If you have a car in Costa Rica there're certain things you should know before you start driving around the country, like that there is a insurence required:

"Insurance Required for all vehicles in the country, covers injury and death of people (pedestrians and occupants of the vehicle), victims of a traffic accident, whether or not the driver's subjective responsibility" Traffic Act 7331. "

If you just want to rent a car with all this insures up to date look of for the form at our home page Costa Rica Real Estate.

This insurance is charged every year after the second fortnight of November and is incorporated in the bill of Rights Movement known as "Marchamo" of each vehicle.

Breakdown of items of the "Marchamo" fee:

• Compulsory Automobile Insurance(CAI) 16.76%
• Road Safety Contribution 5.42%
• Property Tax and Sales CAI 68.44%
• Traffic Fines 2.30%
• Parking meters 1.40%
• Fire Service Contribution - Law 8653 0.68%
• Various (municipal tax, etc.) 5.00%

The CAI provides health care services, surgical, pharmaceutical and rehabilitation services, cash benefits for permanent total disability or death and funeral expenses of those who are injured or died as a result of the accident.

From January 1st 2011 the Compulsory Automobile Insurance coverage (SOA) will be up to ¢ 6,000,000.00 per person killed or injured. In severe cases with medical endorsement, coverage may be increased ¢12.000.000.00 per person.