4 doors for beach living

Russ

Thank you for providing me with incredible service in helping me find a car. My requirements on car size was strict due to my small garage, yet you managed to provide me with many choices to inspect.

I appreciate that you scheduled my day very efficiently, and I was able to choose one on the first afternoon. I had no knowledge that the paperwork would be so involved, yet you managed to get the legal lawyer and have me on my way in less than one hour.

In addition, you truly went above and beyond in helping me locate a roof rack afterwards. I would certainly  recommend your services, especially after discovering how involved it would have been for me, to attempt it myself.

Sincerely, Gerry Wilson

Getting Our Client Into a Jam … originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 15 March 2012.

Partial view of the document and seal.

First of all, keep in mind that the property title is not a vital document in Costa Rica.  Vehicle ownership must be transferred with the help of a lawyer / notary, and regardless of any additional paperwork the information in the National Registry is what matters.

There isn’t a case where you are asked to produce a property title to prove ownership. In a traffic stop, for example, you must present your current “marchamo” and the RTV technical inspection report, plus your driver’s license.

That said, most of our clients come from the US and are very concerned with getting the registration paper in their hands.  Conversely, many attorneys are very lackadaisical about following through with this.  IF you are in an outlying area, or have a hard time getting the lawyer to follow through, then you may wish to go to the National Registry and get a replacement or duplicate title.  Registry offices are located throughout the country and it may be easier — and even less expensive to get a title there.

Here is the procedure (documented on the National Registry web site)

Procedure for Replacement of Vehicle Property Title

The solicitud must be made by the proprietor of the vehicle in person at the Registry office and must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete the form and present valid identification, WHICH MUST MATCH THE INFORMATION IN THE REGISTRY. If the owner’s current ID is not the same as that shown in registry records, then the owner must present a publicly sworn statement (DECLARACION JURADA EN ESCRITURA PUBLICA), indicating that the the two documents identify the same person. If the person cannot appear in person, the form may be presented signed and with a notary’s seal that authenticates the signature, as well as with the official stamps corresponding to the authentication.
2. If the vehicle is owned by a corporation, then the registry report of a corporation must be presented (called a personería jurídica). The report must be less than two months old.
3. For applications in the name of state owned vehicles, diplomatic vehicles or state univerisity vehicles, the application must be presented on the letterhead of the institution and the seal of the corresponding department, and the registry report of a corporation must be presented (called a personería jurídica).
4. If the applicant is acting under a special power of attorney, then they must present the original testimony (ESCRITURA PÚBLICA) of that power of attorney.
5. If the vehicle has a pending sales transaction noted in the registry, then the replacement property title may not be issued. The registration of the pending sale must be completed first and a new title will be issued.
6. Present the form (Download the Form as PDF)

Time of Delivery
The property title is delivered immediately, once all the necessary documents are presented.

Stamps and Fees

• ¢ 6000 Registry Fees
• ¢ 250 Bar Association Stamps (if application is authenticated)
• ¢ 5   National Archives

Get a Vehicle Property Title Replaced originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 14 March 2012.

Yet another sticker for your windshield

Starting in January of 2012, the National Property Registry began using the new license plates for cars being registered in the country for the first time.

The most distinctive feature of the new plates is that they have letters!  Prior to this year, the plates were numbered in consecutive order.  Late in 2011 the numbers were over 900,000, so the question was would the registry move to 7 digit plates, or do something else.

The powers that be decided to go with the new plates and add letters to the mix.  If you know your statistics, you know that a 6 digit passcode made up of only numbers has a possible 1 million combinations.  Whereas a 6 digit passcode, made up of 3 letters and 3 numbers that may be repeated, has a possible 8,000,000 combinations. (only 20 letters may be used – since the registry excluded vowels)

However, the new license plates aren’t just pretty permutations.  They have other new features as well, intended to prevent falsification and “cloning”.

Laser and hologram images engraved on the plates.

•  Visible seals.
•  A matching sticker must be placed in a visible location on the windshield.
•  They cost more: 8,000 colones for motorcycles and 15,000 for cars and trucks.

All vehicles in the country must change their license plate within 3 years, according to a timetable that will be established by the registry.  The good news is that the Registry plans to open new facilities to deal with the more than 1,000,000 vehicles that will have to go through this process.

