Renting a Car in Costa Rica Under 25 | Young Drivers

Renting a Car in Costa Rica Under Age 25

Introduction

Travelers ages 21 through 24 can rent a car in Costa Rica with Alamo, National and Enterprise at the locations and under the policies reviewed in August 2026.

The minimum rental age is 21, and current Costa Rica FAQs for all three brands publish an underage or young-driver fee of US$10 per day for eligible renters in this age range.

Being younger than 25 therefore does not automatically prevent you from renting. It changes the pricing and makes it especially important to review the complete reservation rather than comparing only the advertised vehicle rate.

Young renters must still satisfy the same core requirements involving a valid driver’s license, passport when applicable, qualifying credit card, rental documentation and vehicle eligibility.

The exact terms displayed for the selected brand, branch, vehicle, dates and rate govern the rental.

For the broader eligibility checklist, review the Costa Rica Car Rental Requirements.

Quick Answer

Yes. You can rent a car in Costa Rica before age 25 with the Alamo, National and Enterprise locations reviewed as long as you are at least 21 years old and meet the other rental requirements.

Drivers ages 21, 22, 23 and 24 fall within the young-driver category.

The current published young-driver fee is US$10 per day.

Once the renter reaches age 25, that particular 21–24 surcharge no longer applies under the currently published policies.

Other Costa Rica rental companies may use different minimum ages, fees or vehicle restrictions.

Quick Under-25 Rental Information

• Minimum age with Alamo, National and Enterprise: 21 years old

• Young-driver age band: 21 through 24

• Current published young-driver fee: US$10 per day

• Age 24: Fee still applies

• Age 25: Published 21–24 surcharge no longer applies

• Maximum rental age: None stated in the reviewed Alamo, National and Enterprise location policies

• Additional driver fee: Currently US$5 per day at the reviewed locations

• Additional drivers: Must independently satisfy the rental requirements

• Driver’s license: Must be valid and meet the selected location’s requirements

• Passport: International renters should bring the required original identification

• Credit card: Qualifying card in the renter’s name is required under the reviewed policies

• Standard SUV and higher categories: Additional credit-card qualifications can apply

• Other rental companies: May use different age and fee policies

Can You Rent a Car in Costa Rica If You Are Under 25?

Yes.

For the Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica policies reviewed, 21 is the minimum eligible rental age.

A traveler who is 21–24 is not automatically rejected because of age. Instead, the reservation falls into the underage or young-driver pricing category.

The renter must still satisfy all the other applicable requirements.

Age should therefore be entered correctly when searching for a vehicle.

Do not enter age 25 simply to obtain a lower online estimate if the renter will actually be 24 at pickup. The identification presented at the counter must support the reservation information.

For a broader comparison with the general age rules, review Minimum Age to Rent a Car in Costa Rica.

How Much Is the Young-Driver Fee?

Current Costa Rica FAQs for Alamo, National and Enterprise publish an underage fee of US$10 per day.

This applies to eligible renters in the 21–24 age range.

For example, a seven-day rental creates:

US$10 × 7 days = US$70 in young-driver fees

That US$70 is only the age surcharge.

It is not the complete rental price.

The reservation may also contain the vehicle rate, taxes, protection products, additional-driver charges, location-related fees, optional equipment, fuel charges, one-way charges or other reservation-specific items.

For this reason, travelers under 25 should compare the complete checkout price, not simply the headline daily rate.

Does the Fee Apply If You Are 24?

Yes.

Age 24 remains within the published 21–24 young-driver category.

The fee stops applying under the current policy once the renter has reached age 25.

A renter turning 25 close to the travel date should enter the age that applies according to the reservation and pickup terms rather than assuming the rate will automatically adjust.

If your birthday occurs during the rental, confirm how the exact location handles the age calculation before booking.

Can a 20-Year-Old Rent with Alamo, National or Enterprise?

Not under the current Costa Rica policies reviewed for these brands.

Their location policies state that the minimum rental age is 21.

The US$10 young-driver fee does not create an exception for a traveler younger than 21.

