The segments of standard, intermediate and full-size cars in Costa Rica traditionally include the following vehicles: Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevrolet Impala, Oldsmobile Alero, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Avensis, Nissan Primera and others.
The process of a car reservation on OrangeSmile.com consists of 3 simple steps: (1) search by the dates and pick-up location, (2) car type selection, and (3) booking form completion. After the booking, you will receive a rental voucher at your e-mail address.
Before selecting a specific model to book, check your planned routes. If you are going to drive mostly within the Costa Rica borders, choose a car of 'Standard' or 'Compact' types. In case you plan long cross-countries trips or mountain adventures, the more comfortable and powerful 'Fullsize' models would become a better choice.
If you need a car with an automatic gearbox, try to make a reservation at least a few days before the pick-up date, since confirmation of such models in Costa Rica might be delayed for a day or two.
Upon the return of your car, carefully check that the total payment amount (invoice) is computed according to the original rental conditions.
We wish you 'smooth', secure and safe roads in Costa Rica!
Rental process FAQ
Paid parking lots can be found in large cities only. The cost of one hour of parking at such lots is approximately US$0.8. In smaller towns, it is usually possible to park a car in any available location, for example, near a hotel or some shop. The main requirement in such a case is to park the car the way it will not create an obstacle for other drivers and pedestrians.
There are some toll highways in the country, and the cost of one ride is usually US$1. Toll roads are considered of the highest quality, but they often have some small defects.
The priority of drivers comparing to pedestrians is another distinguishing feature of local roads. Pedestrians are obliged to give way to cars always and everywhere, even on a crosswalk. Foreign drivers must be particularly careful when overcoming traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Do not expect that vehicles that move in front of and behind you will stop to give way to people.
