The “Marcharmo” is the annual minimum liability insurance you are required to pay for all vehicles, motorcycles, or ATVs in Costa Rica. You can pay the Marcharmo from November 1st to December 31st each year and the value is based on the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
The Marcharmo is not cheap and for a 2008 SUV I will pay around $800 this year, ouch! Even an older car, motorcycle, or ATV can pay around $200. This is a requirement and no way around it. In fact anyone caught after January 1st without the new decal on their front windshield will be subject to hefty fines and even getting your car impounded and towed. Best believe the “Traficos” / “Transitos” or Transit Police will be out in full force around the entire country stopping cars at various check point searching for current Marcharmo stickers.
You can pay your Marcharmo online, at any local bank, or insurance office. You can check how much you owe for Marcharmo and pay for it on the INS website. In order to pay your Marcharmo you have to have all traffic tickets and parking tickets paid and if not; they will be added to the total cost of your Marcharmo. You also have to have a current Revision Technica Vehiculo (R.T.V.) inspection sticker, which is the annual inspection every car, motorcycle, and ATV must pass to prove it is worthy of the road.
So pay your Marcharmo on time, or else your New Year will not start out too well!