If you’re thinking about renting a car in Costa Rica for your vacation, this guide will be everything you need to understand how it works.
We’ll explain the details of Costa Rican car rental insurance, best car rental agencies, car rental costs and deciding the best car for your trip to have a smooth and stress free Costa Rica car rental process.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Listed prices are quoted in USD and are estimates. More info: Disclosure
Mytanfeet Renting a Car in Costa Rica Guide
Mytanfeet is a licensed Costa Rican travel consulting company and we have helped thousands of readers rent a car in Costa Rica since 2014.
About Mytanfeet
Yeison, who is Costa Rican, has worked in the tourism industry for over 20 years and Samantha, from the United States, moved in 2012 to Costa Rica.
We’ve been traveling together throughout Costa Rica for over 15 years, gathering the most updated information to help you have the best car rental experience in Costa Rica.
Our website’s main purpose is to assist our readers plan their trip to Costa Rica: before, during and after, for a stress free, hassle free and worry free vacation.
Mytanfeet Costa Rica Car Rental Discount
If you’re ready to book your car, check out our exclusive Costa Rica car rental discount and extra benefits just for you!
We partner with Adobe Rent a Car and offer a minimum 10% discount off their rental car rate.
In addition, we offer freebies such as free additional drivers, free baby and booster seats, free luggage cover, free SIM card and a WIFI discount.
Furthermore, every single reservation made through Mytanfeet receives our customer service. We will assist you every step of the way to make sure your reservation is perfect.
Why Should You Rent a Car in Costa Rica
Here are some reasons why renting a car for your trip to Costa Rica will be the best option for you.
More Flexibility to Explore at Your Own Pace & Go Off the Beaten Path
The advantages of renting a car in Costa Rica are obvious: Go where you want, when you want.
As Costa Rica’s public transportation system is not very extensive, you won’t be restricted to anyone’s schedule but your own by renting a car in Costa Rica.
Having a rental car in Costa Rica allows you to go off the beaten path, stay at unique lodging, pick exactly what you want to do and see, leave when you want.
Explore and adventure at your own pace when you rent a car in Costa Rica.

To maximize your vacation time, minimize the time spent figuring out how to get around.
For Long Term Stays in Costa Rica
Many people are visiting Costa Rica for long term stays, whether they want to experience living in Costa Rica or scope out a potential new home.
You can rent one for the entire period or rent a car when you want to explore.
Car Rental Costa Rica Monthly Rentals
Are you planning to be in Costa Rica for one month or longer?
Contact us and we will be happy to help you get a monthly rate for your rental.
If you want to experience Costa Rica like a local, then renting a car in Costa Rica is something you should do.
Costa Rica Car Rental Prices Are Comparable To Private Shuttles and Domestic Flights
When you add up the cost of booking private shuttles/domestic flights vs renting a car, renting a car is not outrageously more expensive.
Full Itinerary Transportation Cost Example
A classic Costa Rica 10 day itinerary is San Jose – La Fortuna – Monteverde – Manuel Antonio – San Jose. With private shuttles, the approximate cost is around $1100 USD for 1-6 people.
During high season, you can rent a 2wd subcompact crossover SUV for about ~$1100 USD with PLI and CDW insurance.
Without a rental car, you need to take taxis, Ubers or book tours with transportation to get around. These are extra costs to take into consideration.
Domestic Flights
Domestic flights cost anywhere from $80-250 USD per person one way. You are also limited to how much luggage you can bring on the small jumper planes and the schedules.
Furthermore, there aren’t local airstrips in every destination.
Convinced? Check out our car rental discount to compare prices and get quotes.
What Documents are Required to Rent a Car in Costa Rica as a Foreigner?
These are the required documents to rent a car in Costa Rica as a foreigner:
1. A valid original driver’s license
2. A valid original passport with a valid tourist visa stamp given at immigration
3. A physical credit card with the cardholder present that has enough funds for the payment and security deposit.
Canadians and Americans can rent a car in Costa Rica with their US and Canadian driver’s license.
An international driver’s license is not required in Costa Rica for Americans, Canadians and most countries in general.
