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1.
Import Duties
Currently
the import cost on a car from new to 3 years old
is 52.29 % of its value.
A used car from 4 to 5 years old has import
duties of 63.91 %, and a car over 5 years old
79.03 %. The
government sets the value of the car for tax
purposes. The
value placed on an older car
has nothing to do with the condition of the
car, only the year, make, model, engine and
accessories.
It is, therefore, not wise to import a
vehicle that is not in excellent condition.
The formula to calculate the exact value is
complicated, so it is best to get a quotation in
advance of importing.
The ARCR does this for members.
2.
Marchamo
This
is the obligatory liability insurance carried on
all vehicles in Costa Rica.
It must be renewed annually between
November 1 and December 31.
A car without an insurance decal on the
windshield is illegal after the 1st of January.
When the marchamo is paid, it is necessary
to pay any parking or traffic tickets that were
issued against the car during the year and to
prove that the vehicle inspection sticker is
current. It
can be done at the MOPT offices, or at a number of
private locations including some private banks.
The cost of the marchamo depends on the
year, make and model of the car.
A
special vehicle tax on vehicles valued at
7,000,000 colones or more will be payable with the
marchamo starting in 2003.
This
is a tax in the temporary tax package for debt
reduction of January 2003.
The tax is 50% of the vehicle
property tax.
For example, a vehicle valued at 9,000,000
colones would have an annual addition fee of
100,000 colones.
3.
Vehicle Technical Inspection
Each
vehicle must have a certificate in the car and a
decal on the windshield that proves the vehicle
inspection is current.
Inspections are done at one of the many
specially constructed locations around the
country. They
were built and are operated by a Spanish firm that
won the contract to perform motor vehicle
inspections.
The
month of the inspection depends upon the last
digit of the license plate.
The vehicles are tested for exhaust
emissions, brakes, lights, turn signals,
windshield wipers and a list of other safely
related features.
Vehicles without a valid decal on the
windshield and document in the car are subject to
a fine if caught by the transit police.
It is also not possible to get the next
marchamo without proof that the inspection is
current. There
is a charge for the inspections.
Inspections
are necessary each year on older vehicles, and
every two years for newer vehicles.
4.
License Plates
A
car will initially be issued with a paper license
(placa), which must be affixed to the front
windshield. Because
they fade in the sun it is advisable to affix a
photocopy to the windshield and to carry the
original in the glove compartment.
There is an expiration date shown on the
paper placa.
If you are caught driving the vehicle
beyond this date the fine is from 10,000 to 20,000
colones.
To
renew the paper placa if metal plates are still
not available, the paper license must be taken to
the public registry in Zapote and they will put a
seal on it to extend it.
There is no charge for this service.
The license cannot be renewed until the day
it expires. There
are services available to do this for you for a
small fee, including at the Association of
Residents of Costa Rica. This avoids confusion at
the registry and standing in line.
The public registry in Zapote is famous for
its line-ups.
When
metal plates come in, take photocopies of the
following documents to the central registry in
Zapote.
* Provisional placa (paper original)--The
original will have to be turned in
* Title deed to the car. (Titulo de
propiedad)
* Yellow registration card. (Tarjeta de
circulación)
* Resident ID Card (Cédula or carnet) or
passport
The
documents are in case they are requested.
They will sometimes need to keep copies of
the resident ID card or passport, the title deed
and the registration card. (The two can be on one
photocopy) Once again; it is recommended that
someone such as the Association of Residents of
Costa Rica perform this service.
It is well worth the small fee!
NOTE:
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle
without a valid cédula or passport (or a copy
certified by a lawyer), a valid drivers license
either Costa Rican or foreign, and the original of
the paper license if metal plates are not on the
car. A
foreign driver’s license is invalid for tourists
if the length of stay permitted (usually 3 months)
in the passport have been exceeded.
It is possible for the transit police to
impound the vehicle if any of the papers mentioned
are not valid, or are not in the vehicle.
With a rental car the rental agreement
needs to be carried.
5.
Traffic Offences
Traffic
enforcement falls to the transit police.
They wear khaki pants and white shirts, and
drive marked blue cars, blue or white pickup
trucks or a variety of motorcycle types.
Most speed enforcement is done with a hand
held radar gun from the side of the road.
If you are exceeding the speed limit the
officer will motion you to stop.
He will request the paperwork mentioned
previously and will usually show you the radar gun
to confirm your speed.
Speeding
fines are currently 5,000 colones up to 20 KPH
over the speed limit and 20,000 colones if more
than 20 KPH over the speed limit.
The fine for going through a red light is
10,000 colones.
If fines are paid before the end of the
year when the marchamo is purchased it is
necessary to pay at a specified bank in the
national banking system.
A service charge for receiving the fine
payment will have to be paid in addition to the
fine.
Speed
limits are usually 90 KPH on major highways in the
Central Valley, and are 60 KPH at all
intersections.
75 KPH is common on many secondary highways
and outside the Central Valley.
School zones are usually 25 KPH when
students are present.
Most
transit police are very polite, and on many
occasions if they feel the driver is a confused
tourist, they may simply give a warning provided
all papers are in order.
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