Marchamo

December 31 was the deadline for paying our marchamo, or vehicle registration in Costa Rica. Just like in the US, not paying the marchamo on time puts you at risk of a fine, but here, getting caught for procrastination will more than wreck your day. If stopped and found to have an out of date marchamo, the officer will not only issue you a ticket, but will also take your license plates on the spot. The fine is no big deal, but getting your plates back includes more than one long line and a stamp from a judge in the end. Since everyone in Costa Rica has to pay their marchamo at the same time, cops hit the streets specifically in search of violators. So, if you are new to Costa Rica and have a tendency for tardiness, make sure to take care of that little detail quick.