However, if your driver’s license is not in Roman (Latin) script, then you will need to get an international driver’s license.
For example, if your license is 100% in Arabic or Russian without any English translation, then you will need an international driving permit or license.
Temporary paper copies or photocopies of your driver’s license are not accepted. Your driver’s license and passport cannot be expired or will expire during your car rental period.
Even if you have rented with the same company before, you need to bring your original driver’s license and original passport with you every time.
Requirements for Driving in Costa Rica
What is required to DRIVE in Costa Rica as a foreigner:
1. Your valid original passport with a valid tourist visa stamp given at immigration
2. A valid original driver’s license from your home country
You must have your driver’s license and passport with you whenever you drive in Costa Rica as a foreigner.
Read our driving in Costa Rica post for local tips to stay safe on the road.
Minimum Age
The minimum age to rent a car in Costa Rica ranges from 21-25 years of age.
Each company has their own minimum rental age policies which you will need to check. Some companies allow drivers younger than the minimum age with an extra fee/insurance.
Our partner Adobe Rent a Car has a minimum age of 23. They don’t allow drivers younger than 23 even if they are willing to pay an extra fee/insurance.
As for maximum age, there isn’t really a maximum age to rent a car in Costa Rica, depending on the agency.
Adobe doesn’t have a maximum age limit and senior drivers don’t need to pay an extra insurance or fee.
Adobe also has another condition that the driver must have been driving legally for at least 2 years.
What Side of the Road Does Costa Rica Drive On?
Costa Rica drives on the right hand side of the road, same as USA and Canada.
Cost of a Costa Rica Car Rental
Costa Rica car rental prices are not cheap.
How much your Costa Rica car rental costs depend on many factors such as, but not limited to: the type of rental car, demand, availability and the time of year.
Also, car rental rates in Costa Rica are dynamic, like flights. They are not static prices, so the price you see 6 months before your trip, will change when it’s 1 month before your trip.
Whether the price goes up or down, depends on the market at the moment.
Most Expensive Time to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
The most expensive time of year to rent a car in Costa Rica is the high tourism season. This is generally mid December to April.
Christmas, New Years and Easter week have the most expensive prices (peak season).
If you are visiting during peak season, book your car rental at least three to four months out. Car rentals go very fast during these times of year.
A mid size 4wd SUV can cost around $800 USD for one week in high season.
Fluctuating price depends on availability and demand and I’m talking about just the car rental rate.
Cheapest Time to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
The cheapest time to rent a car in Costa Rica are during low tourism seasons months such as May, September and October.
October usually has the cheapest rental car rates as it is the slowest tourism month.
Cost of Gas
Gas prices in Costa Rica fluctuate constantly.
However, gas prices are the same at every station.
The cost of gas in Costa Rica is around 662 CRC per liter which is approximately ~$4.99 USD per gallon (regular).
Super is around 677 CRC per liter and is around $5.11 USD per gallon.
Diesel in Costa Rica costs around 566 CRC per liter which is around $4.19 USD per gallon.
*Gas prices change very often, so these rates may not reflect the exact prices today.*
On average for a 1 week trip, if you drive around 500 kilometers (310 miles), you may spend around $70-80 USD for gas for a mid size gasoline SUV.
Additional Costs
There are a few additional costs to renting a car in Costa Rica.
First, from San Jose, there are several highway toll booths. These costs from 100 – 1000 CRC, about $.20-$2 USD.
Second, if your rental car is dirty inside, you may need to take it to the car wash ($10-20) before you return it.
If you return the car extremely dirty (vomit/mud/food stains/wine stains/excessive pet hair/excessive sand), agencies will charge you a fee of around $113 USD since they have to get it professionally cleaned.
Third, you cannot smoke inside rental cars in Costa Rica. If you do, the company will charge you a fine for this, usually around $113 USD.
Fourth, if you pick up and return from different offices or a location without an office, there will be an extra fee for this, for most rental car agencies. This can be from $25-$300 USD.
Lastly, if you get any extras like child booster seats, Wifi hot spot, SIM card, these have an extra cost.
We offer some freebies like free child seats and free luggage cover with our Costa Rica car rental discount!
