Cheap Car Rentals in Costa Rica from $5
This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Costa Rica with a pick-up date of 9/1 and drop-off date of 9/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental.
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Costa Rica car rentals in 2026
Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car rental in Costa Rica. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on July 1, 2026.
Most popular company | Avis |
|---|---|
Most common car type | Standard |
Average price per day | $24 |
Cheapest price per day | $5 |
Best car rental deals found in Costa Rica
Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car rental deals in Costa Rica. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 rental car agencies in Costa Rica with an average daily rate of $20. Data was last updated on July 1, 2026.
Nissan Sylphy$5/day
5
M
A/C
Subaru Outback$5/day
5
M
A/C
Jeep Patriot$5/day
4
M
A/C
Cheapflights insights for Costa Rica car rentals
Get relevant, data-driven information to help you rent a car in Costa Rica, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.
How far in advance should I rent a car in Costa Rica?
For the best savings on car rentals in Costa Rica, make your reservation 86 days before pickup. The average price then is just $21/day—about 27% less than the yearly average.
What is the cheapest rental car company in Costa Rica?
NU Car is currently the cheapest rental car company in Costa Rica with deals as low as $5.52/day found in the past two weeks. MEXRENTACAR is another inexpensive option with rates as low as $9.22/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Costa Rica?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Costa Rica is September where you can expect to pay $12/day on average. The most expensive month to rent a car in Costa Rica is December ($59/day on average). The average daily rental price for each month is shown below. Keep in mind that prices will vary based on availability, when you book, and the type of car you rent.
January
$38
February
$50
March
$50
April
$20
May
$19
June
$20
July
$27
August
$19
September
$12
October
$12
November
$18
December
$59
What car do most people rent in Costa Rica?
The most popular types of cars to rent in Costa Rica are the following: SUV rentals (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar), Economy rentals (Hyundai Accent or similar), and Full-size rentals (Chevrolet Cavalier or similar).
Which car rental company has the most locations in Costa Rica?
Avis has 22 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. L&M Car Rental has the second highest number of locations in Costa Rica at 5.
What are the car rental prices for popular cities in Costa Rica?
Discover the price range for renting a car in popular cities across Costa Rica, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 97 pickup locations in Costa Rica to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on July 1, 2026.
If you're looking for the best car rental deals in Costa Rica, start with Liberia, where rates average $5/day. You can also find good prices in San José ($5/day), Tamarindo ($9/day), and Quepos ($13/day).
Top rental agencies in Costa Rica
Explore the leading car rental agencies in Costa Rica known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car rental companies in Costa Rica. Reviews were last updated on July 1, 2026.
Overview
Reviews
Locations
Avis
119 reviews•22 locations
Overview
Cleanliness
7.0
Comfort
6.6
Overall
5.4
Pick-up/drop-off
5.5
Value
5.0
Recent reviews
8.0
|Jan 2025Friendly easy pick up. But only open 9-5 so difficult to return.
2.0
|Apr 2023un desastre, nunca mas contrato ni con uds ni con avis nos quisieron cobrar cualquier cosa, me retuvieron 500 dolares que no me estan devolviendo, no pudimos contratar el auto perdimos mas de dos horas, malos modos y malos tratos una verguenza, nunca los voy a recomendar
2.0
|Mar 2023The Avis in Liberia sent us off the lot with an old, dilapidated tire that came apart in pieces as we were driving. The office did not pick up the phone or respond to us when we called in with the problem, but thankfully we were able to get in touch with the insurance provider who sent someone to change the tire. He was shocked at how old and rundown the tire was compared to the three others on the vehicle and told us we were very lucky it didn’t cause an accident. When I returned to Liberia and was finally able to connect to the Avis service people in person, they told me it was my fault for driving the car off the lot and charged me $280 for the tire. I have a report filed to try and resolve this, but this was one of the worst car rentals AND customer experiences I have ever had.
4.0
|Mar 2023Probably the worst condition rental car ever. Rusted, bad tires, high mileage. Yet expensive.
8.0
|Mar 2023Pretty happy with the service including the shuttle to the airport. The location has a coffee machine on site which is nice for travelers, however, the trash can was way too full and the table where the sugar and cups were kept wasn't wiped. This area could be kept cleaner. All the rest was good.
2.0
|Mar 2023Price ended up being 3x what was quoted on your website. Had to pay over $40 a day for insurance. $12.50 a day for a phone that did not work. Also charged $100 for a 1/4 tank of gas. The staff was rude on pickup and drop off. I will never use Avis again. Very disappointed.
1 out of 40
View Avis Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Reviews
Locations
U-Save
33 reviews•2 locations
Overview
Cleanliness
5.7
Comfort
5.2
Overall
4.3
Pick-up/drop-off
4.6
Value
4.1
Recent reviews
10.0
|Jan 2025Everything was great! Only thing that could have been better is that we were made aware of the shuttle offered from and to the airport. We ended up having to pay for a driver to take us to the car because we didn’t know. Was extra cost we didn’t have to have if we would have known.
