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Car hire in San Jose, Costa Rica

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Use the same magic that powers our flight search to find cheap car rental in San Jose

Compare car hire on price, ease of pick-up, a fair fuel policy and more

Find San Jose car rental deals you can amend or cancel if your plans change

Car hire deals from £11San Jose mapTop San Jose providersFAQs

Find cheap car hire in San Jose

Economy

Crossover
42
From
£11
per day

Compact

Crossover
43
From
£15
per day

Intermediate

SUV
54
From
£19
per day

Mini

4-5 doors
41
From
£24
per day

Fullsize

Pickup
54
From
£33
per day

Premium

Crossover
52
From
£91
per day
View all deals
These are the lowest San Jose car hire prices we found over the next 30 days and are subject to change.

Select your San Jose pick-up location

There are 45 car hire locations in San Jose. Choose the cheapest or easiest now.

The most popular car rental companies in San Jose

Choose from the best car hire companies in San Jose

Europcar
4.8/5
Good45 reviews
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
4.9/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Adobe rent a car
4.8/5
Good10 reviews
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Payless
4.8/5
Good
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
From
£96per day
Budget
4.7/5
Good20 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Sixt
4.7/5
Good14 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Alamo
4.7/5
Good6 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.3/5
Europcar
4.8/5
Good45 reviews
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
4.9/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Adobe rent a car
4.8/5
Good10 reviews
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Payless
4.8/5
Good
Car condition
5.0/5
Car cleanliness
5.0/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
From
£96per day
Budget
4.7/5
Good20 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Sixt
4.7/5
Good14 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.2/5
Alamo
4.7/5
Good6 reviews
Car condition
4.7/5
Car cleanliness
4.7/5
Customer service
5.0/5
Easy collection
4.3/5

Hiring a car in San Jose: Fast facts

Here's everything you need to know to hit the road happy.
Most popular car hire companyAdvantage - Rent A Car
Most popular carIntermediate/Standard, SUV
Average daily price£84
Best time to book4 weeks before

How to book the best car rental deals in San Jose

We’re frequently named as the most trusted travel search site out there. We scan hundreds of trusted travel providers and put it all in one place, allowing you to instantly compare car hire rates and then book with no fees. Here's how to get the most out of your San Jose car rental search.

How to find a cheap car hire deal in San Jose

At Skyscanner, we make it easy to find cheap car hire deals in San Jose. With over 25 pickup locations throughout the city, you can choose the most convenient spot. We highlight car hire options with free cancellation, giving you flexibility in your plans. Look for 'full to full' deals to save money and avoid unexpected fuel charges. Additionally, we feature keyless pick-up options, helping you skip the queues and get on the road faster. Our simple search feature ensures you can quickly compare and find the best deals for your needs.

The best time to book a car in San Jose

Booking your car hire in San Jose about a week in advance usually offers the best deals. June tends to be the cheapest month for car rentals. Events like the San José Day Festival can drive up demand, so secure your vehicle sooner if you plan to visit during this period. Planning ahead ensures you get the car you want at a great price.

What you'll need when hiring a car in San Jose

Navigating car hire options in San Jose, Costa Rica, through Skyscanner is straightforward. While the minimum driving age in Costa Rica is 18, car hire providers commonly set their minimum rental age at 25. Young driver surcharges might apply if you are under this age requirement, depending on the provider. Ensure you have your valid driving licence, as well as an international driving permit, which might be necessary for driving in Costa Rica. This will ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience when picking up your rental car and enjoying your journey around San Jose. Skyscanner helps you compare various providers to find the best deal suited to your needs.

Car hire in San Jose: top tips for driving in Costa Rica

Driving in San Jose, Costa Rica, is generally straightforward, with traffic flowing on the right. Paying attention to speed limits is crucial: 90 km/h on highways, 80 km/h on expressways and country roads, and 40 km/h in the city. Google Maps coverage is reliable in Costa Rica, assisting you with accurate navigation. The drive from San Jose to La Fortuna and the stunning Arenal Volcano takes about 3 hours for 140 kilometres. Heading to the picturesque beaches of Manuel Antonio will take around 3 hours and 30 minutes for a distance of 171 kilometres. For a trip to the lush cloud forests of Monteverde, plan on a 3-hour 30-minute journey for 140 kilometres. Be mindful of the local road conditions and speed limits.

Frequently asked questions

On average, hiring a car in San Jose will set you back around £84 per day or £6 per week. 
The cheapest car to rent in San Jose is an economy crossover (similar to SUVs). The most popular is Intermediate/Standard, SUV.
The cheapest car hire companies in San Jose are currently Easy Car and Green Motion.
Bagging the best car hire deal depends on when you book  – often, it pays to book your wheels as far in advance as possible. But according to our data, the cheapest month to rent a car in San Jose is currently July.
On average, around £6. But the best price we found for car hire for a week in San Jose is £3.
Based on everything we know about daily prices, the average cost to hire a car in San Jose for a whole month is £1,226. 

But sometimes, you'll get a discount for booking a whole month instead of 3 and a half weeks. So play with your dates to find the best deals!
If you're looking for freedom to explore San Jose, choose a car with unlimited mileage, or look for car hire deals with a ’full to full' fuel policy as opposed to a 'half-full to full' one.

We also clearly highlight car and van hire options in San Jose that have free cancellation. 
Yes – you can easily find car hire companies that allow you to pick up your car in one place, and then drop it off in another. Just select ‘Return car to a different location’ when you search with us.
Public transport can only get you so far, and could be tricky to navigate with children or luggage. With your own set of wheels, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, for as long as you want. And you'll be able to discover more outside of San Jose.
Most places – San Jose included – allow under 25s to rent a car as long as they provide a valid driver's license and the correct documentation. It may cost slightly more due to a higher insurance excess for young drivers. 
The cheapest price we found for an economy car is £11 per day. The average price per day is around £49.
Of course. Most major car hire companies like Advantage - Rent A Car, Hertz and Routes Car Rentals offer baby and child seats as an add-on when you book.
Other travellers rated Payless as the best overall in terms of experience.
We search the internet for all kinds of vehicle hire deals, including vans. But at the moment, we can't find any van hire in San Jose.

Plan your trip to San Jose

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  • Hotels in San Jose

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