How to Save Money on Car Rentals in Costa Rica
- Travel during low season months like May, September and October.
- Create an itinerary that does not require a 4×4. Here is a one week family itinerary flying to SJO Airport that does not require a 4×4.
- Use your credit card car rental insurance to save money on insurance. It will be necessary to provide proof of coverage.
- Rent a diesel car. Diesel is cheaper than gas in Costa Rica.
- Avoid different pick up and return locations.
One more tip if you’re really counting pennies – rent a manual transmission car. Automatic cars can cost a few dollars more than a manual car a day.
You have to be a proficient and confident manual driver as Costa Rica has a lot of narrow roads, steep hills, mountain routes and unpaved streets.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount to save on rentals and get extra benefits like 2 free drivers, free pre-paid SIM card, free cooler and much more!
The Process of Renting a Car in Costa Rica
Below is our recommended process.
Deciding Which Company to Rent With: Best Costa Rica Car Rental Companies
The first step is to decide which company to rent with.
Disclaimer: Mytanfeet has partnered with Adobe Rent a Car. They are Costa Rican operated and offer all-inclusive pricing.
Our partnership gives our readers car rental discounts and extra freebies such as free additional drivers, free child seats, free prepaid SIM card and much more.
However, you can find large international companies such as Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty, Economy and Budget in Costa Rica.
There are also a couple Costa Rican car rental companies like Poas and Vamos.
That being said, the first step when it comes to deciding the company is to comparison shop.
Then you need to make sure to note specific details about each rental car company. It’s not just about finding the cheapest car rental possible.
You need to check the model and year of the rental car, number of offices, quality of customer service, amount of the security deposit and the insurance options for every single company.
Just because the rate is much cheaper, you may end up paying more (time and money wise) in the long run due to unfriendly agents, slow/unresponsive customer service, poorly maintained vehicles and shady practices.
Number of Offices
Something else when deciding which Costa Rican car rental company to rent with is the number of offices.
This is because some companies may only have two offices: one at San José International Airport and the other at Guanacaste Airport.
Why does the number of offices matter?
For example, if you are in Uvita and you run into issues with your car, the closest office of your car rental agency may be in San Jose which is a ~3.5 hour drive away.
Since they are so far away, it will take a whole day out of your vacation to get them to come check it out. You may end up wasting even more time if they have to change your car or tow it.
If it’s an emergency after business hours, you will be in even more trouble because many small agencies do not have a 24/7 emergency line.
Adobe has around 15 offices in Costa Rica and an after-hours emergency line, so if you run into any issues, there is a good chance there is an office nearby and they can assist you quickly.
What to Know About International Companies
You may have read from other tourists that car rentals are a scam in Costa Rica.
We completely understand why they feel that way. This is because of the way international companies present the taxes, fees, insurances and deposit in Costa Rica.
The thing with those companies is that they aren’t fully transparent about taxes, fees, the deposit and insurance.
You need to contact the Costa Rican office directly to be 100% clear about all fees and insurances.
Third Party Booking Sites: How to Avoid Hidden Fees/Taxes/Insurances When Renting a Car in Costa Rica (Why Your Quote is So Cheap)
If you book a car on third party sites like Expedia, Kayak, Carrentals, an airline, Orbitz, etc. they usually only show you the car rental price, which can look insanely cheap ($5 USD a day, $10 USD a day).
This is because these third party websites only show you the car rental price. They do not include ANY of the insurances, deposits, taxes and fees.
So when you go to pick up the car, they will add on all these insurances, taxes and fees you didn’t know anything about and it’ll end up being way more expensive.
This is why many people feel like they got scammed when renting a car in Costa Rica.
To avoid this situation, check directly with the Costa Rican agency to get the final price and ask them about the deposit amount and insurances.
With our partnership to offer our readers a car rental discount, what you see on your reservation is exactly what you pay.
No hidden fees, taxes, insurances. All clear and upfront. All inclusive prices from the beginning to end.
Costa Rica Car Rental Insurance: How it Works
This is the most confusing thing about Costa Rica car rentals because every company sells insurances differently and uses different names.
