Driving in Costa Rica: Everything You Need to Know
Driving in Costa Rica is... an experience. Between potholes the size of swimming pools, motorcycles weaving through traffic, and the occasional cow on the road, it's never boring.
License Requirements
- Foreign license valid for 90 days (matching your tourist stamp)
- Residents must get a CR license (requires medical exam and eye test)
- International driving permit NOT required (but can be helpful)
Road Reality
- Major highways are decent (Ruta 1, Ruta 27, Ruta 32)
- Secondary roads can be terrible — potholes, no shoulders, no street lights
- Beach town roads often flood in rainy season
- GPS is essential — addresses don't exist in CR
- Waze is the most-used navigation app (more accurate than Google Maps)
Buying a Car
Import duties on vehicles are 52-79%, making cars expensive. Most people buy used locally. Budget $8,000-20,000 for a decent used SUV. 4x4 is strongly recommended outside urban areas.
Insurance
INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros) provides mandatory liability insurance. Additional collision/comprehensive available. Marchamo (annual vehicle tax + insurance) due every December.