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Those who own a vehicle in Costa Rica should know about the Vehicle Inspection or RTV, also known as RITEVE or DEKRA. All new or used vehicles must pass RTV every year before they’re allowed to circulate on the country’s public roads. At Godutch Realty, we sell homes and land in the Central Valley, but we like updating our clients about everything when they start their due diligence process.
What is RTV for?
The technical vehicle inspection (RTV) is a fundamental process to ensure the correct operation of vehicles on the road. Its main objective is to detect possible anomalies that may affect the active and passive safety of vehicles, thus ensuring optimal conditions for their circulation.
At the beginning of the process, the identification of the vehicle is verified, ensuring that data such as chassis number, engine, year, model, and license plate match those registered in the official documentation.The RTV procedure involves a thorough technical inspection that evaluates various aspects of the vehicles.
Visible
The RTV sticker must be carried on the right side of the car’s windshield (passenger side). On a motorbike, the stick should be on the right side of the gas tank. You don’t carry a valid RITEVE sticker? Then, you are bound to receive a ticket, and a traffic inspector can confiscate your license plates.
The RTV, the Marchamo sticker, and the 3rd license plate (also a sticker) are the three stickers you should worry about always being up to date in Costa Rica if you don’t want to run into trouble with the law when driving a vehicle.
Where is to get the RTV test?
RTV means Revisión Técnica Vehicular or Technical Vehicle Revision. This is not to be mistaken with RITEVE, which was the first company assigned; the service was taken over by DEKRA in October 2022.
Dekra offers 13 revision stations in different locations throughout the country and 3 mobile units. You can schedule an appointment directly by clicking the Dekra website, then search for the inspection stations – estaciones de inspection – and make the appointment from there, as shown below. You can also go directly to the DEKRA booking site.
Before the vehicle can be inspected, RTV will identify it by controlling the VIN number, chassis number, and license plates. Then, they will inspect the vehicle thoroughly inside and out.
The cost of RTV
The cost of the inspections depends on the type of vehicle. Any changes of these prices must appear in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
When is it your turn for the Riteve inspection?
Check the last number of your license plate for the month of your inspection:
| THE LAST DIGIT OF THE NUMBER PLATE | MONTH |
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 0 | October |
Import a vehicle
When you import a vehicle from another country, before it is allowed to circulate, you must take it to the vehicle inspection for approval first .
Purchase a used vehicle
When you purchase a used car in Costa Rica, play it safe and oblige the seller to get the RTV approved before purchasing. Some used car dealers roll back the odometer to alter the mileage.
Some used cars (mostly sold by used car dealerships) seem to have been wrecked or salvaged and are patched up before being sold in Costa Rica. Before you purchase a used car from the US, check it on CarFax first. You will be amazed to see how easy it is to purchase vehicles like that from the US yourself. Check here. If you are buying a vehicle like that, you might have surprises waiting for your first inspection.
What will Riteve check?
The RTV checklist is a mile long, but emission control is one of the most important revisions on the list. I find it easier to ask my mechanic to take the car a week before my Riteve inspection and check everything thoroughly. Then he will make the appointment for the inspection and take it there himself. Unless you are a mechanic or know a lot about cars, why bother trying to do it yourself if you don’t know what will need to get fixed and how?
As usual, I appreciate you reading my blogs. We appreciate your business when you are ready to purchase or sell real estate in the Central Valley and any referrals you can send us. Contact us now.
