The Real Costs of Owning & Maintaining a Vehicle in Costa Rica: A deep dive into Marchamo & Riteve

by Jeanne in Costa Rica

One of the greatest expenses of moving to Costa Rica is purchasing and maintaining a vehicle. It is expensive to import vehicles because of high taxes. This allows vehicles to maintain their value for decades. In comparison with North America, the average new or used vehicle costs 25-30% more in Costa Rica.

Although the Country is consistently repairing roadways; Costa Rica’s heavy rains create an ever-changing landscape. Flooded highways, landslides, debris, and fallen trees are common occurrences. Maintenance trips to the mechanic happen often, and should be included in the monthly budget.

Additional to these anticipated costs, are the permits necessary for ensuring the vehicle is legal and roadsafe; Marchamo and Riteve.

Vehicles are required to have these two items to operate on roadways.

RTV (Riteve) - The yellow sticker appearing in the windshield

Marchamo - The Green sticker appearing in the windshield

Marchamo

Marchamo is a circulation permit, a tax of the vehicle which is due annually. Issued by the Costa Rican government, the cost is roughly 3.15% of the tax value of the vehicle. These taxes and fees assist in supporting organizations that oversee the regulation of fuel prices and management of the transit police. Payment of this tax issues the right to drive the vehicle and utilize licensing plates. Costs are based on make, model, and year of the vehicle. The cost can range from $170-$250, while newer or high-end vehicles can cost WAY more. I drive a 2006 Jeep Cherokee, and my 2023 Marchamo cost $230.

Additionally; the Marchamo acts as an insurance, covering for injuries or death in the case of an accident. In the event of death, the insurance will act as a term life policy for the family members of the victim of the accident. In the event of bodily injury, the insurance will cover the medical costs for the treatment of that injury and may include compensation for disability.

Payment for Marchamo begins November 1st until December 31st of each year, paying after this timeframe can incur penalties. Marchamo is managed by INS (National Insurance Agency) and to determine the exact amount owed, it can be verified on their website (INS - Marchamo)*. You will be immediately prompted to search the type of vehicle and the license plate number. (It is a Spanish website, however most internet browsers & mobile phones have an option to translate.) Additional insurance can also be purchased through the INS website, or privately.

Consultation of Marchamo on INS Website

Payment of the Marchamo can be done at many Costa Rican banks, and it does not need to be the owner of the vehicle to make the payment. Simply have the license plate number, and be ready to pay for any outstanding traffic or parking tickets to renew the registration.

You Will not be able to renew or pay a marchamo unless you can show proof that the vehicle has an up to date RTV (see below RITEVE) slip showing that a car has passed its yearly emissions testing.

Once the Marchamo has been paid, the vehicle will be issued an official circulation card and year-specific sticker, which needs to be displayed on the upper right corner of the windshield.

Riteve

Riteve is an annual emissions testing and inspection. The testing is complex and considers a variety of factors; RTV is not only testing for CO2 levels, they also test brakes, shocks, lights, tread on tires and more. Vehicles need to have EVERYTHING in perfect working condition; including windshield wipers, horns, electric windows, seat belts etc. It is highly recommended to have a mechanic perform a revision before visiting the inspection office.

They will begin with a visual inspection and this is the part you can most prepare for. Check your seat belts, lights, blinkers, bright lights and brake lights to ensure all are working. Also, test your windshield wipers and water spray feature as they will ask you to demonstrate. They will follow with an emissions test, brake test, suspension test and pit inspection. You will be asked to put the car in neutral and apply the emergency/hand brake at times. Bring your driver’s license, ID card and title of the vehicle. It usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour or more depending on the lines.

If a vehicle does not pass the Riteve test the first time, it will have to be repeated until all of the issues in the car are fixed. When the vehicle obtains a clean bill of health, the driver will receive a Riteve document that needs to be kept in the vehicle, as well as a sticker which needs to be displayed in the upper right corner of the windshield. The month Riteve is due depends on the license plate number. Riteve inspections are offered from January through October. The last digit on your license plate determines your inspection month. You have until the last day of the month to pass the inspection. My plate ends with 9, so I must go by September, whereas my neighbor's plates end in 3, which equals a March deadline.

Payment of the Riteve can be done up to a month in advance of the vehicle's due date. Paying after the date can incur penalties.

The average price is 8000-12000 CRC (Approx $14-21 USD), and can be found on the Dekra website. (Dekra Website - rates).

In my experience, both Marchamo and Riteve have been straightforward to navigate. Many mechanics offer to bring vehicles for Riteve after doing a thorough check themselves. This makes the situation seamless and smooth. Ensure to book appointments with plenty of time before the permit expires, to allow yourself space to navigate any issues that may arise, and avoid penalties.

Before purchasing a vehicle from any source, it is important to check the validity of both Riteve and Marchamo by visiting the respective websites and inputting the license number. You can also request the lawyer to provide proof by checking at time of purchase.

Good luck on your first vehicle purchase in Costa Rica!