Costa Rica Relocation – When shipping a car or motorcycle to Costa Rica there are a number of things that will shock you and other things to consider after the initial shock. The experts are here to help.
Deciding to bring other more personal or sentimental items may come easier but whether to bring or leave your vehicle and the option of buying one in Costa Rica are concerns that have undoubtedly crossed your mind while you’re trying to stay excited about your move to Costa Rica and the more interesting parts of moving abroad.
Ultimately it’s entirely up to you and is a personal choice, of course, but the recommendation most accepted is to bring the vehicle you already own. This is mainly because you know it’s history. There is no Carfax in Costa Rica and you never know what you’re getting. Guarantees are almost non-existent and unreliable at best.
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Then there’s the cost issue. Here’s where it gets tough because either way it’s going to cost more than you hoped. That’s because vehicles are taxes between 52% and 79% import tax upon entering the country. This will either show up in the cost 
of the vehicle you buy here or as a tax you must pay directly that is perhaps higher than the value you estimate your vehicle is worth.
You must also remember that Costa Rica is now implementing a law that restricts vehicles age 12 or older to be shipped into Costa Rica. Although the law is not being enforced as of yet, the ocean shipping companies are not shipping any vehicles of these ages out.
If you live more than a few miles from the nearest town there is likely not a good enough public transportation system and you’ll need a vehicle. Even in the cities, buses are annoying and Uber is expensive.
You might want a change and decide to sell your vehicle for close to market value and then just buy another one with the money and perhaps a little extra investment when arriving in Costa Rica. This sounds appealing because you save the hassle of shipping and get a change in vehicle and country, everything has a fresh start.
On the other hand, keep in mind that because of the high cost of cars in Costa Rica people often hold onto them until they are almost useless and then sell them just before they fall apart.
Also keep in mind that companies specialize in shipping cars and motorcycles to Costa Rica and can take the difficult parts off your hands. They can ship it, process the import tax and even deliver your trustworthy vehicle to your new home in Costa Rica. This is all brought to you at about the same price you’d pay for a similar vehicle in Costa Rica or even a bit less.