Furthermore, there is a mandatory insurance in Costa Rica, so make sure that is included in your quote so you know your total price breakdown.
When it comes to our partner, Adobe Rent a Car, they offer 3 types of insurances online:
Liability (PLI), Car Protection (CDW) and Extended Protection (SPP).

They offer 1 insurance in person, called TPW, which is only for those who use their credit card car rental coverage to decline Car Protection.
Liability Insurance (PLI)
This is the mandatory car rental insurance in Costa Rica. The mandatory third party liability insurance from Adobe costs between $13-25 USD a day.
This Liability insurance covers up to $20,000 USD in 3rd party damages with 20% deductible and 3rd parties (not in vehicle) up to $100,000 USD with 0 deductible.
This mandatory insurance in Costa Rica cannot be declined or removed using credit card insurance since there are no companies that cover this exact insurance.
Car Protection Insurance (CDW or LDW)
This basic insurance covers the rented vehicle damage in a collision, rollover or theft.
You are still responsible for the $1000 + tax USD deductible (total $1130 USD) and the rental company then covers the rest. This insurance does not cover any third party damages, vandalism or tires.
You can decline this insurance by using your credit card world wide car rental coverage. You will need proof of coverage in order to decline the Car Protection Insurance.
My Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Infinite credit card offers worldwide car rental insurance and I can use it to decline Adobe’s Car Protection insurance.
Extended Protection Insurance (SPP)
This insurance is 100% optional. It goes on top of Liability and has 0 deductible and covers windows, vandalism, 24/7 road side assistance (one of the Mytanfeet benefits is 24/7 road assistance in every reservation), tire damage and tow trucks.
The insurance also covers 100% of 3rd party damages up to $2 million USD.
You can add this insurance when you sign the rental agreement if you’re not sure if you want to add it beforehand.
Third Party Waiver Insurance (TPW)
The TPW insurance is offered ONLY in person, and only to those who are declining Car Protection Insurance by using their credit card car rental coverage.
It increases your third party (Liability) coverage to $4 million USD from $20,000 USD. The Liability deductible goes down to $0 USD from 20%. This insurance costs $9.99 + tax USD a day.
You can read more detailed information about Adobe Rent a Car insurance in this post.
Flat Tires
Flat tire change are not covered under any of the insurances. You will be provided all the necessary tools and a spare tire to change the flat/punctured tire yourself.
If you need help, you can go to any gas station and they can help you change out the flat tire for a small fee.
Then, you can go to any of the rental offices of your agency to change out the spare.
Extended Insurance only covers damaged tires. It does not cover flat tire change. In order to be covered for damaged tires, you will need to get the LDW + CDW + SPP insurances.
Deposit
The security deposit is the amount the company will hold on your credit card during the duration of your car rental.
The Costa Rican car rental deposits have a huge range as they are based on the type of insurances your purchase. These deposits vary depending on the rental agency.
For example, if you purchase only mandatory insurance, your deposit may be $3000 at one agency.
If you get every insurance available, your deposit may be $500. If you waive one insurance and only get mandatory insurance, your deposit can be $5,000… or more.
So you will need to make sure the credit card you’re using has a big enough limit for the deposit and payment.
Some companies will allow clients to use one credit card for the deposit and another for the payment in case your card doesn’t have a high enough limit for the deposit and car rental.
The condition is that both credit cards must be the same brand. For example, they cannot accept one VISA and one Mastercard.
How to Pay the Deposit
Deposits and payment of the rental cannot be paid in cash in Costa Rica. Credit card holders have to be present to sign paperwork and pay for the rental.
This is another reason why we prefer working with Adobe Rent a Car. Their deposit is straightforward ($1000 USD flat). But we have a benefit for readers who book through Mytanfeet!
For Mytanfeet reservations, we offer a special deposit benefit. It is $750 USD for all reservations that decline Car Protection Insurance. It is $500 USD if you purchase all 3 insurances or purchase Liability and Car Protection Insurance.
Are Debit Cards Accepted for the Deposit?
Adobe does take debit cards if clients sign a waiver form.
However, the debit card deposit can take up to 7 business days to return to your bank account, whereas it is 24-72 hours for credit cards.
