Renting a car in Costa Rica as a Canadian: licence, insurance and roads

Your licence

As a tourist you can drive with your valid Canadian licence for up to 180 days, or for the length of stay on your entry stamp. Carry your actual passport, because photocopies are not accepted. Vamos Rent-A-Car only asks for an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet.

Vamos Rent-A-Car rents to drivers aged 18 and up. Drivers aged 18 to 20 pay a doubled collision-waiver deductible (US$1,500 instead of US$750), and the full zero-deductible waiver is not offered to them. You need a major credit card in the renter's name, and the name must match your passport.

Only CAA issues International Driving Permits in Canada. It costs $32 including tax, lasts one year, and is only valid with your Canadian licence.

Insurance: what to check

• Third-party liability insurance (called TPL or SLI) is required by law in Costa Rica. You cannot decline it, even if you have credit card or personal car insurance coverage. Vamos charges US$15.95 a day for it on standard cars.
• Credit card rental coverage usually only pays for damage to or theft of the car. It does not cover third-party liability in Costa Rica, so you still pay for the mandatory liability policy at the counter.
• Rental insurance becomes void if you drive through a river, drive on unsafe roads, or do not get a police report after an accident. Water damage is not covered at any insurance level.
• Make sure the rental agency offers emergency assistance and car insurance. After an accident, do not move the vehicle until the authorities arrive. The government may stop you from leaving the country until all injury claims are settled.

Roads, tolls and parking

• Most roads are not paved, and the paved ones are generally in poor condition. Expect potholes, sharp curves, few signs and landslides, especially in the rainy season.
• Adobe recommends Waze as the most accurate navigation app in Costa Rica, because road signs and street names are missing or confusing.
• Rental companies do not allow river crossings, even in a 4x4. Only cross rivers on official bridges. Beach driving is illegal, and a 4x4 helps with steep, loose gravel roads but does not make water crossings safe or covered.
• Routes 27, 1 and 32 have tolls, and not all booths take credit cards. Carry some colones or US dollars. Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour.

Staying safe on the road

• Costa Rica has one of the highest traffic accident rates in the world. Drivers often do not respect traffic laws and may drive without lights at night.
• Avoid driving at night. Street lighting is limited and the roads are narrow and curvy.
• Keep doors locked and windows closed, use secure parking (especially overnight), and never leave belongings in the vehicle.
• Speed cameras operate automatically. Tickets can come by mail, and fines are paid at banks or through the Costa Rican Road Safety Council, not at the roadside.