motor scooters

Ummm.... NONE?! 

OK... had to laugh when I read this and the above answer is a bit tongue in cheek but... I've seen entire FAMILIES on ONE scooter... no helmets, puttering down the road.

Although the police wear nice helmets on their scooters so I'd have to assume there may be a helmet law.

You will need a special motorcycle drivers license doesnt mater the size of the motor if it has any motor at all you need a license.

Also watch for the holes  they cause a lot of crashes.  Me two crashes and my wife one because of holes at night.

There is a helmet law. The most dangerous drivers are not cars
its other cyclists they will pass you on the left or right wherever they think there is enough room  so keep your ride in a perfectly straight line  dont vary or swerve  this is what cause the most crashes.  there isnt a law that requires you use your headlight during the day but i use mine.

Hi Bard, how hard is to get a license to drive a motor bike? Do you have to take a test prior to getting it, and is it on the road or just a written test?

jerry reidelbach

According to the DOT (MOPT) website, you will need to do a written and a driving test, you will also need to take a physical exam and pay 4000 colones. You will be required to produce a passport or DIMEX.
I do not think it is hard. You can see a lot of idiots driving motorcycles in CR.
If you get a license, please be very careful.

Thanks very much for the info, maybe I will get a bicycle built for two instead.

hi Jerry
you have to take a written and drivers test.  The testing guy cant ride with you so he watches you go around a couple of cones
----very easy.  A good lawyer can go get you a license w/o you going anywhere near the drivers agency---- that is what I recommend.  I dont know the cost of that service these days but it used to be around $100 a long time ago.

I know there is a lawyer that posts here alot but I looked at his website and it doesnt state his name anywhere which I find to be abnormal.  If you do end up with a lawyer  dont go to one unless you have a recommendation from someone you trust and that person has been using the lawyer for a long time.

I believe there are 13 law schools here and a lawyer for about every 100 people.  Try to get a lawyer that graduated from the University of Costa Rica law School  which is one of the best law schools in Latin America  only really smart people can get in.  Kind of like Yale in the US.

Hi Bard, thanks for the info. in regards to the test, I have a lawyer that will be taking care of our Residency, so I will bring up the licensing and see if she can help.

Jerry, thanks for the thanks, I do want to take issue with some comments on this subject. I can drive a car, a truck, a horse a motorcycle a boat and an airplane.  No group of any of these people are all idiots.  It just so happens that many bikers are Young men and they drive anything they get ahold of faster and maybe a Little bit more reckless.  I know I did.  In CR cars and gasolina are expensive for everyone and relatively huge for the national income hence you have a large group of people forced to ride bikes out of necessity not because they want to.  We like to ride bikes, freedom and fresh air and we are careful about it.  But these riders of necessity arent that way they dont want a bike they want a car and maybe they are a Little po/ed and they take it out on the road
But please dont call all motorcycle riders idiots.  I have seen
the worst car drivers of my life on these roads and I could call them all idiots but I dont.  There isnt much drivers education here its a poor country, the roads are bad, lots of rain and curves and mountains.

bard,

I apologize if my comment about motorcyclist in Costa Rica offended you. It was not my intention to cause you any trouble.
I agree that not all motorcycle drivers are idiots, but the majority are. The fact that this is a poor country and that indeed there is very little driver education does not take away the fact that motorcyclists drive like idiots (or negligently if you may).

I find offense in the way that motorcyclist drive because they cause a lot of accidents, and the costs of their insurance is transferred to all other drivers (or car insurance, rather). If you recall, last year the motorcyclists made a huge protest because INS was going to increase their marchamo and insurance. Unfortunately, the INS backed down, which means that all other drivers have to bear the costs of motorcyclists negligence. If I recall correctly, the costs of medical care for this group of people represents 60% of INS disbursements related to medical care for automobile accidents for FY2012. So, motorcyclists are burden to the insurance system.