It applies to people who are already eligible to rent because they have reached the minimum age.

Other rental companies can publish different age requirements, so a traveler younger than 21 would need to verify eligibility directly with the company being considered.

Do not assume that paying a larger surcharge automatically overrides a rental company’s minimum age.

What Documents Does a Young Renter Need?

Drivers under 25 must satisfy the same basic documentation requirements that apply to other eligible renters.

Current Costa Rica materials for these brands include requirements involving a valid driver’s license, passport for international renters and qualifying credit card.

Some current brand FAQs also state that the driver’s license must have been issued for at least one year.

Because wording can differ between general FAQs and individual location policies, newly licensed drivers should confirm the requirement at the exact pickup branch.

International renters should also verify that their foreign driver’s license remains legally valid throughout the rental.

See Foreign Driver’s Licenses in Costa Rica and Passport and Entry-Stamp Requirements before traveling.

Do You Need a Physical Driver’s License?

Travelers should plan to bring the original physical driver’s license whenever available.

Alamo Costa Rica currently states that the license should be current and physical.

Costa Rican law can recognize officially issued foreign digital licenses in qualifying circumstances, but the legal recognition of a digital license and a rental company’s vehicle-handover procedure are separate issues.

A photograph, screenshot or scan of a physical driver’s license should not automatically be treated as an officially issued digital license.

If you intend to arrive without a physical license, confirm acceptance directly with the exact rental branch.

Do Young International Renters Need an IDP?

Not simply because they are younger than 25.

The International Driving Permit question depends primarily on the driver’s license format, not age.

Current Costa Rica rental policies reviewed can require an IDP or accepted translation when the original license uses a non-Latin script such as Arabic, Chinese or Cyrillic.

An IDP does not replace the original license and does not change the minimum rental age.

A 20-year-old cannot become eligible to rent with these brands simply by obtaining an IDP.

Review Do You Need an International Driving Permit in Costa Rica? for the complete explanation.

Can a Parent or Older Traveler Rent the Car for You?

An older traveler cannot legitimately rent the vehicle and then allow an ineligible or unauthorized younger person to drive it.

Every driver must satisfy the rental requirements and be properly authorized under the rental agreement.

If a 45-year-old parent rents the vehicle but a 20-year-old child is not eligible under the rental policy, putting the contract in the parent’s name does not make the 20-year-old an authorized driver.

Similarly, a qualifying 22-year-old additional driver must be properly added to the rental agreement.

Unauthorized driving can create serious contractual and protection issues if the vehicle is damaged or involved in an accident.

What Is the Additional-Driver Fee?

The Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica location policies reviewed currently publish an additional-driver fee of US$5 per day.

This is separate from the young-driver fee.

For example, suppose the primary renter is 30 and a second authorized driver is 23.

The 23-year-old may be subject to the applicable young-driver charge in addition to the additional-driver charge, depending on the reservation terms.

Likewise, if both drivers are 21–24, each person must independently meet the eligibility requirements.

Do not assume that paying one young-driver fee automatically covers every person who wants to drive.

Do Additional Drivers Have to Go to the Rental Counter?

Current location policies reviewed state that additional drivers must meet the rental requirements, appear at the rental counter and present their driver’s license.

This matters when groups plan to divide the driving.

Do not leave the rental office assuming another traveler can simply drive later because that person is traveling with you.

Make sure every planned driver is correctly listed and authorized.

Are Vehicle Choices Restricted for Drivers Under 25?

The age-policy sections reviewed do not publish a blanket Costa Rica prohibition on specific vehicle categories solely because the renter is 21–24.

However, this does not mean every young renter automatically qualifies for every vehicle.

Separate renter and payment requirements can apply to higher categories.

The important distinction is:

Young-driver eligibility determines whether an eligible 21–24-year-old can rent.

Vehicle-category requirements determine whether the renter satisfies the documentation and payment qualifications for a particular vehicle.

Always review both.

