Renting a Car in Costa Rica? Which firm do you have to select?
There are so many rent-a-car corporations to select from in Costa Rica – from the massive worldwide companies to the smaller nationwide businesses. Reviews on the web invariably both rattling or sing the praises of every firm to the extent of being virtually ineffective. So how do you select the perfect place to rent a automotive in your journey?
Many vacationers that lease automobiles in Costa Rica complain that they’ve been ripped off once they understand the additional value of insurance coverage they’re obliged to pay or that they’ve been charged a greenback price that mirrored the foreign money fee and never the quoted fee. Understanding the insurance coverage legal guidelines and expenses that bind the Costa Rican automotive rental corporations might aid you to ask the proper questions if you end up reserving your car and keep away from a nasty shock upon arrival. If an organization just isn’t upfront about its further prices; chances are you’ll want to contemplate whether or not it’s a firm that you simply select to take your small business to.
I’ve labored inside the tourism business in Costa Rica for the final six years and have lived right here since 2000. I’m accustomed to the emotions that many guests to the nation expertise when coping with rent-a-car corporations. These can vary from delight to discomfort to outright fury; typically because of the inefficiency, and even dishonesty of the rental company, but in addition because of the renter's lack of knowledge of the legally binding restrictions inside which Costa Rican automotive rental companies should work. I hope that whereas this text won’t assure you trouble-free car rental; it’d make you a extra educated buyer.
Insurance wants, further prices in rental and surcharges are thought-about in additional element under:
Insurance:
Basic insurance coverage is obligatory. Costa Rican law could be very clear on this and your rental automotive firm cannot assist you to depart with their automotive with out having agreed to pay it. Expect to pay someplace between $ 9 and $ 20 per day on prime of your automotive rental price. An trustworthy, automotive rental company will make this very clear of their pricing. If it isn’t clear whether or not the insurance coverage is included within the rental value; ask for clarification and concentrate on different probably unspoken prices.
Check whether or not your insurance coverage coverage covers you to drive in Costa Rica. Some insurance policies embrace Collision Damage Waivers and can cowl Central America. If you’re coated, deliver proof (in writing) on your car rental firm. If not, contemplate whether or not you’d be safer to pay the additional value of this extra protection. This half is just not obligatory.
Zero legal responsibility is obtainable by rent-a-car corporations. You might want to think about whether or not you’d really feel extra comfy figuring out that you wouldn’t be answerable for any prices ought to one thing happen while you’re renting their car. You usually are not obliged to purchase this supplemental insurance coverage.
Additional Fees:
Many automotive rental corporations will cost further charges for a kid / child seat, a further driver, baggage racks or cooler. You can anticipate to pay as much as $ eight every day for every of those extras. Although by purchasing round, you will discover corporations that may supply some or all for a lower cost, and even free.
With Costa Rican roads being notoriously poorly signposted and the entire nation working on an tackle system based mostly on landmarks moderately than street names or numbers, a GPS is important for a lot of automotive renters. You will often pay between $ eight and $ 15 a day for this service. It is pretty widespread apply to permit renters to make use of certainly one of their cell telephones for the period, however when you want to use it in your personal calls; you'll clearly be charged.
Surcharges:
Some rental automotive corporations incorporate taxes and extra charges into their rental value; others don’t. Make positive you realize what you’ll be charged for on prime of your rental payment. Airport charges might be charged at 13% of your rental value which is a large charge to pay along with an agreed rental cost. You can also be charged a license plate cost, environmental payment and / or some other cost that the rental automotive firm has to satisfy (or pocket).
Prices for the rental shall be given in US dollars, however because the native foreign money is colones, you need to perceive that change charges change every day and what you’re charged in your bank card on the day of cost might range barely from what you have been quoted.
Criteria for Rating Car Rental Companies:
For this text, three (three) details have been thought-about for every firm:
1) Value: Is the rental price aggressive?
2) Efficiency: How quick do they reply to the wants of the shopper?
three) Transparency: How clear is the knowledge offered by the corporate?
You might have your personal standards, however based mostly on complaints from earlier clients on group web sites like Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet, and so on., the necessities of these shoppers appeared primarily based mostly round these three primary areas.
The corporations surveyed under are a mixture of native and worldwide companies. Each firm was researched based mostly on every week's rental of a Daihutsu Bego with obligatory insurance coverage.
Dollar Rent-A-Car:
Value
– $ 300 + USD.
– Extras are at common costs.
Efficiency
– They have three workplaces nationwide.
– Email inquiry returned inside 24 hours.
Transparency
– The costs for rental automobiles are displayed on website however a aspect field accommodates a 'Daily RA' with greenback quantity. This is the obligatory insurance coverage.
– Reservation worth is listed as 'Base price' and doesn’t embrace insurance coverage.
– Dollar has acquired combined critiques in websites resembling Trip Advisor.
– A toll-free quantity is out there.
Vamos Rent-A-Car:
Value
– $ 300 + USD.
– Only GPS and cellphone use are charged. All different extras resembling baby seats are free.
Efficiency
– They have three workplaces nationwide.
– Email inquiry returned inside an hour.
