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I am planning to rent a car from San Jose Airport for 12 days. I live in Ontario and my State Farm insurance agent informs me that I can waive the insurance as I’m covered for everything anywhere in the world on a rental car. Have any Ontarians out there experienced problems relying on their coverage with State Farm?
kikiState Farm Insurance?
This is Costa Rica and NOT Canada or the US. State farm has NO BUSINESS in Costa Rica
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comHere’s the deal, you may have some coverage for international mishaps under your State Farm insurance or any other US/Canadian private insurance company; however, CR currently only has a national insurance system which means that if you had an accident, you would probably have to come up with the monies before being allowed to leave (the lack of private insurance reference makes the typical insurance to insurance dealings a bit troublesome). The cost for car rental insurance is really minimal, and even though I also have State Farm Insurance for my cars and home, I always take out car rental insurance while in CR–just one less thing to worry about and while I’m in CR I really don’t want to worry about much 🙂 If you still feel that this is a viable option, then I suggest you ask your State Farm agent to show you IN WRITING where this coverage is stated, how much coverage it implies and how the process would be in case of a claim–this way you wouldn’t be left with a nasty little surprise once you’re already in CR…Pura Vida!
Hello Ontario:
Vancouver BC here. It’s 75 dergrees here and the palm trees are swaying back and forth by our office’s rooftop pool. The bartender is mixing tropical drinks up there and summer music is drifting up from English Bay beach. If I turn the air conditioner off I can just barely hear an ice cream truck’s jingle-jangle noise. The faint smell of coconut suntan oil fills the air downtown this glorious warm morning…… What’s the weather like there?
You may already have been to C.R. and know all of this, but I thought I’d mention it in case others who haven’t been there yet are looking on. If I recall, rentals FROM the airport include a rather nasty surcharge, or some extra fees, or something. If you want to save some dough you can rent outside of the airport for less. Check it out if that makes a difference to you. I think they’ll come pick you up.
As far as insurance goes, I would pay for all of it if I were you. Get the full load. Too much can go wrong in C.R. with a rental car. And stick to the well known larger rental firms. In my opinion there are a fare number of car rental slippery dudes in C.R. and it’s also been my experience the police don’t have high tolerance levels for foolish tourists like myself.
The above advice is correct. First, by law only INS is permitted to do insurance in Costa Rica, so your State Farm coverage is meaningless regardless of their good intentions. Recently, friends from north of Toronto presented a letter from their car insurance company to their rental agency stating that they were covered. It got them nowhere. They ended up paying the full load.
You can, however, save on some of the supplemental insurance costs by charging your rental to a Platinum VISA account. Check with your bank; most Platinum VISA accounts extend some coverage for car rentals. The car rental agencies know about this and will be cooperative.
(And as long as you’re talking to the bank anyhow, tell them when you’ll be in Costa Rica and wherever else you’re traveling so that their security system doesn’t treat your card as stolen and invalidate it.)
Second, there is a 15% surcharge for picking up a rental vehicle on the airport property. Most rental agencies will pick you up, take you back to their office (about five minutes away) and give you the car there. If you can’t make that arrangement, plan to take a taxi to the rental car place. It’s cheap and it’ll save you a bundle. And when you drop the car off at the end of your trip, ask them to take you to the airport. It’s usually in the deal.
The advice to stick to known entities for rentals is excellent, too. Some folks have done all right by the fly-by-nighters but others have lost days or more to deliveries that don’t happen, vehicles in bad mechanical condition, etc. Your time is worth more than the little bit you’ll save.
Hey Vancouver:
You’re probably dreaming of CR . . I’m doubting the 75degrees, palm trees and most of all the sun. Altho we’re up to our knees in snow we do have the occasional sunny day even in the winter LOL!
I do thank you for your reply re car rental and insurance. I have been to CR several times and been blessed with the gracious hospitality of friends’ family who have provided me with any transportation I may need and just generally treated me like royalty. This is the first time I’ll be travelling to this beautiful paradise without the help (my wishes) of my Tico Familia as I want the experience as a “tourist” so that I can continue to tell everyone who’ll listen about the “warm and fuzzy” I feel when I’m there. I’m going to meet my sister who is flying in from Chgo, at SJ airport, renting a car and driving to Playa del Coco to spend time with my daughter and son-in-law who are renting a condo there. We are two “older gals” travelling alone and would welcome any tips/advise you may have for us. I’m hoping I haven’t got a false sense of security because of my past visits being with this wonderful family. We will of course be smart and not take any unnessary chances.
