Whether you’re in town for an adventure or business trip, renting a car is often the most convenient way to go around. If you don’t want to waste precious time in having to wait for, flag down cabs and negotiate with local drivers, a car rental lets you go anywhere with less stress and hassle. However, if you aren’t careful when you rent a car in Costa Rica, you could end up paying for much more than you should. Here’s a list of car rental mistakes you might be making and how to avoid them:
Mistake #1: Buying insurance. Your auto insurance policy might already have enough coverage so you won’t have to spend on extra insurance charges.
Solution: Check your auto insurance thoroughly. You could end up save on insurance costs on your trip. With zero insurance charges to worry about, you have more to spend from your Happy Fund.
Mistake #2: Renting form the airport. That’s going to mean airport surcharges.
Solution: Rent a car in Costa Rica by doing your research. Make sure you shop around. That’s going to give you better options and rates your future self and wallet will thank you for.
Mistake #3: Paying extra for extras. This typically involves renting a GPS unit or a car seat, along with any other extras you want on your trip.
Solution: If you want GPS, look into installing an app into your mobile phone instead. You could save on a lot by packing what you need instead of getting it from the car rental companies with all the added costs.
Mistake #4: Returning it late. You’re going to incur extra charges this way, says U.S. News.
Solution: Set aside enough time to allow for the traffic. That’s one way to make sure you get that car returned on time, paying zero in late fees and charges.
