RICO’S Q — Renewing your driver’s license in Costa Rica is a feat of some serious patience, though not as brutal as in the past, when lines at the Cosevi were hours long, then to get to almost the front, to be told it was too late.
Today, with the renewal process being done by the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), the brutality of the renewal process is two-fold: one to get a spot at one of the closest BCR branches and two, to get a spot in time before the license expires.
Licenses cannot be renewed more than 90 days to expiry. And it takes just about that long to get an open spot. In some cases, like in Guanacaste, with few BCR branches, it is almost impossible.
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In my case, I started by searching in mid-January, when it was pointed to me that my license was soon to expire. I searched for the earliest appointment I could get and found it at the BCR in Rohrmoser, for February 16, at 12:10 pm.
Searching is a hit-and-miss. If you have the patience, you can daily, or perhaps, multiple times a day. Almost to the day appointments can flash, this occurs when someone actually cancels their appointment and the BCR system is updated. You have to take it then and there as it will disappear quickly.
Remembering my experience of six years ago, as driving licenses are renewed every six years, I was armed with patience and made sure not to have any commitments for the afternoon.
Six years older I crossed the line into “adulto mayor” (senior citizen).
Costa Rica treats its seniors better than most. But since I am new at this concept, it was not on my mind at all, even though I did take advantage of use the preferred parking spaces at the front door.
The lines of people, as usual, was outside the door. The two armed guards checked their list of appointments and weapons to allow people to form the line inside, under cover of the sun and in air-conditioned space.
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In my case, the young lady took me aside and pointed to a lone chair where I could sit while waiting for my turn. This was 11:25 am. Way ahead of my 12:10 pm appointment. For those who have never been at a State bank, there is no lining up, there is sitting down and scooting over to the next seat as the “line” moves.
It had just dawned on me that the chair was for the “adulto mayor”. This branch, one of the too few that deals with the issuing of driving licenses and passports is different from the normal BCR branches and their preferential wickets.
I sat for a few minutes before I was called, taken from near the door to the other side of the branch, crossing in front of the others, to the wicket where in a few minutes I had my new driver’s license handed to me, and was out the door by 11:40 pm. A total of 15 minutes.
Surprising to say the least.
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The process to renew your driver’s license in Costa Rica:
- Make an appointment at a Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) branch. Use the link here to the BCR citas website.
- Get your “dictament medico” (medical certificate). This is now done digitally. The medical expert will provide you with a online reference number. I suggest your have a copy of the email with your.
- Pay any outstanding fines. Very important. And have the “comprobante” (receipt) with you. Also very important.
- If you are paying for the renewal cost (¢7,000 colones, the BCR website still says ¢10,000) with plastic make sure is a BCR product, otherwise only cash.
- Show for your appointment.
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