www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I would like to get some information form anyone about gettting a car to Costa Rica and how did guys have done. What I do know is that the taxes are outrageous but can some please explain how is the process of getting the car on a tourist visa works.

ie. - what shipping company, was the car brought to san jose from limon or any chance of a tax break ??????

Thank You

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

don't do it. Not worth the hassle. Like previously duties are outrageous.

Buy a small car in SJO

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" Lo Siento pero mi no pagar cien dolares por medio hora de malo sexo, preguntar del gordo hombre con la camisa Miami Hurricanes, El Pagar Dos cientos dolares Y llegar addicional dinero para taxi.

One company and info- http://www.limonagency.com/ship.htm

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

The other site that you need is the amount of duties. Go to
www.la-tigre.com/autos.html. Near the bottom of the page is the hacienda link with the actual amounts that cars recently imported have been assessed. I know there is a great tendency to import a car that you are familiar with and know the history of, but when you do the math you will see that similar cars are several thousands of dollars cheaper in Costa Rica. ( check prices at www.nacion.com or www.supereconomicos.com)

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If it floats, flies or fucks, rent it, dont buy it.

I brought in a car. It was very easy to do but it was 7 years ago....and the situation changes all the time. I brought in a 15 year old car that had no miles on it(rare) and got a deal on the duties. Taxes on cars newer than five years old have always been very high. Older cars are better tax wise.

If you have a special car that you love...do it. I shipped from California. You want to ship to San Jose if you ship....the car comes all the way here and you don't have to go to the port. You can ship on a space available basis and save lots of money. When I did it...the six month life of the beginning permit started when MY SIX MONTHS STARTED...NOT WHEN THE CAR GOT HERE!!!!!So if you have been here for three months you will have three months before you have to register it.

If you need an attorney to help you...and you do....e-mail me some time for the name of a wonderful friend(tica) who did mine.

I just importeda Mitsubishi Montero 1997 US cost $5750. By the time I
got it here( took almost 10 weeks) and paid all the dues, it ended
up costing $13,000.00 + and every thing loose was stolen. I may have picked the wrong agency but I would not recomment it.

I guess this is the thread where the Rubber meats the Road .

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"Run silent, run deep"
Spunk glazed Chicas are the building blocks of the universe!

Thought this would be a good place to explain what happens when you go to buy a NEW car in Costa Rica:
I currently own a 92 Hundai Elantra with an unspecified amount of kilometers on it (way over 100,000K). While the car is acceptable, it's been giving me a few problems of late and I'm finding myself spending more money on fixing the various problems than I care too.
For this reason, I've been watching the ads and thinking about buying a new small car for my city driving. I looked at the Toyota Yaris, Dihatsu Charade, even the new Geely line from China. Price was very high on the Yaris but acceptable on the Geely (just over 10K. US). Being that the Geely is new and didn't have a track record, I kind of passed. Then I saw a little Chevy called the Spark. It looked like an aerodynamic Charade. Curious, I paid a visit to the local Chevy dealer (Disexport) which is across the street from Fogos. I liked it and I liked the price which was 10K. I learned that its been out in Europe for 5 years and is a hot seller. It's Korean but GM bought the company, so thats why its available as a Chevy. It gets 75 miles to the gallon! In addition the dealer offered me 2,000.00 for my piece of shit Elantra. I took a test drive and was sold - even though its only a 3 clyn - it had twice as much gumption than the underpowered Elantra.

The dealer told me that $500.00 would reserve the car for me. I took the plunge and gave him $500.00. He told me that when I come back with 7500.00 and my car, I could get the Spark in 4 days (lots of paperwork in Costa Rica due to duty and import probs).
On Oct. 12, I wrote a check for 7500.00 from my B of A account to my Scotiabank account here in San Jose. Even though my funds were paid to my Scotiabank, by the B of A on the 16th of Oct., Scotia held the money for 14 working days before it was available to me. When the money was available, I got the cash and went to Disexport with the money and my car. I was then told that because of a backlog at Customs, it would be 6 working days. They took the cash, gave me a receipt and told me to come back at 4:00PM on Nov. 9th.
So, even with cash and a trade, it will be almost a month before I have my new car. As most of you know, if you walk into a dealer in the US with cash and a trade, you are driving out of the dealership an hour later in your new car. NO SO IN COSTA RICA!!!
Just thought you'd like to know.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Thank you very much everyone I have to think about either shiping the car or selling the car and buying one in costa Rica. Once agian thank you all for such good information.

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

LVS, today os Nov.13 and I was wondering if you're car was available on time when they said it was.

I got it Thurs., Nov 9th. Almost one month after I gave them a deposit.
To make up for the delay, they gave me a full tank of gas and paid my marchamo for 2007.
BUT, I'm very happy with the car - its fun to drive, gets excellent mileage and has more zip than my old Elantra.
LVS

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.