www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Does anyone have experience with renting a car in CR? I am thinking of doing so to go to beaches on weekends while staying in SJO for the month of June

This is worth a search.
Lots of good info here.

Personally, I don't rent for valid reasons you will find on the search.
You will find supporters of renting, and they seem to be in the minority.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I'm part of that minority. That said, even I think most would at least agree that keeping a car in SJ during the week is an unnecessary pain and expense. Unless you plan on getting out of town during the week, that means either sucking up the cost or just renting on weekends which also drives up the cost. If you're new to the roads of CR and all you want to do is get to the beach and back, you'd probably be better off using other forms of transportation. Like I said, this is coming from a guy that normally likes to rent.

Some guys like hiring a driver. That has certain advantages but can be just as expensive as renting. Your best bet may be taking the public buses (buses to Jaco leave 3x/day take 2.5 hrs and cost only $2) or the shuttle ($25/pp ea way), so do searches on those too while you're at it.

I dont know about you guys but after reading the following story i read in another forum (based in Dominican Rep) I dont rent veicheles in latin american countries, or frankly any if i can get by by taxi.
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Cabarete 4/27-28/05

i rented a dirt bike (small motorcycle) for our time here to get around....
.. the day before we leave, it's stolen...
.. i feel confident the people who have stolen it are the rental company, and now they want me to buy them a new one... for 90,000 pesos ($3500.00) ...it was worth about $250.
anyway they tell me i have to file a police report at the nearby town of sosua....
when i get there i can see just how friendly the cops are with the moto guys...
.. the cops tell me i have to pay, or they will put me in jail...
i am with the hotel receptionist who speaks very good english as my interpreter.. thanks to her they agree for me to return to the judge in the morning with a lawyer from the hotel...
.. later that eve the lawyer tells her that it is very corrupt at sosua and that they have not issued a supenea and therefore i should just go to the airport and split..
the problem is, the moto people have my passport as bike collateral when i rented it...
i call the US consulate (Sarah ?) and they advise me the same and say they will call my airline & Dept of homeland security to ok my departure and arrival in NY with only my drivers license...

well as i expect, the police and the moto guys show up at the airport and demand i come back to sosua..
i give my girlfriend the number to the consulate and tell her to check-in and then call the embassy and tell them i have been taken to sosua....
.. she does so, and 3 hrs later as she is boarding the plane, she calls the embassy and they tell her they have checked every police station on the north side of DR and NO AMERICAN IS BEING HELD! ..... she knows how shady this is and has to fly back to NY not knowing what happened to me...
what happened was this...
they put me in the jail! .... for about 1/2 hr..
the wouldn't let me call anybody... i had the hotel lawyer ready to come if i had a problem, i had the consulate number who they were telling "no american here", i even had a friend from a local cafe in cabarete who told me if any **** happens, call me... "no calls amigo"..
.. then told me that i had to pay the money or i would remain in jail, until a court date (approx 2 weeks, they say)...
now even I can see a loose loose situation...
OK YOU WIN! ....

they took me to a judge who asked me to tell him my story through a translator, and then tod me i COULD be running a business of selling motos and reporting them stolen...
. i then said.. lets get on with the paying part so i can go home....
he orders them to take me to the local bank and take 70,000 RD$ out of my credit card accts and hand over the cash....

then i picked up my bags and they starting dividing up the take before i even got out of the room....

CORRUPTION IS ONE MATTER. THE BIGGER MATTER IS WHY US SERVICES DECIDED THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS CALL THE POLICE DEPTS. AND JUST TAKE, "NO AMERICANS HERE" AS AN ANSWER AND THAT'S IT! I WAS IN A VERY STRANGE SITUATION. AFTER THE INCIDENT I SPOKE WITH 2 PEOPLE AT US SERVICES. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD WAIT UNTIL I RETURNED TO THE US, THEN EMAIL TO GET THE FULL STORY AND INVESTIGATE. IT IS A WEEK LATER AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING.

Rick
NYC, USA
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Im not saying this will happen in CR, but this story makes you think twice about being carefull who you do business with.

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Coqui,
You've never even been to CR, let alone rented a car there. So if I were you I wouldn't give advice on it based on what you read somewhere that happened to some individual in an entirely different country. You say you're not saying it would happen in CR, but it certainly sounds like you're suggesting it might.

We've all heard of people having bad experiences renting cars. Fewer people write their stories when everything goes without incident as "where's the story in that", but that is undoubtedly far more common. Regardless, I've never heard of anything even remotely approaching what you just posted happening in CR. So why post it here? Do you think it adds anything new or is any more valid than the stories already posted about actual CR rental experiences?

