Your Costa Rica Car Site – WheelsCR.com

On some web sites people recommend importing a vehicle yourself rather than buying a vehicle that is already in Costa Rica.  A common concern cited is that cars coming in are flood damaged — Katrina Kars — or wrecked vehicles.  But, often the person giving this advice is a customs broker !  To be fair, we also earn money providing a service to people who buy cars here, so if you import a vehicle yourself, then we obviously can’t help you or earn our keep. This article attempts to objectively look at the issue and offer you advice depending on your situation. [Read More]

Two door version Toyota RAV4 1998-1999 models

A lot of people have been told to use an S.A. to buy the car, for the purpose of asset protection. This may or may not be good advice. Some lawyers charge $500 and more to set up the company and there are some disadvantages you will encounter:

• You will always need an up to date “personería juridica” when you do something with the car (RTV inspection, insure it, pay the annual marchamo – property tax, base insurance)
• The company has to file a tax return each year in September and pay a stamp in March. This is obligatory, whether or not you have economic activity in the company.
• The legislative assembly is discussing a tax bill that will charge $200 annually for companies.
• Being in an S.A. protects the car in case you are sued, but the vehicle is more likely a source of liability (due to accidents) so in most cases the protection is limited.
• Board members – you need to have different members of the board and a legal representative. This can cause problems later, for example if the lawyer fires his secretary and she is on your board, then you will have to replace her. An unscrupulous or careless attorney can cause you to lose control of the company that will own the vehicle if people are granted powers in the incorporation that they should not have. Ask your attorney about making a Responsibilidad Limitada (partnership or sole proprietor) rather than a Sociedad Anonima (S.A.) to avoid this.

Advantages

Are there advantages to having the company own a car? You may want to have the car in a company name if it will mean you can declare it for local taxes or you are using it for a business. It does protect the vehicle if you are faced with a civil suit for some reason not related to the car, so if it is a very expensive car and this is a consideration, you may want to have it in a company. If you are arrested for some reason having the car in a company name could protect it. If you have an accident with the car, the car could not be placed under a lien as a part of the civil suit arising from the accident. If you do decide to use a company, make sure:

• The company should not own bank accounts or real estate, only the vehicle. (unless it is a related business enterprise)
• Consult with your lawyer or CPA about what documents you must file for the company and when.
• Get a personería jurídica from your lawyer. This can also be obtained when necessary from the service window at the Registro Nacional, it is pretty straightforward process that anyone can do.

Vehicle registration in Costa Rica goes through the National Registry

In Costa Rica, vehicle registration or transfer done using a lawyer one of 2 ways.  Transfer costs are roughly 3.5 % of the fiscal value of the car according to tables the Registry uses; which may be higher, lower or the same as market value. You can base it on market value to get a rough estimate, this should include lawyer’s fees and all taxes. [Read More]