Can I Drive in Costa Rica With My Foreign License? (2026 Rules)

It’s one of the first questions people ask when they book a rental car: is my license from home actually legal in Costa Rica? Short answer: yes. A rule change in 2024 also made it simpler than most older guides on the internet say.

What changed in 2024 (and why old advice says “90 days”)

For years, Costa Rica’s Traffic Law (Law 9078, article 91) let tourists drive on a foreign license for only three months. That’s why so many blogs and forum posts still repeat the “90-day rule”.

In 2024 lawmakers reformed article 91, and since May 2024 a foreign license is valid for the same period as your legal stay. The change brought driving in line with immigration rules, which since 2023 allow tourist stays of up to 180 days.

Who can drive on a foreign license

Do you need an International Driving Permit?

Usually not. If your license is printed in the Latin alphabet (English, Spanish, French, German and so on), your home license alone is enough for the police and the rental counter.

An IDP is worth getting if your license uses a different script, such as Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic or Hebrew. Remember that an IDP is only a translation. It’s never valid on its own, so always carry it together with the original license.

What to carry every time you drive

• Your physical driver’s license. It must be valid (not expired) for your whole trip. Don’t rely on a digital or temporary paper license, because rental agencies often refuse them.
• Your passport with the entry stamp. Traffic police (Tránsito) check your entry date against the license. The original is safest. At minimum, carry a clear copy of the photo page and the entry stamp.
• The rental contract and car papers, which normally live in the glovebox.

What rental companies require

The law sets the minimum. Rental agencies add their own rules on top, and those vary by company:

• Minimum age: usually 21. Drivers under 25 often pay a young-driver fee, and some car categories require you to be older.
• License held for a minimum time: many agencies ask that you’ve had your license for at least one or two years.
• A credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit. Debit cards are often refused or come with a bigger deposit.
• Your passport at pickup, so they can see your entry stamp.

Mandatory liability insurance is a separate topic, and it’s where most of the “surprise” costs come from. Our insurance guide explains it. If you’re picking the car up at the airport, read the SJO or Liberia (LIR) guide first.

What happens if your stay (and license) expires

Once the days on your stamp run out, your foreign license stops being valid in Costa Rica. Driving after that date means driving without a valid license. That can bring a fine, and more importantly it can void your insurance if you have an accident. Leaving the country and re-entering gives you a new stamp, but immigration decides how many days to grant each time, so don’t assume you’ll get the maximum again.

If you’re stopped by the traffic police

Traffic officers in Costa Rica wear blue uniforms and usually drive marked pickups. Routine document checks are normal. Pull over safely, stay in the car unless you’re asked to get out, and hand over your license, passport and rental papers.

Fines are never paid in cash at the roadside. They’re paid later through official channels, usually a bank or your rental company. If someone asks you for cash, politely ask for the written ticket instead. Our complete driving guide covers the rest of the rules of the road.

Bottom line

Bring your physical home license and your passport, check the number of days on your entry stamp, and you’re legal to drive for that whole period. Get an IDP only if your license isn’t in the Latin alphabet. Then pick your first drive from our route guides.

Rules last checked: October 2026. Traffic and immigration rules can change, so confirm with your rental company before you travel.