By the way, University of Costa Rica is not like Yale. I would like you to explain to us how you came up with the conclusion that it is one of the best law schools of Latin America.  As you noted, not all motorcycle drivers are idiots, which is true. Similarly, UCR law school is not full of smart students nor its alumni are all smart.  By the same token, not all Yale graduates are smart either. For instance, George W Busch graduated from Yale.

I am an attorney and I graduated from Universidad Latina class 2005. I did not go to UCR because I was not smart, I did not go there because I had to work and pay bills. Unfortunately, the UCR schedule only accommodates to students who are supported by rich parents.  I know that you do not like to generalize, but the country is full of mediocre attorneys, whether they are from UCR or any of the other 12 schools that you mention. Thus, I decided to go study abroad and obtained an LLM from the Law School at the University of New York in Buffalo. By the way, I graduated with honors and was the best of my class and I am not from UCR.

Rafael Valverde
Outlier Legal Services

license

@ idislikebase-goal13 --> ??? Do you have some information to share on the subject?

jerry reidelbach wrote:

Hi,I will be moving to CR soon and would like to know what the requirements where on riding motor scooters in CR?

As of January 2013 there were a number of rule/law changes re motorcycles "moto's".  MOPT no longer requires a separate license to ride a moto.  You only need your U.S./Canadian driver's license.  With that you can obtain a Costa Rican driver's license. You do not have to take any tests. I only have my U.S. license and no one has ever questioned it.

You do have to wear a DOT approved helmet and you are required to wear a reflective vest.  If you are out on back country roads it's not as big of deal.

Due to gas being around $5.95 per gallon, I ride a moto the majority of the time and I ride all over the country.  I have been stopped at check points many, many times and have had no problems.  They usually just glance at my license and then take my Cedula information.  If you are stopped at one of these check points and do not have a good helmet and the reflective vest, you will get a ticket.

Many motorcyclist do ride like they are insane - and no, not all.  It's strange but the majority of car drivers here are more respectful of motorcyclist than they are in the States.  It may be because there are a lot more motos on the road so they're used to seeing them.  I was surprised that motorcyclist are just as rude to other motorcyclist as they are to the cars.  I had a little scooter pass me the other day and was so close when he passed that if I put my elbow out I would have hit him.  I ride respectfully but at the same time VERY defensively. 

For safety, I would also recommend not to get anything less than a 200cc bike.  (150cc w/one rider, or 200cc+ for two)  Remember it's a mountainous country and if you go too slow up the hills, some car driver's will tailgate you so close that if you touch your brake you will get hit.

- Dave

Hi Dave, thanks for replying back on this topic, I hear so many different answers in regards to the law on this, but I think you clarified it for me. Do you have a CR license or just your USA. license? When I apply for my residence on arrival should I plan on getting my CR license prior to getting my papers, or do I have to wait till I have my card in hand? The last time I rode a bike was in 1968, I had a Honda Dream 305. I guess this really shows my age, but I think it will be fun to live it again. As far as size of bike, do you recommend a scooter or basic 200-250 street bike for the local streets in Grecia and the surrounding local areas?

jerry reid wrote:

Hi Dave, thanks for replying back on this topic, I hear so many different answers in regards to the law on this, but I think you clarified it for me. Do you have a CR license or just your USA. license? When I apply for my residence on arrival should I plan on getting my CR license prior to getting my papers, or do I have to wait till I have my card in hand? The last time I rode a bike was in 1968, I had a Honda Dream 305. I guess this really shows my age, but I think it will be fun to live it again. As far as size of bike, do you recommend a scooter or basic 200-250 street bike for the local streets in Grecia and the surrounding local areas?

