Renting a car in Costa Rica: tolls, colones, insurance, and common headaches

A rental car is often the easiest way to reach listing pins in Guanacaste hills, Escazú side streets, or a gravel driveway outside Uvita. It can also be the most frustrating part of your trip if you are not prepared. Costa Rica’s rental market is busy, competitive—and famous for counter disputes, surprise fees, and insurance pressure. None of that means you should skip renting; it means go in with eyes open, especially when house-hunting on a schedule.

Common rental issues we hear from buyers and visitors: Pickup takes longer than promised at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José (airport code SJO) or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste (LIR). The base online rate excludes mandatory fees, airport surcharges, or a second driver charge. Staff walk you around the car quickly; pre-existing dents get blamed on return. Credit card holds for deposits are larger than expected. “You need a 4×4” upsells when a sedan would reach the paved road—but the last kilometer to a rural lot really is gravel. Always match vehicle choice to the listing’s map pin and WhatsApp with the agent before you pay for an upgrade.

Roads and what to expect: Major routes like Route 27 (San José–Caldera), the Inter-American Highway (Route 1), and coastal corridors to Guanacaste and Jacó are mostly paved and well signed. Beach towns and mountain lots often add unpaved or steep final segments—our property pages include regional road notes for a reason. Waze and Google Maps work well in the Central Valley and most tourist zones; still confirm the gate and driveway with the agent. Green season rain exposes potholes; night driving on rural roads is harder than it looks. Allow extra time between showings.

Tolls (peajes) and colones: Several highways use toll booths—Route 27 and other autopistas are the main ones tourists hit driving from San José toward the coast or Atenas–Grecia. Some lanes take cards, but cash in colones is still the reliable backup when a machine fails or you take a cash-only booth. Keep at least ₡20,000 in small bills and coins in the car (roughly $40–45 USD at typical exchange rates—verify the daily rate). Running tolls without payment or without colones means turning around in traffic. ATMs at the airport can dispense colones before you pick up the car; so can banks in town.

Insurance—non-negotiable in practice: Costa Rica requires valid auto liability coverage. Rental companies bundle mandatory insurance into the contract and aggressively sell supplemental collision damage waivers (CDW/LDW—extra rental insurance that reduces your liability for dents and scratches)—often around USD $15–25 per day depending on vehicle class and exchange rates (many travelers cite about $20/day; yours may differ). Counter staff can feel pushy; that is normal industry behavior here, not a personal scam. We have seen visitors argue they do not need extra coverage—sometimes their credit card travel benefit covers rentals, sometimes it does not apply in Costa Rica or excludes gravel roads. Read your card policy before you travel.

If you are in an accident—even a minor fender bender—you need working insurance and a clear paper trail. Call the rental company and, for serious crashes, transit police (Tránsito). Do not drive away from a scene. Without proper coverage, you can be personally liable for damage and third-party claims. Take timestamped photos of every panel at pickup and return; note fuel level and mileage. Decline only the supplemental waiver if you genuinely understand what your card or home policy covers overseas.

Practical checklist before you drive to listings: (1) Budget total cost = base rate + mandatory insurance + optional CDW + fuel + tolls. (2) Withdraw ₡20,000+ for tolls and small purchases. (3) Save offline maps and the agent’s WhatsApp pin. (4) Match car type to last-kilometer access. (5) Photograph the vehicle at pickup in good light. (6) Keep the rental contract and insurance certificate in the glove box.

Renting is still worth it for serious buyers touring multiple areas in a week—just treat the counter like a contract negotiation, not a formality. Browse our listings by region, check road notes on each property page, and message us if you want help sequencing showings around a rental itinerary.

Disclaimer: Rental terms, insurance prices, and toll amounts change. This article is general guidance for visitors and buyers, not legal or insurance advice. Confirm coverage, fees, and road conditions with your rental company and insurer before you drive.