RICO’s Q — The 2026 Marchamo — vehicle circulation permit — became available for purchase on Monday, November 3.
Vehicle owners need to pay by December 31 to keep their rides legal for the year ahead and avoid late fees, daily interest charges, and possible fines and/or vehicle impounding from traffic authorities.
The Marchamo is a combination of various items:
- Vehicle property tax, calculated annually on the vehicle’s assessed value
- Seguro Obligatorio Automotor (SOA) – Mandatory insurance
- 13% sales tax (IVA) on the mandatory insurance
- A public transportation fee (if applicable)
- A contribution to the Road Safety Council (Cosevi)
- Outstanding traffic violations
- Wildlife and scout stamps
Who pays the most and the least for 2026?
The vehicle with the highest Marchamo for 2026 in the “PART-PARTICULAR” category is a 2018 Ferrari, which is required to pay ¢7,192,439 to be able to circulate.
Read more: Can you stick your 2026 Marchamo sticker without fear of being fined?
Conversely, the vehicle with the lowest is a 1989 Mitsubishi, which is required to pay ¢73,706 to be able to circulate.
Recognized as the oldest vehicle that still pays the annual Marchamo in Costa Rica as of November 2025, and has appeared in public events, is a 1919 Hudson Super Six, for which the owner pays ¢74,726 colones.
If you own multiple vehicles
If you own multiple vehicles, each license plate is treated separately. This means the amount you owe isn’t a combined total for all your vehicles. You can pay for one or some without it affecting the others registered in your name.
If you have an older car that’s no longer running or might not even be around anymore, but you never officially deregistered it, the INS will keep counting the unpaid years, tack on late fees, and add interest. Don’t worry, though—this won’t impact the registration of any other vehicles you own.