Costa Rica: vehicle history, steering and emissions
Selected legal requirements for permanently importing previously registered passenger cars from Korea were reread on 18 September 2026. The July 2026 inspection manual could not be obtained for review, so its implementation and individual vehicle eligibility remain unconfirmed.
Sources reviewedVehicle eligibility remains unconfirmed. Resolve the items below before purchase or shipment.
Original left or central steering
The steering wheel must be on the left or at the centre, according to the vehicle's original construction. Steering-position conversions are not accepted.
Check damage, identity and road-use history
Importation for registration is prohibited for vehicles declared a total loss, with unauthorised structural chassis joints or altered identification numbers, or withdrawn from circulation in the exporting country. The regulation defines withdrawal by technical, environmental or safety reasons that make road use prohibited, unsuitable or dangerous.
Emissions standards and the conditional twelve-year rule
Combustion-engine passenger cars up to 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight must meet Euro IV, Tier II or higher. The current decree schedules Euro VI, Tier III or higher from 1 January 2030. If the required emissions documents cannot be supplied, a used vehicle over twelve years old when nationalisation is requested cannot be nationalised; age is checked through its VIN.
Inspection before definitive customs clearance
Previously registered first-entry vehicles need an approved documentary and physical inspection before the definitive-import procedure can start. For normal permanent road use, National Registry registration, vehicle-inspection proof, circulation-payment proof, compulsory insurance and licence plates are required. The newer inspection manual's detailed implementation remains under review.
Documents and registration
Ownership record and notarised declaration
Provide the original title or the legally recognised origin-country ownership-registration document, plus a notarised sworn declaration that the vehicle falls outside Article 5's prohibited categories and states its mileage. Where the origin country does not issue titles, the regulation specifies a competent-authority substitute and its formalities.
Individual emissions evidence
Article 8 requires an emissions conformity certificate or emissions-measurement report for each used first-entry vehicle. Certificates come from the manufacturer and measurement reports from a laboratory with accredited tests. Documents must be in Spanish or accompanied by an official translation. Non-compliance prevents nationalisation; the current verification procedure still needs confirmation.
Confirm before purchase
Still unconfirmed for your vehicle. Check with the relevant authority or receiving agent before purchase.
- MOPT lists an inspection manual published on 29 July 2026. Its text could not be retrieved during this review; its commencement, title-history checks and emissions-verification procedure remain unconfirmed.
- Confirm the individual Korean vehicle, ownership document, required authentication and authorised inspection arrangements before purchase or shipment.
- The complete customs and first-registration filing process, special import regimes, and the emissions exception for purchases or shipments begun before 30 May 2016 are outside this reviewed scope.
- Vehicle-specific taxes, customs valuation, statutory inspection and registration fees, freight and delivery times are not quoted.
- Our US$100 condition inspection is separate from Costa Rica's mandatory inspection, emissions verification, customs clearance and registration.
Shipping & costs
For Costa Rica, specify the receiving city and importer. Request a written offer showing the route, transport stages, delivery point, insurance and included charges. Confirm vehicle eligibility and required approvals before booking.
What goes into the cost?
Send the vehicle listing, quantity and delivery point. Eligibility and required approvals must be confirmed before arranging shipment. Freight and departure dates need a current offer.
Vehicle purchase
Confirm the vehicle price, invoice and payment recipient.
Vehicle inspection — US$100
Our pre-purchase condition inspection; separate from required government testing or certification.
Korea-side preparation
Request itemized inland transport, export documents, handling and loading.
International freight & insurance
Confirm the route, shipping method, insurance, quote validity and exclusions.
Destination charges
Ask your receiving agent about handling, customs, taxes, registration and delivery costs.
Inspection & next steps
- Send your vehicle details.
Share a listing or your preferred model, year and budget.
- Confirm eligibility, then inspect — US$100.
Our vehicle condition inspection is separate from government testing or certification.
- Review the shipping offer.
Confirm the route, costs and required approvals before booking.
Official sources & review dates
View 4 official sources and review notes
Source publication or amendment dates and our review dates are listed separately.
- Law 9078 — Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, Articles 4, 5 and 32(d) ↗Asamblea Legislativa — current text published by PGR / SINALEVIOriginal law published: Effective: Reviewed: Read the official consolidated text identified as version 31 of 31, dated 5 August 2026. The original publication and commencement dates are distinct from this latest version date. Selected import, steering and road-use provisions were checked against Decree 41837.
- Decree 41837-H-MOPT — Regulation implementing Article 5 of the Traffic Law ↗Poder Ejecutivo — current text published by PGR / SINALEVIOriginal decree published: Effective: Reviewed: Read the official latest consolidated version, 2 of 2, dated 6 July 2022, including scope, definitions, documents, steering and pre-import inspection. The current law still identifies this regulation as in force. The July 2026 inspection manual could not be obtained for review, so its detailed implementation remains unresolved.
- Decree 39724-MOPT-MINAE-S — Emissions regulation, Articles 7–8 and transitional provisions ↗Poder Ejecutivo — current text published by PGR / SINALEVIOriginal decree published: Effective: Reviewed: Read the official latest consolidated version, 7 of 7, dated 4 May 2026, and the amendment history. Article 8's restriction for vehicles over twelve years is conditional on the required emissions documents being unavailable. Pre-publication purchases or shipments have a separate transitional provision.
- Decree 45779-MOPT-MINAE-S — 2026 amendment of the emissions standard timetable ↗Poder Ejecutivo — original amendment published by PGR / SINALEVIAmendment published: Effective: Reviewed: Read all three articles and the official publication record. Signed on 4 May and effective on publication on 5 May 2026, this decree replaces Article 7 and repeals Decree 43646. It schedules Euro VI / Tier III or higher for 1 January 2030; the older 2027 timetable is excluded.