Hola Jerry,

My story on getting my CR license is a good one and A typical of CR.  I went with an attorney to get my license in San Jose when I first arrived four years ago.  First you get your blood tested, yes, I am serious, then you walk over to another building a few block away to confirm that you're here legally, then you walk a ways to another building, waiting each time of course, and in this final building one person goes through my paperwork, confirms it's accurate and then sends me up to an old antique of a woman upstairs.  She looks at my paperwork and then looks at my U.S. driver's license.  She then says "no" in her grumpy little way.  I speak no Espanol at that time and my attorney is not allowed to come up with me.  Fortunately, there is a Tico waiting with me that spoke very good English.  He talked with the "fun little lady" and explained that my U.S. driver's license is not valid because it's a "motorcycle license."  I had him explain to her that the very tiny writing on the "back" of my driver's license is a "motorcycle endorsement."  Further, that we do not have a separate license for motorcycles in the States.  Her grumpy little response - NO.  This went on for a while and I was denied a CR license.

Well, a month later my U.S. license expired and you cannot get a CR license using an expired U.S. license.  So, I use an expired U.S. license because the only other way to get a CR license now is to take a test in Espanol and I don't read it well enough to do that.  I can't renew my license in the States as I am no longer a resident.  The almighty "Catch-22."  Fortunately for me, no one's ever noticed when I've been stopped that it's expired.

You can obtain your CR license upon arrival - don't wait.  I would strongly advise taking someone with you.  You HAVE to do it in San Jose and not at the local office.  And, it would be a nightmare to try and figure out on your own.  And being a newbie, very frustrating.  Oh, take a book.  I can refer you to who I used if you want.

Yep, my first bike was a Honda 350 when I just turned 16.  Was embarrassed to tell the guy I bought it from that I didn't know how to ride it so I was in first gear alllll the way home.

Type of bike is definitely a personal choice.  I ride a UM DSR 200.  It's a Korean bike.  And it's an enduro (on/off road type).  I like it because I like riding on the back roads when I feel like it and don't have to worry about any pot holes...sometimes pot "crevices."  I have been both surprised and happy with it.  I wanted a Honda but at more than double the price, decided to try a UM.  I have had no problems, parts are here and they have a large dealership in San Jose and a smaller one here in San Ramon.  I was surprised because of the price difference I really did "expect" problems 0 problems.

Actually, what I really wanted was a Vespa 300I but with import tax, etc. it came to over $14,000. by the time I'd get it here.  The UM was only $2,200 with tax, etc.

Let me know when you're ready to go for a cruise!

- Dave

Dave, good story on getting your license, at least I will be prepared to wait when I do go for it , maybe being a senior citizen they will let me cut in line. LOL.

kohlerias wrote:

Until you have been in CR to even consider getting a motorbike or scooter, seems a good idea....
Chances are you may change your mind, once you see the traffic and the road conditions without taking the changeable weather into consideration. You cannot get a DL for a car though until you have your cedula, in hand and at this time is taking a year or more..
Don't forget to purchase extra life insurance...

Sorry Kohlerias, but this information you provided is not correct.  You do NOT need a Cedula to obtain a driver's license in Costa Rica.  Most Gringos that come here and plan to stay more than three months, obtain their driver's license within the first few weeks, as did I.

- Dave

Kohlerias is absolutely right.  The rules have changed and I checked with the attorney we are using for our residency.

Sorry, I stand corrected.  And yes, I am now a resident, happily for four years.

- Dave

No problem Dave, the rules change faster than I change my .......... wait I had blue ones on yesterday!!!

I don't understand why my initial post on this subject and several others I responded too, have been deleted?

None of that has anything to do and is no excuse for wreckless driving, illegal passing driving on sidewalks and breaking every law on the books!! Bad thing (or good for them) the police DONT enforce laws for motos...or I've yet to see it. I have a scooter. I also drive like an idiot ( so my wife says) but when the traffic is like driving in India....with holes big enough to lose a small child...you do what you gotta do to get from point A to B before children are grown:-)

Hi Rafenc > just to inform you that this thread is inactive since 2013.

So there is no expat.com anymore?

Thank you for your contribution on this thread. You might not get a reply as this topic is inactive. You can start a new topic on the forum and share your expat experience.

😩💦 This is all new to me. How do I do that? Feel people show know what the Travel Agency propaganda doesn't tell you. I have been very surprised and disappointed with Costa Rica.