T&V was right. People have different views on this and lots of info has already been posted. Do a search and read what different people that have actually been there have already said. I just added a redirection to other related subject areas that Carepilot should look up at the same time.

Prolijo,
You are definitely a seasoned and savvy traveler I dont disagree with that.
You seem to have good experiences, renting cars there which is good news.

I have noticed Coqui continuously getting the old You've never been there line.
Come on guys this is a Latino who lives in a Latin American Country.

Sure he has asked a lot of questions and made a lot of posts, but honestly I dont think there is much info about Costa Rica except the geographics and prices that he hasnt lived daily in Puerto Rico.
We could all probably learn more culturally, spiritually,economically, and socially about costa rica from him than he can from most of us.

I know when I have been somewhat isolated in foreign countries
after a while I start to miss the comraderie of other gringos.Even just the small talk and laughs.
Coqui is stuck out there on that island listening to all those beautiful big busted Ghetto bootied Ricas blurting out those latin love songs constantly and the guys complaining about money,the heat and
having to work too hard,(Exactly like the real Costa Rica Pura Vida(except for the ghetto booties) ) that shits gotta get old.

Maybe one of his reasons for joining this club and becoming a vip member is because he is a Latino who actually likes the company of gringos and would like to make some new friends.

Cali

I actually work in transportation Prolijo, i work with the rental car people, my business is to provide an option to that, and my rule has always been never take a independent rental service. Local car rentals are not subject to the rules of large corporations that have a responsibilities to their clients. I was out of order to speak out about the subject and i apologize, i just feel that everyone should expect the worse and be prepared for anything. To watch ones back because you never know what your dealing with.

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Coqui,
I actually agree in large part with Cali and have said as much in the past. There is a lot about your status as a latino that makes you highly qualified to speak on various aspects of latin culture which can be generalized to CR and other places. However, I don't think this subject is one of them and I'll explain to you why.

First, lets dispense with the last thing you said. You said your business is to provide an option to rental cars. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but if you meant to say that your business is to provide an ALTERNATIVE to rental cars, that is a source of bias as much as it is expertise.

Besides, despite what Cali says, even if you are an expert on renting cars in PR, does that make you an expert on all aspects of renting cars in other countries. Would you advise people not to rent cars in PR based on the extreme experience you described in DR? I don't think so. There are similarities in nature of business dealings between latin countries, but there are also differences in among other things, road conditions, pricing, levels of crime, degrees of corruption, attitudes towards tourists, etc. Admittedly, many of these issues work against the car renter in most latin countries to one degree to another, but conditions are not homogeneous.

The other part of my reaction would probably have been directed at ANYONE posting such an article. The topic of renting cars in CR, as opposed to comparing that to renting in other countries, has been THOROUGHLY discussed. As T&V acurately stated that there are two viewpoints on this subject and that most people are against renting, as he is, but at least recognized that there is a minority viewpoint and wisely, simply and futilely recommended this newbie do a search of the existing info. I added additional info as it pertains to this members particular circumstances. What you posted was not any more pertinent to this member's issues than any thing else thats already been posted. In fact it is less pertinent since it wasn't even a story about CR.

I'm a little sensitive to this subject. Whenever I post, I may have an opinion but I at least try to be even handed and recognize the pros and cons of each side, that circumstances differ and that YMMV. At least T&V and myself and a few others recognize that there are valid arguments on each side. When we balance those arguments out we just come to different conclusions. But a fair number (or should I say unfair) of those who oppose renting seem to take an extreme position and extrapolate the bad experience they may have had or just heard about and project that on to all people in all circumstances. One member could post a question about which agency to use the NEXT time he rents and at least half a dozen members will roll out their war stories, completely ignoring the fact that this member had already rented before, knew the potential hazards and just wanted the names of a few agencies.

I can only say this. I know screwups and bad things sometiimes occur with some of these agencies. I can't say how frequently or rarely they occur. All I know is that I've rented several times and never had a problem and I know of other members who rent regularly who have never had a problem either.

I'll close with this. One aspect of what you posted is highly valid and you probably should have emphasized that point more. All agencies are not the same. I would avoid the fly by night independent agencies with no track record, just to save a few bucks. That's just asking for trouble and is probably the source of a lot of the horror stories. Problems can occur at brand-name companies like Budget, Alamo, National too as they are only loosely affiliated with their US parents (actually my worst rental car horror story occurred with the Alamo at LAX), but are much less likely.

Well.....Last December I rented a Toyota Rava (I think that's what it's called) from Adobe for 1 week which was delivered to me at my hotel (Amon Plaza). I subsequently drove down to both Jaco and Quepos and all I'll say is that everything went off without a hitch. The car worked perfectly and I had absolutely no issues with Adobe afterwards as far as damages...dings..nicks etc. It was a very smoothe and pleasant experience. On my next trip (in 2 months) I'm planning on using Toyota Rent a Car but that's only because Adobe was sold out of the 4x4's during the period for which I need it. Hopefully that will be just as smoothe an experience.

