www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Here is my two cents. I come to Costa Rica almost every month. I rent from Economy. They have Never, Never tried and screw me for anything. Now with that said. Here is a little advise. When I rent a car, I always get what's called piece mind protection. This is total insurance with zero deductible. It around $63 dollars a day (depending what car you rent). Yes I have the American express gold and other cards. But here is some things you need to know. If you get in a wreck unlike USA. It is not determined right or wrong at the scene of the accident. You have to go to court before judge. He decides from the lawyer description, police report, and photos who at fault. So with that said with credit card insurance. They will not cover hiring you a lawyer, paying for you a round trip ticket, back to CR. for the court hearing. And before you leave the country for the first time you will have to pay the damages or deductible up front. ((Don't forget the old coconut fell out the tree and hit the hood. That's about $1,800 damages)). Then get reimbursed from credit card company. Yes I learned this first hand about 4 years ago. When taxi ran into me. I had the total protection. So all I had to do was report it. Give them the keys. They gave me another car. Took another statement to what happen. And told me that's it. We will pay the lawyer and appear in court for you. One way or another,you are clear and have nothing to worry about.If we need more info. We will call you. So hope this helps when your renting a car. Any questions feel free to PM me.

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GodOfThunder
Rock -N- Roll Allnight Party Everyday

$63/day for insurance? Man, no offense, but they saw you coming....

I have rented from Economy a bunch of times (always mid- or standard SUV), including yesterday. The 100% coverage (no deductible) insurance is $28/day for SUV. I got a daily price on expedia of $15 for the car plus 28 insur for $43 daily total.

I rented a car for almost a month just recently from a used car place close to my house and it was 22,000 per day for a 4 door 2010 nissan and an automatic to boot. It is a place that the pirate taxis sometimes rent cars from if their car is in the shop. They wrote me a bill of sale saying I bought the car, since it was not registered yet as they had just bought it at an auction, and sent me on the way. I drove it for a month all around and went through a couple of transito checkpoints and with only the paper in the window never got stopped. I even asked a couple of transit cops on motorcycles for directions one time at a stop light and did not get a second look.

Whatever you do, DON'T rent from Mapache Rental Car. They ripped me off for over $300. Long story, but I would not go near them on a bet. I usually rent from Hertz on Paseo Colon, but they did not have any available cars the one and only time I used Mapache.

Here is a good article that explains the three insurances available for rentals in Costa Rica.
http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/tran ... insurance/

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

I am going back Feb. I will try your way. And report back what it cost me. . If so saving $20.00 a day is a-lot. Due to I always stay at least a week. Thanks For the info.

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GodOfThunder
Rock -N- Roll Allnight Party Everyday

I rented from Economy this week (Mon-Fri... 4 days). The base rental price for a mid-size SUV (Hyundai Tuscan) was $15/day thru Expedia.

They gave me a new only 7k km (that's nothing for a rental) car. I liked it.

I accepted the mandatory SLI which cover me for 80% of the liability to other drivers ($20/day)
I accepted the optional Zero Deductible 100% liability coverage ($8/day)
I declined the optional CDW/LDW because my VISA card covers me ($15/day).
I declined the optional Collision Damage Protection ($11/day)

It came out to be $43/day total. $172 for 4 days.

Then comes gas and parking. Gas cost me $50 for 4 days, all within San Jose and south (no more than 30 mins away from SJ). It should have been $40 but I filled it up too much and didn't use it up. They got about $10 of gas for free.

Parking is relatively expensive. Dunn Inn and Mona Lisa have free parking in closed lot and garage, respectively. That's pretty much the only hotels that I know that provide it. When I stayed at SL, I parked in the 24 hour lot on the street overnight. ¢8,000 for 12 hours, and during the day I either parked out in front for 500/half-hour (you pay the guy in the yellow vest and he buys the ticket for ¢365, about 25% profit for him) or ¢900/hr in the lot. Some days if I didn't go out much and spend a lot of time in my room or in the bar, and then overnight in the lot, it cost me about (8k for overnight, and maybe 4500 during day... for 12500 ($25) per day. I probably spent ¢30-40k on parking over 4 days.

Total cost, about $280-300 for 4 days.

Lesson here, when you figure out your cost, take into account the gas and parking cost because it is significant part of your total cost. I didn't realize it until this trip.

why are people so reluctant to use email or the damn phone? Orange: You know better than that. (excuse the very delayed response to your query).

The outfit is dinky but personal; run by a stand up guy; no sneaky business; yada, yada, yada. Trust me, it merits everyone's own personal look see. No, I have not personally rented from his new venture, but I know the guy and the "....boots on the ground...." I am in contact with (NRO>>??!!) all rent from him and nary a one has had a problem. Oh well............

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I did contact them by email. Here's what I posted about this company:

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Orange!!!!! You are so right. I e-mailed Solid, also thinking New Company. They would be offering good deals. NOT!!!!!! They e-mailed me the same price of $85.00 Day for a Standard Bego. Hell I went up in price. That I was paying lol Instead of down lol. I did what you suggested. I rented from Economy Rental. I rented a Toyota Yaris for $34.00 dollars a day. With zero deductable Liability. Waved the collision because of my American Express covers 100% collision and theft. Thanks for the info.

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GodOfThunder
Rock -N- Roll Allnight Party Everyday

scuze me. didn't see it but it sux to be you guys if you're getting rate quotes like that from both SOLID and Alex.
Were you communicating with Alex, the owner? Oh well, MUY TICO if they price themselves out. *shrug*
Although none of "my" guys are getting those kinds of rates or they're lying to me. The rate you're quoting is $35.00 MORE per day than the most recently from my guy(s), by the way. I dunno....maybe those jacked up hours DO contribute to the rate variation. Did ya ask? I'd personally up the rate for them ridiculous early AM sojourn beginnings myself were it my personal business. *shrug*

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Before I lived in Costa Rica, I did rent a car a couple of times. Personally, I would recommend to 99% of the people visiting Costa Rica that renting a car and driving yourself is a BAD idea. First of all, you're on vacation. I am a little biased on this issue, because I hate driving anyway. Why set yourself up to be surprised by some obscure law in a foreign country?

That being said... driving in Costa Rica is not that bad. If you drive cautiously, slowly, and deliberately, you'll usually be fine.

The first big obstacle is the insurance, which you never seem to hear about until you're standing tall at the rental counter, upon your arrival in Costa Rica. The nationally mandated liability insurance is required, and there's no way that you're getting out of that, but it's not that expensive. As for the rest of the insurance and "waivers", it kind of depends upon the rental company. Some will accept that your credit card company will cover any additional losses, and others will demand to see a copy of your written credit card agreement. On one occasion, I actually called up American Express on the telephone, and had them talk to the guy at the rental counter. He finally relented and agreed that I didn't need to purchase the LDW coverage.

I have known a couple of people who have faced some serious issues after an automobile accident here in Costa Rica. Both of them were initially taken to the police station and were told that they could not leave Costa Rica until the case was settled. In one case, the guy tried everything that he could think of, but still ended up spending 9 months in Costa Rica until the matter was settled. In the other case, the guy got his credit card issuer to open a dialogue with the Costa Rican justice system, and the issuer convinced Costa Rica to let him leave the country, with the understanding that payment of any judgment was guaranteed.

From what I have seen and experienced, rental cars in Costa Rica are all fine and dandy, until you have an accident, especially an accident in which someone gets injured. At that point, it's very likely that you will not be leaving Costa Rica at any time in the near future.