Importing Autos
Importing A Car Into Costa Rica: A Couple’s Struggle
This is Ben and Vicki’s Car Importation Story.
We drove here from Arizona, and when we first arrived at Costa Rica’s northern border, we were told to buy basic insurance for the vehicle, which would be good for 90 days. Seventeen dollars and about one hour later we were off and running. Now to this day I really don’t know what that “insurance” paper covered, if anything, but we had to have that paper in the car at all times. Now don’t get me wrong — I know that the vast majority of people who want to import a car to Costa Rica don’t actually DRIVE from the states to do so like we did. But we were ready for a road trip adventure, and most people aren’t. They simply hire a shipping company and the car or truck leaves from a port near you to a port in Costa Rica. But I’m pretty sure that most of what happens after the vehicle arrives is roughly the same.
You see, when you don’t really know the game and you are just kind of going by what you’ve heard, or tips from the internet, things can get a bit confusing. Don’t forget the whole language barrier thing too. A lot of people hire a “professional car importer” in the hopes of one-stop shopping — a guy who can handle it ALL for you. Whatever that is, we didn’t know one, and the 90 days are always ticking. So here is what happened to us, and how we managed to import our little car, which, I might add, is now sitting safe and happy and quite legal in our garage as I write this.
The very first thing we did was meet with someone who worked with the Agencia de Aduanas. I was driving to the hardware store one day and was casually chatting with a friendly neighbor at the end of the street, a Tico who spoke English, and out of the blue I asked him if he knew someone who could help import our car. He said the first thing I had to do was talk to an agent from Aduanas, and that our mutual neighbor was one. I was in shock. I was parked right in front of this guy’s house while we were talking! What were the chances I lived on the same street as this guy? I pass his house everyday! He agreed to introduce me to him later that night, and that he was good at his job. He also said that he had known this guy half his life and he was trustworthy. This is important — you must trust the people involved with your importation.
The agent told me that night in his living room that he would give me the importation tax total after he copied my vin number and checked it out. He told me that his fee was a flat rate of 40,000 colones (about $80 USD), and the computers would figure out my specific tax for our 2 door, 4-wheel drive, 2002 Kia Sportage. Two or three days later, our agent let me have it. $3200 tax. I know that this tax varies greatly from car to car, so you should have at least a ballpark idea in mind beforehand. We had let the 90 days go buy too, so there was another $100 fine. First we had to show proof that we owned the car free and clear. Then, after my agent had seen the wire transfer from our bank account into his, I had to park the car for two days at some sort of holding place. Basically a bunch of warehouses filled with you name it. I saw $50,000 custom choppers next to cheap bed frames next to kitchen appliances. This place had a little of everything. I was told to park my car basically in a field in the middle of it all. So I did, and everything was fine. Total of about $3400 later, and we got that all important document that proved we had imported the car, and had paid all taxes and fees. But we weren’t done yet — not by a long shot!
The next step was to get some insurance. We found our local branch of INS, the nationalized insurance company, and spoke with a very nice man who explained to us that it was strange to insure a car that he wasn’t sure existed. You see we had walked to the INS building. We like to walk all over town, and had passed the building many times before. I said no problem, that I would just drive by the following day. He said we could all hop in his car, and that he would drive us back home. He wanted to photograph the car. I thought this very strange and said I would rather just drive by later. He agreed to forgo actually seeing the car, and went ahead with the process right then and there. I have learned not to question miracles, and before he could change his mind again, my girlfriend and I had picked out and paid for a policy that sounded ok to us. Total of around $100 for the first half of the year. A bargain.
Then we needed to get the car inspected. We headed over to the Riteve station near us and had to pass all kinds of tests from emissions and brakes, to lights and shocks. This part of the deal was relatively easy. Quick and cheap. We passed all tests, but because we didn’t have Tico plates, we couldn’t get the sticker we went there for in the first place. So they issued me a paper proving that I had paid for the test and passed. I could pick up my sticker for the windshield after I got my plates. No problem, fair enough. Total about $20.