Another feature is that vehicle owners may now choose their plate number, for an additional fee of 20,000 colones.  This means that you will be able to choose your ending plate number, which could be useful if there is particular day of the week you don’t normally need to drive in San Jose. It could also allow you to buy a second vehicle with a matching ending number, with the intention of changing it at a later date.

New License Plates Revealed originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 13 March 2012.

Buying a Car in Costa Rica – If you would like to purchase a vehicle in Costa Rica, we can help you make the process as hassle-free as possible.  This page offers the details of the service we provide for a very reasonable fee.

Makes and Models – this section offers articles on different brands and models available in Costa Rica.  The features, pros and cons of different vehicles. We also discuss whether parts are available and whether they can be repaired by most mechanics or not.

Costa Rica Automotive Info – this section offers articles on many aspects: tips on buying a car, discussing advantages of diesel vs. gasoline engines, tips on passing the RTV inspection, handling a traffic stop, changes to the traffic law, tips on buying accessories, and much more.

If you have suggestions or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us with our form.

WheelsCR.com – Info on Getting and Using a Vehicle originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 12 March 2012.

Thanks for all your help with the purchase of the vehicle. The service provided was excellent, fast and efficient. We appreciate all your efforts in sourcing suitable cars, arranging the appointments, driving us around, and arranging the insurance, etc.

We would most certainly be recommending your company to any of our friends that one day might be interested in coming to live in Costa Rica.

We really are enjoying the car, with the only issue being a slow leak in one of the back tires that we will need to have fixed in San Joaquin.

Thanks again and look forward to seeing you once the license plates arrive.

Enjoy.

Garry McMullen
David Phipps

Thanks Before Thanksgiving originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 15 November 2011.

I mentioned my  concern to Julio Cesar Delgado G. at the the time we were trying the car out and he assurred me the problem with the softness of the brakes had to do to with that they were new and had not settled in. Now, if I do not pump them up or if I only apply them, the pedal will go to the floor. This has been a slowly developing problem, becoming this serious last night.

I will contact Mr. Delgado today and I hope he will respond in a positive, rapid manner and correct to problem immediately. I will keep you informed as to his reaction and response to the 30 day guarantee.

Thank you John Martin

********** Afternoon Message

Julio, the owner was always very reachable, courteous and helpful. At first, he indicated his mechanic would not be available until Monday as today was the end of the work week. I politely told him that I would have no transportation this weekend and for much of Monday.

He told me that he would contact his mechanic to see if he could get to it this morning. Ten minutes later he called me and told me to bring the car in immediately as he had made arrangements to have the repair done. We did so.

He repaired the window control on the passenger side before having me follow him to the repair shop. He took me back to his agency and the my waiting family. We took a tour of the surrounding area. He called about an hour later with news that the car was repaired and at his agency.

We returned and it was ready with a new master cylinder, ready to go. He had one of his workers washing and polishing it, as good as an exterior detail job. I have driven the car and given lessons to Carolina this evening.

Needless to say, I am pleased with his response.

John

A Pleasant Resolution originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 4 November 2011.

The Galloper was never sold in the USA, but offers good value and economical operation.

If you have a vehicle that you have owned and that is commonly imported to Costa Rica, you may consider shipping the car to Costa Rica. This article explains the reasoning behind the high import duties, as well as some exceptions, including updated information on environmentally friendly taxes.  Before you ship a vehicle, read our previous article on Importing a Car to Costa Rica vs. Buying a Vehicle Here regarding the advantages of buying a vehicle from a reputable importer and cases where you should import a vehicle yourself. The information stated within is based on information provided at the Tax Ministry web site ( http://www.hacienda.go.cr )

Import Duties in Costa Rica – Basic Concepts

It is very important to note that the import duties are based on the value of the car according to customs authorities, not the actual price you paid for the car. In addition, the cost of shipping plus shipping insurance  The objective of the taxes is two fold, sales tax is collected at this time, rather than at the time of resale by the importer.  Secondly, there is a luxury item tax paid.  Since no autos are manufactured in Costa Rica, this is not a protectionist tax and vehicles were not included in exemptions brought about by the CAFTA agreement.   The concept of this taxing is that those who can afford to buy expensive objects should pay more taxes, in addition cars imported to Costa Rica require roads to run on, as well as other public services like traffic police, so vehicles coming in to the country should fund these items.

