How to Buy a Used Car from a Private Seller in Costa Rica, Step by Step
To buy a used car safely from a private seller in Costa Rica: compare the price with the market, check the marchamo, the Registro Nacional record and COSEVI fines, have an independent mechanic inspect the car, negotiate, and sign the traspaso (title transfer) before a notary within 30 days of the sale. By our estimate, on a ₡8,000,000 car the transfer costs about 4.6% to 5.8% in total (on cheaper cars the notary minimum weighs more), and a private sale of an already-registered car carries no IVA (VAT).
Amounts and percentages in this guide are as of October 2026. Have your notary confirm the final numbers.
Step 1: Search and Compare the Price
Start by knowing what the car is worth. On PuroCarro you can search by make, model, year, price, fuel, transmission, body type, mileage and location, and save searches with alerts.
Two references help you place the price:
- The price comparison on each listing. It compares the price with up to 50 similar listings from the last 12 months (same make, similar model, up to 2 years and 50,000 km apart) and places it on a bar: lowest 25% in green, middle 50% in yellow, highest 25% in gray. It appears when there are at least 20 similar listings, and it doesn't account for condition, extras, maintenance or history.
- The Bluebook. It shows the minimum, maximum, average and median price by make, model and year, with mileage stats.
If you're weighing a dealer used car with a warranty, see private seller vs. dealer-certified.
Step 2: Check the Marchamo
The marchamo is the annual circulation fee every car must pay. PuroCarro's free marchamo lookup shows, by plate, the marchamo amount and the car's fiscal value. You'll need the fiscal value in Step 7, because transfer taxes are charged on the higher of that value and the sale price.
Besides property tax and the mandatory SOA insurance, the marchamo includes any pending traffic and parking fines. Ask the seller whether this year's is paid and ask for the receipt.
Step 3: Get the Registro Nacional Record
The Registro Nacional's Literal Rápida de Bienes Muebles certifies the plate, vehicle and engine data, the registered owner and, most importantly:
- Liens (gravámenes), such as a pledge securing a loan.
- Annotations (anotaciones), pending proceedings or filings on the car.
- Recorded infractions and collisions.
You can buy it online at rnpdigital.com ("Consultas y Certificaciones"), at Registro offices or at authorized entities, with immediate delivery. To see how many owners the car has had, also order the Histórica de Propietarios certificate. Make sure the person selling is the owner on the record.
Step 4: Check COSEVI Fines
Look up traffic fines tied to the plate on the COSEVI site (csv.go.cr). If any are pending, agree with the seller on who pays them before you sign.
Step 5: Inspect the Car
Take the car to a mechanic you trust, not the seller's. Also confirm the RTV (the annual technical inspection, still widely called "Riteve") is current; it's due each year in the month set by the plate's last digit.
A low-cost first step: in 2024 Autopits launched a free pre-RTV check covering brakes, steering, suspension, lights, battery, emissions and tires. It doesn't replace a full mechanical inspection.
Step 6: Negotiate
Bring data. If the car sits in the high band of the price comparison or above the Bluebook median, use what the inspection found, pending fines or an unpaid marchamo to back your offer. On PuroCarro you talk to the seller directly through the site's chat, and PuroCarro takes no commission on the sale.
Agree in writing on who pays the transfer. By custom the buyer does, but no rule requires it.
Step 7: Sign the Transfer Before a Notary
The traspaso is signed before a Costa Rican notary, who drafts the deed (escritura).
- The seller brings the title, a current marchamo and a current RTV.
- The buyer brings ID and a driver's license.
- Source-of-funds affidavit: if the price is over $10,000, the buyer signs a sworn statement on where the money came from.
Transfer costs (as of October 2026)
The base is the higher of Hacienda's fiscal value and the sale price.
| Item | Rate | Example on a ₡8,000,000 base |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | 2.5% | ₡200,000 |
| Stamps (timbres) | ≈ 1% | ≈ ₡80,000 |
| Notary fees | 1% to 2% + 13% IVA (minimum ₡60,500) | ₡90,400 to ₡180,800 |
| Approximate total | ≈ ₡370,400 to ₡460,800 |
The example is illustrative; your notary will give you the exact figure.
No IVA on the car's price. Under Hacienda's Decree 44070-H, in force since August 2023, a private sale of an already-registered used car is not subject to IVA. IVA applies only to the notary's fees.
Deadlines
- Transfer: within 30 days of the sale.
- Transfer tax: paid within 15 business days.
- Registration: the Registro usually takes 5 to 10 business days to record the car in your name.
Until the Registro records the transfer, the car stays in the seller's name. Don't hand over the full payment without a signed deed.
Buyer's Checklist
| Step | Where | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Price comparison and Bluebook | The price is in line with similar cars |
| Marchamo | Marchamo lookup | It's paid; note the fiscal value |
| Registry | Literal Rápida at rnpdigital.com | Correct owner, no liens or annotations |
| History | Histórica de Propietarios | Number of previous owners |
| Fines | COSEVI (csv.go.cr) | Pending fines and who pays them |
| Mechanics | Independent mechanic | Overall condition, engine, transmission, chassis |
| RTV | RTV receipt | It's current |
| Payment | Notary | Deed signed before paying in full |
| Funds | Notary | Source-of-funds affidavit if over $10,000 |
| Deadline | Notary and Registro | Transfer within 30 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a car transfer cost in Costa Rica?
As of October 2026, a 2.5% transfer tax and about 1% in stamps on the higher of fiscal value and sale price, plus notary fees of 1% to 2% plus IVA, with a ₡60,500 minimum. On a ₡8,000,000 car the total is roughly ₡370,000 to ₡460,000.
Who pays for the transfer, buyer or seller?
By custom the buyer, but no rule requires it. Agree on it in writing before you see the notary.
Do I pay IVA when buying a used car from a private seller?
No. Under Decree 44070-H, a sale of an already-registered used car is not subject to IVA. Only the notary's fees carry IVA.
How do I know if a car has liens or debts?
Order the Literal Rápida de Bienes Muebles at rnpdigital.com. It shows liens, annotations, infractions and collisions. Check traffic fines with COSEVI.
How long do I have to complete the transfer?
The transfer must be done within 30 days of the sale, and the transfer tax paid within 15 business days.
Would importing a car be cheaper?
It depends on the model. Importing a petrol passenger car means estimated taxes of roughly 48% to 68% of customs value, plus paperwork. See buying locally vs. importing.
Bottom Line
Buying from a private seller works well if you run the checks in order: price, marchamo, Registro Nacional, fines, mechanic and, last, the transfer before a notary. Start by comparing prices in PuroCarro search and the Bluebook, and let your notary confirm the costs before you sign.