Driving in Costa Rica Information

by Ask Zipy on 08-19-2019 in Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica as a tourist, you do not need an international driver’s license, only a current license from your country of origin. Your driver’s license is valid for 90 days. If your stay in Costa Rica is longer than the 90 days allowed, you must leave the country for 72 hours.

If you are applying for residency in Costa Rica, you must leave every 90 days until you are granted residency. Once granted residency, you must stay in Costa Rica for 90 days and on the 91st day, you can apply and are granted a Costa Rican driver’s license.

All drivers’ license transactions happen at Costa Rica’s Council for Road Safety, better known as Cosevi.

Located in San Jose’s La Uruca neighborhood, the large government building is well-signed and situated one block west of the Banco Nacional. Cosevi is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sidebar: be sure you arrive at San Jose Cosevi before 7:45 am since the lineups are great and they close the doors at 11:00 am to process all applicants.

The following paperwork must be presented:

Current passport with entry stamp of no more than 90 days and residency cedula OR any other document that proves legal residency or temporary residence permit.
Current foreign driver’s license and a copy of the same.
Medical exam
If a driver presents an expired foreign driver’s license, s/he must comply with the above 1-3 requirements and must also take a road test.

To renew your Costa Rican driver’s license, you must present the following:

Medical exam
Residency cedula OR temporary residence permit OR Peace Corps identification card OR refugee card OR rentista card OR any other document that proves fixed residency status.
Current Costa Rican license.
If you are a Costa Rican citizen, you may renew your license at Banco de Costa Rica for no additional cost. This service is not available to legal residents or tourists.

Sidebar: medical exam can be done at a clinic close to Cosevi.

If your driver's license is lost or stolen, you must present the following: