Motorcyclists Will Be Allowed To Pay Marchamo in Installments, INS Announced
The complaint of messengers using motos about the cost of the 2007 Marchamo - the annual circulation permit - prompted the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) to allow motorcyclists to pay their dues in installments, as long as they can prove they are working as messengers.

The messengers have complained on the high cost of the marchamo, which includes the cost of the obligatory insurance, among other items like property taxi, timbres, etc., which penalizes them for the number of traffic accidents involving motorcycles that has raised the cost of insurance.

The owner of a 2000 or newer scooter or motorcycle can pay as much or more of an owner of a 15 year old Mercedes Benz. The cost of the obligatory insurance is what make the marchamo for motorcycles costly. "

For example, the marchamo for a 1999 ADLY scooter is ¢61.440 colones of which ¢34.539 colones is for the obligatory insurance portion of the total cost. In contrast, a 1987 Mercedes Benz is ¢59.184 colones, of which ¢12.890 colones is the obligatory insurance. A 2001 Toyota or 2006 Jeep passenger vehicle pays the same amount of obligatory insurance.


Luis Ramírez, general manager of INS, said that the amount paid by motorcycle owners cannot be decreased, as the rate is set by an order of the Contraloría General de la República, who says that high risk vehicles like motorcycles and buses must pay more for insurance than the other types of vehicles.

"I believe the criteria by the Contraloría setting the rate is wrong as there should be a common rate", said Ramírez.

So, beginning this Monday, messengers can now pay their marchamo in three installments as long as they can prove to the INS that the motorcycle is being used to earn a living. The motorcycle owners will have to present a letter from their employer, indicating the license plate number, and confirming that the motorcycle is being used for messenger service.

The INS general manager added, however, that the marchamo sticker will not be given to the motorcyclist until the third installment is paid.

This raises a question of how the Policía de Tránsito will react facing a motorcycle that does not have the respective marchamo sticker. Neither Ramírez nor Tránsito officials were available yesterday to comment.

Many motorcyclists say that the obligatory insurance rate should be based on driving records and claims and that those with good driving records and no insurance claims are paying for those who are reckless.