Standard SUV and Higher Vehicle Requirements

Current Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica renter policies at locations reviewed publish additional credit-card requirements for Standard SUV and higher categories.

The listed categories can include Standard SUV, Full-Size SUV, Premium SUV, Luxury SUV, pickup trucks, vans and commercial trucks.

The current policy states that renters selecting these categories may need at least two credit cards in their own name, with one being a qualifying Visa, Mastercard or American Express in a Black or Infinite category.

This is not presented as an under-25 rule.

It is a separate qualification associated with the vehicle category.

A 23-year-old considering a Standard SUV should therefore verify both:

young-driver eligibility + higher-category card requirements

before building the trip around that vehicle.

Does Being Under 25 Change the Security Deposit?

The age sections reviewed do not state a separate security deposit simply because a renter is 21–24.

The young-driver fee is a rental charge, not the security authorization.

Normal deposit and payment requirements still apply.

Current SJO information reviewed for Alamo, National and Enterprise publishes a US$500 security deposit plus the estimated rental cost, although requirements can vary according to location, reservation and vehicle.

Travelers should make sure their qualifying credit card has enough available credit for the required authorization.

Review Costa Rica Car Rental Requirements before pickup.

Do Young Renters Need a Credit Card?

The reviewed rental policies require a qualifying major credit card in the renter’s name for the rental authorization.

Age 21–24 does not remove this requirement.

Travelers should distinguish between:

paying the final rental bill

and

providing the qualifying card required for vehicle pickup and security authorization

These are not necessarily the same thing.

Do not assume that because a website accepts another payment method online, the same method will satisfy the rental counter’s security requirements.

How to Calculate the Real Cost When You Are Under 25

Consider a 23-year-old renting a vehicle for seven days.

The young-driver fee alone would currently add US$70.

If a second driver is added and the applicable additional-driver charge is US$5 per day, that represents another US$35 for seven days before considering whether another young-driver charge applies.

That means the age and driver-related fees can materially change the trip budget.

The useful comparison is therefore not:

“What is the cheapest advertised rental car?”

It is:

“What is the complete rental cost after age, driver, protection, tax, vehicle and payment requirements are included?”

Use the actual booking process with the correct renter age for current pricing.

Is Renting a Car Still Worth It Under 25?

Often, yes.

The young-driver fee does not automatically make a rental car a bad choice.

A vehicle can be particularly useful when the itinerary includes multiple destinations, rural hotels, independent day trips or locations where scheduled transportation is limited.

For example, a rental vehicle can make sense for a trip involving several stops such as:

San Jose Airport → La Fortuna → Monteverde → Guanacaste

because the traveler has the vehicle available for both intercity transportation and local exploration.

For a simple itinerary involving only two major destinations, shared or private transportation may be easier.

The value depends on the complete itinerary.

How to Reduce Under-25 Rental Costs

One effective strategy is to avoid paying for rental days when you do not actually need the vehicle.

For example, a traveler staying several days in central Tamarindo may take airport transportation first and rent a vehicle locally only when beginning a multi-destination road trip.

Similarly, visitors staying at a resort where the car will remain parked for several days may benefit from collecting it later.

Because the young-driver surcharge is daily, reducing unnecessary rental days reduces that surcharge as well.

Browse Costa Rica Car Rental Locations to see whether collecting the vehicle later in the itinerary makes sense.

Example: Five Rental Days Instead of Ten

Suppose a 22-year-old is visiting Costa Rica for ten days but only needs a vehicle for five.

Renting for all ten days creates US$100 in young-driver fees at the current US$10 daily rate.

Renting for only five days creates US$50 in young-driver fees.

Whether the shorter rental is actually less expensive depends on the cost of transportation before and after the rental, but it demonstrates why itinerary design matters for younger drivers.

Shared Shuttle vs Rental Car Under 25

A shared shuttle may be more economical for solo travelers using established tourist routes.

A rental car becomes more attractive when the traveler needs repeated transportation or wants flexibility between destinations.

For example, a shared shuttle provides point-to-point transportation but does not give you a vehicle for:

• Restaurants outside town.

