• Customer ratings 8.3 / 10
  • Online car rental since 2005

Car Rental San Jose

Save time and money. We compare the offers of car rental companies in San Jose on your behalf.

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  • Free cancellation Up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick up time
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  • Already 500,000+ bookings More than half a million people preceded you 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
  • 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
We compare all well-known suppliers

Car Rental San Jose

EasyTerra Car Rental San Jose is an independent car rental comparison site. Our system compares prices from well-known car rental companies so as a customer you can always reserve your rental car through us at a competitive rate.

Popular rental locations in San Jose

The following rental locations are the most popular for renting a car in San Jose

Car rental offers in San Jose

Whether you're looking for a small rental car or a station wagon for the entire family, we will always have a suitable vehicle for the lowest price. Below are some examples from our selection in San Jose.

Car type
Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
Passenger van
SUV
Electric

Car rental companies in San Jose

Below are the car rental companies in San Jose with the best ratings. Compare all ratings and prices of these rental companies in one search.

  • Easycar

    9.6 (25)
    From € 23 / day
  • Jumbocar

    9.5 (23)
    From € 19 / day
  • Alamo

    8.5 (8619)
    From € 35 / day
  • Amigo Rent a car

    8.5 (10)
    From € 19 / day
  • Enterprise

    8.4 (1921)
    From € 46 / day
  • Sixt

    8.2 (3316)
    From € 21 / day
  • Avis

    8 (5940)
    From € 16 / day
  • Solid Car Rental

    8 (6)
    No rates available
  • Green Motion

    7.8 (1887)
    From € 19 / day
  • Dollar Rent a Car

    7.8 (4314)
    From € 15 / day
  • Keddy By Europcar

    7.7 (3331)
    From € 15 / day
  • Budget

    7.6 (9604)
    From € 22 / day
  • Hertz

    7.5 (6852)
    No rates available
  • Thrifty

    7.5 (5438)
    No rates available
  • Payless Car Rental

    6.6 (488)
    From € 20 / day
  • Europcar

    5 (8061)
    From € 15 / day
  • Costa Rent

    No reviews
    From € 30 / day
  • National Car Rental

    8.1 (402)
    No rates available
  • NÜ Car Rentals

    6.1 (20)
    No rates available
  • ACE Rent A Car

    5.5 (15)
    From € 39 / day

When is the best time to book a rental car in San Jose?

Car rental companies in and around San Jose

If you are looking for a rental car in Costa Rica, but in a city other than San Jose, please click through to the Car rental Costa Rica page, where you can choose in which city in Costa Rica you want to rent a car.

Car rental locations in San Jose

EasyTerra Car Rental San Jose compares prices of car rental companies at the following locations:

Best Western Irazu Hotel
Wyndham San José Herradura
C. 34

Location information for San Jose

Introduction

San José is the capital of Costa Rica, a country in Central America. It is the social, economic, political and cultural centre of the country. It is a busy and relatively young city. San José only began to be developed in the second half of the 19th century. This is why there are relatively few buildings from Spanish colonial times - compared to many other Latin-American cities.

Population

Officially, the city has 350,000 inhabitants, but that number applies to San José Canton, roughly the centre of the city. Including the suburbs, more than a million people are living in San José. Costa Ricans speak Spanish, but many of them have some knowledge of English.

Location

San José is located in the middle of the Central Plateau (Cordillera Central) of Costa Rica, at an altitude of over 1,100 metres. The city is surrounded by green mountains and valleys.

Economy

Costa Rica's economy is built on agriculture and eco tourism (about 70% of Costa Rica is National Park). In the city itself there is little evidence of that: San José is the administrative and business centre. Recently, foreign investors have invested a lot of money in the development of the pharmaceutical and electronics industry in San José. The hotel business is also an emerging industry.

Airports

Juan Santamaría Airport is located 20 kilometres to the west of the city. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city by car, although during morning and evening rush hour it may take considerably longer.