Thank you to all who replied and I get it . . . buy the insurance !!
KikiHi Kiki:
Knee deep in snow! Well we could always use a few more Ontarians out here if you ever get sick of the snow and cold. (smile) Just pack your umbrella’s an d hope a WestJet.
I always get that warm and fuzzy feeling when I’m in C.R. too! I think it’s something they put in the water. Whatever it is, it gets me feeling good and spending money.
With respect to Mr. D. I wouldn’t trust the car rental insurance a credit card company provides. I heard a story (I think it was in this forum) about a guy who had an accident and had to pay out and then try to claim it back from the CC company.
On the other hand, my daughter, who lives there, before they got their own rig, rented often from one of the more well known companies. And, of course, put it in one of those deep cement ditches you see on some of the streets in smaller towns. Ripped the underside pretty good getting it towed out of the ditch. She called me, upset and wondering what to do. I called the rental guys and they came rushing over with another car, and even sat with her while waiting for the transit police!
It was fully covered. No extra charges, no fees, no surprises, no B.S. So hats off to that company (I think it was Thrifty). I very much appreciate the way they do business because I pay her CC bill, so I was sweating a little wondering if they were on the up and up.
Hi Ssure:
I do hop a WestJet at least once a year to visit my daughter in Kelowna, another beautiful place, but my home is still Ontario.
So your daughter lives in CR . . how wonderful for her. Mine is renting a condo for a month just to do a little research as she is hoping to spend 6 months a year there but she needs to be able to earn enough colones to pay for her expenses during that time. It’s been her dream since vacationing in CR only once. I’ve heard many people have had the same experience, just packed up and left for paradise. She is nowhere near retirement but is looking in that direction to find that perfect place.
If you or your daughter has any suggestions and/or ideas for her, please feel free.
She’s also a reader and poster on this forum.
It’s been a pleasure to “back and forth” with you!
KikiHi KiKi:
When visiting Kelowna, I do hope it’s in the summer. They get that funny-looking cold white stuff coming out of the clouds in winter, don’t they? Saw it on TV.
As I understand it, and I’m sure other people here have a lot more knowledge about this than I do, your daughter isn’t allowed to work there. Mine is married to a Costa Rican and I don’t think she’s allowed to work either. But why would she want to? The pay scales I’ve heard about in C.R. make it not worth putting in the time for a person from North America who’s used to making and spending a C.R. month’s wages in a few days or a week. My daughter and son-in-law wanted to get her citizenship and both work in San Jose but I talked them out of it because long term, it doesn’t seem to make sense to me given that they are not highly skilled.
But they can do business here and he can work in it. So that’s what we’ve done with an eye to the long term. For now they simply aim to become self-supporting within another year or two.
There has been a very long delay in getting their marriage documents processed and so as far as we know, she can’t work in their business until she gets the documents and applies for citizenship. It doesn’t stop him from working and earning money while they are waiting. She can help out in small ways, but he has to hire Costa Ricans for some things that she could otherwise be doing when the need arises.
I don’t know that your daughter can legally make any money there unless she owns (but does not work in) a business in C.R. That is the legal advise we recieved from our so called “lawyer” in C.R. Does anyone know if this is right?
So, Kiki Canadian, maybe you could help her get a business going. But whatever happens, keep your credit card on alert at all times, or, as I did, just give her one with her name on it and pray that she takes it easy!
Rick
Hi There Rick and Mom (kiki)
wow, you two have been busy “EH”???
Yes rick you are right, as we speak we are having a little “flurry” up here in kelowna.
I lived in van for many years and actually prefer the snow to the rain!
Id love to hear more about your experiences in CR or your daughters. She lives in San Jose? Can you email me at angievavra@shaw.ca?thanks to everyone about the insurance.. I think I can finally say to my mom
TOLD YA SO!
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