IMPORTANT: Our deposit benefit does NOT apply to those using a debit card. Your deposit will be $1000 USD if you use a debit card, no exceptions. Clients need to sign a form saying they understand these conditions when using a debit card.
Also if you have one of those cards that function as both a debit and credit card, then Adobe will treat it as a debit card.
Digital cards are not accepted, meaning no Apple Pay, Google Wallet, etc.
Airport Pick Up and Return
Can you pick up your car rental at the airport in Costa Rica?
Yes and no. San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport are too small for car rental companies to operate inside.
Therefore, all the offices are located around a 10-15 minute drive from the airport. Rental companies offer transportation to their office to collect the car.
There are some companies that do offer their cars inside the airport but this is very few, mostly these are ultra VIP clients.
Even if the rental car companies has a counter inside the international airports, they will still take you to their off site office to sign the rental agreement and collect the car.

Adobe Rent a Car offers a complimentary meet and greet shuttle for their clients.
The Adobe agent will meet the clients outside the airport terminal exit, bring them to the shuttle and take them to their office to complete the rental agreement and collect the car.
You can watch videos of the pick up process for Adobe at San José International Airport and Adobe at Guanacaste Airport here.
Returning the Car
For airport returns, clients will return the car to their airport office. Then Adobe shuttles them for free to the airport. Most other car rental agencies also work this way.
Early Morning/Late Night Return to SJO Airport
At the San Jose International Airport, clients who have a flight at an odd hour can arrange to leave the car in the parking lot with the keys in the glove box for an extra fee.
Be sure to arrange this with your agency.
For those who rent through Mytanfeet by booking with our Costa Rica car rental discount, we will help you arrange this and take care of the details.
Gas and Mileage
Some companies have an option to choose for prepaid gas. Or clients can fill it up before returning the car, or they can return it at whatever level and the company will charge a fee to fill it up.
For Adobe, when clients receive the car, the tank will be full. For the return, clients can fill up before returning the car or the clients can return it at any level and Adobe will charge accordingly.
Read about how to get gas in Costa Rica here.
There may also be restrictions on mileage for some rental car agencies, depending on the type of rental car. Adobe has unlimited mileage for rentals under 30 days.
Costa Rica uses the metric system (kilometers) but it is the same when they say unlimited mileage.
Extras
Common car rental extras are additional drivers, GPS, Wi-fi hot spot, baby/booster seats, SIM card, dog seat cover, luggage cover, cooler and surf racks.
Prices vary between agencies.
With Adobe, our deal gives readers 2 free additional drivers, free baby and booster seats, free SIM card with 1000 CRC preloaded credit, free cooler (if available), free dog seat cover, free luggage cover and free surf racks.
We also have a Wi-fi deal that if you rent for more than 10 days, you only pay for the first ten days.

The Wi-fi hot spot is useful if you do not have an international data plan. You can connect up to 5 devices and it has unlimited data.
That way you’ll always have Internet on your phone so it’s useful if you don’t plan to get an international data plan.
The prepaid SIM card is also useful to have a local phone number.
What Kind of Car Should You Rent in Costa Rica?
Rental car companies have many car categories for all budgets and needs. The type of car you rent in Costa Rica will depend on your itinerary and the size of your group.
Here are some common cars and vehicle categories.
Full size 7 seater SUV: Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Toyota Prado, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Palisade.
Mid size SUV 5 seater: Toyota Rav4, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Kona.
Compact SUV: Hyundai Venue 2wd, Hyundai Creta 2wd, Mitsubishi ASX 4wd, Suzuki Vitara 4wd and Geely Gx3 2wd.
Sedan/compact sedan: Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i10, Hyundai Gran i10, Suzuki Swift, Kia Soluto.
Vans (8/9 – 12 seaters): Hyundai Staria
Jeeps are not readily available to rent in Costa Rica. There are 4×4 cars and trucks, but not specifically the brand Jeep.
Convertibles are also not available to rent in Costa Rica. Trust me, you will not want to drive a a convertible in Costa Rica anyways.
Get more information on the type of cars to rent in Costa Rica here.
