Importing a Car from the USA to Costa Rica

Importing a car from the USA to Costa Rica involves several steps and costs. Here is a comprehensive overview of the process:

1. Hire a licensed Costa Rican Customs Broker: Before shipping the vehicle to Costa Rica, the first step is to hire the services of a licensed Costa Rican Customs Broker (Agencia Aduanal) [2]. The Customs Broker will interact with the Costa Rican Ministry of the Treasury Customs service on your behalf.

2. Notify the vehicle's arrival date: Have your shipper or carrier notify you of the vehicle's arrival date so that you can make arrangements to process it through the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) [3]. Shipments are cleared at the first port of entry unless you arrange for a freight forwarder abroad to have the vehicle sent in bond to a CBP port more convenient to you.

3. Riteve mandatory vehicle mechanic inspection: Once the vehicle is released from the warehouse, the next step will be to undergo a mandatory vehicle mechanic inspection by Riteve [1]. You have up to 48 hours to complete this inspection once the vehicle is released from the warehouse. Every vehicle that circulates in Costa Rica is required to have a valid technical inspection.

4. Pay import duties, inspection, and vehicle taxes: After passing the Riteve inspection, you will need to pay import duties, inspection, and vehicle taxes [4]. The exact amount depends on various factors such as the age, make, model, and value of the vehicle.

5. Register the vehicle with the Public Registry: After paying the import duties, inspection, and vehicle taxes, the next step is to register the vehicle with the Public Registry [4]. This process may take several days. Once completed, take all vehicle documents to the Ministry of Public Works, which will issue you temporary paper plates.

6. Required paperwork: The required paperwork to import a vehicle to Costa Rica includes a copy of your passport, a photocopy of the picture/detail page of the passport, and the original title in your name for the vehicle [5]. The title must be clear and in your name, not in the name of a finance company.

The cost associated with importing a car from the USA to Costa Rica includes the import duties, inspection, and vehicle taxes [4]. The exact amount varies depending on the age, make, model, and value of the vehicle. It is recommended to consult with a licensed Costa Rican Customs Broker for a more accurate estimate of the costs involved.