Public transport

Public transport in San José is provided by buses. The question is whether you want to use the bus system, because it is the place where pickpockets are most active. There are also regional bus connections, and there are international bus connections to neighboring countries Nicaragua and Panama. The buses are fairly comfortable, though you should never lose sight of your luggage. You should certainly never agree to have your luggage stored in the luggage compartments.
Taxis are cheap in San José. Use only the official taxis with a meter. Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle with a number on it. The airport taxis are orange.

Traffic and Parking

You will probably need some time to get used to driving in San José. The roads are narrow, and the way the locals drive also takes some getting used to. Drivers use any little gap they see to gain a few metres, especially during morning and evening rush hour. The road signs also leave something to be desired. Many streets, for instance, lack any kind of identification. On roads outside the city, you need to beware of holes in the road surface. Avoid driving at night. If you should receive a fine, never pay on the spot but let the rental company take care of it.

You can park your car in the street in San José, but there are streets were that is illegal during morning and evening rush hour. There are many public parking facilities where you can leave your car safely. Never leave anything of value in your car, not even in the boot. And of course: lock your car carefully. It is a good idea to lock the doors while driving. If you get a flat tire, refuse any 'help' from strangers. They may be after your valuable possessions.

Hotels

San José has an ample supply of hotels. The best of them are not located in the city centre, but outside it. Although Costa Rica is a popular destination because of its beautiful wildlife, few tourists decide to spend much time in the capital. We do, however, recommend booking your hotel room in advance, if only to avoid being an obvious tourist wandering the streets in search of a place to stay.

External Sources

For more information about San José, we recommend Google, and the following sources:

Practical information

  • Currency
    Costa Rican colón
  • Driving direction
    Right
  • City speed limit
    50 km/h
  • Freeway speed limit
    60 km/h
  • Language
    Spanish
  • Popular car category
    SUV

What most people want to know

The following questions and answers are a selection of the most popular questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us.

Is EasyTerra Car Rental the cheapest?

Yes, we offer a guarantee of the lowest price - because we compare various retailers, we can always offer you the best price in town.

What do I need to do when picking up a car?

To pick up your car, you will need your voucher, passport, driver's license and a credit card. It is very important that your driver's license and credit card are in the same name as the main driver. Keep in mind that the local rental company will reserve a certain amount on your credit card as a deposit. This requires the PIN code for your credit card. If your driver's license is foreign (for example, in Chinese), you must bring a translation with you. Only your original passport and driver's license will be accepted - a copy is not sufficient.

Are there any additional costs?

Our rates are all-inclusive. Our reservation department will inform you in advance should additional costs apply. You can always cancel your booking free of charge if you do not agree (this must be done at least 48 hours prior to the start of the car hire period).

What kind of insurance is applicable to my car rental?

In general, Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, All-Risks Insurance and Theft Insurance are included in the cost of your rental car.

What is a worry-free label?

Only rental companies with a high level of customer satisfaction are eligible to be included in our Worry-Free selection. This rate includes excess cover and unlimited kilometres. Your vehicle will be provided and must be returned with a full tank of fuel. With a vehicle from our Worry-Free selection, you can travel with peace of mind and no hidden costs.

How can I change or cancel my reservation?

You can cancel your reservation through "My Account". We recommend contacting us by phone if your changes to your booking or cancellation takes place at short notice (48 hours or less).

When will I get a confirmation of my booking?

Most reservations will receive confirmation within minutes after payment takes place. We recommend contacting our Booking Department for last minute reservations (pick-up within 48 hours).

Which car rental companies are compared by EasyTerra Car Rental at this location?
  • Easycar
  • Jumbocar
  • Alamo
  • Amigo Rent a car
  • Enterprise
  • Sixt
  • Avis
  • Solid Car Rental
  • Green Motion
  • Dollar Rent a Car
  • Keddy By Europcar
  • Budget
  • Hertz
  • Thrifty
  • Payless Car Rental
  • Europcar
  • Costa Rent
  • National Car Rental
  • NÜ Car Rentals
  • ACE Rent A Car
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