In A Race To
Obtain Your Costa Rican Drivers License
If you have been thinking of obtaining your
Costa Rican drivers license now is a good
time to do so, for come September 23, 2009
the fine for driving without a license or an
expired license will be ¢106.800 colones and
points that will be added to your license if
and when you obtain one.
The current fine is ¢2.600 colones plus
costs.
The new Ley de Tránsito which is expected to
take full effect on September 23, will
require everyone behind the wheel of a
vehicle to have a Costa Rican drivers
license.
This requirements includes foreigners living
in Costa Rica, with the only exception is
for visitors who can driver with the license
from their home country as long as they are
within the "tourist visa" period and a
passport to confirm such. The tourist visa
period for North Americans and Europeans is
90 days, while 30 days for most other
countries.
And as such the lines at the Consejo de
Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) of the Ministerio de
Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) in La
Uruca and other regional centres, have been
long for the past week.
The long lines include first time drivers,
those with expired licenses and some
foreigners deciding to obtain their Costa
Rican drivers license.
The number of people at the La Uruca Conavi
offices has been more than 1.000 people
daily as for such the Conavi will remain
open up to 6pm daily (two additional hours).
License renewals can also be obtained at the
Banco de Costa Rica branch in La Uruca and
other branches, but only with an
appointment. To make an appointment at the
BCR the number is 800 227-24-82.
Foreigners who want to obtain their Costa
Rican drivers license, however, must
personally visit the Conavi offices in La
Uruca and regional offices, presenting their
home country drivers license and passport
with the entry stamp and a medical
certificate, which can be obtained easily
from medical offices located in the vicinity
of the Conavi.
Costa Rican drivers licenses will only be
issued, without the written and driving
test, to foreigners while in their "tourist
visa" period, after that they must present
proof of the written examination and the
driving test.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
