Car rental in Costa Rica: rates & calculator | Toucan Discovery
🚗 Free calculator — real-time rates

How much does your car rental
In Costa Rica?

Rates that are all inclusive — mandatory insurance, taxes, unlimited mileage, second driver — and no payment before vehicle pickup. Calculate your exact price in 30 seconds.

Calculate my rate → Which vehicle to choose? Take the quiz
By Toucan Discovery — a French-speaking local agency registered with the ICT (PE-0912-2023), based in San José
Shield
TPL + CDW insurancemandatory, included
♾️
Unlimited mileagezero limits
👥
2nd driver freeincluded by default
🚙
Free deliveryhotel or airport*
💬
FR assistance 7 days/7WhatsApp on site
🧾
Taxes included13% IVA included
Calculator

All our prices, direct path

Enter your dates, locations, and times: the prices of our whole fleet appear instantly, all included (vehicle + insurance + 13% IVA), from cheapest to priciest.

1 Dates, times & locations

⏱️ Billed per started 24h block: pickup on September 1 at 10am and return on the 3rd at 5pm = 3 rental days. 🎁 Long-term bonus: 1 free car day per full week (insurance remains due each day).

2 Insurance

Full insurance — 0 excessDeposit reduced to $100 (instead of $500) · no excess · replaces the included basic insurance
option

3 Options

GPSWaze on your phone remains our #1 tip — the GPS helps out without data
+$10/day
Unlimited data SIM cardOne-time payment, whatever the number of days · local number included
14 $
Child seat / boosterMandatory in Costa Rica (fine > $220) · cleaned and disinfected
0$7/day

Your prices — the whole fleet

👆 Pick your dates: the prices of all vehicles appear at once
Our vehicles

A fleet tested in the field

Recent vehicles from recognized local rental companies, selected for their reliability on road and track alike. Dynamic rates depending on the travel period — calculate your exact price with the calculator above.

Rental companies guarantee the vehicle category, not the exact model. Automatic transmission by default. Luggage capacities are indicative — they depend on the dimensions of each suitcase. Credit card in the driver's name required for the deposit.

Insurance

Two formulas, zero surprises

In Costa Rica, TPL (third-party liability) and CDW (damage) insurance are mandatory by law — and no bank card covers the TPL. With us, they are always included.

Basic insurance

Included in all our rates
  • TPL — third-party liability (mandatory)
  • CDW / LDW — vehicle damage
  • $500 deposit (pre-authorized, not charged)
  • Min. $1,000 excess in case of damage
Recommended for rural areas & the green season

Full insurance — 0 excess

+$20/day
  • Everything in the basic insurance
  • Deposit reduced to just $100
  • No excess in case of damage or accident
  • Total peace of mind, even on the tracks
Warning What bank cards don't tell you: even a premium card (Visa Premier, Gold…) never covers the TPL, requires written proof for the CDW, and exempts you from neither the excess nor the high deposit. Many travelers find out… at the rental counter.
Booking & payment

Conditions that are simple and clear

No hidden fees, no imposed prepaid fuel, no forced options on arrival.

✅

No payment at booking

You book, we immediately send you your official confirmation. Payment is made on site, by credit card, directly to the rental company when the vehicle is handed over.

🔄

Changes & cancellation

Flexible and free of charge before vehicle pickup. Extension or change of return location possible along the way.

📍

Delivery wherever you want

Free handover at the airport or your accommodation in most areas. Hours: SJO & Liberia airports 24/7 · offices in other towns 8am–5pm · hotel in San José 9am–4pm.

🛂

Documents on the day

Passport, national license (enough for FR / BE / CH / CA), credit card in the driver's name for the deposit.

💳

Pre-authorized deposit

$500 (basic) or $100 (full) simply held on the card, never charged, released at return.

⛽

Fuel

Returned with the same level as at departure. Fuel at a state-regulated price: ~$1.30–1.40/liter everywhere in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions, our answers

Clear answers to the most frequent doubts before booking.

Can I drive with my French, Belgian, Swiss, or Canadian license?
Yes. Your national license is enough (no need for an international permit), provided it's valid for the whole stay, up to 90 days in the country.
My bank card already covers the insurance — can I decline yours?
No. The TPL (third-party liability) is required by Costa Rican law and is not covered by any bank card. The CDW offered by some cards requires written proof and removes neither the excess nor the high deposit. That's why our rates always include both.
Do you really need a 4x4?
Not always. A 4x2 SUV is enough for the vast majority of itineraries. The 4x4 is recommended for isolated areas, the mountains (Monteverde, Santa Teresa, Nicoya peninsula), or the rainy season. Take our 5-question quiz to find the right vehicle for your itinerary.
Can I pick up the car in San José and return it elsewhere?
Yes, pickup at point A and return at point B are possible subject to availability — free of charge in most cases. If a surcharge applies, it's shown right in the quote.
What's the minimum age to rent?
Generally 21 years old with at least 1 year of driving experience. A surcharge may apply for drivers under 25 — we flag it to you in advance if that's the case.
Will my suitcases fit in the trunk?
The capacity shown for each vehicle is measured with real suitcases in hand, seats in place. A rule of thumb: capacity mostly depends on the number of passengers — with 5 in a Toyota Rush, folded seats free up real volume; with 7, plan for cabin luggage only. In doubt? Send us your suitcase dimensions on WhatsApp: we check for you, trunk by trunk. And our field tip: never leave luggage visible in a parked car.
At what time can I pick up and return the car?
At San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) airports: 24/7. At offices in other towns (La Fortuna, Tamarindo…): from 8am to 5pm. For delivery or return at your San José hotel: from 9am to 4pm. Good to know: billing is per started 24h block — a pickup on the 1st at 10am and a return on the 3rd at 5pm count as 3 rental days. The calculator above takes this into account automatically.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Nothing serious: send us your flight number and we adapt the vehicle delivery. Our French-speaking WhatsApp remains reachable 7 days a week.

Ready to hit the road ?

Book your vehicle on its own, or fit it into a complete tailor-made trip. In both cases: clear rates, French-speaking assistance on site, zero surprises.

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