Automatic vs Manual
Make sure the car you rent is an automatic if you can’t drive manual.
Some companies will label the car as “AT” for automatic transmission and “MT” for manual transmission.
Manual transmissions cars are a tiny bit less expensive. Nowadays, most Costa Rican car rental agencies have automatic transmission for the majority of their fleet.
If you rent a manual transmission, you need to be a confident and proficient manual driver. Costa Rica has a lot of steep and curvy hills, potholes and unpaved roads, especially in the rural and remote places.
If you think you won’t feel comfortable driving manual in a foreign country, don’t. It will be worth paying a little bit more for an automatic to not have that stress.
Furthermore, if you’re from any of the countries that drive on the left side of the road, we highly recommend an automatic transmission.
Avoid worrying about driving on the other side of the road and changing gears with the opposite hand at the same time.
Car and Engine Size
Engine sizes in Costa Rica are smaller than the USA. A sedan in Costa Rica normally has a 1.6 L, 4 cylinders engines.
SUVs are typically 1.6-2 L, 4 cylinders engines. Full size SUVs with diesel engines are 2.4 L – 3 L.
If you want a bigger engine like a V6 or V8, it is not common in Costa Rica. If you find one, it will be much more expensive as they are considered premium/ultra premium.
You will pay more if you want to rent an automatic, V6 engine, American car.
IMPORTANT: Due to smaller engine sizes, your car may have trouble going up a hill, even if your entire group of 4 plus luggage fits in the sedan.
You may want to consider a bigger car in those situations if your accommodation is up in the mountains and you will be fully loading your car.
Rental Car Condition
If you notice a company offering very cheap rates, check the year of their rental cars. Some companies that have cheap car rental prices in Costa Rica use old cars (5 years or more).
You will need to take that into consideration because of the rough roads and how tourists drive.
The older the car, the more mileage it has, the more problems they may have and more incidents/accidents they may have been in.
Adobe changes their rental cars every 2 years or when they hit 100,000 kilometers (around 62,000 miles).
However, some car rental agencies with very cheap rates rent cars that are 5, 7, even 10+ years old with 300,000 kilometers or more (around 185,000 miles).
The condition of a 5 year old rental car in Costa Rica isn’t the same as a 1 year old rental car AT ALL!
I would much prefer to pay a bit more for a newer car in excellent condition and low mileage, rather than an older, less well maintained rental car with hundreds of thousands of miles on it.
Inspection
Some rental car companies no longer offer doing an inspection with the agent when you collect the car.
Do your own inspection, take your own photos and videos and document anything you see when you first get the car.
Is a 4×4 necessary in Costa Rica?
Some places may require a 4wd but in general, a car with high clearance is more important for many places in Costa Rica, particularly during the dry season months such as January, February, March and April.
In rainy season, it will be required to rent a 4wd for more rural areas or mountainous places with unpaved roads.
That time of year has bigger potholes and muddier roads. These are months such as May through December.

Here are some popular routes:
- Guanacaste to Arenal: 4×4 not necessary. See the Guanacaste to Arenal route here.
- Monteverde: High clearance car highly recommended due to the Monteverde roads. 4wd/4×4 recommended in rainy season if staying outside of the town center.
- Puerto Viejo: 4×4 not necessary. The road to and around Puerto Viejo is paved.
- Uvita: High car recommended and 4wd is necessary for many hotels up in the mountains.
We created two driving in Costa Rica posts with more information: Driving around Costa Rica videos and Costa Rica road conditions.
Other Important Things to Know About Costa Rica Car Rentals
- If you get a ticket, pay it when you drop off the car. There is a law that can prohibit you from exiting the country if you don’t.
- Child seats are required for children under 12 years of age.
- Rental vehicles cannot be driven across the Costa Rican border to Nicaragua or Panama.
- Keep the contract and car documents (registration). If you lose them, you may pay a fine.
- All drivers must have their passport and driver’s license (original, not copies or photos) with them while they are driving.
- For payments, you cannot use the credit card of a person who is not present.
- If you get into an incident, report it to the necessary authorities and the car rental company ASAP. If you do not, you can face fines or legal issues.
