Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the basic coverage include ?
The Supplemental Liability Insurance is a mandatory insurance to basic liability. This insurance only covers if the driver is declared guilty by a court or if the drivers accepts fault.
This insurance covers property and persons. Covers up to a maximum amount of C 50.000.000 per person or up to C 125.000.000 per event for medical expenses or death of persons involved either inside or outside the vehicle, non – relatives of the driver (until third degree of blood relation or affinity). In case of property ex: vehicles or houses, coverage is up to C 10.000.000
This insurance can not be declined, and the renter will be responsible for the total value of the damages caused to the rented car. It covers other properties, vehicles or persons.
2. Does the basic insurance have a deductible ?
No, you will be responsible for the 100% of the car rental, if you want you can pay an extra for the CDW or the SCDW.
CDW: Collision Damage Waiver
This is the cover for collision and theft. It is optional. If this coverage is accepted, it protects in case of damages, accident or theft to the rented vehicle. The client will be responsible to pay for the deductible amounts stated in the rental agreement indicated above. This coverage will take effect only if the client present all proper documents which include, but are not limited to: police traffic ticket, insurance form, and personal statement to proper transit court. If this coverage is declined, the renter will be responsible to pay for all damages to the rented vehicle up to the full value of the car. This coverage does not include towing services, expenses or vandalism. Daily cost of this coverage is : $11.95
The deductibles are the maximum amounts which renters must pay in case of accident if CDW is acquired, as long as they fulfill the requirements that this coverage has.
The deductibles for CDW are:
|
Damage
|
Theft or Total Loss
|
|
|---|---|---|
| ECMR/ECAR | $1000 | $1300 |
| CRM/CCAR | $1000 | $1300 |
| CFMR | $1000 | $1300 |
| IFMR/IFAR | $1000 | $1300 |
| FFMR | $1000 | $2000 |
| PFAR | $1000 | $2000 |
| PVMR | $1000 | $2000 |
What is covered and what is not covered by CDW:
The CDW covers if the following requirements are fulfilled:
In case of damage the renter must present:
- Police report
- Part of the INS (Insurance National Institute)
- Personal statement to proper transit court
If any of these requirements are not shown, the CDW does not cover the damages and the renter is responsible for the total amount of the damage.
In case the accident takes place by breach of any article of the transit law, the CDW will not cover the damages and the renter will be responsible for the total value of the damages caused to the vehicle.
CDW only covers when the accident involves a third party. The CDW does not cover if the accident involves immovable objects (houses, posts, etc) or damages caused to the interior/underside of the vehicle ex: damages caused by holes in highways. This article means that the CDW covers if the accident is against another vehicle. The client will be responsible for the total value of the damages of the vehicle if the damages are caused as explained in this paragraph.
Any other damage that is consider negligence by the client, ex: passing through rivers, driving into the sea, using the vehicle in races or other similar situations, is total responsibility of the client and is not covered by any insurance.
For our purposes, total loss is considered any damage where cost of repair exceeds 70% of the market value of the vehicle.
Damage to wheel rims, hubcaps or any other damage where the value is smaller than the amount of the deductible is the responsibility of the renter.
In case of theft the following must be presented by the renter:
- Denunciation of theft presented to the OIJ (Federal Investigation Organism) or competent authority of the area of the robbery.
- Copy of valid identification or passport
- Copy of valid drivers license
SCDW : Super Collision Damage Waiver
If this insurance is accepted, in case of damages, accident or theft to the vehicle, the client pays no amounts as deductible. This coverage will take effect only if the client presents all proper documents which include, but not limited to: police traffic ticket, insurance claim form, and the personal statement to proper transit court. If the client decline this coverage, will be responsible to pay for all damages to the rented vehicle up to the full value of the car. This coverage does not include towing services, expenses or vandalism (this includes partial theft). Daily cost of this coverage is: $20.95
3. Do you charge taxes or airport fees on rentals ?
No.
The airport fee is charge only in the Airport locatios. There is a tax of 13% of the total amount of the rent per day that is require to use a car in the country.
4. What is the cost for an extra driver ?
It has an additional cost of $ 5.00 per day, per driver.
5. Can you deliver the car to my hotel ? Can you pick up the car at my hotel after rental ? is there an extra charge for these services ?