Tax tables and calculation

52.29% – Cars Less Than 3 Years Old - these are cars of the current year model and three year models prior; currently this would mean 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.

63.91% – Cars 4 and 5 Years Old – currently these are cars 2007 and 2006 model, 4 and 5 years older than the current year model.

79.03% – Cars 6 and More Years Old – any car older than 6 years, currently older than 2005.

According to a 2005 executive decree, 32458-H, the value of the calculation must be the higher of the receipt for purchase presented by the importer, or the value of the vehicle contained in the data base of the Tax Ministry (at CARTICA/AUTOVALOR linked to from the home page of the ministry web site).   Following is a sample calculation for importing a year 2000 Nissan Sentra.

Vehicle price - $2000 (about 1 million colones)

Shipping and Insurance - $700 (about 350,000 colones)

Total Value – 1,350,000 colones

Hacienda Value - 3,590,000 colones (value returned from on line query)

Importation Value - 1,651,400 colones (value returned from on line query)

Notes: Since the importation value is higher than the purchase price + shipping, this is the value to be used.   The online query for any vehicle returns two results, the Tax Ministry (Hacienda) Value and the Importation Value.  The Hacienda Value is used for calculation transfer or registration taxes, also the end of year “marchamo” taxes.  The importation Value is used to calculate import duties.

1,651,400 x 79.03 % = 1,282,183 colones
(approximately $2564 at an exchange rate of 500 colones to the dollar)

Import Duties on Motorcycles

Motorcycles also pay fairly high taxes, with the rates being as follows:

58.10% – Motorcycles 0-3 years old

46.48% – Motorcycles 4-5 years old

34.85% – Motorcycles 6+ years old

Import Duties on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

In 2006 the executive branch decreed that certain energy efficient vehicles could pay less luxury tax and import duties.  The decree established that the following vehicles could pay less:

Electric, Compressed Air, and Hydrogen - the decree established 0% tax rate on these vehicles. They must be new vehicles, and the importer must get certification from the MINAE (Environment Ministry) that the vehicle in question meets the required characteristics for this type of vehicle.

4 Cylinder Motorcycles - a 10% rate on certain taxes was established for 4 cycle motorcylces between 50cc and 250cc.

Hybrid Vehicles - new hybrid vehicles that have less than 2000cc gasoline engines get a 15% reduction in the luxury tax.  The vehicle must have certain characteristics and these must be certified by the manufacturer: 1) serial or parallel hybrid configuration with 2 propulsion systems, 2) combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor – either may be used to drive the vehicle but there must be at least 1 computer controlling the system, 3) the electric motor must be at least 10 kW 4) there must be a system for capturing kinetic energy during braking, 5) maintenance-free chemical energy source, for example a deep cycle lithium ion or nickel metal battery pack, of at least 48 volts.

Import Duties on Shipping a Car to Costa Rica originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 26 April 2011.

Getting an Exit Permit for Costa Rica Registered Vehicles

If you want to go see the Panama Canal or take a weekend trip to Nicaragua, then your car, truck, SUV or motorcycle with Costa Rican plates, must get a permit to leave the country.  This is something you can do yourself, although someone else can do it for you with a notarized letter.  The cost of the permit is about $11, but it is only  good for 15 working days, so you have to leave the country within about 3 weeks of the time you get the permit. Following is the low down on the procedure, which varies according to whether the vehicle is owned by an individual, company, NGO, government agency, or if it is in the process of being registered to a new owner.Basic Procedure for individual owners (physical persons)
1) All applications must be signed in the presence of the National Registry worker who receives the document.  Each applicant must present their identification.

2) If the registered owner is unable to present the application, it must be signed by the owner and the signature authenticated by a notary.
Download the Form You Need (right click recommended)

Time required: The permit is delivered immediately by the Registry if all requirements are met.

Fees & Stamps:
¢5000 Nacional Registry Fee

Stamps:

- ¢2,50 Nacional Registry
- ¢300,00 Nacional Registry
- ¢12,50 Fiscal
- ¢5,00 National Archive

If the application is notarized, a stamp of ¢250 from the Bar Association is required.

