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.
Carlos says
Hello again! I really have doubts about insurance. My credit card covers up to 50000 dollars.
Do you think that only with the first insurance offered by adobe, and the insurance that my card provides, will I be fine? or do you recommend to add the third insurance?
thanks!
yeison says
Hello Carlos,
This question is one of the most common questions we get about car rental insurance, and to be honest it’s almost impossible to know if you are going to be fine with just the Car Protection insurance and liability or if you are going to need the extended protection.
We have had readers that didn’t purchase the Extended Protection and they returned the car without any problem and readers that got involved in an incident and they didn’t pay anything because they had the extended protection, like any other insurance you never know when you are going to use it and the most we can help you is by explaining you in detail every single insurance and in what cases you will have to pay or not.
If your credit card company covers you up to $50,000 in case of an incident Adobe will charge your credit card and then they will help you sending you all the paperwork your credit card company will require to reimburse you the money.
I hope this answer will help you to decide, and please let us know if you have further questions.
Sammi says
Hi Jane, actually we have taken that flight many times and dropped off our car and you can drop off the car at 4:45 AM and make it in time for the airport. The airport and Adobe office is a 2 minute drive away and the Liberia airport is not big so you will be able to make it. We actually made a video of the process here
Jane says
We are staying near Flamingo in a rental house. Our flight leaves at 6:50am. You stated that Adobe does not start receiving cars until 4:45am which will not gives us enough time to make the 2 hour window for our flight. What do you suggest we do? Thanks.
kelly lent says
I love all of your tips and advice. First time going to CR, so been reading many of your posts. Specific questions about car rental. Glad you have a relationship w Adobe! I finally get the insurance lingo, just get all 3 types unless your credit card covers option (2) car protection. Right?!
My question is about debit card and deposit. One of your posts mentioned $1,000.00, while your info page specifies $500 if you choose extended protection. Are we sure about $500 deposit?
Will Adobe accept a debit card with a mastercard logo. Had trouble with this in Mexico so ended up giving them a cash deposit instead, they made an exception for us which was very kind.
I they don’t accept a debit card, will they take cash deposit. If they accept a debit card, is there any issues with this?
And, I read some crazy blog that said the numbers had to be raised/embossed on the card, not just printed as most are now? If not, the card won’t work.
Lastly, we plan to go end of December. Does a reservation require payment or deposit? I will go ahead and reserve it now and might have to adjust after we get flights in a few months.
Sammi says
Hi Kelly! I’m glad that the blog has been helpful and that it made all of the insurances clear. With Adobe, the $500 deposit is a new benefit for our readers so if you rent a car and take the Extended Protection, the deposit will only be $500. If you don’t take the Extended Protection Insurance, the deposit will be $1000.
Adobe can take a debit card, it will take a bit longer to return the deposit which is why they prefer credit card since it’s faster but they can take your debit card and they don’t need the raised numbers on the card. They can take the cards that have flat numbers (which is what most cards are becoming anyways).
The reservation isn’t paid for until you sign the contract and pick up the car and the deposit will be taken from the beginning of your car rental and they will return it when you return the car. But for debit cards, it does take a little bit longer to return the deposit (credit cards are 24-72 hours and debit is a bit longer).
Let me know if you have any other questions and if you made a reservation, let us know so we can check over the details and make sure everything is good!
Amanda Wind says
I am interested in renting with Adobe but have not been able to find much information on their website or get an answer on their phone number. Am I able to rent from this company being aged 21?
Sammi says
Hi Amanda! I apologize you weren’t able to get them on the phone, I have sent you an email regarding the minimum driving age.
Chris says
Hello,
I am looking at possibly renting in May. My question is if I get the total coverage does that include the mandatory insurance coverage? Also with the deposit am I just looking at the $500 based on total package or would I be looking at $1500 as I would also need to purchase the mandatory?
Please let me know.
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Chris, if you get the Extended Protection, that will include the mandatory insurance because that insurance is mandatory so it’s included in all reservations. With reservations with Extended Protection Insurance, the deposit will be $500.
Dominique Bordereaux says
I am sorry to be confused but can you explain what SPP insurance is?
Is it mandatory in CR?
Sammi says
Hi Dominique, sorry that line should have been changed since it was from the previous insurances. Adobe now has 3 insurances: Liability, Car Protection and Total. Total is what the SPP was and it’s the complete coverage, optional to the client. Liability is the one that is mandatory. I just changed it so should make sense.
Dominique Bordereaux says
It is still not clear to me what insurance I need to purchase. In one place you mentioned only 2 ways. Then below you mention 3 possibilities. I am getting confused.
El Roberto says
Thank you, Sammi! I was able to call up Visa’s benefits administrator and request a letter; it arrived via e-mail before I finished the call. It looks as if I’m good to go! Thanks again!
Sammi says
That’s great I’m glad to hear that! Most companies can give the letter, it’s just a matter of asking them.
El Roberto says
My credit card company (Visa) and the issuing bank (Chase) have a Guide to Benefits booklet that explains their “Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver” in pretty excruciating detail. Would this be sufficient, or would I need to get Chase to issue a letter specifically for me (which I think it’s unlikely to do)?
Sammi says
Hi, yes they do require a letter specifically for you from the credit card company. The letter needs to have your name, the company details and last 4 digits of your credit card number and it needs to state that they will cover this specific insurance. If you ask, many companies do give out the letter.