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On average a rental car in Alajuela costs $23 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Alajuela found in the last 2 weeks is $6.
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Alajuela. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Alajuela is $5.48 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $66 and $88, depending on the car size.
Intermediate (Suzuki Grand Vitara or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Alajuela.
Car rental companies onsite at Juan Santamaria Intl airport include Budget, Economy Rent a Car, U-Save, Dollar, Europcar, Firefly, Thrifty, Fox, easyCar and Amigo Rent A Car.
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Juan Santamaria Intl airport to off-airport locations include Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Economy Rent a Car, Avis, NU Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sixt, Payless, and U-Save.
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
An Intermediate car rental in Alajuela costs $40 per day, on average.
A Standard car rental in Alajuela costs $8 per day, on average.
A Premium car rental in Alajuela costs $16 per day, on average.
In Alajuela, cars are most frequently rented at Priceless Street Ernesto Moreno (1 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Alajuela costs $163 per week ($23 per day).
On average a rental car in Alajuela costs $697 per month ($23 per day).
Most car rental providers in Alajuela offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Alajuela, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 22 car rental agencies in Alajuela.
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Alajuela so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
When renting a car in Alajuela, it is essential to choose a car that is suitable for the terrain and road conditions in the area. One of the best options is the compact SUV. This is an excellent choice for driving in Alajuela because of its high ground clearance, all-wheel-drive capabilities, and its ability to handle all types of terrain. The compact design of compact SUVs also makes it easy to navigate through traffic in the city.
The speed limit in Alajuela varies depending on the type of road and the zone. The speed limit within the urban areas is 40 km/h (24 mph) and is enforced with speed cameras and police monitoring. On country roads, the speed limit is 60 km/h (37 mph), and on highways, the speed limit ranges from 80 to 100 km/h (50 to 62 mph), depending on the section and traffic conditions.
In Alajuela, it is generally recommended to use paid parking lots rather than leaving your car on the street. There are several paid parking lots in the center of Alajuela, including the Central Parking Lot (Estacionamiento Central) and the El Parqueo lot. The average cost for parking in these lots is around ₡500-₡1000 (around $0.80-$1.60) per hour, with a daily rate of ₡7000-₡9000 (around $11.50-$15) per day.
3 locations in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Juan Santamaria Intl Apo
+506 2509 5950
Ruta San Antonio Del Tejar
+506 2509 5950
San Antonio Del Tejar
+506 2509 5950
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Feb 2024
2.0 Poor
Mar 2023
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
6.0 Okay
Apr 2021
Cons:
The GPS didn’t work at all.9.2 Wonderful
Jan 2020
Pros:
Check in and check out were fastCons:
Car could be in better condition ( probably it suffered a small crash in the previous rentals)One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Juan Santa Maria Intl Apo
+506 2430 4647
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2024
8.0 Very good
Jan 2024
2.0 Poor
Jun 2023
6.0 Okay
Apr 2021
Pros:
The staff was friendlier than most car rentals I have experienced at SJO. However, the car was pretty beaten up, though it ran okay. And, they told me the car had 3/8 of a tank of gas when it was closer to 1/4, but the contract said it had 3/4. I brought it back with 5/8 and they honored what they had said about 3/8, but it still cost me extra in gas, just to be sure.Cons:
This car was pretty beaten up and probably shouldn't be rented. Also, be more careful about gas levels.4.0 Mediocre
Feb 2021
Pros:
Staff was very friendlyCons:
It’s a scam. The price of the rental literally ended up costing 11x the reservation price due to the “mandatory insurance”. Everyone picking up a car felt they had been ripped off. This is probably the case with all Costa Rica car rental agencies but doesn’t make it right.2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Cons:
Transparency about the actual price when we arrived to the counterOne location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Across from Hampton Inn Hotel
+506 4036 7431
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jan 2020
Pros:
Nothing to like. I booked a Jeep for 5 people and they told me that they could only offer me a 4 seater with no trunk.Cons:
Have the car that you booked available.3.2 Poor
Dec 2019
Pros:
Staff was available and responsiveCons:
I was told online my price would be $277. I get there and they charge me $530. They initially give me a car that brakes don’t work and my husband wrecks into a car in front of us. They show no remorse although the situation could have ended much worse (I.e wreck on the highway going 70mph). They bring us another car but it’s the exact same brand- we still feel very uncomfortable about the brake situation so we ask for a different type of car and they just give a hard no. Zero remorse. Deceiving prices and little remorse or attempt to make the situation right make this a poor experience.4.4 Mediocre
Nov 2019
Pros:
They did finally change the car for us after telling us previously there weren’t any other cars.Cons:
When we were quoted for the price it was $34 total for 6 days. However, when we arrived we were told there was an obligatory insurance we needed to get (in-spite of my credit card having an international plan). The price quickly changes from the quoted $34 dollars (which supposedly included taxes and fees) to $300. We ended up paying an extra $50 more for the full insurance (since we were worried what they would try to charge us for if anything at all happened) so it came to $350. When we asked why it changed so drastically they said that it was because of the extra fees and taxes (which the website had said were included.) I had originally picked a Jeep but the confirmation email was for an SUV instead (So that was strange). When we got the Jeep it had no gps or even a usb charging port . When we asked about this the man told us he should go by Walmart in order to get one for the car. When we complained he said that they didn’t have any other cars and then finally offered us a carport charger that he had that we could borrow. When we left the seatbelt light turned on and wouldn’t stop beeping (even though we had our seatbelts on.) finally we had to turn around and return the car. We also realized there wasn’t even a middle seatbelt in the back of the car. They miraculously had a different car for us then. Overall- not a good experience. Would NOT recommend. We do speak Spanish as well fluently so it wasn’t like anything but was “lost in translation.”2.0 Poor