- Damage from driving through rivers or any body of water is not covered by any type of insurance.
- Damage from driving under the influence is not covered by any type of insurance.
- It is the law to wear seat belts in Costa Rica, front and back seats.
The Mytanfeet Costa Rica Car Rental Discount
Mytanfeet is very pleased to partner with Adobe Rent a Car to give our readers an exclusive Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies!
“Why Adobe?” you may ask.
When it comes to reputable Costa Rica car rental companies, Adobe Rent a Car is the leader.
They are a 100% Costa Rican operated company with the largest fleet of cars that are no more than 2 years old.
Furthermore, they offer all-inclusive pricing.
We also offer extra benefits: 2 free additional drivers, 0% deductible on Liability Protection insurance (up to $20,000 USD), road assistance on all reservations, a free prepaid SIM card for duration of booking, free baby and booster seats, free surf racks, free dog seat covers, WiFi deal, free car delivery and pick up, one hour car return leniency and a special deposit deal.
You’ll also receive Mytanfeet customer service, as we’ll help you make sure your reservation is exactly the way you want it and help you with any questions you have.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount to book a car, have a trip of a lifetime and save money while doing it!
You can read about our experience with Adobe Rent a Car and why we recommend them.
If our renting a car in Costa Rica article was helpful, feel free to pass it along. Our goal is to give the best information and help our readers out as much as possible!

Graciela Lopez says
I’m traveling from SJO to La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio/Quepos for a week later this month June. I don’t think I will need 4WD or 4×4 for that part of my trip but I was wondering if will need it to get to Nauyaca Falls. Great blog by the way, very informative!!
Sammi says
Hi Graciela, the office is right off the main road, there is a small section that is a dirt road going down to the parking lot and if it’s been raining a lot, it will probably be very muddy. I’d ask the office directly to see how conditions have been, their email is info@cataratasnauyaca.com
Anne-Claire says
First of, thank you so much for all the work you put into this blog, it has been an excellent source of information for me and my sister as we plan our trip to Costa Rica! I am wondering about the route we plan to drive, and how the roads might be as it will be rainy season? We get to Costa Rica May 22nd, and stay through May 6th. We plan to go from San Jose to Punta Arenas, ferry across to Naranjo, and drive along the east coast of the peninsula to Montezuma. From there we wanted to hug the coast line to get to our Airbnb near Punta Islita. I’ve read that those roads can be bad during the rainy reason, and there might be some river crossings involved? Do you have any information about the road conditions along that route, at that time of year? Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Hi Anne-Claire, the best route from Naranjo to Montezuma is through Cobano and taking the paved route 21. Then from MOntezuma to Punta Islita, I would go back to Cobano and take the more paved road from there instead of hugging the coastline to Santa Teresa because that way will require you to drive on the beach, cross rivers, etc.
Peter says
What about info on which side of the road to drive on and whether or not there is readily available roadside assistance?
Sammi says
Costa Rica drives on the same side as USA and Canada, and road assistance will depend on which car rental company you rent with as it may only be included in certain insurances.
Matthew says
Hello. I’m having a hard time deciding if I need 4×4 or not. I plan to arrive in San Jose, then go to La Fortuna, Antonio Manuel and then back to San Jose. My trip is in June. Thanks for the help.
Sammi says
Hi Matthew, you don’t need one. All your destinations have paved roads and all the routes are on major highways. A sedan will work for your itinerary.
Braeden says
Thank you for the info/ discount!
I just booked with Adobe for two weeks in May, and have received the total price as given by Adobe (Car Protection included). Can I expect to see any other hidden fees upon pickup/ additional fees since I am currently 23? (younger driver insurance, etc.)
Thanks again,
Braeden
Sammi says
Hi Braeden, 23 is the minimum age for Adobe so there isn’t any fee for that and they don’t have any other fees, what you see on your reservation is what you pay 🙂
Jin Kim says
This is so helpful in planning my trip in April.
