If you’re renting a car in Costa Rica, the most confusing thing is the car rental insurance as every car rental agency in Costa Rica sets their own names, regulations and policies for insurances.
And yes – there is a mandatory car rental insurance that everyone must take in when renting a car in Costa Rica.
This post will be breaking down our partner Adobe Rent a Car’s car rental insurances as we have a partnership with them to offer our readers a Costa Rica car rental discount and extra benefits.
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
Adobe Rent a Car Insurance
Read our experience with Adobe Rent a Car to see why we partnered with them!
In this post, I’m going to break down how Adobe Rent a Car’s insurance works, including which one is the mandatory insurance, which one can be declined, and which ones are 100% optional.
Below are the insurance options Adobe Rent a Car offers online.
Liability Protection (PLI)
The Liability Protection is what most car rental companies call their mandatory insurance. This insurance cannot be removed or declined.
What it covers:
- Coverage up to $20,000 USD in 3rd party damages with a 20% deductible*. It also has a coverage of 3rd parties not in the car (i.e pedestrian) up to $100,000 USD with 0 deductible.
- Liability Protection does not cover vehicle damage.
* All Mytanfeet readers have 0% deductible on Liability, up to $20,000 USD as one of our benefits.*
This insurance costs from $13.50 – $25 USD + tax a day depending on the vehicle.
Car Protection (LDW or CDW)
This insurance covers damages of the rented car in an accident, collision or roll over.
In case of total or partial theft of the rented car, the Car Protection also covers any financial losses due to the theft.
Declining Car Protection Insurance
You can use your credit card car rental insurance to decline this insurance.
In order to decline, you need to present proof of coverage from your credit card company stating that the credit card will cover the damages.
The letter needs to have the credit card company logo letterhead, the last four digits of the credit card being used and the name of the credit card holder.
Check with your credit card company to see if they will cover this insurance including but not limited to factors such as number of passengers, type of car and number of rental days.
For example, my Chase Sapphire credit card offers car rental insurance and I can use it to decline the Car Protection insurance for up to 30 days per contract.
I just call my credit card company to get the coverage letter and I present that to Adobe Rent a Car to remove Car Protection Insurance.
Important: Car Protection does NOT cover vandalism, road side assistance, tires or towing. The deductible is $1000 USD +13% tax and does NOT cover any 3rd party damages.
If you decline Car Protection insurance and use your credit card insurance and get involved in an incident, Adobe will charge you and then provide all the paperwork you might need in order to get reimbursed by your insurance company.
If you do not have a credit card that offers car rental coverage, then you must take Car Protection Insurance. Third party insurances are not accepted.
Extended Protection (SPP)
The third option, the Extended Protection is 100% optional. The Adobe representative will ask you once if you wish to get Extended Protection but you are completely free to decline it.
You can decide to add it when you make the reservation but you can decide not to get it when you collect the car.
Or you do not have to get it now when you make your booking online and you can decide later when you collect the car if you want it.
The Extended Protection Insurance covers:
- The 20% deductible of the Liability Protection so your deductible is 0.
- Covers vandalism, windows, damaged tires (NOT flat tires), road assistance 24/7 and tow truck.
- 100% of damages including 3rd party up to $2 million.
This costs around $20.50 USD with tax included a day depending on the vehicle.
If you are declining Car Protection Insurance, you cannot get Extended Protection.
In these cases, the Adobe agent will ask you in person if you want the next insurance which is only offered in person – not online, the TPW.
TPW (Third Party Waiver) In Person Insurance
If you decline the Car Protection insurance and are purchasing ONLY Liability Insurance, the Adobe agent will ask you if you would like to purchase an insurance called the TPW.
This TPW insurance is 100% optional. This insurance is offered ONLY by the Adobe agent in person – not online.
The TPW insurance increases your third party (Liability) coverage to $4 million USD from $20,000 USD. The Liability deductible goes down to $0 USD from 20%.
It is $9.99 + 13% tax USD a day, 100% optional and only offered in person by the Adobe agent when you collect the car.
