you should trust us
We didn’t plan on renting a car in Costa Rica—it happened by accident. On our first trip, we relied entirely on public transportation, so when we returned for a two-week adventure, we assumed we’d do the same.
But then we saw photos of Rio Celeste, a stunning aquamarine waterfall we had to visit.
The problem? Getting there without a car required an exhausting mix of buses, taxis, and an overnight stay. Renting a car was the only feasible option.
What started as a one-day rental quickly turned into two weeks. We realized just how much more of the country we could explore on our own—stumbling upon hidden beaches, epic viewpoints, and local restaurants we never would have found otherwise.
And the best part? It was shockingly cheap—just $20 USD per day for a small 4WD SUV. We even gave our ride a name: Eduardo (or Eddie for short).
Long story short—renting a car in Costa Rica was one of the best decisions we made. Keep reading to find out why it might be the best choice for your trip too!
Costa Rica Rental Car Guide
- Why rent a car in Costa Rica
- Rental requirements for Costa Rica
- When to rent a car in Costa Rica
- Cost of renting a car
- Where to find the best deal
- Rental car vs. bus comparison
- Mandatory insurance in Costa Rica
- Is 4-wheel drive necessary in Costa Rica?
- Tips for driving in Costa Rica
- Important tips for renting a car in Costa Rica
Why you should rent a car in Costa Rica
We’re so glad we made the decision to rent a car in Costa Rica. Here’s why:
1. It’s affordable
We expected renting a car to be expensive, but as we found out, it is actually cheaper than taking direct shuttles between popular destinations.
2. Access hidden gems
Costa Rica is a very touristy country, and the only way to escape the crowds is to venture off the typical tourist trail. Usually these places can be difficult to get to if you don’t have your own vehicle.
One of our highlights during our time in Costa Rica was spending some time at Rancho Mastatal, a sustainable community in the mountains.
Getting there without our rental car would have been quite difficult, so we were really happy we had our own ride!
3. Enjoy the scenery
Costa Rica’s countryside is stunning. If you’re on a bus or a shuttle, you’ll have to take it all in as you whip around the curves and turns.
But if you’re driving, you can pull over at any time (when it’s safe to stop!) and take in the scenery in the way it’s meant to be enjoyed. See a pretty waterfall? Pull over! It’s that simple.
4. Convenience
If you have your own vehicle, there’s no need to plan around bus schedules. You don’t have to wake up early to catch that 6 a.m. bus.
You can stop whenever you need to use the restroom or you get hungry. Turn on the AC or roll down your windows. It’s up to you!
5. Faster travel
Local buses are cheap, but oh so slow! They stop just about every half-mile to pick up people on the side of the road needing rides, and a short journey can take exponentially longer than you might think.
6. Driving in Costa Rica is (mostly!) easy
There are some countries where the insane traffic and crazy driving etiquette would scare us away from renting a car. (Think of many major cities in Vietnam!)
But most of Costa Rica is pretty laidback when it comes to driving, and people are mostly courteous.
Aside from driving through San Jose, we didn’t encounter much traffic or difficult situations. Keep reading for some tips that will help you drive safely in Costa Rica!
7. It’s fun!
There’s just something about road trips that are so much fun! Stock up on snacks, crank some tunes and sing aloud, or listen to a podcast with your travel buddy. No headphones needed!
8. Parking is easy
We drove our rental car to 8 different locations around Costa Rica, and finding parking was never an issue.
All our hostels, hotels and Airbnbs were equipped with parking spots. And the couple of times we had to pay a parking fee at National Parks, it was cheap (between $2 – $4 USD for all-day parking).
9. Avoid carsickness
On our first visit to Costa Rica we took only public transportation and shuttles. Well, one of the shuttle rides was a pretty awful experience.
I (Katie) sometimes get carsick, and the winding country roads did a number on my stomach.
If you’re like me, having your own rental vehicle will allow you the freedom to stop when you need to. Plus, sitting in the front seat (or driving) helps prevent carsickness a ton.
Pro tip: Motion sickness wristbands and ginger chews have helped me combat carsickness a lot!
