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Registro Will Repaint Fading
Plates
Have a license plate that the
paint is fading, chipping or
simply becoming unreadable?
Don't despair, the Registro
Nacional - the government agency
that issues the license plates -
to the rescue.
Worn, faded, damaged or altered
license plates do not cut at the
annual vehicle inspection and it
can mean a time consuming
process to obtain the "riteve"
sticker.
The frustration is more when the
damage is because of faulty
plates as the first step in
obtaining a replacement plate is
a visit to the Consejo Vial,
located in La Uruca, where the
owner of the plate has to obtain
a certificate that there are no
outstanding unpaid traffic
violations.
Depending on the time and day
that process can take hours.
Next step is a visit to the
Registro located in Zapote.
After filling out the required
form and purchasing the
stamps and another hour or so in
line, the request is processed
and are asked to return the next
day to pick up the plate or
plates.
Once the new plate or plates are
installed on the vehicle, the
process is completed with a
return visit to Riteve.
However, a fact that goes almost
unknown is that if the plate is
not damaged - ie. scratched or
altered - and are of the "newer
generation" of license plates -
license plates issued during the
past two years or so - you can
skip all the steps above, go to
window 8, ask for a repainting
of the plate or plates and one
half hour later you are done.
And the best of all is that the
service is free. Yes, there is
no charge for the repainting of
the plates. But, you need to
know this and know to ask for
it.
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