This insurance will be offered only to clients who decline the Car Protection and Extended Protection and are purchasing ONLY Liability insurance.
Situations Where Adobe Rent a Car Insurance Does Not Cover the Rental
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
- Failure to immediately report a car accident that you are involved in.
- Damages to the car in situations when the driver is not authorized.
- Damages due to driving through rivers, on beaches, through lakes, mangroves and flooded roads (anywhere through water). Anywhere that an official road does not exist.
- Failure to comply with the legal procedure with the insurance company. This includes but is not limited to failure to report the accident to transit police, failure to report the accident and filling out the insurance claim and non-compliance with other legal process requirements.
- Flat tires are not covered under any of the insurances. Adobe gives you the necessary tools to change the flat tire yourself. Then you have go to any one of their offices in the country to get a new tire.
Why Rent With Adobe Rent a Car?
Insurance is Easy to Understand
Like I mentioned earlier, Adobe Rent a Car’s insurances are easy to understand.
Some other car rental companies can have 5, 6, 7 different insurances. That makes it really difficult to understand! And they make seem like the car rental is super cheap.
What you don’t know is that they add the insurance later when you’re about to pick up the car and clients have no knowledge of this, making it feel like a “scam” or at least a bit cheated. Which brings me to my next point.
Full transparency
Since Adobe Rent a Car is a Costa Rican company, they don’t want their clients to have a bad experience with car hires.
They know that many tourists come back to Costa Rica and they want them to rent with Adobe Rent a Car again.
Unfortunately car rentals have a bad reputation in Costa Rica due to the insurances and “hidden fees” by international companies.
Adobe Rent a Car does not add on any last minute taxes, fees or insurances. Their pricing is all-inclusive.
Peace of mind
Adobe Rent a Car is a 100% Costa Rican operated company meaning they know the Costa Rican laws inside and out.
As they have been operating for nearly 30 years, they know how the system works through and through and all their employees are very well vetted and knowledgeable.
I hope this posts clears up any questions you have any Adobe Rent a Car insurance.
Don’t forget to get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra benefits!
You can read this post “Costa Rica car rental insurance” to see how several car rental companies’ insurance policy works if you are comparing other companies.
Read these post below for more tips on driving/renting a car in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Alyse says
Hello,
Do you know if there is an extra charge for a 24 year old driver? Other websites seem to include a fee for being under 25.
Thanks so much for your help!!
Sammi says
Hi Alyse, with Adobe the minimum age is 23 so you are fine 🙂
Bibba says
Hi Sammi,
I have a few questions about Adobe insurance and delivery service.
We are arriving at San Jose Airport at 9pm but we are staying at an Air BnB place near Atenas. What would you suggest we do to collect the car? Should we collect that night or will they do a drop off the next morning as far as Atenas and to an Air BnB property rather than a Hotel? Or should we get a taxi to the property for the evening and then come back to the airport the following day to collect the car?
Also, we do not have the Credit Card insurance cover (we do have a credit card though), so do we have to have the Car Protection Insurance?
On the Adobe website, where does it give the option to add an additional driver? And if booked through MyTanFeet, is this free? I have found how to get a childs booster seat but not the additional driver.
Thanks for all your advice.
yeison says
Hello Bibba,
I just double check with Adobe and they can deliver a car in Atenas at no extra cost (Mytanfeet benefit) but unfortunately they can only do that at hotels, so if by any chance you know any hotel close to your airbnb we can arrange the delivery to be there or the other option is to get the car the night before.
If you don’t have the Credit card insurance you will have to get the Car Protection insurance, By default all Mytanfeet readers can get 2 additional drivers for free there is a HUGE note in the reservation with the list of all the benefits. Please let us know what will work better for you and thank you again for reading Mytanfeet.com.
Have a great day!
Yeison
Mytanfeet.com
Rod says
Hello,
Your site has been helpful and we appreciate all of the info. One quick question regarding insurance. Is the Car Protection and Extended Protection an either or? If I buy the Extended does it include the Car Protection or do I have to buy both to get the Extended Protection? Thanks again and we can’t wait to visit.
