Adobe Rent a Car insurance coverage

Car rental insurance coverage to meet your travel and business needs

At Adobe Rent a Car, we offer the perfect insurance coverage to meet your travel and business needs.

We’re not like other rental car companies! We take pride in being the largest and most comprehensive rental car agency in all of Costa Rica. 

Choose from a wide range of options, from one-day rentals to long-term vehicle renting; and simple sedans to commercial vans or Pickups. 

What’s more, we work directly with you, the client, to determine what type of vehicle and insurance coverage best fits your vacation or business needs. We promise no hidden fees and guarantee that each step of the rental process will be straightforward and hassle-free.

Is car rental insurance mandatory in Costa Rica?

Liability Protection Insurance (PLI)

PLI car rental insurance, Costa Rica, is mandatory for all rentals and provides limited liability coverage for incidents involving third parties. The PLI daily rate is included in your rental agreement and is non-negotiable.

For third-party property damages, our Adobe PLI liability insurance covers up to $20,000 with a 20% deductible or a minimum fee of $250. Note that the PLI does not cover any damages to the rental car itself. Personal injury protection is not included in the PLI either.

In the event of injury or death of a third party not traveling in the rental car, your Adobe PLI covers up to US $100,000 per accident with no deductible.

If you decide to add Adobe’s full-coverage Extended Protection (SPP), your liability coverage will increase to $5 million, and all damages to third parties (vehicles and people) will be waived – you pay nothing. 

We also offer additional coverage options to ensure your peace of mind. Clients can choose from three different plans:

• Adobe Loss and Damage Coverage (LDW)
• The LDW provided by the renter’s major credit card
• Extended Protection Coverage (SPP) – recommended

A $1,000 guarantee deposit is required for all vehicle rentals. Clients can make the deposit with their valid Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express credit card. Debit cards are accepted with some restrictions, and cash is not accepted. 

Upon return of the vehicle, we’ll submit an electronic request to release the $1,000 deposit. The funds will be available depending on the bank’s processing diligence.

How does car rental insurance work in Costa Rica?

At Adobe, we offer our clients professional and comprehensive coverage at reasonable and competitive rates with no hidden fees. When renting a car, you’ll be given the option of choosing the coverage that best fits your needs. Choose from the following insurance options:

Adobe Car Protection Plan (LDW):

Our LDW coverage  (loss and damage waiver, also known as the collision damage waiver, or CDW coverage) provides basic rental car coverage during the duration of your rental, including:

• LDW coverage waives the client’s financial responsibility in the event of a collision or roll-over, as well as other damages to the rental car.

Note that vandalism and tire damages are not covered under the LDW.

• LDW provides coverage for partial or total theft of the vehicle per Adobe’s terms and conditions.
• The LDW deductible, or excess amount, is $1,000.

Note that third-party damages are not covered under the LDW.

• One of our Adobe representatives will assist you with the legal and financial process required for submitting a claim in the event of a collision, rollover, or damage to the vehicle. Examples of incident processing include vehicle appraisal, damage and downtime reports, repair reports, among others.

Your Credit Card’s LDW

Several conditions apply if you wish to decline Adobe’s LDW coverage. Some clients opt to use the secondary coverage offered in their major credit card’s LDW coverage (Mastercard, Discover or Amex). 

It is important to understand that by waiving our Adobe LDW, you assume 100% responsibility for any and all damages incurred to the car during the rental.

In other words, although your credit card may cover damages to your car in Costa Rica, you will first have to pay for the damages, repairs, and related fees in-country, then file a claim to be personally reimbursed by your card carrier. 

Important: Please note that credit cards require that you pay the total cost of your rental service with the same credit card you’ll use to decline LDW insurance.

American Express rental car insurance coverage: Keep in mind that if you want to use your Amex travel insurance with car rental coverage, the following conditions apply. You have to enroll for the service ahead of time and pay the indicated flat rate. The rate varies per country, per rental period, and the coverage you choose. 

What happens if I have an accident?

In the event you have an accident in Costa Rica, make sure you follow these important steps: 

• Call 911 and report the incident. The emergency contact number for police, ambulance, fire, or any other emergency in Costa Rica is 911. Explain to the dispatcher that you’ve had an accident and a traffic police officer or “traffico” will be dispatched to your location. Make sure to let them know if you require medical assistance.

• Do not move the vehicle: For insurance purposes and under Costa Rican law, you should not change any aspect of the accident scene until authorized by the traffic police. This includes moving your car out of the flow of traffic. Most rent a car insurance, Costa Rica, agents will need to photograph the scenario to determine who is responsible.

• Call our ADOBE hotline IMMEDIATELY: Report the incident to the attending agent. Call +(506) 2542-4800 during office hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Costa Rica time. After office hours call: or +(506) 2542-4888.

• Alert other drivers of any danger: Place the red emergency triangle on the road approximately 5 meters before the accident scene to alert other drivers of possible hazards. 