Hi Rafenc > i contacted you privately.

Hey guys...new here but I agree with you both on the moto drivers. They do drive like madmen and a lot are very disrespectful but the traffic here is unbelievably HORRIBLE and I think they are just trying to get from point A to point B in a reasonable time. When/why does it take 30 min to go 10 kilometers! I saw this on WAZE and couldn't believe it! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! Too many car for Too few and too small roads! I drive a scooter and a Harley in US...very differently! I hate to admit it but I have become one of the crazies here....out of necessity! I can get to where I want to go and return before someone driving a car can get there! A sad fact but true. Weaving through traffic is legal here. Police do it as well. When I first came here it made me furious😡 Now I understand. Here it's like rush hour in US..ALL DAY...everyday!
As for the Law degree issues...I have no dog in that fight!!!
By the way, does anyone know of a good moto mechanic? With all the Moros here you would think they would be easy to find...not the case.

I also own a scooter in Tamarindo.  bought it brand new just before I left in Mar/17.  It sure will be a challenge driving in CR. but a lot easier to get from point A to point B.

As of this week the law requires that you have an actual  motorbike license.

Rahstingo wrote:

Hey guys...new here but I agree with you both on the moto drivers. They do drive like madmen and a lot are very disrespectful but the traffic here is unbelievably HORRIBLE and I think they are just trying to get from point A to point B in a reasonable time. When/why does it take 30 min to go 10 kilometers! I saw this on WAZE and couldn't believe it! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! Too many car for Too few and too small roads! I drive a scooter and a Harley in US...very differently! I hate to admit it but I have become one of the crazies here....out of necessity! I can get to where I want to go and return before someone driving a car can get there! A sad fact but true. Weaving through traffic is legal here. Police do it as well. When I first came here it made me furious😡 Now I understand. Here it's like rush hour in US..ALL DAY...everyday!
As for the Law degree issues...I have no dog in that fight!!!
By the way, does anyone know of a good moto mechanic? With all the Moros here you would think they would be easy to find...not the case.

Hola Rahstingo,

Welcome to Expat.com!

Just as not all of the car driver's drive like they're insane, the same can be said for moto drivers.  There are A LOT of bad drivers here and they definitely stand above the good drivers.  I've ridden since I was sixteen and ride a BMW here in CR.  I at all times ride cautiously and assume no one can see me and assume that if a person signals left, they very well may turn right.  It's kept me safe so far.  It's rare that I go for a ride without using my horn.  If I even "think" someone doesn't see me, I use my horn - and it's a loud horn.

If traffic is moving excessively slow I also go around it "in a safe manner."  When I rode in slow California traffic it was also legal to go between the outside two lanes.  There, just as here, for some strange psychological reason, drivers in the cars get angry about it.  I think it's the same mentality of when I leave plenty of space between a car ahead of me - driver's behind me get angry about it.  No rhyme or reason.  It's not putting them further behind, not slowing them down, but they get angry and honk at me.  In both cases, I guess they just hate being left behind???   

As crazy as traffic is here, I actually feel safer riding here than I did in the States.  There are a lot more motos on the road here on a daily basis than what a car driver would see in the States.  They're used to seeing motos so I think notice them more.  I almost never have cars pulling out in front of me here.  In the States it was a regular occurrence.

For general motorcycle repair, I have used a guy in San Ramon for years.  For anything major, I go down the coast to a Canadian BMW mechanic.  Both have done very good work for me.  I get my parts from the States.  The BMW dealership in San Jose is a joke.  Their prices are ridiculous and their mechanics are comical - no clue what they're doing.

- Expat Dave
Expat.com Team Member

Hello, Dave. Can you give me a phone number for the mechanic in   San Ramon? Finding a trustworthy mechanic   is very hard

I think you'll  find it easier than you think. I was a bit nervous the first week. Going in between cars was a new experience for me. It not legal in NC. Drivers here are used to it. Just be careful about mirrors!! Sometimes it looks like you have room BUT remember you have mirrors that stick out as well as the cars!! Have fun! It is sooo much faster to get where you're going, as well a parking. They have special places for Moros!!