Requirements for renting a car in Costa Rica
- Must be 25+ years old
- Valid passport and driver’s license from your home country
- Mandatory rental car insurance
- typically known as Liability Protection (LP) or Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) – this is a requirement by Costa Rica law
- Security deposit
- $500–$5,000 hold on credit card, depending on the rental company
- Extra insurance (often covered by your credit card or travel insurance)
Do I need an International Driver’s License?
As long as your home country driver’s license uses the Roman alphabet (English, Spanish, French, etc.), an international driver’s license is not required.
An international driver’s license is only required if your driver’s license does not use Roman letters, like Arabic or Thai script, to translate the identification.
If you are unsure, or just want an international driver’s license on hand, you can always get your international drivers license online, for just $30 USD.
When to rent a car in Costa Rica
- Most expensive: December–April (dry season, peak travel time).
- Plan ahead and book at least 3 months in advance!
- Cheapest: May–October (rainy season).
- We visited in June, and found daily rains only lasted 1-2 hours while the rest of the day was clear.
Cost of renting a car in Costa Rica
Renting a car is actually a very affordable way to travel around Costa Rica if you plan it right.
We paid roughly $20 USD per day for our 4×4 SUV in June 2018. However, the costs have gone up a bit since. In 2025 you can expect to pay around $30 per day for a rental car in Costa Rica.
The price is going to vary depending on the type of vehicle you get, what time of year you are traveling, and which rental car company you go through.
- We rented a Daihatsu Bego, which is a small SUV with a 4-wheel drive.
- We were traveling in June, which is during the low season and has cheaper rates than peak tourist months.
In addition to the actual car rental, be sure to add in the cost of gas, which, back in 2018, was roughly 680 CRC per liter ($4.53 USD per gallon) while we were there. As of updating this in 2025, it looks like you’ll be paying closer to 700 CRC per liter or about $4.90 USD per gallon.
And if you plan to drop off the car in a different location, you’ll be charged a “drop off fee” (ours was about $50 USD).
In total, our rental car, gas and drop-off fee came to exactly $540.43 for 15 days. With today’s average costs, that total would be around $700 USD for 15 days.
Best deal on renting a car in Costa Rica
Ever since the pandemic, rental cars in Costa Rica have been scarce and expensive at first glance. For us, the best way to search for a reasonably priced car is on an aggregate booking site.
However, after several hours of searching and combing through all the fine print, we found that most of the aggregate sites do not include the cost of mandatory insurance required by law in Costa Rica.
Avoid hidden fees by booking through DiscoverCars.com, which transparently includes the cost of mandatory insurance in the final price.
Rental car vs. public bus comparison
The cheapest way to get around Costa Rica is by taking local buses—but there’s a catch. Let me explain…
We took a bus from San Jose to La Fortuna for just 2,850 colones each (a little over $5 USD), and at first, it felt like a great deal. The bus was similar to a coach, with comfortable seats.
But as the journey went on, it stopped frequently to pick up more passengers, eventually becoming cramped and stuffy with people standing in the aisles. What could have been a four-hour trip by shuttle ended up taking over six hours.
While shuttles are faster and more convenient, they come at a higher cost, with fares ranging from $54 to $67 USD per person.
Rental car insurance in Costa Rica
Having rental car insurance coverage is required by law in Costa Rica.
Types of insurance:
- Liability Protection (LP) – Covers damage to third parties. Typically $10–$30/day.
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – Covers damage/theft of your rental. Often covered by credit cards or travel insurance.
Note: Liability Protection coverage may also be called by a few other names in Costa Rica:
- Supplemental Liability Insurance (SPI)
- Additional Liability Insurance (ALI)
- Third-party Liability (TPL)
- Third-party Insurance (TPI)
- Liability Protection (LP)
Pro Tip: We decline CDW since our Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture cards cover it. Check your credit card policy to see if you’re already covered!
→ Related: Find the best credit cards for travel!
Additionally, your travel insurance might also cover rental cars. Read the policy’s fine print to check for yourself.
If you need more information, we’ve got a complete guide to choosing the best travel insurance policy that should answer all your questions.
Do you need a 4×4 vehicle in Costa Rica?
The short answer: For city-to-coast routes, no. But for waterfalls, mountains, and remote areas, yes!