Consulting Validity of Permits:
Permits may be consulted in the Consulting Module of the National Registry, however consultations must be made by permit number, they are not available according to license plate. The screen will indicate the permit’s place of issue, date, time, expiration date, and name of issuer.

Special cases:

Your ID on title doesn’t match actual ID If the identification number is different from that which appears in the registry, then the applicant must present a notary certification that declares that it is the same person, or a sworn statement indicating to the Registry that indicates the circumstances, as well as freeing the National Registry from any responsibility, this must be notarized.  An authenticated copy may be presented, or the original and a copy which the registry worker will authenticate.

Vehicle Held In Company Name If the vehicle is registered in the name of a corporation, which is registered in the database of the National Registry, then the person applying for the permit does not need to present the “personería jurídica” (articles of incorporation). However, if the the entity which owns the vehicles is written into the TOMES archives, then there is a 5 work day waiting period due to the registry study that must be performed.  OR the applicant may present the articles of incorporation certifying who holds the power to act in the company’s name, this certificate must be notarized and less than 2 months old and a notarized copy may be presented.

Multiple Permits, Same Company If multiple permites are solicited in the name of the same company, only one “personería jurídica is necessary, but a copy of the identification of the person authorized to apply for the permit is needed.

Changes to Title Information in Progress Exit Permits may be processed even though changes in the characteristics of the vehicle are in process, for example color, motor number, etc.  Therefore copies of these requests are not necessary.

Car Loan Registered If the vehicle has a lein, then the lein holder must authorize the exit of the vehicle from Costa Rica. This authorization must be notarized, and a “certificación de personería jurídica” less than 60 days old must be presented. If there are several vehicles with the same lein holder, then only one authorization is needed if the applications are presented at the same time.

Taxi or Buses Vehicles with taxi or bus license plates, must also present the MOPT authorization, and the INS certification that the vehicle has extraterretorial insurance, both with an age of less than 1 month.

Tourism Vehicles Vehicles with tourism license plates, must also present the ICT authorization, and the INS certification that the vehicle has extraterretorial insurance.

Government or Public Institution Owned Vehicles with public institution or government plates, must present a letter requesting the permit from the appropriate administrator, on institution stationary and with an official seal.

University & Autonomous Institutions Vehicles with state university or autonomous institution plates, must present a letter requesting the permit from the representative, on institution stationary and with an official seal, plus “certificación de personería jurídica”.

Diplomatic or NGO Vehicles Vehicles with embassy or international organization plates, must present a letter requesting the permit from the representative or ambassador, and a note from the Ministry of Foreign Relations.  If the vehicle is in the name of an individual, then only a letter on institution stationary and with an official seal is needed.

Pensioner Cars Vehicles with Pensioner plates, must present a letter and a note from ICT certifying that the individual is up-to-date with their obligations.

Blocked Transfers of Ownership Any vehicle that has a defective transfer of ownership status, must supply a certified microfilm or digital copy of the transfer.

Applications via Power of Attorney If the application is presented with a limited power of attorney, it must be written into the public registry, either the original or a certified copy may be presented, or a plain photocopy may be presented with the original and certified by the Registry functionary.

Vehicles Named in Court Documents or Traffic Violations In accordance with Article 95 Paragraph d) of the National Property Registry Regulations, exit permits will not be granted for vehicles that are subject to judicial annotations (embargos, collisions, traffic violations, etc), the interested party must eliminate the annotation through normal channels or present authorization of the authority which created the annotation.

Permit for vehicle to leave Costa Rica (temporary exit) originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 7 April 2011.

Turbo Diesel Intercooler Engine - The best of both worlds?

If you are going to own a vehicle in Costa Rica, a big part of your life (and budget) is going to be spent filling her up.  Here is some information about fuel varieties, the national refinery and distribution system, and the choices you may make in buying a car. RECOPE – Distributors

In Costa Rica the national refinery (RECOPE) is in charge of all fuel importation.  At this time Costa Rica doesn’t produce petroleum, although there are a number of bio-fuel operations and China has expressed an interest in exploration.

But for the time being, all fuel is imported.  RECOPE refines about 30% of the national consumption, importing the rest already refined.