MauroN wrote:

Hello, Dave. Can you give me a phone number for the mechanic in   San Ramon? Finding a trustworthy mechanic   is very hard

I think this is his number 8825-7391.

To get to his shop:
Going in on the "no left turn street," (the road by the auto carwash), go past Jorcel's on your right and take the next road to your left.  (The road many people take to go around the downtown.)
At the stop sign, turn left.
His garage is the second building going up the hill on your left.  There is a hand painted "moto reparar" above the door.

As with all mechanics I've used here, you have to tell him "exactly" what you want him to do.  They are used to people not wanting to spend any more than they have to and therefore only do the minimum. 

And for those that don't know how things work here - that is how we give directions here in CR.  We don't have addresses and very few street signs/names, so you just give directions in this way.  Surprisingly, after a while you don't give it a second thought.   

- Expat Dave

Saw you request about a mechanic. Not sure where you are but this guy is in San Jise area. Last Friday my scoiter just stopped running.  I called this guy Cristian. He came to me...found problem..went do part and I was readi in 29 minutes. Charged me $10...I gave him $20!!!
8955-2226 Cristian. Great guy. Knows his stuff. Good luck

Tuchee on George Bush😱💦
Another issue with the moto is that it has also increased taxes! I have a scooter (ok I get a little crazy sometimes but mostly at my own peril not others) and my wife has car. She pays maybe $40 more than i do for my scooter. I was btchng about it and she (a Tica) informed me it was because of all the moto accidents.
By the way is a law degree, or any other for that matter, reciprocal in CR? Are most/a large number of attorneys in CR incompetent ? I would have to say in my experience...YES! I was leaving PO in. Zapote. Two cars stopped to let me out. A moto passed the stopped cars ON THE LEFT and hit my car $1,500 damage and because he decide to go to hospital(he was not hurt only scrapes) it has become a cluster fck! Finally fired my attorney and went with the government appointed attorney and things seem to be much better. He has contacts, my private attorney just wanted to drag things out so he could charge $200 a pop to hold my hand in court and do NOTHING! He ask ME to get the traffic laws and reports so he could look at them! Also police showed up after 3 hours. Took out a tape measure, Had us exchange info and did not say who was at fault or give a citation to moto driver! In this country you are guilty until proven innocent. That is the law here!

I have a question and can't seem to get clarification anywhere on internet. I have a car and a scooter. Most places have an assigned area for moto parking. Is it a LAW that you have to park there? Had a recent disagreement with a security guy ( wannabe cops!) when I parked in a regular parking space, because the moto area was very inconvienient. He told be to move. I refused and noted that there were no signs saying the spaces were for cars ONLY and ask him to show me one if there was. He just walked away. A friend has a big ass Harley and moto areas are not sufficient for a moto that big....

Quick comment on driving in CR,
I have been to CR 3 times and every time on the highway from San Jose to Jaco when the road is two lanes the cars speed up to 60mph or more way above the legal limit, but when the road funnels back down to one lane traffic always slows to well below the posted limit.
At first I though this was due to overloaded underpowered small trucks which would be fine with me as IMO, you have to do the best you can with what you have. Honestly I would have no problem waiting for a Tico in an underpowered vehicle to make his/her way up the mountain.
However after studying the phenomena it becomes clear that the vast majority of the time it is just Tico's in modern capable cars being A##holes and intentionally slowing down to block traffic behind them and speeding up (pedal to the floor) whenever two lanes open up to keep others from passing....talk about aggressive driving.
Hate to hurt feelings, but what a moronic way to drive and what a sad police force/society to not attempt stop it.
This common tactic increases the drive time from SJ to Jaco by probably 30-40% and no doubt increases the danger by a factor of 4 or more.
Rant over ;-)