Transparency
– The web site clearly states costs and insurance coverage.
– Toll-free quantity and reside chat are offered.
Wild Rider:
Value
– $ 300 + USD.
– Additional driver is free.
Efficiency
– Email inquiry returned inside 2 hours.
Transparency
– Prices are displayed very clearly onsite and embrace insurance coverage.
– The firm has virtually 100% constructive evaluations, however with a fleet of solely 30 automobiles and one central workplace; it might be troublesome to assist shoppers who’re in problem outdoors the capital.
– They cannot present a car for the Liberia airport, simply San Jose.
Budget:
Value
– $ 400 + USD.
– Extra fees for child seat, further driver and so on.
Efficiency
– The firm has 9 workplaces nationwide.
Transparency
– No costs displayed with automobiles info.
– Budget has acquired combined evaluations.
– Surprisingly for a big firm, it supplies no reside chat or toll-free quantity for shoppers within the USA.
Service Car Rental:
Value
– $ 400 + USD together with obligatory insurance coverage and taxes.
– Extras comparable to further driver and youngster seat are charged, however at cheaper charges than most corporations.
Efficiency
– The firm has 5 workplaces nationwide.
– Email inquiry returned inside an hour.
Transparency
– Their charges are clearly proven on website.
– Service has acquired primarily constructive evaluations.
National Car Rental:
Value
– $ 400 + USD.
– Extras are priced somewhat above common.
Efficiency
– They have 23 workplace places, though some are Alamo.
Transparency
– Price estimates on-line don’t embrace insurance coverage or further expenses; nevertheless, they’re displayed within the full citation.
– They have acquired combined evaluations.
– Both reside chat and a toll-free quantity are offered.
Economy Rent-A-Car:
Value
– $ 200 + USD, however it appears potential to order a car with out inclusion of any insurance coverage.
– Extras are common in worth.
Efficiency
– They have 12 workplaces nationwide.
– Email inquiry returned inside an hour, however e mail inquiring about insurance coverage was not returned.
Transparency
– Website doesn’t make obligatory insurance coverage clear.
– Economy has quite a few destructive evaluations.
– Both stay chat and toll-free quantity are offered.
Hertz Costa Rica:
Value
– $ 400 + USD, however precise rental worth shouldn’t be made clear.
– Extras are expensive.
Efficiency
– 6 workplaces nationwide.
– No contact e-mail.
– Telephone numbers can be found for various workplaces across the nation.
Transparency
– Very complicated citation system. Two charges are provided for a car and chosen dates. The cheaper choice doesn’t embrace obligatory insurance coverage and it’s in very small print beneath the ultimate citation worth. The costlier choice consists of non-mandatory insurance coverage together with obligatory.
– Mixed critiques.
– Both stay chat and toll-free quantity are offered.
Adobe Rent-A-Car:
Value
– $ 400 + USD.
– Extras are at low costs.
Efficiency
– The firm has 9 workplaces nationwide.
Transparency
– Online estimate consists of insurance coverage.
– Adobe has acquired combined evaluations.
– A toll-free quantity is offered.
Tricolor Car Rental:
Value
– $ 300 + USD.
– No cost for pick-up or airport charges.
– Extras usually are not listed or offered in citation e mail, though cellphone worth is given.
Efficiency
– three workplaces nationwide.
– Email returned inside 2 hours.
Transparency
– Website shouldn’t be very consumer pleasant.
– Reviews are combined.
– Toll-free quantity is offered.
Finalizing the Three Criteria:
Economy, at first, look like the most cost effective firm to lease from, however sadly this is because of their failure to declare all prices incurred by the renter, somewhat than a real, whole lot. For actual worth, Dollar, Vamos, Wild Rider and Tricolor come out on prime for aggressive pricing for the essential rental payment, plus obligatory insurance coverage. Vamos is observed for being the one agency that doesn’t cost for extras comparable to a toddler seat or surcharges. Adobe and Service have low value extras, whereas Hertz has the costliest charges for extras. Wild Rider doesn’t cost for a further driver.
Only Economy failed to answer e mail inquiry. All different corporations responded shortly and with clear solutions to inquiries. Wild Rider, because the smallest agency, cannot supply nationwide service, however evaluations recommend that they’ve met buyer must date. All different corporations can supply providers from workplaces in places outdoors of the capital metropolis – growing their potential to serve shoppers successfully.
Adobe, Wild Rider, Vamos and Service have web sites that clearly present rental costs and insurance coverage. Economy and Hertz someway appears to be intentionally deceptive on their web sites. The different corporations' web sites present the required info – even when it could actually take a while in searching it down.
Conclusion:
This temporary survey would recommend that Vamos, Service, Tricolor and Wild Rider can be the perfect corporations to start your rental analysis, whereas Economy can be greatest to keep away from.
Now you realize as a lot as I do! The info right here is meant to be your start line and never the top level. Hopefully, you’ll know the suitable inquiries to ask once you're on the lookout for a rental car to make sure that your dream trip begins easily with none nasty shocks, like hefty additional expenses whenever you land. Enjoy the drive!
Source by Sara P Ford
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