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Does anyone know the procedure for obtaining a Costa Rican driver’s license for the first time? Is there an issuing office on the NW Pacific Coast near Flamingo? I currently have a driver’s license from Canada.
It’s not hard – about a four hour process, be prepared to sit in a lot of line-ups. You have to apply for your first time driver’s license in San Jose. We paid a fellow $30 to drive us down town and take us through the process, but I feel it was money well spent. The first license is good for 2 years after which time you will be able to apply for your renewal at the license renewal office closest to where you live.
First time license you need to obtain in San Jose. Your current country license, passport and a medical across the street from the issuing office in San Jose, is all you need, along with some cash of course. I think it was $40 bucks, but don’t hold me to that. Don’t worry about the medical, if you’re breathing you’re good to go:)
If you have a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license, tell them at the drivers license office, if you want to keep the MC license current in CR. They will issue a drivers license and a MC license, separately. My license was from BC and there was no issue at all.
The process is easy if you pay someone to walk you through it. Go on your own, it could be a struggle. It took 10 minutes for the medical and about 20 for the license.
Once you have a license you can renew it in Liberia. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advice. Do you recall the name and number of the person that walked you through the process in San Jose?
Thanks for the reply and the advice about the motorcycle license. Do you happen to know the name/address of the licensing office in San Jose?
Yes his name and number is Richard 8840-3914. you could mention the lady from Costa Verde Inn gave you his number.
The office is in La Uruca, about 1 km east of Hospital Mexico. You find this hospital between the International Airport and San José (coming from airport on your right).
There are always people walking around to help you.
hhaha…. 30 dollars,
well im sorry but you got ripped off… I know this because my wifes family runs the company that you most likly got your docters certificit from… There are only two places to get your doctors approval in that area and my wifes family has over 80% of the biz.. I can tell you they don’t charge 30 dollars a person.
We received our medical in Puntarenas at a cost of $20. The guy we hired drove us down town and took us through the process, running back and forth between all the different offices. He did overcharge us, but we were glad to get it done, it would have been less if we had driven our own car, but we would have been frazzled by the time we got to the licensing office!! By the way, we also took him out for lunch!! LOL!!
Hi, maybe too late to be helpful, but I got my car and truck licence 2 months ago and the office is nolonger in San Jose but in La Uruca. Its on the main road from San Jose to Heredia, papaya colored, opposite the Mercades benz dealership. It cost 10,000 for a 5 minute medical inspection (total ripoff) and lots of guys hang around the entrance gate to “help you” 200 yards up the road to a dubious doctors office. Took 15 mins. Then, with the med cert, your home country licence in hand you have to walk all the way to the far end of the complex where they process the new licences. If you are getting a licence for the first time you need to go upstairs to see the “fat lady”. Depending on what you want you ask her nicely and she will grant it or not. A car licence is easy. My B2 truck licence was a fairly long conversation (half hour) as its not a standard thing and I’m female. As she pointed out several times – apparently girls don’t drive trucks in Costa Rica …often. She can ask you to go to your embassy to verify documents if she is in a foul mood. Be very nice! Then, when she has stamped your paper you go downstairs and line up on the right side to be entered into the computer. Then you need to pay for the licence (maybe $20, but can’t recall, sorry) and that means walking almost to the main road, and going into the bank on the left 10m before the main exit. Then you walk back through the complex to the licence building and line up on the right side again to see the guy you just saw to have entered in the computer that you paid. Then you line up on the left side for a digital photo. If you paid in advance of arriving you can skip the lines but I wasn’t sure what I was going to be asked to pay with the truck licence. Nothing extra as it turned out. Its fast. Especially if you go midweek and arrive at 8am. I was done by 10am with my new B2 licence in hand. Fabulous.
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