Car Prices in Costa Rica: Why Vehicles Cost More and What to Do
Every car here is imported and taxed, so prices run high, but a smart buy still holds its value.
Car prices in Costa Rica run well above what most Americans and Canadians expect, often thousands of dollars more for the same model and year. The reason is simple: every vehicle is imported, and import duties, an excise tax of 30 to 50 percent, and 13 percent sales tax all stack on top of a government assigned value.
Why are cars so expensive in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica does not build cars. Every vehicle on the road arrived by ship, and the tax bill starts stacking the moment it lands. According to the U.S. Commercial Service country guide for Costa Rica (updated June 2026), new and used vehicles pay an excise tax of 30 to 50 percent depending on the model, plus the 13 percent value added tax that applies to most goods. General customs duties in Costa Rica run 1 to 15 percent on top of that. Electric vehicles get a five year partial exemption from the excise tax, which is one reason you now see so many new EVs around Guanacaste.
The same guide notes the result: the median car in Costa Rica is 18 years old. People buy carefully, maintain what they own, and keep vehicles far longer than the typical North American owner. That behavior feeds the second surprise: used cars hold their value here to a degree that feels strange at first. The car you buy today will still be worth real money in five years.
What do used cars actually cost in 2026?
Here are real asking prices we pulled from crautos.com, the country's largest car classifieds site, on August 13, 2026. The site's reference exchange rate that day was 460 colones per dollar, and its dollar figures are approximate:
- 2007 Toyota Yaris: 3,650,000 colones, about $7,900
- 2006 Toyota RAV4 Sport: 5,700,000 colones, about $12,400
- 2011 Toyota Corolla: 4,600,000 colones, about $10,000
- 2012 Kia Sorento AWD: 6,500,000 colones, about $14,100
- 2014 Honda Civic: 5,975,000 colones, about $13,000
- 2021 Mitsubishi Montero Sport: 19,500,000 colones, about $42,400
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: 12,800,000 colones, about $27,800
Asking prices are not final prices, and negotiating is normal. Still, the pattern explains why car prices in Costa Rica startle newcomers: a 20 year old RAV4 listed above five million colones tells you exactly how import taxes ripple through the market. The honest flip side is that slow depreciation works for you when you sell. Expats who buy a solid used Toyota or Mitsubishi, keep the maintenance records, and sell three years later often lose less money than they would have on the same car back home.
Should you import your car or buy one locally?
Most people who ask us this have a paid off vehicle in the garage back home, so shipping it feels free. It is not. Costa Rica taxes imported vehicles on the value the Ministry of Finance (Hacienda) assigns through its Auto Valor system, not on what you paid, and the cost of shipping gets added into that taxable value. Under the schedule reported by Q Costa Rica, combined import taxes on used vehicles ran 52.29 percent of the taxable value for cars up to five years old and 73.21 percent for cars six years and older, and an earlier schedule reached 79.03 percent. Rates get adjusted, so have a licensed customs broker quote the current numbers before you book a container.
Our general advice matches what we wrote in 8 Things to Leave Behind When You Move to Costa Rica: unless your vehicle is nearly new, specialized, or irreplaceable to you, sell it at home and buy here. You skip the port paperwork, the storage fees, and the risk of a tax bill based on a value you never agreed to. You also end up with a car that was sold new for this market, which matters when you need parts in Liberia on a Tuesday.
What does it cost to keep a car on the road here?
Budget for three recurring items beyond fuel.
The marchamo. This is the annual circulation payment every owner makes. It bundles the vehicle property tax, calculated on the fiscal value Hacienda assigns your car, with the mandatory SOA liability insurance. It goes on sale in November and must be paid by December 31 to keep the car legal for the new year. For 2026, local reporting put the smallest passenger car payments around 74,000 colones for a 1989 Mitsubishi, while the owner of a 2018 Ferrari owed more than 7 million. A mid range SUV lands well between those extremes, and the fiscal value of your specific vehicle drives the number.
The technical inspection. Vehicles must pass a periodic technical inspection at stations run by Dekra, the international inspection company that operates across Costa Rica. Inspectors check brakes, lights, emissions, and suspension. Keep the sticker current, because police checkpoints do look for it.
Maintenance. Parts are imported and taxed like everything else, and our roads punish suspensions. We wrote honestly about that in The Roads of Costa Rica. Plan on spending more for tires, shocks, and alignments than you did at home, especially if you explore unpaved beach roads.
How do you buy a used car safely in Costa Rica?
Buying a car in Costa Rica is a title transfer before a notary, closer to a small real estate closing than a handshake in a parking lot. A few rules keep you safe:
- Check the title in the National Registry. Liens, unpaid fines, and infractions attach to the car, not to the seller. Your attorney or notary can pull the report quickly.
- Use a notary for the transfer. The transfer deed is what actually changes ownership. Transfer taxes and notary fees apply, so ask for a full written quote up front instead of a verbal estimate.
- Pay for a mechanical inspection. A pre purchase inspection costs little compared to a hidden gearbox problem on a car with no warranty.
- Confirm the marchamo and inspection are current. Unpaid amounts become your problem at the next renewal.
The principle is the same one we push in our post on hiring a good lawyer: in Costa Rica the registry is what counts, so verify everything before money moves.
Do you really need a car in Playas del Coco?
Honestly, not always, and this is where car prices in Costa Rica stop being scary. Downtown Coco is walkable: groceries, pharmacies, restaurants, and the beach sit within a short stroll of most condos, and taxis cover the rest. Plenty of owners in our rental program visit for weeks at a time and never rent a car. If you live here full time, though, a car earns its keep the first time you want an early surf run to a quiet beach or a big supply trip to Liberia. Green season back roads reward ground clearance, which is why so many residents end up in a small 4x4 or SUV. Our notes in Driving in Costa Rica cover what that looks like day to day.
A practical path for new arrivals: rent for your first month or two, learn which trips you actually take, then buy once. That sequence, plus the numbers above, almost always beats shipping a car sight unseen. For wider budgeting context, our guide to the cost of living in Costa Rica puts vehicle costs alongside housing, food, and utilities.
We drive these roads every week, and we are happy to share what running a car here really costs. If you are planning a move to the Coco area, browse our current listings or send us a message and Expat Properties | CR will give you straight answers, car questions included.
Frequently asked questions
Why are cars so expensive in Costa Rica?
Every vehicle is imported and taxed in layers. The U.S. Commercial Service guide lists an excise tax of 30 to 50 percent on new and used vehicles plus 13 percent value added tax, with customs duties on top. Taxes are charged on a government assigned value, so prices end up far above U.S. levels for the same car.
Is it cheaper to import a car to Costa Rica or buy one there?
For most people, buying locally wins. Import taxes are charged on the value Hacienda assigns through its Auto Valor system, shipping costs are added to the taxable value, and older cars pay the highest percentages. Unless your vehicle is nearly new or truly special, selling at home and buying in Costa Rica is simpler and often cheaper.
What is the marchamo and when is it due?
The marchamo is Costa Rica's annual circulation payment. It bundles the vehicle property tax, based on your car's fiscal value, with mandatory SOA liability insurance. It goes on sale each November and must be paid by December 31. The amount scales with vehicle value, so a newer SUV pays far more than an older sedan.
Cover photo: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