Many of the waterfalls and small towns we visited involved a steep climb on gravel roads. It might be possible to do without 4-wheel drive, but it gave us peace of mind knowing that we didn’t need to worry about which roads we took.
For our route, I would 100% recommend 4-wheel drive (4WD) , as I would not have felt comfortable without it.
Tips for driving in Costa Rica
There are a few things we learned about driving in Costa Rica specifically. We are sharing our top tips with you because we wished we had known these things before driving out of the parking lot for the first time!
- Watch out for potholes: Many roads are rough, especially in rural areas. Drive slowly and be cautious when crossing water, as potholes may be hidden.
- Look out for speed bumps: Common near towns and schools, but not always marked. Hitting one too fast is not fun—trust us!
- Get 4WD: If you’re exploring beyond San Jose, 4WD makes a big difference on steep or unpaved roads.
- Be cautious passing trucks: Many roads are narrow and winding. Only pass when it’s safe and you have a clear view ahead.
- Know one-lane bridge rules: The side with a “Ceda el Paso” (Yield) sign must wait. If there’s no sign, use caution—locals may go by a “first come, first served” approach.
- Gas stations are full service: An attendant will pump your gas. Cash is most common, but some stations near cities take cards.
- Keep change for tolls: Tolls near San Jose range from 360–720 colones ($0.64–$1.28). Carry small bills or coins.
Important tips for renting a car in Costa Rica
These tips are pretty universal whether you’re renting a car in Costa Rica, Canada or Germany. We hope they are helpful to you as you plan your trip.
- Take photos before driving – Snap pictures of any scratches, dents, or windshield cracks to avoid being blamed for pre-existing damage.
- Book online for the best rates – Online platforms get bulk discounts and pass the savings to you. Walk-in rates can be significantly higher, so reserve ahead—especially in peak season.
- We found DiscoverCars.com is the best site for car rentals in Costa Rica because its the only aggregate platform that includes the mandatory insurance in the total cost.
- Longer rentals mean lower daily rates – A one-day rental might cost $34, but renting for two weeks could drop the daily rate to $30 or less.
- Get a local SIM card or eSIM – A SIM card keeps you connected for navigation and emergencies. Airalo offers affordable eSIMs (e.g., $17 for 2GB/15 days) without needing a physical SIM.
- Download offline maps – Google Maps works without service if you download the offline version of the map in advance.
- Maps.Me is another great map option, and we use it a lot to find hiking trails and things that aren’t always marked on Google Maps. You might want to download both maps before your trip!
Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica?
We have lots more resources on travel in Costa Rica and destinations throughout the country. Check out our Ultimate Costa Rica Travel Guide for all the answers you’re looking for, or read some of our favorite articles below.
- Amazing Things to Do in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
- Adventurous Things to Do in Costa Rica
- Fun Things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
- Epic Things To Do in La Fortuna & Arenal, Costa Rica
Don’t forget to grab our packing list!
In this free PDF download, we’ve provided packing check lists for everything from clothing and toiletries (for both women and men!) to what shoes to pack and extra medicines you may want to have on-hand just in case.
Plus, we’re sharing tons of packing hacks and tips for traveling in Costa Rica that you won’t find anywhere else.
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We want to hear from you!
Do you have any more questions about renting a car in Costa Rica? Comment below and we’ll do our best to answer your question!
Really inspired by your tip for renting car guide and a nice content to read..
Your way of explanation was great.. keep on making this kind of informative stuff..Thanks for posting this useful content..
Thanks a lot for your kind words.
Hello, this is my 3rd year in a row going to Costa Rica and I’ve rented from alamo(once) and adobe (2) . With Adobe the prices are clear and upfront. With any online car rental you get whacked with Costa Rica insurance. I brought proof of my credit card insurance and also private insurance and it doesn’t cover with any of the company’s. In my experience, it’s a mandatory insurance. It’s $680 for a 9 day small 4×4 rental at the end of January.
Hi Trina, the rental insurance in Costa Rica can be a bit confusing and I’ve updated the article to explain it a little more. Sorry to hear you’ve gotten whacked in the past, that’s never fun when you’re on a trip. I detailed exactly what happened to us and our experience in the article above to help shed some light on renting cars in Costa Rica.
