Car Rental in San Jose (2026) - Driving Guide & Best Rates

Pick up at SJO (Juan Santamaría International Airport, located in Alajuela roughly 20 km from central San José) to avoid navigating into the city immediately on arrival, downtown agencies clustered near Parque La Sabana sometimes list lower base rates. But factor in the taxi or bus fare to reach them before assuming they're cheaper.

Photograph every panel, the windshield, and the interior before leaving the lot: Costa Rica rental agencies vary considerably in how aggressively they pursue minor pre-existing damage claims, and documentation protects you. Basic liability coverage is legally required and typically included in the base rate. But agencies heavily promote additional collision waivers, check whether your credit card provides CDW abroad before accepting or declining.

Google Maps is reliable on major routes out of San José and in the metropolitan area. But signal can drop in hillier residential neighborhoods and on unpaved secondary roads, download an offline map (Google Maps offline or Maps.me) before you leave the rental lot rather than discovering the gap mid-journey.

Fuel pricing in Costa Rica is set by the government, so there is no benefit to shopping around for cheaper stations. Rental agreements here almost universally use full-to-full terms, and prepaid fuel options are rarely offered, so return the tank full to avoid inflated top-up charges.

In central San José, use staffed private parking lots ('parqueos') rather than street parking, overnight, vehicle break-ins are a documented risk in the city center, and parqueos are the standard local practice for both short stays and overnight, typically charging by the hour at rates that are reasonable by regional standards.