Bringing Vehicles into Costa Rica

If you are traveling to Costa Rica with your vehicle (cars, trucks, and/or motorcycles), either used or new, you must carry the original title of your vehicle with you at all times.

If you want to stay in Costa Rica for a few weeks to travel around or drive through, you will be issued a three-month temporary vehicle use permit (TVUP) and you will not be required to pay your vehicle's Customs duty (Please see TVUP Required Documents.)

You may only renew your TVUP once (for three additional months) at any Customs Office. There are no vehicle Customs duties for the renewal.

Once the renewal of your TVUP expires, you either must leave the country or must store your vehicle in a Customs storage warehouse where your vehicle will remain until you pay the Customs duties, purchase Costa Rican license plates, and register your vehicle permanently in Costa Rica (See  Permanent Registration Documents).

If you are considering staying in Costa Rica with your vehicle for more than six months, importing your vehicle to Costa Rica, or selling your vehicle while in Costa Rica, please read the following:

→