How was your experience with Adobe?
Hi, I noticed there wasn’t much information about the "mandatory" fees/insurance that are imposed at the car rental agency after you reserve it online. It goes from $10 a day to upwards of $70 a day. Do you have any remarks about that? I’ve had many friends have this experience by booking the "cheapest" online then getting there and it goes way up.
Are you paid by carrentals.com for this article?
Thanks
Curious traveler
Hi there, thanks for taking the time to comment. We were able to have a $1,500 USD hold on our credit card in order to decline the insurance. Some rental companies do this and others don’t. As mentioned in the article, we went through Alamo and picked up the car in La Fortuna.
And no, we were not paid by RentalCars.com to write this post. I don’t think they even know we’ve written this article 😉
Thanks for your concern.
thanks for information. i like
Thank you!
The guide was indeed helpful and sorry to hear about your accident !!
So happy to hear it was helpful!
Most cars in Costa Rica are not equipped with anti-lock brakes. The roads near San Jose are very slippery due to lots of oil, even during a light rain. You don’t think to pump the brakes in a fast paced situation if you’ve never had to do it before. Our accident only cost us about $150 (luckily we had insurance), but the event definitely started our trip off on a sour note and made driving more stressful for the remainder of the trip. Besides this, we only had problems driving on poorly lit roads at night. Driving in Costa Rica was no problem, otherwise.
Hey Kyle, so sorry to hear about your accident, that’s never fun. We luckily didn’t have any problems driving in Costa Rica, and we found it to be very similar to driving in the States. Happy to hear you had a great time for the rest of your trip in Coast Rica.
This reminds me of my memorable trip to Costa Rica. Although I agree that renting a car is cheap, my friends and I hired a private driver to drives us around since none of us really wanted to risk driving there lol. I didn’t mind it though since the driver tends to act like a guide and explain things to us and we would stop to take photos as well.
That’s another good option as well, especially if you don’t want to worry about driving!
Wow what an adventure! I definitely see the benefits of renting a car in Costa Rica. Those potholes are nothing compared to those in England haha, I think British roads are sometimes worse!!
Haha would love to see the potholes in England then! I assume I’d have to get out of London before seeing them… hehe (And the ones in the photo are quite tame compared to most in CR!)
This is all really good advice. It’s amazing how good value the car was! I’m surprised by the huge price difference between booking online and just turning up, but it’s pretty cool that you could just go back to your hotel and book it that way!! <3
Yeah, we were surprised by how affordable it was!
Sounds like fun to rent a car inCosta Rica, I would be that person to afraid to drive in another country.. ha ha, love the pics
VAlerie
It really is! Definitely easier for renting a car (and cheaper!) than in many other countries we’ve traveled!
Thanks for the helpful tips! Costa Rica looks gorgeous from your photos. I’ll forward this post to my friend who is planning a trip to this lush country.
Thanks so much! Yes, it is definitely a stunning country!
One of my favorite things to do in new town is to drive around and see the "local" or non-touristy spots. This is good to know that Costa Rica is a great spot for this as well!
Yes, definitely one of our favorite things too 🙂
Costa Rica is on my bucket list, but renting a car is not something I’ve thought about. I’m so glad it’s on my mind now, because it truly seems like the best way to get around and see everything. It would be such a fun road trip too, finding hidden gems and all the famous spots to visit.
Yeah, totally! We didn’t plan on renting a car, but are so happy we did!
You guys are brave! I’m already a nervous driver, and I can’t imagine having to add in the stress of one-way bridges and gaping potholes! (However, it looks like it was totally worth it!)
Wow, $55 for a shuttle in Costa Rica? That’s insane. I can definitely see how renting a car would work out better. I’ve heard some nightmare stories about the driving conditions there (especially on windy mountain roads), but good to know that your experience was calmer.
What an awesome guide! I’d never thought about hiring a car in Costa Rica, but this really makes sense, especially considering the high price of shuttle buses. It’s always so valuable to weigh up the best options for your trip, and a little planning goes a long way when cutting costs in cases such as this! Thanks for these tips!