Archive for the ‘Cars’ Category

Driving And Renting A Car In Costa Rica

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Driving in Costa Rica is not for everyone. So make sure you know what you’re getting into before getting behind the wheel of a car in Costa Rica. The following are the 7 most frequently asked questions about driving in Costa Rica. These questions come in from my popular podcast about Costa Rica from folks from the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

1. What type of cars are available for rent?

Renting a car in Costa Rica is more expensive than in the U.S. so most people rent the smaller more compact cars that are a little cheaper.

Prices vary and during the high season you will pay more. Around $20 or more per day. Renting during Christmas/New Years will add another $50 or more per week. I looked at five car rental company cars in Costa Rica and the average for renting a small car like a Toyota Yaris will cost around $205 per week. Please note this doesn’t include the required by law insurance which will add at least $10-20 per day. So you’re looking at $250-300 to rent a small car per week.

You will find all the major car rental Costa Rica agencies such as Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Budget, and others.

2. Is driving a good idea?

It depends. Driving in Costa Rica compared to other countries can be a very scary proposition for most. Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. Traffic laws and speed limits are often ignored. Crazy and illegal turns across lanes of traffic are common. Turn signals are rarely used and dangerous passing is common. So you might driving on your lane when all of a sudden here comes a car in your lane going the wrong way because they’re passing on a blind spot. The roads are in poor condition, and large potholes which could cause serious damage to your car is common.

Although the road conditions in the beach areas are worse the actual driving isn’t as scary since there is less traffic and since the roads aren’t the best people tend to drive a little slower.

I like to have my own transportation so renting a car is something I like to do but it all depends on your comfort level. I’ve had friends and family who had never driven outside of the U.S. they found driving to be scary but a fun adventure. So just take it easy and slow and you will be fine. Don’t worry about the other drivers, just do your thing.

3. Do I need car rental insurance?

By law you will need the INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros) liability insurance regardless of your own car insurance coverage or credit card coverage. The insurance required by law is known as TPL, SLI, SLC or API. The cost ranges from $10-20 USD per day depending on the vehicle. This insurance only covers damages to other people, cars, or property. You will need to buy supplemental coverage to cover damages to the rental car or yourself. However your own car insurance policy or credit card might cover that so call your insurance agent at home before leaving for Costa Rica and ask him or her if your insurance policy covers you for damages in Costa Rica. You might also want to call your credit card issuer and ask them the same question. If your own policy covers you in Costa Rica you’re set and you don’t need the supplemental coverage. If they do not cover you, then I suggest taking out a supplemental policy offered by Costa Rica car rental agencies.

Optional-CDW or LDW – collision damage waiver which covers the cost of the car’s deductible amount which varies depending on the type of car and agency. The cost will range between $10-20 USD per day.

Optional-Zero Liability – This will reduce your liability to zero against theft and vandalism, for example, the cost for this insurance is between $5-20 USD per day depending on the agency and car.

As you can see the supplemental insurance cost can add up fast so it’s important that you check with your insurance agent and your credit card company since you might not even need the optional/supplemental coverage.

If your insurance agent gives you the thumbs up do me a favor and get it in writing! You don’t want any surprises.

4. What are car rental requirements in Costa Rica?

Requirements may vary depending on the car agency you use so check with them. Most require a valid driver’s license (one from your home state or country is fine), a valid passport with your entry stamp, the Costa Rica mandated liability insurance, and you must be at least 21 years of age.

5. Is it safe to drive at night?

The problem driving at night is not crime, it’s just the unsafe driving and poor road conditions which are compounded even worse when you have poor visibility. The roads are not lit up well and it gets pitch dark after 6:00 PM making it unsafe to drive for an inexperienced driver.

6. What are road conditions like?

The road conditions are very poor compared to the super highways of the United States or the Autobahn in Germany. Drivers have to contend with unsafe driving habits of motorists, huge potholes, and even the highway is a two-lane road. The roads get worse during the rainy season since road washouts from the mudslides from the mountains are common.

7. What side of the road do they drive on in Costa Rica?

On the right hand side, like in the U.S. and Canada.

One final tip

Make a copy of the profile page of your passport and your entry stamp and carry that with you along with your car rental papers. You might get stopped by police and you will need to show this to them. Do no carry your passport with you just make copies. The Costa Rican government now allows you to carry copies instead of your actual passport.