Rod
Sammi says
Hi Rod, they are separate and they cover separate things. You can read in the post exactly what each one covers and when you make the reservation, you can not get Car Protection if your credit card covers this insurance and Extended is optional. But if your credit card doesn’t cover what Car Protection covers, then you will need to get it.
yeison says
Hello Steven,
Thank you for reading our blog! Regarding your questions I am not 100% sure if Adobe will take your “Lieu” Protection is that a car rental insurance service provided by your credit card? Adobe does take Credit Card insurances but I am not sure if the one you have.
Regarding the rest of your questions yes you can purchase the Extended protection if you declined the Car Protection (CDW), and you can technically go to all the destinations you are planning to go renting a 4×2 SUV but I would not recommend you to get a sedan specially for Rio Celeste.
Steven and Brooke Chilcott says
We really enjoy your blog and find the info shared so beneficial in planning our first trip to Costa Rica in December.
We have several questions regarding car rental (the last detail to organize):
We have $25k coverage for Rental Car Damage through our trip insurance. This includes damage due to collision, theft, vandalism, windstorm, fire, hail, flood or any cause not in our control….up to the limit of $25k. It does not cover damage to any other vehicle, structure, or person as a result of a covered loss.
Question 1: will Adobe accept our travel insurance to in lieu of Car Protection Insurance? We have proof of Insurance as well the Description of Coverage.
Question 2: Can we then purchase Adobe’s Extended Protection (Total Protection) insurance?
Question 3: Can we get by with renting a 2X2 SUV rather than a 4X4? We traveling are traveling from Puntarenas (town) to Fortuna, then to Celeste Mountain Lodge, Tamarindo and leaving the car at Liberia airport.
Muchissimas Gracia por su ayuda! Brooke and Steven
John Lee says
Hi:
We are thinking about renting a car for one week and a 4X4 for a week. The vehicles would be exchanged in the middle of rental. My question is we will be Playa Coco where is the closest pick up and drop off spot for free and if there is a charge to drop off at Playa Coco what is that charge?
Thanks John
Sammi says
Hi John! Through our partnership with Adobe, our readers get free drop off and pick up to Playas del Coco to hotels/hostels and condo neighborhoods. When you make a reservation, just write in the comments you would like to get the car dropped off at your place in Coco.
yeison says
Hello Rachel!
I will definitely rent a H1 VAN instead of the 7 passengers, when you use the 6th and 7th seat the space in the back gets smaller because that is where the extra seats are.
Rachel says
Hi Yeison and Sammi! Your blog is amazing, thank you for such helpful information! 🙂
We are a group of 6 travelling late September 2017 landing at SOJ airport and driving to Puerto Viejo. If we rent the 7 passenger vehicles, it will accommodate us, but will it be big enough for our luggage and groceries? Could we rent a van, or would a 4X4 be more suitable for that drive?
We are told that the drive is 3 hours long. Thank you for your assistance!
Pura Vida!!
Ingrid says
Hi Sammi,
Very informative blog! Do you know what the extra charge is for drivers under age 25?
Thanks for your help!
Ingrid
yeison says
Hello Ingrid, how old is the extra driver?
Jill says
Hi. I’m know you wrote all about this but I’m having a heck of a time deciding what to do. I am traveling with my 2 young children ages 4 and 5.
What insurance should I get… all 3?? Or should I call my insurance to see if they cover rental cars in foreign countries? I am not sure why I can’t make a decision on this.
Thanks for your help!
Smiles, Jill
Sammi says
Hi Jill, the Total Protection is optional and you can decline the Car Protection by presenting a letter from your credit card company. If this is your first time traveling to Costa Rica and/or not used to driving internationally, I do recommend getting the Total Protection Insurance especially with young children. I always get the full protection to be on the safe side since it can be a bit scary driving in a foreign country when you’re not used to it. Also don’t forget Mytanfeet readers also get free baby and booster seats, just write in the comments how many you’d like 🙂