We are planning to fly into LIB then drive to Arenal. From Arenal, we’ll travel to Guanacaste. In terms of the Car Protection insurance with Adobe, will a print out of the benefits for my credit card suffice or do they actually require a letter from the company (not even sure if I can get a letter)?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Jin! You will need a letter from your credit card company and they need to have the full name of the person whose name is on the credit card, last four digits of the CC number and the letter must state the company will cover that insurance. Most companies will send it to you via email and it needs to be in PDF format.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Susan Van Mell says
Adobe worked very well for us, thank you! It was great to have a car and stay in out of the way places.
I just wanted to let others know that they may not need the GPS. In monteverde/arenal, connectivity was good and Wayze/Google maps were better.
Sammi says
Hi Susan, I am glad you had a good experience with Adobe and in Costa Rica! Waze does work great here!
Paul W says
I need help! I’ve made a few classic errors renting a car for my trip so far. Booked through a 3rd party site (actually two middlemen before the actual rental -_-) and the booking is with Economy who get terrible reviews. I can cope with the loss but I now don’t know what to do.
The second thing I’ve realised is that my friend who will be driving doesn’t have a credit card. I do, but I don’t have a full driving licence. Can we still rent a car?? I would be happy to put all of the deposits and security etc on my card of course.
Any help you can offer me would be gratefully received! Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Paul! I’m sorry to hear that! So with Adobe, your friend can be the main name on the contract and the main driver and you can pay using your credit card and hold the deposit as long as your friend has your authorization so make sure both of you are present when you are picking up the car and signing the contract. Just so you know, you can’t be a driver if you don’t have a valid driver’s license and have been driving for at least 2 years so make sure your friend fulfills those requirements but you unfortunately won’t be able to drive.
David Linstead says
Hi … I am going to Costa Rica in February. Would it be possible to pick up an ADOBE car at San Jose airport (or nearby) on the 13th and leave the car at Puntarenas on the 18th rather than having to return to the airport ? I plan to drive via Poas, Arenal, Monteverde.
Many thanks
David
Sammi says
Hi David, that is completely possible. Adobe doesn’t have an office in Puntarenas town, their office is in the Fiesta Resort but if you’re staying at a hotel in Puntarenas, they can go to pick up the car from a hotel there. There is an extra fee of $30 for different rental offices. Let me know if you have other questions!
Dan says
Hi There!
Thank you so much for your amazing site and the wealth of information.
We’re travelling to Nosara in March. We’re just debating whether to rent vs shuttle from Liberia Airport. We plan to be mostly staying at the beaches in Nosara but want to do a day trip for a couple days of 9 days we’re there. I’m wondering if there’s places to rent a car in Nosara would be more convenient? Also, what would a cost be to rent a small 5-seater vehicle for day? I know you recommend Adobe – but do they have offices in Nosara? Or should we rent a vehicle from Liberia and drive down ourselves and have the rental for the duration of our trip?
Thanks!
Dan
yeison says
Hello Dan,
I just sent you an email 🙂
Neil says
Thank you for the inforamtion!
We are also flying into Liberia and heading down to Nosara for 4 days and then heading up to Tenorio Volcano National Park for a few days. I initially thought that we should book a 4×4 but now I am re-thinking our plan. Any insight here would be much appreciated. We initially booked with Enterprise but think we are going to switch over to Adobe!
Thank you,
Neil
Sammi says
Hi Neil,
For Nosara, a high car is recommended (not necessarily a 4×4 but a higher car would be good). Tenorio Volcano National Park now has a paved road from Bijagua so the roads up there are in good condition, the only paved road in that area is the main one going through Bijagua and to the national park so if your hotel is on the outskirts of town, it is recommended to have a high car. Some recommendations of cars that will work are the Hyundai Creta, Tucson, Suzuki Jimny.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Melissa says
Hi there, I pretty much have the same question, except that we will leave Nosara to see Monteverde, Arenal, down to Jaco and fly out of San Jose. Car? or a van company?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Melissa, I would recommend to rent a car since shuttles from Nosara are a bit tricky but you could book shuttle if you don’t want to drive (you’ll probably have to book a private for Nosara – Monteverde though) but Terra Tours has shuttles from Liberia Airport to Nosara. Car is the most comfortable, and depending on the number of people in your group, the best options for big groups.