This means that buying gas isn’t very challenging.  The government refinery imports or refines all fuel sold in Costa Rica and also regulates the pricing of the different varieties.  There are a number of distributors throughout the country, with some being multinationals: Shell, Total, Castrol, and ELF come to mind.  Most are operated as local subsidiaries though and the difference in quality or service between brands is debatable.

A few years ago there was an explosion at a Shell station in Escazu, a mother and her 2 kids were killed.  Shell corporate washed their hands of the whole deal and blamed the local subsidiary, who subsequently went bankrupt I believe.

However, many locals believe that the corporations are less likely to alter the gas pumps to deliver less fuel, and also that they care for the fuel better during transport and storage.  There is a local organization of independent distributors, ENERSOL, and I have found the stations in this network to be clean and reliable.

Full Service Stations – Prices
All gas stations in Costa Rica are full service.  Since there is no price competition and the cost for wages is factored into the government regulated price, stations have never made the switch.  There may even be a goverment policy in place, in order to preserve the pump jockey jobs this industry generates. This means that you will always pay the same at the pump no matter where you fill up.  You want to check the meter when you ask for fuel, make sure that it resets when the operator lifts the nozzle.  An old trick is to put 3000 or 5000 colones into one vehicle and not hang up the nozzle properly. Which means that the next car in would start at whatever number.  Seeing the pump go back to zero eliminates that possibility.

The price of fuel here is often double that of fuel in the US, but about half of what you pay is tax. In theory this would go to fix the roads and also to plant trees to offset carbon emissions.  In practice it does not go to road repairs, but does go into the reforestation fund.   The price of fuel is a big reason most SUVs have small engines, with 3000cc being relatively large for a gasoline engine, and 2.5 liters being about standard for a diesel motor.

Gasoline vs. Diesel Engine
The big issue in terms of buying a vehicle here is the decision of gasoline vs. diesel motor.  Most sedans are gasoline engines, so it is more of a decision with SUVs or pickups.

• Advantages of Diesel: more fuel efficiency and less costly per liter.  Diesel engines have a longer useful life (500,000 kilometers vs. 300,000) Great power for towing or 4 x 4 situations.
• Advantages of Gasoline: More responsive on the road, passing trucks for example.  Better with automatic transmission, diesel tends to be sluggish except for CRDI versions.
• Non-issues: Cold weather start up. Diesel is available at all gas stations nationwide.

Note regarding Sulfur content.  (2007 and newer diesel vehicles from the US) Diesel is not popular for passenger vehicles in the US, so these are imported to Costa Rica as new cars from the manufacturer, or brought from Korea and Panama as used vehicles. If you did find a car in the US that you wanted to import, then you had to get a pre-2007 version. This is because new emissions controls were implemented for vehicles manufactured in that model year.  The equipment on the vehicle would be damaged by the high sulfur diesel sold in Costa Rica.  However, this changed in January of 2011, when RECOPE switched to a low sulpher diesel.  This fuel now has 50 particles per million, as opposed to the previous 500 parts per million.  See the article at Fijatevos.com : RECOPE Introduces Low Sulfur Diesel

Alternative Fuels
- LPG - Some SUVs have been converted from gasoline to LPG gas, which is cheaper per liter. One mechanic I talked to said that there is a concern regarding this, when the engine is a newer model.  The old steel blocks are good for LPG conversions, whereas newer alloy engine blocks may not hold up over time to a corrosive effect that the gas has.  We have not helped any client purchase an LPG vehicle, but this would be an important issue to research. LPG is available at a number of gas stations around the country.

- Bio Diesel – Bio-diesel is not readily available for sale around the country, but it could be possible to make your own and use it without any special permits required.  A waste oil or vegetable oil adapter could be a great option, most are installed with a secondary tank, so that you can still use regular diesel or bio diesel, often this is necessary for starting the vehicle when cold.

- Electric – Electric or hybrid cars fit very well with Costa Rica’s green image.  One drawback that proponents of electric cars in many countries face is that a lot of electricity in the grid is from coal-fired plants, so the “greenity” of the electric vehicle is questionable — it wouldn’t appear to reduce emissions any more than an efficient gas powered vehicle.  However, in Costa Rica this isn’t an issue, up to 95% of our power is generated through renewable means.  This percentage drops a bit in dry season, when the capacity of hydro plants is reduced due to less rainfall.

