2012 Marchamo Now On Sale

The 2012 Marchamo - Costa Rica's annual vehicle circulation permit - went on sale Tuesday and with a hefty increase in the mandatory insurance portion.

The insurance portion of the 2012 Marchamo for passenger vehicles is ¢15.903 up from ¢11.677 paid in 2011, a difference of ¢4.226 or 36%. Similar increases are for motorcycles, commercial and other vehicles.

Some 1.1 million vehicles are required to pay the Marchamo due payable by December 31, after which the driver and/or vehicle owner will be exposed to a fine and confiscation of license plates and/or vehicle.

In years past, when the collection of the Marchamo was only at INS agencies and approved INS registered insurance offices, where lines were long, there was a grace period of up to 15 days in January

Now, the Machamo can be paid also be paid at any bank or financial institution, there is no grace period, Tránsitos (traffic officials) are ready with pen and ticket book or PDA, worse yet with a screwdriver or two truck nearby, beginning on the the first day of January.

Remember, you must have the Riteve - annual vehicular inspection - current to pay the Marchamo. If not, you must have the vehicle inspected and wait for the INS database to be updated, which can be from 24 hours to a couple of days.

To check on your 2012 Marchamo, click on the link: http://marchamo.ins-cr.com/Marchamo/Marchamo/frmConsultaMarchamo.aspx