Inexpensive car insurance to suit your needs

Monday, March 1st, 2010

There are lots of amounts of people who find themselves desperate to locate an automatic insurance policy that could be of great use for their objective. There are many kinds of car insurance policies which might be offered and hence it is required to choose the insurance plan type which will be of excellent use for your auto.

The auto insurance are being provided by diverse insurance policy companies and therefore it is necessary to select the support that will be furnishing you with optimum stage of gains. You will find also some folks who will probably be drastically considering buying an automatic insurance which will be made available at small high quality rates but at the same time will probably be furnishing excellent insurance. The car insurance calculator will probably be of good use fro calculating the advanced rates for your insurance point which you might be desiring to get. There are some insurance plan which will be customized according for a preference.

The high risk auto insurance is going to be a fabulous selection for all people people who are suing an aged fancy auto and for drivers who will be subjected in direction of rash driving.

Beat car rental prices: a step by step guide

Monday, March 1st, 2010

When renting a car several things are required. You need a credit card to make the deal, a reservation and confirmation. You can do this on the internet if you have the time. You might find that you get a really good deal and save some money this way. Besides, there is no risk in checking around for the best deal.

With a little bit of training and a little bit of vigilance, you can spot the good deals. The technique described here is easy and absolutely legal and abides by all the rules. Pay careful attention and learn how to save yourself a bundle when renting a car!

1. Planning a trip? Make a reservation ahead of time, and find the hottest deal you can without any penalties for cancellation. Most agencies don’t have these, unless it’s peak season or for a specialty car. If this is a last minute booking, skip this step.

2. Wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes, bring along your laptop and a good book to read while you wait!

3. Once you arrive at the car rental agency, access a discount website from your laptop. Prepare for last-minute delays as most of these sites prevent you from placing car rental reservations within two hours of pick-up time. Choose a reservation from the website, indicating the amount of time you decide upon. Then, select the class of car that is just below your preferred class.

4. Take your car rental Costa Rica reservation price, your discount site estimate, and shop around. Walk from agency to agency and negotiate. Smile, be polite, and be cunning, whatever it takes to get a price lower than what you have. You see, the more people who walk up to a car rental agency in the airport, the better location that agency gets. They have a reason to give you a good price as a walk up. They want your traffic. They want you to come back.

5. Make sure you check out all available deals before deciding on one. Also remember to ask for discounts from one company if another has offered the same. The companies are in competition for your business and many will want to match or top the other deals.

6. The few minutes it will take to do this are worth the time and energy involved, even if you find that your original reservation is the best deal. There is always the chance that you will find a better Costa Rica car rental deal, in which case you can simply call to cancel the original reservation in preparation of accepting the better one.

7. As a final attempt to sweeten your deal, tell the agent that you’ll only accept the deal if they upgrade you to the next class of rental car for the same price. This is actually the easiest thing for the car rental agent to do. It’s usually the agent’s decision. Obviously, however, this won’t work if they are sold out.

You can get a great deal on a rental car if you make time to use this method. It is important to not give up and take the first deal you find. Make sure and not be intimidated by the car rental agency.

Receive money by means of car articles

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

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There can be Auto Content Cash Bonus which offers you beneficial quantity of rewards for variety of tasks which you accomplish on this web site. It also guides you in numerous troubles which you encounter by supplying suitable methods. This site will surely offer you with greatest chance that lets one to receive large number of income in a really short time.

Tips on How to Rent a Car

Friday, February 12th, 2010

If you are planning to do any traveling, either business or personal, you’ll likely want to rent a car upon arrival at your destination. Most airports have car rental agencies onsite for your convenience. These tips on how to rent a car will help you get the best deal.

The major international car rental agencies have offices all around the world. There is no such thing as Costa Rica Car Rental the best company in this industry. It really does pay to look around for the best offer. Rates will depend on the type of vehicle, the time period, and things like agency specials. You can easily compare prices online and you can reserve your car online too.

Almost all rental cars have automatic transmission, radio, and air conditioning. Even if you request a manual transmission, chances are it won’t be available upon arrival. If you are traveling with children that will require car restraint seats, make sure to request them when you book your car.

If you are renting a car in Costa Rica, an international license can be helpful in proving to the agency that you have a valid license especially if they aren’t familiar with the licenses from your country.

Rental companies have different rules about who they will rent a car to. Some will not rent to anyone under the age of 25 while others won’t rent to anyone over the age of 70. Other rent to drivers under 25 but charge a premium. Check with the agencies for restrictions before you book.