• Rural accommodations.

• Beaches.

• Trailheads.

• Independent day trips.

The rental car provides greater mobility but adds the daily young-driver fee, fuel, protection considerations and driving responsibility.

Compare the complete trip rather than one route.

Private Transportation vs Rental Car Under 25

Private transportation can make sense when the trip contains only a few long transfers.

For example, a traveler who needs only:

Airport → beach destination → airport

may not benefit from paying for a rental vehicle every day.

A rental car becomes more useful as the number of independent trips increases.

Travelers should compare the cost of the complete itinerary rather than automatically choosing a car simply because it appears cheaper than one private transfer.

Renting at San Jose Airport Under 25

Current Alamo, National and Enterprise policies at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) list the minimum rental age as 21 and apply an additional daily charge to drivers ages 21–24.

International travelers should have the required passport, driver’s license, credit card and reservation information available.

The current pickup procedure involves rental counters in the airport’s Customs area followed by transportation to the rental facility.

Review San Jose Airport Car Rental before arrival.

Renting at Liberia Airport Under 25

The current Alamo, National and Enterprise policies reviewed for Guanacaste Airport / Liberia Airport (LIR) also state:

Minimum age: 21

Young-driver category: 21–24

No published maximum rental age

The airport rental vehicles are not simply parked outside the passenger terminal for direct collection.

Travelers follow the applicable rental-counter and shuttle procedure to reach the vehicle facility.

Review Liberia Guanacaste Airport Car Rental.

Renting Locally Instead of at the Airport

Airport pickup is not the only option.

Costa Rica has Alamo, National and Enterprise locations in many tourism destinations and cities.

Depending on your itinerary, you may be able to begin with a shuttle or private transfer and collect the rental vehicle later.

Potential advantages include reduced rental days, fewer young-driver-fee days and avoiding unfamiliar driving immediately after a long international flight.

The best choice depends on location availability and the actual vehicle rate.

Browse Costa Rica Car Rental Locations before automatically choosing an airport rental.

Do All Costa Rica Rental Companies Have the Same Under-25 Policy?

No.

The minimum age of 21 and the US$10 daily underage fee discussed in this guide apply to the Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica policies reviewed.

Other rental companies can use:

Different minimum ages.

Different young-driver age bands.

Different fees.

Different vehicle-category restrictions.

Different payment requirements.

Do not generalize one company’s age policy to the entire Costa Rica rental industry.

Why Do Some Websites Say You Must Be 25?

Some rental FAQs use age 25 as the standard age and then explain that travelers 21–24 are still permitted to rent with an underage fee.

This can create the impression that 25 is the absolute minimum.

For the three brands covered here, the clearer interpretation is:

Minimum eligible rental age: 21

Young-driver fee applies: 21–24

Standard age pricing begins: 25

This is why travelers researching online can see both “21” and “25” associated with Costa Rica car rental.

Booking Through a Third-Party Website

When using an online travel agency, broker or comparison site, identify the actual rental company and branch fulfilling the reservation.

Do not rely only on the general conditions displayed by the booking website.

Before payment, review the actual supplier terms for age, young-driver fee, additional drivers, vehicle category, payment method, deposit and protection requirements.

A low advertised rate can become substantially different once branch-specific requirements are applied.

Young-Driver Booking Checklist

Before confirming a rental, verify your real age on the pickup date, the minimum age at the branch, the daily young-driver charge, the additional-driver fee if another traveler will drive, driver’s-license requirements, passport requirements, credit-card qualifications, security authorization, vehicle-category requirements, protection terms and one-way charges.

If selecting a Standard SUV or higher category, specifically check whether the reservation requires two credit cards and the applicable premium-card qualification.

For the complete general checklist, review Costa Rica Car Rental Requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 21-year-old rent a car in Costa Rica?

Yes.

Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica locations reviewed currently permit eligible renters from age 21.

A young-driver fee applies to ages 21–24.

Can a 22-year-old rent a car?

Yes, provided the renter meets the other requirements.