8.0
|Dec 2024Quick service
2.0
|Feb 2024They don’t tell you about the mandatory insurance! And $2500.00 US deposit! Plus the vehicle I got wasn’t what I requested, and the pick up at the airport was an hour late. Horrible experience overall, would not recommend. And I won’t be ever renting from them ever again!!!
2.0
|Feb 2024The vehicle was very good and clean. The staff were disaster, rude and disrespectful. No due deference.
4.0
|Feb 2024It's way more expensive than advertised
4.0
|Sep 2023Not the car they said I was getting and tried to give me a manual when I’d reserved an automatic, also still waiting for my deposit to be released two weeks later. Would not recommend.
1 out of 11
View U-Save Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Reviews
Locations
NextCar
65 reviews•2 locations
Overview
Cleanliness
5.3
Comfort
4.9
Overall
3.5
Pick-up/drop-off
4.1
Value
3.3
Recent reviews
2.0
|May 2024Awful. They FORCE you to buy $300 insurance. It is not optional and it is not given back to you. They don’t tell you anywhere on the website. We didn’t find out until we showed up. We even bought insurance and the website ($65) and they said it ‘didn’t count’ and you need to purchase theirs. Awful experience. $80 turned into $380 for a rental car.
10.0
|Jan 2024Great staff. Don't buy the insurance online in Costa Rica, you have to buy it at the dealership. Really liked the staff at this location, they were very helpful and courteous, spoke great english.
2.0
|Apr 2023I was ask to pay almost two times more the amount of the original deal
2.0
|Mar 2023They double thé Price once you get in their office!!!!
2.0
|Mar 2023Unexpected fees! The price we booked said it included ALL taxes and fees. However upon arrival the rental car agency said we were required to pay $500 in mandated insurance on TOP of the advertised price. really misleading.
2.0
|Feb 2023Didn't end up renting the car that we booked. Car rental would not honor that we had insurance coverage from our credit card company so the cost of the car more than doubled. This has never happened to us before.
1 out of 22
View NextCar Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Reviews
Locations
National
17 reviews•61 locations
Overview
Cleanliness
8.3
Comfort
8.3
Overall
8.2
Pick-up/drop-off
8.2
Value
7.1
Recent reviews
10.0
|Dec 2024From when we were greeted by the shuttle driver on arrival,to being served by Alex at the company, and receiving our car, to the final return with Ricardo and the young lady, everything was perfect! The price could be a bit lower, but we were very satisfied.
10.0
|Feb 2024You guys do what promise and that's usually what counts. No hidden surprises or secret up charges.
10.0
|Jan 2024Our experience with National was very good. The check out was quick and easy. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The car was new, clean and comfortable. Check in was easy and quick and we were on our way back to the airport in no time. Shuttle service to and from airport was easy and quick. Overall, I would recommend National Car Rental if visiting Liberia and Costa Rica.
6.0
|May 2023I had rented a car previously in Costa Rica and was able to wave the added protection as I am covered through other insurance and credit cards at national they would not let me so add an additional $15 a day to the price
10.0
|Jan 2022All good
1.9
|Aug 2021I bought car insurance from Kayak before the trip. National insisted that it was useless and that I had to repurchase car insurance from them for $ 24/ day minimum. I went to Atlas car rental where the service was excellent.
1 out of 6
View National Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Locations
L&M Car Rental
5 locations
View L&M Car Rental Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Locations
TOOSLA
2 locations
View TOOSLA Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Locations
America Car Rental
1 location
View America Car Rental Locations in Costa Rica
Overview
Locations
Right Cars
2 locations
View Right Cars Locations in Costa Rica
Car rental FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about car rentals in Costa Rica, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on July 1, 2026.
What is the most popular car rental provider in Costa Rica?
With an average price of $44/day, Alamo is the most popular car rental provider in Costa Rica, booking 428% more rental cars than any other provider.
What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Costa Rica?
When visiting Costa Rica, it is typically cheapest to rent your car in Liberia where rental cars typically will cost around $38/day (2% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest rental car price in Costa Rica was found in Quepos for just $12/day.
What side of the road do you drive on in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, drivers are expected to maintain the lane(s) on the right side of the road.
Car rentals by fuel type in Costa Rica
Browse car rentals by fuel type in Costa Rica. Currently, Gas/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in Costa Rica. Deals were last updated on July 1, 2026.
Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in Costa Rica. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Gas/Diesel being the cheapest ($7+).
Electric
$170+
Gas/Diesel
$7+
Hybrid
$18+
Traveling to a place near Costa Rica?
Rent a car at Costa Rica if you plan to visit one of these locationsCulebra
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