The Car Rental Costa Rica business is extremely competitive so prices change frequently. That’s way is best to try to see all the options before you make a choice. Some companies offer regular advertised deals; others have a lot of special promotions that might be vrey interesting. If business is slow you are likely to be able to get a better rate than if you are trying to rent during peak seasons. No one agency has the monopoly on best prices. It just depends, so do your homework and don’t be afraid to try to barter a better price! You can always get some great deals!

Sometimes if you booked through a travel agent, you might get a better price on your rental car. Some packages even include the rental fees. Compare these offers to see which is best.

The car rental insurance is where many agencies really soak you. The collision damage waiver and theft insurance they attempt to sell you is priced ridiculously high. But you also cannot risk driving without it. Some auto insurance companies have a rider that covers you and some credit cards also provide you with free coverage. See what you can do to avoid purchasing the rental agency’s insurance because it almost double the price of your rental.

Now that you know how to rent a car and get the best deal, you’ll have a few extra dollars in your pocket to start planning that next vacation.

Car Insurance Toledo Ohio

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

assuring a product has become one of the fundamental requirements which every one knows while getting costly products. These days there are indemnity for a range of products such as Cars, two-wheelers, and lot extra things.

One of the most general things among the roll is the insurance for auto. This contains all types of automobiles. There are a range of issues to consider earlier to going in for insuring a product. They are the era of insurance, the price of insurance, the customer examine and many more like this. Car Insurance Cincinnati Ohio takes care of all the above listed factors into description and provides the best buyer satisfaction. The assorted aspects of the insurance are coverage provided, proof requirement, and other additional information requirement. Columbus Ohio Auto Insurance offers the best coverage in the accidents which is very obliging for the individual as well as their family members. The verification requirement is only during the misfortune and is not required during enrollment. Auto Insurance Akron Ohio provides improved way of insuring the automobiles.
They provide both offline and online methods to get the insurance. despite of online method makes the procedure simple, getting it done offline and in person will help to clear all the queries related to the insurance.

All The Info You Need In Order To Find Cheap Auto Insurance Deals

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Anyone interested in getting quality auto insurance quotes should know that meeting with an insurance agent is not the best way to get a cheap auto insurance deal. Sure, that insurance agent will try and give you the best deal, but it is the best deal only from the standpoint of the company he or she is working for. If you really want to find a cheap auto insurance offer then you must do much better than that. This traditionally involves meeting with numerous insurance agents, and as many of us know this would take up a long of our time. Many people give up after just two or three meetings as it takes too much time and even money, if you consider travelling from one insurance company to the next.

The single working alternative to the option presented above, is going online and searching for cheap auto insurance quotes. The internet has seen many advances, both in the technologies involved, and the people?s way of looking at online services. The only requirements you need to meet in order to be able to go through the internet in search of cheap auto insurance quotes, are a working computer or laptop and a connection to the internet. Nowadays, there are a large number of insurance companies, most of them really, that have taken the decision to create online websites where they could welcome their visitors with information and details about all their services.

Many insurance companies have special deals for many categories of vehicles, even sports cars and luxury vehicles. But navigating through the large number of websites would also take a large amount of time, and it is not a viable alternative to professional websites that allow visitors to compare auto insurance quotes from a large number of insurance companies. You can?t expect to find every detail about a single company, so it is a wise idea to also do further check-ups by searching for reviews for those specific companies on discussion forums and even blogs. Always have a list of personal preferences and expectations when searching for cheap auto insurance deals. When visiting auto insurance quotes compare websites, it always helps to find what you are looking for much easier and faster if you know exactly what you expect to get. Also, it is a very wise idea to check whether or not the auto insurance quotes you are leaning towards will change or not in the future.

You should know that many companies offer cheap auto insurance deals because of the global economic crisis, and there will surely be insurance companies that will try to increase the rates after the crisis is over. Make sure that you read each and every line of the contract, in order to make sure that a specific insurance company will keep true to its promises, and the auto insurance quotes will perfectly reflect you deal. The large number of insurance companies presenting companies with cheap auto insurance special deals pretty much ensure that you fill find more than one quality auto insurance quotes.

For more resources please review http://autoinsb.com

Looking For Auto Insurance Quotes?

Friday, January 29th, 2010

The internet is filled with a large amount of information, so you can easily find pretty much anything you might be looking for. Companies presenting their services and products have to get much more competitive and welcome all their potential customers with better offers than the competition. Auto insurance is one of the best online service sectors as there are numerous insurance agencies now operating on the internet also. Not many of us enjoy having to search for quality auto insurance quotes by visiting insurance agencies and making endless calls.