The current US$10-per-day young-driver fee applies.

Can a 23-year-old rent a car?

Yes.

Age 23 falls within the current 21–24 young-driver category.

Can a 24-year-old rent a car?

Yes.

Age 24 is still subject to the published young-driver fee.

Do you have to be 25 to rent a car in Costa Rica?

Not with the Alamo, National and Enterprise policies reviewed.

The minimum eligible age is 21.

Age 25 is when the published 21–24 young-driver surcharge stops applying.

What is the under-25 fee with Alamo Costa Rica?

Alamo Costa Rica currently publishes an underage fee of US$10 per day for eligible renters ages 21–24.

Does Enterprise Costa Rica charge an under-25 fee?

Yes.

Enterprise Costa Rica’s current FAQ publishes a US$10-per-day underage fee for eligible renters in the 21–24 age group.

Does National Costa Rica charge a young-driver fee?

Yes.

National Costa Rica’s current FAQ publishes a US$10-per-day underage fee for drivers ages 21–24.

Can someone under 21 rent with these brands?

Not under the current Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica location policies reviewed.

Their published minimum age is 21.

Can a parent rent the vehicle and let a 20-year-old drive?

No.

Every driver must independently satisfy the rental requirements and be properly authorized under the agreement.

Can two people under 25 share the driving?

Yes, if both are at least 21, satisfy the applicable requirements and are properly added as authorized drivers.

Review both the young-driver and additional-driver charges.

How much is an additional driver?

The Alamo, National and Enterprise location policies reviewed currently publish a US$5-per-day additional-driver fee.

Check the actual reservation because fees can change.

Can I avoid the underage fee by putting the booking in someone else’s name?

Not if you intend to drive.

The actual driver must be eligible and authorized.

Using an older person as the named renter does not eliminate the requirements for another person who will operate the vehicle.

Can drivers under 25 rent an SUV?

Potentially.

The age policies reviewed do not impose a blanket SUV prohibition specifically on ages 21–24.

However, Standard SUV and higher categories can have additional credit-card requirements.

What are the card requirements for a Standard SUV?

Current renter policies reviewed for Alamo, National and Enterprise state that Standard SUV and higher categories can require at least two credit cards in the renter’s name, including a qualifying Visa, Mastercard or American Express Black or Infinite card.

Verify the exact vehicle and branch terms before booking.

Does being under 25 increase the deposit?

The reviewed age policies do not state a separate deposit solely because the renter is 21–24.

The normal security authorization and credit-card requirements still apply.

Is there a maximum rental age?

The Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica location policies reviewed state that there is no maximum rental age.

Do young renters need an International Driving Permit?

Not because of age alone.

IDP requirements depend on the license format and rental policy.

Is renting under 25 more expensive than taking a shuttle?

It can be, particularly for a short trip or solo traveler, because the US$10 daily fee increases the rental total.

For multi-destination itineraries, a rental vehicle can still offer better flexibility or value.

Compare the complete transportation plan.

Before You Reserve

Travelers ages 21–24 can currently rent with the Alamo, National and Enterprise Costa Rica locations reviewed, provided they meet the other renter requirements.

The most important current figures are:

Minimum rental age: 21

Young-driver fee: US$10 per day

Additional-driver fee at reviewed locations: US$5 per day

Being under 25 does not automatically restrict you to public transportation or shuttles, but it makes accurate cost comparison more important.

Enter the renter’s actual age, select the exact branch and vehicle, and review all terms before payment.

Pay particular attention to payment requirements if selecting a Standard SUV or higher category.

For additional planning, review Minimum Age to Rent a Car in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Car Rental Requirements, Foreign Driver’s Licenses in Costa Rica, San Jose Airport Car Rental, Liberia Airport Car Rental, and Costa Rica Car Rental Locations.

Last reviewed: August 30, 2026.

Rental age rules, fees, payment requirements, security authorizations and vehicle eligibility can change by brand, branch, rate, vehicle and travel date. The terms displayed for the actual reservation and final rental agreement govern the transaction.