Costa Rica Fuels: Gasoline, Diesel, LPG, and more originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 9 March 2011.

Jeep Wrangler Close-up

Many of our clients for the car buying assistance service are in the process of relocating and have not yet established a bank account.  But they would prefer not to wait to buy their vehicle until they get an account.  There are a number of ways to arrange for payment of the auto, but the best one for you may depend on your budget (the amount to be transferred to Costa Rica), and also where (or who) you intend to buy the car from.  For example, currently a wire transfer to the dealer’s account is the best option in most cases.  But if you are buying from a private party or a dealer you’ve just met, then it wouldn’t be wise to wire the money into their account and expect to pick up the car a few days later.  They will probably be in Rio spending your money on wine and loose women!

Traveler’s Checks – Good for amounts around $5000 or so

You pay 1% or so at your bank in the US and pay another 1% at the bank here. There can be a surcharge when taking the money away in $, often 1 colon per dollar. Be careful when cashing checks, you must specify to the cashier that you are getting cash, which is then to be deposited into the person’s account. Otherwise the teller may flag it as a direct deposit, which will freeze the funds for 12 to 45 business days and which obviously would delay the transfer of ownership!

Wire transfer

Wiring money costs $35 service fee in the U.S., and the banks here charge $7 to $15 to the account receiving the money, some dealers charge you that fee as well. This is much better for large amounts, like over 10 or 15 thousand dollars. You have to check with your bank before you leave to see what their procedure is, many require a PIN number to be set up personally that you can then use to authorize transfers on the Internet or by telephone. Very few dealers, but some, have US bank accounts that could also be used.

You also want to know what information they require regarding the person receiving the money according to the location of the receiving account.  The banks here in Costa Rica have intermediary accounts, so transfers may be made to any account at any local bank.  They may also be into an account that is not US dollars. (see the section on Exchange Rate)

Purchase with Credit Card

Dealers are not able to accept credit cards, because merchant accounts here have 7% fee ! Neither the dealer or most clients are willing to take that kind of a hit. See the debit card section for more specifics.

Debit Card & Cash Advances on Credit Card - good for small amounts

A debit card used to be a very good option that a number of clients used successfully.  For small amounts, under $2000 it works pretty well.  However because of new restrictions intended to counter-act money laundering activities, banks will not perform the service for large amounts unless you also have an account there. You can go to the bank and deposit into any account using a debit card and there is only a small fee. You have the option of taking cash from the bank, or also purchasing a bank manager’s / cashier’s check. A cash advance on the credit card is also feasible, you may fund your credit card by paying in advance and circumvent cash advance limits in some cases.

If it is in the Cirrus or Plus network, that is ideal, bank cards that are not in these networks will normally have problems for this purpose, even though they do work at many ATMs here. At a minimum using a VISA or MASTERCARD is necessary.  The fees vary, your “home” bank will charge a fee, as will the local bank.  Here the charge will be from $1 to $15.

If you think you would use this option, it is imperative that you discuss your intentions with someone knowledgeable at your bank. You ideally would be able to get a direct number to the international or credit / debit card department that you could call in case of problems with the “advance”. You will need to temporarily increase your advance limits on the debit card, normally this only works for a few hours or days, so having a ready way to call your bank and talk directly to the right person is important. It is much better to have the procedure unique to your bank worked out in advance, since it is less than ideal to try to sort through this after a long day of car shopping.

Exchange Rate

The prices of the vehicles are generally stated in colones.  So be aware that the fluctuating exchange rate may come into play. For example, you were quoted a price in colones of 7.5 million and converted that to $15,000 at 500 colones to the dollar for reference. The following day you initiate a wire transfer, which gets into the dealer’s account 2 business days later.  In the meantime, the dollar has dropped 3 “points” to 497.  So the $15,000 you transferred is now worth only 7455000 colones. You will have to make up the difference of 45,000 colones in this case.

Paying for a Vehicle if You Don’t Have a Costa Rican Bank Account originally appeared on Costa Rica Car Site - WheelsCR.com on 24 February 2011.