Nov 2019
Pros:
NothingCons:
I have a printed confirmation from you for $110.00. In fairness it does read estimated taxes and fees $57.12. Confirmation # CRF8702737. After paying for a shuttle to the isolated offsite I was told the rental was $450.00 no negotiation and he kept pointing to the estimated taxes and fees. Extremely deceptive business practice. While Adolfo in customer service was very good and resolved my issue I would highly reccomend these deceptive business practices and disclose to your customers what the actual fees will really be.4.8 Mediocre
Jul 2019
Cons:
Charged us an extra $420 'compulsory' insurance on our $115 rental. We were not allowed to opt out of it even though we already have rental car insurance. This was a scam and made our rental 4 times more expensive than originally booked!!2.0 Poor
Jun 2019
Pros:
Had to pay a ton of money once I showed up to the counter, as the Allianz insurance recommended on the Kayak website and that I had paid for was deemed invalid by the Ace staff at the pick-up point. I had to pay from $50 I had paid online to $300 at the point of pick-up.Cons:
Misinformation should be cleaned up from the Kayak website regarding the Ace rental details and charges.One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Oficentro Plaza aeropuerto C3
+506 2431 3803
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
May 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2023
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Airport Boulevard
+506 2299 2000
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Feb 2017
Cons:
The reservation was booked on Kayak.com for approximately USD $144 for 2 days. Upon arrival they claimed to have absolutely no inventory, then, after waiting ~2 hours, they colluded with a partner rental company and charged my credit card USD $1,000.00 for a 2 day rental. Criminal!One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Juan Santamaria Intl Apto.
+506 4036 9513
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jun 2024
2.0 Poor
May 2024
2.0 Poor
May 2024
2.0 Poor
Mar 2024
6.0 Okay
Feb 2021
Cons:
Hertz pick up was awful. I don’t recommend hertz in Costa Rica. Our bill was double the quoted price due to Costa Rica specific insurance (and this is after fighting to wave other liabilities). The staff also made “errors” that included additional charges that they had said were removed... be very cautious when reviewing your bill especially before signing anything.2.0 Poor
Jan 2021
Cons:
Surprise insurance charge when we got there. Also they said rental was in terminal and it was a shuttle ride away.One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
San Jose Airport
+506 2519 9308
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
1.4km E. Of Holidayinn Express
+506 2442 6000
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2024
2.0 Poor
Jun 2023
4.0 Mediocre
May 2023
2.0 Poor
Apr 2023
8.0 Very good
Apr 2023
4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2023
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2022
2.0 Poor
Feb 2022
1.9 Poor
Aug 2021
1.9 Poor
Aug 2021
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Street Ernesto Moreno
+506 4001 7828
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
May 2024
4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2024
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
600 meters East of the Airport
+506 6023 3707
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2024
2.0 Poor
Apr 2024
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
It was close to the airport.Cons:
It was a complete scam. We were quoted a price and I even paid extra for an insurance plan. The van to the rental place was so hard to find at the airport. The guy gave us a tiny beat up car and said the only way we could take it was to pay for his car insurance. It was midnight and we had nowhere to go. He showed us a paper that he had written the different prices which seemed sketchy. We could pay like $590 and a $3000 deposit or like $500 and a $500 deposit. I told him I already purchased insurance and he said that doesn’t matter. We finally paid to get the heck out of there and the locks on the car didn’t work, the trunk was impossible to shut, the key clicker didn’t work, it was a piece of junk. We had to go up a hill on our drive on a regular road and the car gave out and couldn’t even make it up a hill. We were so happy to get rid of that car at the end of our trip. When we pulled up to drop it off no one was in the office and finally a guy came out in such a bad mood. Definitely never going back there.2.0 Poor
May 2024
10.0 Wonderful
May 2023
2.0 Poor
Apr 2023
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
ALAJUELA AIRPORT Office is located across from Hampton Inn Hotel
+506 2441 1411
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jul 2021
Pros:
The only thing easy was the drop off.Cons:
It took way too long to pick up the car. I purchased insurance just to be told it was not enough coverage and was charged three times the car rental for their insurance which was mandatory. Not happy at all.2 locations in Alajuela
from$30/dayLocations in Alajuela
300 West Of Apo Holiday Inn
+506 2436 2010
3km From Intl Apo
+506 2436 2000
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2018
Pros:
Smooth pick up and drop off. Was shuttled back and forth from my San Jose hotelCons:
Bought supplemental insurance from Allianz from Kayak site that Budget in Costa Rica didn’t accept. Wasted $90One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
600 meters East of the Airport
+506 6414 3755
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Juan Santamaría International Airport
+54 11 6009 3539
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
200 meters west from Casino Fiesta Rio Segundo Alajuela, Costa Rica
+506 2105 0648
Provincia de Alajuela, Rio Segundo, , Costa Rica
+506 7004 0090
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Alajuela
Locations in Alajuela
Filters
No reviews available
Most popular agency | Economy Rent a Car |
---|---|
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
Average price | $23/day |
Good deal | $17/day |
Pick-up location | Alajuela |
---|---|
Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Mini, SUV, Standard SUV |
Rental locations | 29 |
Airport locations | 20 |
Popular agencies | NextCar, MEXRENTACAR , Payless, Ace |