Driving
One of the questions I get asked about most is “How is the driving in Costa Rica?” You might be worried about driving in a foreign country; however, Costa Rica is one of the most developed countries in Central America, with roads in fairly good condition. Most people like the freedom of having a car parked nearby for unplanned trips or just to know it is there.
In general, there is no problem driving a car here, but there are things you should know to do this safely. Since Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination there are several local and international car rental companies to choose from. Here are some tips on renting a car in Costa Rica.
Car Rental
If you’d like to rent your vehicle immediately upon arrival, there are a few car-rental companies with facilities in the Juan Santamaria airport, which is most likely where you’ll arrive and depart. Smaller companies may only have offices in town, but they usually offer a pick up and drop off service to make it more convenient. Some offer one-way rentals so you can drive it back to San Jose and drop it of at the airport when you leave.
If you are visiting Costa Rica, you may drive on the driver’s license issued by your home country so long as your visa has not expired. This is important! Depending on the country you are from, your tourist visa may be as long as ninety days or as short as thirty days. Once it expires, you cannot drive legally in Costa Rica unless you have applied for and received your Costa Rica driver’s license.
If you rent a car, make sure you go over the car very carefully and make sure the attendant marks down every nick and scratch on his sheet. Failure to do this can result in huge adjustments to your bill when you return the rental.
There is also a common car-rental scam. Someone will punch a very small hole in your tire or loosen the valve stem before you take delivery of the car or perhaps while you are at a restaurant or shop. You leave and maybe 30 minutes to an hour later, you get a flat. Then, miraculously, some really nice folks appear to assist you. In this case, assist means to separate you and whatever valuables they can find.
Driving in Costa Rica
Take taxis if possible, especially at night. They are cheap and everywhere. However, if you do rent a car, it is better to not drive at night until you get some experience. The road rules are about the same as the U.S. so it’s easy to get the hang of it after a few hours of driving around.
Check with the car rental company about what kind of license you’ll need. Sometimes you can just use your license from home but usually you’ll need to get an international driver’s license, which doesn’t require a test and you can pick one up for a nominal fee from an auto club such as AAA. Even if you’re not required to have an international driver’s license it’s a good idea to get one since your information is translated into several languages.
You may drive on the driver’s license issued by your home country so long as your visa has not expired. This is important! Once your tourist visa expires, you cannot legally drive in Costa Rica, unless you have applied for and received your Costa Rica driver’s license.
You need patience. The potholes re big enough to swallow a truck, and the roads are narrow.
When in San Jose or in slow traffic, do not leave anything valuable on the seat next to you with the windows open. A person can and will reach in and grab stuff. NEVER leave valuables in plain view in your car.
There are traffic laws here, but there are no police to enforce them. If you EVER drive defensively in your life, do it here. Ticos are creative drivers… and most traffic laws are flawed. Just because there is a red light, don’t make the mistake of thinking everyone else plans to stop. Be especially careful of motorcycles. They obey NO rules and can come out of nowhere. They also can be the vehicles used when snatching stuff from your car through an open window. Also, pedestrians and animals are known to walk right in front of moving traffic.
Passing Slower Traffic is a national sport in Costa Rica. Many large trucks and busses, along with an assortment of ancient vehicles (usually pickup trucks) travel the highways at speeds well below the posted limit, especially in the mountains.
Roads can drop off suddenly. Over the years and several layers of resurfacing, roads get narrower and ditches gets deeper. Bridges breaking down is heard of frequently, as well.
Foreigners seeking a Costa Rican driver’s license can only apply at the transport ministry in La Uruca in northern San José. The office used to be based in Plaza Víquez, but in August 2007 was moved.
Traveling Requirements
Children over the age of 12 may travel in the rear and without a booster seat if the seat belt of the car does not reach their neck. The seat belt should always go over shoulder and crossing the chest. If the seat belt touches the neck, they may be strangled or cut in an accident.
Booster seats may not be used in the central seats where two-point seat belts are the regulation. MOPT has yet to elaborate on specifications for required safety seats. Violations of safety seat regulations carry a fine of c227,00 and a loss of the totality of 50 license points, and thus a loss of the license for two years.
Hands-free cell adapters: Few are arguing with this change, which although it’s not a new law, will bring a new steep sanction. Required: a hands-free (“manos libres”) adaptor for cell phone usage while driving. Fine: c170,250 Points lost: 20
Reflective vest and triangles: Vest (“chaleco retroflectivo”) may be green, orange, or red, and must be used when performing any roadside maintenance, and is required clothing for cyclists of any kind (motor or otherwise) from a half hour before sunset to a half hour before dawn. Triangles must also be placed in the roadway prior to performing any maintenance. Fine: c68,100 Points lost: 15
Tool kit: Tire tool (“llave de ranas”), jack (“gato”), jumper cables (“lagartos”), and a questionably-termed “basic tool kit” (“juego de herramientos basicos”) which may or may not just be the tire-changing tools. Fine: c68,100 Points lost: 15 (same infraction as above, not separate infractions).
Fire extinguisher and First Aid Kit: Also included in fine above. There are no specifics of what size the extinguisher (“extintor de incendio”) must be, nor the exact contents of the first aid kit (“botiquin”). Included with infraction above.
Check here for Queries On Traffic Cameras Offenses
Check to see if you have been fined or not speeding by the traffic cameras.
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), set up a website where users can enter and perform a query on violations.
To obtain the information, the use has to enter www.infraccion.co.cr and fill a registration form and fax it to the COSEVI.
For corporations, the corporate name, cedula and legal representative is required, along with a copy of 1. the Personería Jurídica (a document by the property registry indicating the authorized representatives of the company, 2. the cedula of the legal representative and 3. the filled in and signed form.
For individuals, a copy of the cedula or passport and the filled in and signed form.
The form is to be faxed to 2287-0508 or by email at: infraccion@racsa.co.cr.
Once the form is reviewed and the information is verified, the user will be given a username and password to access the site to receive notifications of infringements.
Diana Wilson
