www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Background info: we have all rented a car and been quoted a price only to show up in CR and have been told we need to pay an extra $80+ a day or some silly amount for "extra mandatory protection"


After several trips and rent a car bullshit - I wised up and do the following in advance.


I exclusively rent from Thrifty behind the Mona Lisa in the Gulch because I can walk down and get car and bring it back to hotel and pick everyone up. It's just easy and convenient.

I reserve the car through the international toll free number and ask the representative if the quote is is all inclusive or do I need supplemental insurance? After they assure me I am good, I ask them to email the the quote In its entirety and make a note that I need nothing else. I tell them that the local agents always make me buy extra....

Long story short the representative is from another Latin American country and they always email me what I need with correct notations as they don't want their clients, Me, to be abused by a greedy office in CR...

I now take a copy of this into Thriftys and get the car for $230+\- for 5 days (point here is no extra $80+ a day for bullshit insurances).

Now this doesn't mean it's a smooth reception. The car agent tells me I need to buy extra insurance and I ask to speak to manager (which is the other young boy or girl in office) and after she tries to tell me I need to buy it With a stern poker face....I tell them to call Thrifty International and let them sort it out....and that ends it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's funny because all the reps in office act like they lost a soccer match! Geez.

Hope this helps. I'm sure this will work on any international car rental agency.

And if you can negotiate through this, you are on your way to TLN for $80!!!

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No advice, tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution

I use the Thrifty on Calle 3 for my car rentals when in CR, too. I make my reservations online, and decline all the insurances which are covered by my Amex premium car rental insurance (CDW, LDW, PAI and Theft). I also have AMEX e-mail me a letter of insurance coverage which I keep at the ready. Since SLI is mandatory, and I have no US car insurance, the SLI is included in my Thrifty estimate. I never had a problem at the downtown Thrifty office, but have run into nit-picking at the airport office when returning a car. The Thrifty office at Tocumen (Panama City) airport is a real PITA. I refused to accept a rental from them when they insisted I needed the CDW/LDW because I did not have written "proof of coverage." From that point on, I always carry the letter from AMEX.

Hi BlueDevil.

Yes, Thrifty on Calle 3. And my Citibank CC has all insurance Coverage as well.
Cheers

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No advice, tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution

$80/day? I hope you are exaggerating for effect. If not, they saw you coming.

The minimum SLI (supplemental liability insurance with 20% deductible) is mandatory on all car rentals in CR. It runs from $10-25/day, depending on type of car and agency. You can't waive it, unless your home car insurance will cover you in CR (most will not) and you have a letter or some proof of this. You can waive CDW (collision damage waiver) because most credit cards cover it. I always waive it. There is also another optional insurance that you can take to get rid of the 20% deductible if you have an accident. It costs about $8-15/day extra on top of all the others.

Just so you know... that $230 that you paid for 5 days is a little high, especially if it was a sedan. You could probably get it for $150 for 5 days (April-Oct). So you paid about $80 too much.

I rented an "SUV" (Terios Bego ) in August and I paid $115 all-in for 3 days. The car rate was $13/day and the insurance was $22, plus airport tax. No fighting, no threatening, no attitude, printed out and signed the contract and I was on my way. I think the problem is that you expected the rate you saw on the website to be it, with no other fees. Even in the US, they get you. In August, I had a long layover in FLL so I rented a car from Hertz. I reserved an SUV but when I got there they didn't have one, so they offered me a Chevy Malibu (2 sizes smaller) and graciously offered to not charge me more (for switching cars ), but the $23 daily rate turned into $48 with all the taxes and fees (incl $9 for 100% coverage insurance-no need to bother with my insurance if something happened). So CR is not the only place that charges crazy fees and taxes.

I'm 6'5" and 300lbs with freckles...."of course I'm not happy. "
I mean yes, they saw me coming

We drop car off at airport too. But I remember we were paying $400 for 5 days until I Brought contract and told them to call international customer service. After that we paid about $230 total for 5 days with airport drop off.

It was a nice suv. But maybe you're on to something - maybe it's the Thrifty office in the gulch and I should take my business elsewhere.

Thank you sir. CRT works!

"Baby back baby back baby back."
"The other white meat!"
"Get in my belly"

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No advice, tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution

You guys probably know this already but it also depends on the "high or low" season" I rent from Hertz by the airport. During green season for a sedan it is around 250 a week (all in). I do not even bother to get a car during dry season because the price is at least double that. Never a problem (yet) with up sells or returns either.