Security Be aware of where you are and of your belongings. Remember that San Jose as any other major capital city has a petty theft problem. There are many rental car companies in Costa Rica, some using new cars others using used cars they have bought in U.S. because the U.S. law do not allow these cars to run anymore, as they might represent a hazard for the population. So, please make sure you are getting a new car when renting one. In no case should anyone pay money.
Drivers can only receive a ticket.
If a policeman insists on being paid, insists right back on being given a ticket. When in San Jose or other cities, most streets are one-way, which unfortunately you can not tell until a bevy of cars is coming straight at you. The best way to avoid this is to observe which way the traffic is heading before turning onto a street. Try to avoid driving the mountainous road between San Jose and Guapiles to Limon at night. The fog is often thick, and landslides are common on the highway.