My point is that it is far from a slam dunk that you will have any problems if you rent. Sure it happens sometimes, as it does any where. I'm sure it's probably more common in CR or there wouldn't be so many stories. But I don't think ANYONE really knows what the real probability is. Clearly, at least some people somehow manage to rent with no problem at all. People are going to always be able to relate ANECDOTAL stories on EITHER side - HORROR stories OR experiences where NOTHING went wrong. And NEITHER type of story does anything to REALLY tell you what YOUR OWN odds are of having something to you.

It comes down to perceived levels of risk and personal comfort levels. Hell, some people even go for the pricey extra coverage when they rent back in the US. However,if you decide you don't (or do) want to take the chance, whateever you perceive that level of risk to be, inform others of the GENERALIZABLE facts but don't make it sound like your personal experience (or those of some 3rd party) NECESSARILY applies to everyone else.

No problem Prolijo, i did speak out of turn, i should have emphesized my point on going against fly by night operations. Here in PR, I advise people to rent a car if they are leaving the metropolitan area and going so far that cab fare would be astronomical, i have given up many chances to really rip these tourists off by suggesting renting a car intead of using my services. I have a concious after all.

If you are in San Jose during my visit i would very much like to by your a drink i always enjoy your posts and you truely are one of the fairest and most informative posters on this board.

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I'm also in the minority with Prolijo, in that I've enjoyed renting a car in CR. In the perhaps 14 times that I've rented, I've NEVER had a single problem. Maybe I've been lucky, who knows? I've rented with Hertz twice and Alamo the other 12 or so times. I've nearly always rented a 4-cylinder Yaris (automatic) and been quite pleased. I suppose renting isn't for everyone. It helps if you've driven before in a large city with 'crazy' drivers', such as Boston. Those rotaries on the San Jose 'beltway' can be crazy/wild sometimes!

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I have rented cars many times ( Hertz & EuroCar) and only had a problem once (with Hertz) I recommend EuroCar .. rent at office at Paseo Colon not at the airport... they will even deliver and pick up at your hotel.. I always use my MC for insurance and have never( at least YET) been nit-picked about small digs & dents or tires, etc,...

problem I had with Hertz turns out to be somewhat funny and it took me 3 years to lean just how BIG a problem I had... in 2002 had a Hertz rental cat driving to Jaco and got a ticket for DWG.. ( driving while Gringo ) for being the 4th car following 3 ticos on a downhill yellow line pass... ( that's another story..) ticket was for 20,000 colonies payable at bank of Costa Rica... Called Hertz and they told me do not pay the ticket... bring it back to san Jose and THEY would make sure it was paid PROPERLY... of course they wanted to and DID charge me a 10, 000 colon handling fee... had to catch a plane so no time to deal with the situation... got back to US called hertz and ended up getting nothing but runaround... cancelled my corporate Gold Card and started using Budget in US and Eurocar in Costa Rica...

NOW.. the rest of the story... I decided to get a Costa Rica drivers license in 2003 for many reasons..no problem... came time to renew my license last february and other than the normal 3 wait in line... no problems....UNTIL I got to the desk where they give you the receipt tp pay your 8,000 colons to renew.. and she told me in spanish that my cost would be 43,500 colons...!!!

After alot of hand waving and head shaking found out what had happened... the ticket from 2002 had finally hit the system and good ole Hertz " forgot" to pay the fine.... so 20,000 for the original ticket, 8,000 fine for late payment, 7,500 interest, and 8,000 for the new license....

Just to think... here I was a wanted criminal running around Costa Rica for the past few years.... Now I am REAL GLAD I was not with Easy the night he had his " discussion" with Migration!!!

at least a somewhat happy ending... called & emailed Hertz on return to US and finally found someone to talk with ( I doubt my threat to write letters to all the travel mags had any effect) and after faxing every piece of paper I got from the MOPT to Hertz.. they credited my account with not only the 43,500 from 2005.. but the 10,000 from 2002...

Of course I asked for interest on the 10,000 but at some point it is wise just to call it a day....

and to think... if I had just paid my $4.00 to take the bus I would have missed all this FUN...

Pura Vida Brothers...

Peace...
PIDD

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" The future's uncertain and the END is always near...."

The biggest reason I don't rent in CR is simply that I enjoy
relaxing (preferably with a friendly provider) and be rested when
I get to the destination.
My actual negotiated cost for a taxi by the day is very competitive
with the final cost of any rental.

I would enjoy buying Prolijo and Coqui a drink!

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.