For those that might find themselves in this category will be happy to find out that with just a few simple clicks they can find a multitude of auto insurance agencies and get a large number of auto insurance quotes in very short period of time. With such a large number of insurance companies now presenting their services on the internet, chances are that if you look well enough, you will find the best possible auto insurance quotes. Most people searching on and off line for good auto insurance quotes are fed up with having to pay large auto insurance rates.

If we factor in, a poor orientation towards customer service and overall customer satisfaction on the part of a large number of auto insurance companies, then there is really no surprise as to why more and more car owners decide to search online for auto insurance quotes. As we all know auto insurance is not to be disregarded, as for most of us auto insurance rates can amount to large sums that we need to pay each year in order to have peace of mind if we have car accidents. No one is planning to have car accident, but if they do, then anyone would sure prefer to purchase an auto insurance policy from a company that knows how to treat its customers with care and respect after any unfortunate incident involving their cars.

Besides the most common reason why people get auto insurance for their cars there is also another fact to be considered, and more precisely the fact that getting auto insurance is mandatory by law. The fines for anyone lacking auto insurance can amount to pretty large sums, which could end up costing car owners far more than any auto insurance rates. Since the positive aspects of getting auto insurance are reason enough for the vast majority of people doing just that, the common thing to do would be to search for the best auto insurance quotes available.

The internet is not only an alternative for people who don?t have the time to track down auto insurance companies, but it is in general a great alternative, as it allows internet users wanting to find quality auto insurance quotes, to find a multitude of companies offering the same services. Consequently, the chances are that you will find the best offers if you look well enough. Visit the websites of some well established auto insurance companies, and just go from there.

For more resources please review http://autoinsb.com

A rookie’s guide to car rentals

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Renting a car can be a lot of fun, just plain fun. Car Rental Costa Rica offers the renter the opportunity to drive a car, truck or SUV that they normally would not or could not buy. Renting a car is for a weekend get away, to impress someone or just to have something different to drive for a couple of days are some of the most popular reasons to visit a rental company. However, as fun as it is to rent cars, there are some not so fun things that must happen before you drive it off the lot.

1- Keep in mind that most rental companies will not rent to any driver under the age of 21. If you fall under that magic number, you more than likely will need to get an older relative or friend to sign the actual contract for you.

2- You will of course, need a valid drivers license to rent the car. If you do not have a license, they will not rent to you under any circumstances. Most companies will also require you to reserve your car with the use of a major credit card, however, you can pay in cash if you would prefer.

3- You do not need to have personal auto insurance to rent a car; they will ask you if you would like to purchase their insurance for the duration of the rental contract. If, however, you have your own insurance policy, be sure to call your agent to see if you are covered during your use of a rental car. If your personal auto policy covers you, there is no need to purchase a policy from the rental company.

4- It is wise to call several Costa Rica Car Rental companies to inquire about prices, car availability and specials. Ask about options such as upgrades, pick up and drop off services, unlimited mileage and weekend versus weekly rental prices. Many companies will also offer special deals to customers who are members of other organizations (i.e. credit unions, warehouse clubs, etc).

5- After you have called around, found the best deal and reserved your choice car; it is time to pick it up. Be sure to have all of your personal paperwork with you, including your auto policy if you will not be buying theirs. Before you sign the contract, read through it and ask any questions you may have.

6- Make sure you know all the rules and regulations on the car as for when you bring the car back to the company when you have finished it they cannot demand money of you for a reason you are not aware off. And incase you crash or are in an accident you need to know what to do.

Utah Auto Dealers

Monday, January 25th, 2010

A car in existence is a delusion which one has achieved will become an unforgettable second. Going for a new car will take up the money unnecessarily and so going for a used car is a apt option. The used car if wants take to work shop will be a loss and so one has to look for an correct lay where to get a consistent car. Utah Auto Dealers supply a very fine conditioned car which one can go for reliably. Used Cars in Utah is fully serviced which one need not to take further for any work at least for five years. They provide finance also which create the buyer load free. One can apt for any branded car from the hundreds of cars there. The preservation also is made by them which maintain the vehicle up to condition stage. Utah Cars for Sale is there for your checking and the same can be drawn at any time from any car. We will dispose for the take over of the vehicle to your residence. A single call or a mail or an ask for form will work out with the acquisition one has aimed at getting a car.