Credit card policies

We’re often asked questions regarding methods of payment for car rental in Costa Rica.  The information below is to quickly clarify doubts that arise frequently:

Deposit payment

Most car rental agencies will only accept the deposit for car rental with a credit card.  Avanti, Budget, Dollar, Fox, Payless, Toyota, and USave will also accept a debit card for the deposit payment.

Points to consider if paying the deposit with a debit card:

The hold on a debit card can take weeks to be released, whereas a credit card hold is usually released within 2/3 days.

There is no CDW coverage through debit card providers, so renters are required to purchase in-house coverage.

Renters may be required to pay a higher deposit for using a debit card.
Credit cards

Nearly half of ACAR members will accept credit cards without raised numbers on the card, but as just over 50% won’t, do check our list to confirm the type of credit card accepted.  Note any restrictions that are involved in using a credit card without raised numbers, for example, Europcar will only accept payment if the renter is at the office.

All car rental agencies will accept the big three: American Express, MasterCard and Visa. Some also accept Diners and/or Discover. Do check the specific cards accepted at the Costa Rican office and not on the international website of the car rental agency.

The chart below can help you with quick reference to the car rental agencies and their policies with regards to deposit payment methods and policy for credit cards without raised numbers (information updated in ):

Car Rental Agency	Accepts cash deposit and /or travel checks	Accepts debit card deposit	Credit cards accepted	Accepts cards without raised numbers
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard/ Visa	Yes
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa / Diners	No
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa	No
	No	With full protection purchase	American Express / MasterCard /Visa	No
	No	No	American Express / Diners / Mastercard / Visa	No
	No	With full protection purchase	American Express / MasterCard /Visa /Diners/ Discover	Yes
	No	No	All major credit cards except Discovery	Yes
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa	No
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa/ Diners
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard Visa/ Diners	No
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard Visa/Diners	Yes
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa	No
	No	With full protection purchase	American Express /MasterCard Visa/ Discover/NOVUS	Yes
	No	No	American Express / MasterCard /Visa Discover, Diners	Yes
	No	No	Electron/ American Express / MasterCard/ Visa / Diners / Discover	No
	No	With $2,000 deposit	American Express / MasterCard /Visa	No
	No	With full protection purchase	American Express / MasterCard Visa / Discover/NOVUS	With full protection purchase

Need further clarification or have more questions?  Contact us at info@acar.cr for direct answers to your questions.