Under normal circumstances, we do deliver and pick up our vehicles at your hotel. For hotels located near our offices, no drop off or pick up charges apply.
Drop Off will be charged when the pick up and return locations are different stations. Price will be calculate depending on: distance, availability and season.
6. What is the mimimun age permitted to rent a car ?
The mimimun age of the renter or one of the additional drivers must be 21. Clients from the age of 18-20 may rent with our Double Deductible Program.
Drivers over the age of 21 may rent. For an additional surcharge Budget can raise the insurance deductible in order for younger drivers to be able to rent. This same policy is also used if any additional drivers are under the age of 21.
7. Can I use someone else´s credit card for the deposit ?
No. No one other than the person named on the credit card may use that credit card for the deposit. The owner of the credit card must be present at the time of rental.
8. What is the amount of the deposit required on my credit card ?
If you take the SLI the amount held on your credit card of the deductible will be:
| Category | Description | Deposit |
| ECMR | Yaris Manual | $1,000.00 |
| ECAR | Yaris Automatic | $1,000.00 |
| CCMR | Corolla Manual | $1,000.00 |
| CCAR | Corolla Automatic | $1,000.00 |
| PPAR | Prius Automatic | $1,300.00 |
| IFMR | BEGO Manual | $1,300.00 |
| IFAR | BEGO Automatic | $1,300.00 |
| FFMR | Rav 4 plus Manual | $1,500.00 |
| FFAR | Rav 4 plus Automatic | $1,500.00 |
| PFAR | Prado Automatic | $1,500.00 |
| PVMR | Hi Ace | $1,500.00 |
| CPMR | Hilux | $1,500.00 |
If not the deposit will be $2000. This amount is frozen on your credit card only until you have arrived at one of our offices. Budget does not charge your credit card until the car is returned to us at the end of the rental.
9. Can the car leave the country ?
No.
No car can be taken outside the boundaries of Costa Rica.
10. Do you rent cars by the hour ?
Rent rates are based on a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. If you return the vehicle prior to meeting the 24 hour requirement, you would be charged for the full day regardless of wether you return the vehicle early.
11. Is there an additional charge if I would like to pick up the car at one location and return the car at a different location ?
Yes
There is an additional charge for dropping off the vehicle at a different office. The drop off charge varies depending on which offices you are taking the car to and from.
12. Will Budget Car Rental pick me up for free ?
Budget Car Rental is located inside the main terminal of Juan SantamarÃa / SJO Airport. After passing through customs baggage check, you will find our representative at our booth waiting to help you with your luggage and escort you out of the airport to our shuttle van. The shuttle van will take you to our off airport pick up/return office located less than 1KM away.
At the Liberia Airport please look for the Budget shuttle van after exiting the airport. The shuttle will take you to our off airport pick up/ return office located 2KM from Liberia International Airport.
13. Do you accept credit card insurance ?
Yes we do.
CDW can be declined, but you always have to take the basic insurance SLI.
14. Do you accept cash, traveler checks or debit cards for deposit ?
No
We only take credit card deposits.
15. What should I know to have a great and safe vacation ?
- Is very important to take good care of your passport. Always carry a copy of your passport and keep the original in the safety deposit box of your hotel, along with money, jewelry and valuable objects.
- When doing bank transactions, you must present your original passport. Use only banks or authorized agencies for exchanging your money.
- Use automatic teller machines located in public and well illuminated places. Be careful of any offer of strangers when using the machines, withdraw the cash and count it before going outside.
- Keep all your goods in sight and reach. If you use public transportation, always keep an eye on them.
- When using taxi services, verify that they comply with the legal established requirements, such as the yellow triangles printed on the doors and a meter. Always ask the staff at your hotel to call a taxi from a reliable company.
- If you are lost and in need of checking your map, look for public and safe place to do it, or recur to the police authorities for help.
- While driving or parking car, lock the doors and keep the windows closed. Do not leave your personal belongings inside the vehicle.
- If you get a flat tire, if you are suspiciously warned of a damage, if you are suspiciously hit from behind or if you are being followed while driving, do not stop and immediately look for the closer gas station or police or dial 911 when possible.
- Avoid stopping when a stranger asks you for a ride.
16. Can I driver into a river, lagoons o estuaries a budget Car rental even though is a 4x4?