Then we went to our lawyer to type up some sort of request to the national registry for plates. Layers are used often down here, even for relatively small and trivial things (such as getting license plates) and I feel this country is pretty much saturated with them. Plates should be a pretty tame thing for a lawyer to handle, but again, you must trust the people you deal with. I would take as much time as is needed to find the right lawyer for you. We got the request document in hand, and were now one step closer to the finish line. Total $40.
Then we went to pay Marchamo. I think this is some sort of registry, associated with INS. [Editor’s Note: Marchamo is the combination of yearly tax paid for a vehicle and the basic mandatory insurance for the health costs of the passengers, pedestrians, and passengers of other vehicles in the event of an accident.] For our vehicle, it was cheap, but all the nickels and dimes do add up. I gave a man the papers from the lawyer, and the cash, and he gave me a little piece of paper that I now had to give to the national registry. We were getting close to the end. All we had to do now was exchange that little piece of paper for our temporary plates. Easy enough. Total about $150 for the year.
Next was to go to the national registry and try to get our temporary plate. This is a very busy building, with long lines for everything except the copy machine. Many people trying to do many things at once, with stacks and stacks of paperwork, it makes for a rather dull and boring way to spend the afternoon. Just think DMV times ten, ten times as slow. Not fun, but worth the wait. I give a guy our little paper, and he gives me our “placa temporal.” Eventually. In these situations, and with my Spanish as bad as it is, I’ve found out to pretty much stop talking and smile when you hear the printer start up. Once you hear that thing start to crank you’re usually good. We also had to go to the bank, which is conveniently located in the registry, and pay some sort of fee. I guess for the plates. Not sure, but I had seen many other people in the (long) line with the same paperwork as I had. When I got to the teller, I just handed her the documents, paid the cash, and heard the sweet music of the printer. Receipt in hand, I was out the door with what we needed. She had given me the second little sticker we needed. Remember Riteve? I was told our metal plates would be ready in one week, and to come back then. The placa temporal is just a little piece of paper you have to tape on your windshield while the metal plates are being made, special order just for you! Total about $40.
One week later, we went back to the registry building. I found the line to get the plates, but when it was my turn at bat, the nice man told me I needed a copy of the car title before he could give me the plates. Not having one handy, he said not to worry, that I could go upstairs and pay for a title search and receive a copy. So upstairs I went. Waited in line, paid the 50 cents, smiled at the lady and once again heard the printer start to print. Went back down to the plate guy and exchanged the “title” along with the temporary plate for two shiny new Costa Rica plates! Yeah! Finally…
We then headed back to the Riteve building, filled out some forms, and got the last piece of the puzzle — the first little sticker, as we now had Tico plates. This didn’t cost anything, as we had already passed and paid. We slapped the two stickers on the windshield, put on the plates and we were finally imported, registered, tested, insured, and 100% legal.
So all in all was it worth it? For us yes. You just have to weigh the pros and cons for your situation. We have a good history with our little Kia, and know it to be in tip top shape. It was worth all the hassles and time and expense, as we didn’t want to go car shopping only to be faced with who knows what. It is definitely easier to just show up here and buy a car or truck but then as the old saying goes, buyer beware. And everyone has to pay import taxes, so even common average cars in the states can command premium prices down here.
A good friend of mine once told me “the first guy takes the hit.” Meaning that once someone does all the necessary paperwork, importation taxes, and standing in line, you now have a favorable situation for everyone. If this seems like an option you might be considering, just remember to have patience. Things often might seem to take forever, and are not what you are used to, but with patience — and a little luck! — it will all come together soon enough. Don’t forget to have plenty of copies of everything, keep your paperwork in order, and you’ll do fine. And remember to wear comfortable shoes for all those lines! Pura vida y buena suerte.
