Costa Rica’s New Marchamo Tag, Same Annual Bill

Costa Rica’s National Insurance Institute (INS) will begin taking 2027 marchamo payments on November 2, while drivers still face a December 31 deadline to pay without penalties. The annual charge now comes with a new electronic windshield tag: the paper sticker is going, but the yearly payment stays.

A new tag, an annual obligation

The INS will open its marchamo lookup at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 2. Vehicle owners can check what they owe and pay through the INS website, at INS branches and service points, through authorized agents, or by phone at 800-TELEINS. The institution advises checking early enough to identify unexpected charges, including unpaid traffic fines, before the deadline.

The electronic tag replaces the traditional paper windshield sticker for cars, buses and trucks. The INS has ordered 1.6 million tags, designed to last up to 10 years, but drivers will continue paying the marchamo annually. Motorcycles will keep the paper sticker while the INS tests the electronic tag under harsher conditions.

The tag uses passive radio-frequency identification, like a chip found in many access cards. It has no battery or GPS, the INS says, and cannot track where a vehicle travels. It responds only when an authorized reader scans it at close range to confirm that the vehicle is cleared to circulate.

The institution’s account describes a system built around authorized readers and proof of clearance. Drivers must still show their circulation document if an officer asks. That proof will be emailed to the address supplied at payment and can also be downloaded from the INS website or INS Móvil app.

The cost lands on vehicle owners

The mandatory insurance included in the marchamo, known as SOA, rises 5.4% for private vehicles, 4.5% for motorcycles and 12.4% for buses. Rates fall for taxis, light and heavy cargo vehicles, and special equipment.

Across vehicle types, the weighted average SOA premium increases about 4% to ₡46,700 ($102), a rise of ₡1,811 ($4), according to the Superintendency of Insurance (Sugese). That average isn’t every owner’s bill; the cost depends on vehicle type. The full marchamo total also includes vehicle property tax, unpaid traffic fines and other charges, so it won’t necessarily rise by the same percentage as the insurance component.

Superintendent of Insurance Tomás Soley linked part of the increase to a 15% rise in the number of people injured in traffic crashes between 2024 and 2025. SOA pays for medical care and disability benefits for people injured in crashes, not vehicle repairs. Coverage remains ₡6 million ($13,100) per injured person.

Digital convenience, institutional control

The tag is designed to break apart if someone peels it off, preventing transfer to another vehicle. Owners must clean the glass before applying it. If they apply it incorrectly or replace the windshield, they’ll need a new tag from the INS—another point at which access to the system runs through the institution.

The electronic tag was first planned for 2024, then delayed by procurement problems, including a tender declared void, as well as privacy and cybersecurity concerns raised by experts. The INS says the device has no GPS and cannot track vehicle travel; the source does not describe a community-run alternative or a change to the annual payment requirement. The paper sticker changes. The yearly charge, official clearance process and possible penalties remain.