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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Costa Rica

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Costa Rica: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.

8

Required

2

Recommended

6

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Costa Rica

8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • Valid driving licence + passport

    UK/EU photocard licence is accepted for up to 180 days as a tourist, provided it is shown together with your passport bearing the entry stamp.

  • Mandatory insurance (SOA / INS)

    Third-party liability cover from INS (Seguro Obligatorio) is compulsory and included automatically in rentals; bringing your own car requires purchasing a temporary policy at the border.

  • Vehicle import permit for own car

    If driving your own foreign-plated vehicle you must obtain a temporary import permit (TIP) from Aduanas at the border, valid up to 90 days.

  • Drive on the right

    Traffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless explicitly signed.

  • Speed limits

    Motorway/autopista 100 km/h, rural roads 60-80 km/h, urban areas 40-50 km/h, school zones 25 km/h; speed cameras are common on Ruta 27.

  • Alcohol limit 0.5 g/L

    BAC limit is 0.50 g/L (0.20 g/L for new drivers); penalties under the Ley de Transito are severe and can include vehicle impoundment.

  • Seatbelts and phones

    Seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants, children under 12 must use approved restraints, and handheld phone use while driving is banned.

  • Warning triangles and hi-vis

    Vehicles must carry two reflective warning triangles and a reflective vest; rentals include these but check before leaving the depot.

Documents

Valid driving licence + passport

Required

UK/EU photocard licence is accepted for up to 180 days as a tourist, provided it is shown together with your passport bearing the entry stamp.

1949 IDP recommended

Recommended

Costa Rica recognises the 1949 Geneva IDP; carrying one alongside your home licence avoids disputes at police checks and is required by most rental firms.

Mandatory insurance (SOA / INS)

Required

Third-party liability cover from INS (Seguro Obligatorio) is compulsory and included automatically in rentals; bringing your own car requires purchasing a temporary policy at the border.

Vehicle import permit for own car

Required

If driving your own foreign-plated vehicle you must obtain a temporary import permit (TIP) from Aduanas at the border, valid up to 90 days.

Vignette

No vignette system

Good to know

Costa Rica has no motorway sticker or e-vignette; access to highways is free except where individual tolls (peajes) apply.

Tolls

Cash tolls on Ruta 27 and Ruta 32

Good to know

Toll booths charge roughly 200-900 colones (EUR 0.30-1.50) per plaza; carry small colones cash or use the Quick Pass transponder available to residents.

Driving rules

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless explicitly signed.

Speed limits

Required

Motorway/autopista 100 km/h, rural roads 60-80 km/h, urban areas 40-50 km/h, school zones 25 km/h; speed cameras are common on Ruta 27.

Alcohol limit 0.5 g/L

Required

BAC limit is 0.50 g/L (0.20 g/L for new drivers); penalties under the Ley de Transito are severe and can include vehicle impoundment.

Seatbelts and phones

Required

Seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants, children under 12 must use approved restraints, and handheld phone use while driving is banned.

Emergency number 911

Good to know

Dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire; Transito (traffic police) handle accidents and you must not move vehicles after a crash until they arrive.

Required equipment

Warning triangles and hi-vis

Required

Vehicles must carry two reflective warning triangles and a reflective vest; rentals include these but check before leaving the depot.

Environment

4x4 essential in rainy season

Recommended

From May to November many secondary roads to beaches (Nicoya, Osa) flood or wash out; a 4x4 with high clearance is strongly advised and often contractually required by rental firms.

River crossings and unpaved roads

Good to know

Many routes including parts of the Nicoya Peninsula involve fording rivers; never cross if water is above wheel-hub height and standard insurance excludes water damage.

Money

Currency and fuel

Good to know

Currency is the Costa Rican colon (CRC); petrol costs around 700 CRC/litre (~EUR 1.20) at nationally fixed prices, and stations are full-service with a small tip (200-500 CRC) customary.

Cards widely accepted

Good to know

Visa/Mastercard work at fuel stations, tolls increasingly accept cards, but keep small colones for rural sodas, parking wardens (cuidacarros) and minor tolls.

Plan your Costa Rica road trip

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Popular destinations in Costa Rica

Places to add to your Costa Rica road trip.

Don't get caught out

Watch out for these

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless explicitly signed.

Speed limits

Required

Motorway/autopista 100 km/h, rural roads 60-80 km/h, urban areas 40-50 km/h, school zones 25 km/h; speed cameras are common on Ruta 27.

Alcohol limit 0.5 g/L

Required

BAC limit is 0.50 g/L (0.20 g/L for new drivers); penalties under the Ley de Transito are severe and can include vehicle impoundment.

Seatbelts and phones

Required

Seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants, children under 12 must use approved restraints, and handheld phone use while driving is banned.