Marchamo 2027, explained — and checked by plate
The marchamo is Costa Rica's annual road tax and mandatory insurance, bundled into one payment. Here's what it is, how the amount is set, when to pay — and how to check any car's marchamo before you buy.
Check the exact marchamo by plate
Runs the official registry check — the real amount and whether it's paid.
Estimate by fiscal value
Enter the Hacienda fiscal value (usually lower than market price).
Don't know it? Look it up by plate at Hacienda →Estimate — IPV is exact (Decreto 44867-H); insurance & stamps are averages. Check by plate for the precise figure.
Get the exact number by plate →What the marchamo is
The marchamo is the annual circulation permit (derecho de circulación) that makes a car legal to drive for the year. It's a bundle, collected by the state insurer INS: the vehicle property tax (IPV, the road-tax portion and the largest piece), the obligatory third-party insurance (SOA), and small fixed stamps (COSEVI, CONAVI, Red Cross, fire service, education). Because the insurance is baked in, letting it lapse means the car is uninsured — not just unpaid.
How the amount is calculated
The driver is your car's fiscal value (valor fiscal) — the figure Hacienda assigns to your make/model/year, usually lower than market price. The road-tax portion (IPV) is applied on a progressive bracket scale: a fixed minimum for the lowest values, then rising marginal rates on the value in each higher band. Insurance and stamps are added on top.
| Fiscal value band | Rate on the portion in this band |
|---|---|
| Up to ₡220,000 — fixed minimum ₡23 100 | ₡23 100 |
| Over ₡220 000 up to ₡3 010 000 | 0.60% |
| Over ₡3 010 000 up to ₡4 000 000 | 1.80% |
| Over ₡4 000 000 up to ₡5 010 000 | 2.10% |
| Over ₡5 010 000 up to ₡6 010 000 | 2.50% |
| Over ₡6 010 000 up to ₡10 010 000 | 2.80% |
| Over ₡10 010 000 up to ₡13 020 000 | 3.15% |
| Over ₡13 020 000 and up | 3.50% |
When you pay — the marchamo season
The payment window for marchamo 2027 opens in about 46 days (early November) and closes December 31. Pay it and the permit covers the coming road year.
Why it matters before you buy
An unpaid or lapsed marchamo, like unpaid fines, follows the car — it becomes your problem the day you buy it. Checking the plate first tells you the road permit is current and there's no balance riding along with the vehicle.
Marchamo FAQ
What does "marchamo" mean in English?
There's no clean one-word translation — it's a combined annual road tax plus mandatory insurance sticker. English-speaking owners just say "marchamo"; searching "Costa Rica car tax" won't get you far.
Is the marchamo a tax or insurance?
Both. The largest part is the vehicle property tax (IPV), a significant part is the mandatory SOA insurance from INS, plus small fixed stamps — all paid together.
How much is my marchamo?
It's driven by your car's Hacienda fiscal value (usually below market price), with the IPV rate applied on a rising bracket scale, then insurance and stamps added. Newer, higher-value cars pay more. Look it up by plate for the exact figure.
Can I check the marchamo for a car I don't own yet?
Yes — the amount and status are tied to the plate, so you can check any car before buying. VerifiedCR folds the marchamo status into a single color verdict alongside the rest of the registry.
What happens if it isn't paid?
Penalties and interest accrue, the car can't legally circulate, and the mandatory insurance lapses. If you buy a car with an outstanding marchamo, that liability can follow the vehicle.