If you opted to use your credit card’s LDW coverage and complied with the required conditions:  

• Work with your Adobe agent during the claim process: We at Adobe will provide you with the appropriate documentation to present to your insurance carrier and make a claim. Make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully beforehand to understand what’s covered and what isn’t. Clients must also sign their claim so that we at Adobe can assist with the credit card provider’s processing requirements.

What happens if I have an accident and need to leave the country?

To leave the country while an accident claim is being processed, you must provide Adobe with:

• A current accident report in the preset format
• Complete the procedures requested by Adobe and required by Costa Rican law.
• Grant Adobe Rent a Car power of attorney so we can continue the claim after you leave. 

Feel free to contact one of our bilingual Adobe agents at reservas@adobecar.com or call 1 (855) 861-1250 (8 a.m. -5 p.m. Central Time). We’ll be happy to answer any additional questions or concerns you have about the insurance process.

Some important facts to consider if you decline the Adobe LDW:

In order to make an LDW car rental insurance decline you must:

• Ensure that your major credit card is current and provides LDW coverage in Costa Rica for the type of vehicle you are renting.
• Remember that the owner of the card must also be the driver of the rental car.
• Be aware of the terms and conditions of your credit card’s LDW.
• You can NOT waive the Adobe LDW if you pay with a debit card.

Extended Protection Coverage (SPP)

With our Supplemental Protection Plan (SPP), your concerns for safety and security are covered. Our SPP is a robust and comprehensive coverage that ensures our client’s needs are taken care of during their stay, be it an accident in Guanacaste or a fender-bender in downtown San José.

Extended protection waives any deductible from LDW and PLI, so if anything happens to the car or third party, you will be fully covered, with a ZERO deductible, both for third party damages well as for damages to the vehicle.

Whether for vacation or business, our SPP ensures that your time in Costa Rica will be spent with confidence and peace of mind, no matter what happens on the road. Adobe SPP coverage includes:

• Nation-wide 24/7 roadside assistance, including tow truck service.
• No deductible. The PLI’s 20% deductible for third-party damages is waived.
• Insurance coverage is extended up to $5 million per event.
• Vandalism damages to the car are covered, including to the tires and windows.

What car rental insurance should I purchase?

We at Adobe want your rental experience to be safe, positive, and hassle-free. We know that navigating the road’s in a foreign country can be difficult, and unfortunately, accidents do happen. For these reasons, we offer Extended Protection Coverage (SPP). For a low daily rate, rest assured that we at Adobe have you covered!

If you decide not to purchase the SPP coverage, we highly recommend our Adobe LDW over your credit card provider. Why? Because with the LDW, you’ll only need to pay the $1000 deductible and nothing more. On the contrary, your credit card’s insurance requires that you pay the total amount of the damages upfront and wait to be reimbursed.

What are the rules I must follow to ensure my Adobe rental car coverage?

Clients who do not follow the Adobe rules and regulations regarding car rental coverage will forfeit coverage benefits. Be aware that the PLI, LDW (from Adobe or another provider), or the SPP will not apply under the following circumstances:

• Failure to report an incident (collision or damages) to Adobe Rent a Car Company immediately after the event occurs.
• If the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the event.
• If the driver is not authorized or inscribed as an additional driver in the Adobe rental contract and damages occur.
• Any damages incurred while driving on unauthorized terrain, including rivers, lakes, beaches, mangroves, flooded roads, or “off-road” conditions (not officially recognized roads).
• Failure to comply with the legal claim process with the corresponding insurance company. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Failure to report the incident to the Transit Police.
  • Failure to report the incident or claim to the affiliated insurance company.
  • Failure to comply with all legal process requirements.

Can I rent a car without insurance?

No, you cannot rent a car without insurance in Costa Rica. Even if you purchase private international insurance coverage for you and your family in your home country, Costa Rican law does not recognize such plans for vehicle rentals. The same applies to your personal car insurance back home. 

Most international travel insurance packages include personal effects coverage. We recommend considering purchasing travel insurance if any of your goods or valuables are lost, damaged, or stolen while visiting. 

Can I use my personal auto insurance?

Does full coverage insurance cover rental cars? 

Most personal accident insurance providers cover rentals in their home country, and some do so abroad. However, Costa Rican law does not recognize such plans. 

For your ultimate peace of mind, we recommend you opt for Adobe’s robust LDW or SPP coverage. Traveling in a foreign country is exciting, but accidents can and sometimes do happen. Enjoy the beauty and excitement of road travel without worrying about the worst-case scenario. Rest assured, at Adobe Rent a Car, we’ve got you covered!

Contact your Adobe Rent a Car representative if you have questions or concerns about your car rental coverage.

We at Adobe Rent a Car want your vacation or business trip to be as positive and as worry-free as possible. Feel free to contact one of our bilingual representatives with any questions or concerns you might have. E-mail info@adobecar.com; or call: +(506) 2542-4800; toll-free from the U.S. and Canada: +1 (855) 861-1250 (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Time).