I would love some advice on renting
a car from San Jose airport. I've been told by several people that they add a mandatory insurance per day on top of the regular rate. We are renting for three weeks through Alamo. Any experiences good or bad out there?

Although there have been more recent posts from people having trouble contacting them, my experience with Tricolor a year ago was all positive. They had good prices and superior service.

I never heard of the insurance that you are mentioning, but Tricolor is not IN the airport, only nearby, so perhaps that was the diference.

Good luck!

Keith

I never had any problem with Tricolor, I just e-mail to them with questions, requests and after that I send the reservation. www.tricolorcarrental.com

When you look up other car rentals, www.carrentals.com , you can see fantastic prices, but at the end they add the mandatory insurance, and comes much higher.

Ask the final price to compere.

Tricolor delivers and picks up at the hotel too if you ask for it.
Just yesterday I got a quote for a Daihatsu Terios (4 WD) $ 323 for a week.

I wanted to compare Tricolor's price to others, but they all list only the base price, $ 100 and up/week, not the final price ( taxes, insurance, surcharges) I even called Trifty ( not the C.R. office), they couldn't give me answer. The person on the phone said, that if I pay with cc, they pay all the extras, what is not true, I know. With Tricolor I can communicate by email and they are quick to respond.

There is a mandatory LDW insurance

required specifically for CR.

Use my business card

with rental insurance but

they still charged me $12/da for LDW

Rented a Sentra $100 base + LDW

$200 total per week for 2WD

$300 for 4WD Tricolr Europcar

Last June I rented a mid size SUV from Fox Rent a Car at the San Jose airport and was very pleased. They were located off the airport but will pick you up with notice.
Last week I rented a Diahatsu Terios in Belize and returned it the next day because I thought the rear axle was falling off and the rental agent said they get that complaint all the time. Beware