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Costa Rica — Living: Transportation

Under Article 91 of Costa Rica's Transit Law, a valid foreign driver's license lets a visitor legally drive in Costa Rica for the duration of their authorized legal stay (up to 180 days for visitors from countries like the US and Canada), following a 2024 reform that fixed a prior mismatch where the traffic code cut off foreign-license driving at 90 days even when immigration allowed a longer stay. Once someone becomes a legal resident, they generally need to obtain a Costa Rican license. Public buses connect most towns and cities cheaply, but service is much less frequent or reliable in rural/remote areas, where a car (owned, rented, or via ride-hailing) is more practical.

VerifiedCosta Rican driving-law guides (costaricalaw.com, corderoabogados.com) describing Article 91 of the Transit Law and a 2024 reform aligning foreign-license validity with immigration stay length, corroborated across multiple legal sourcesLast reviewed: 2026-08-29

Why this matters

The 2024 reform meaningfully changed the rules — a foreign license is now valid for as long as the visitor's legal stay (up to 180 days for many nationalities), not capped at 90 days as under the old rule — which matters for anyone doing a long trial stay in Costa Rica before committing to residency.

Key facts

  • A valid foreign driver's license permits driving in Costa Rica for the length of the holder's authorized legal stay (commonly up to 180 days for US/Canadian and similar visitors), per Article 91 of the Transit Law as reformed in 2024.
  • Drivers must carry their passport with the entry stamp page as proof of legal status alongside their foreign license.
  • Once a person becomes a legal resident (not just a visitor), they are generally expected to obtain a Costa Rican driver's license rather than continue relying on a foreign one.
  • Public buses are widely available and inexpensive, connecting most towns, but service frequency and reliability drop significantly in rural and remote areas.
  • Ride-hailing apps (e.g., Uber) and taxis operate in San José and other major areas; car rental is common for reaching more remote regions, with rental companies typically requiring drivers to be at least 21.

Steps

  1. Drive on your foreign license while a visitor — Keep your passport with entry stamp on hand; your foreign license is valid for the length of your authorized tourist stay under the 2024 Article 91 reform.
  2. Get a Costa Rican license once you become a resident — Once your residency is approved, plan to obtain a local driver's license rather than continuing on your foreign one indefinitely.
  3. Plan around rural public transit gaps — If settling outside major towns, budget for a personal or rental vehicle given limited bus frequency in rural areas.

Costs

  • Public bus fare: Low-cost, varies by route and distance; not consistently published as a fixed figure — confirm locally
  • Costa Rican driver's license (for residents): Varies; not consistently published — confirm current fee with COSEVI (Consejo de Seguridad Vial)

Timelines

  • Foreign license validity as a visitor: Length of authorized legal stay, commonly up to 180 days for many nationalities (post-2024 reform)

Required documents

  • Valid passport with entry stamp
  • Valid foreign driver's license (for visitors)
  • Costa Rican driver's license (required once a legal resident)
  • Liability insurance (mandatory for vehicle owners)

Common mistakes

  • Assuming foreign licenses are only valid for 90 days — the 2024 reform extended this to match the length of the authorized legal stay (up to 180 days for many nationalities)
  • Continuing to drive on a foreign license indefinitely after becoming a legal resident, rather than obtaining a Costa Rican license
  • Assuming rural areas have the same bus frequency and reliability as San José and other major towns

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