How to pay the marchamo online (and everywhere else) in 2027
Collection of the 2027 marchamo opened on Monday, November 2, 2026 and the deadline is December 31, 2026. This guide covers where to pay (INS, banks, apps and stores), what you need, what happens if you're late, the new digital tag, and paying from abroad. Want to know how much yours will be? Use the 2027 marchamo calculator.
Last updated: · Unofficial guide with linked sources.
Step 1: check your Dekra inspection first
The marchamo requires a current technical inspection. According to INS, if yours isn't current you can still pay, but you collect the sticker after you pass the inspection, at any INS branch or service point (INS requirements). If your inspection has expired or is due soon, see your Dekra month and how to book.
Step 2: look up the amount by plate
- Online on the INS marchamo site: marchamo.grupoins.com (vehicle type + plate). The site is in Spanish.
- By phone on 800-MARCHAMO (800-6272-4266) or 2243-9999, or by text: “MARCHAMO” + your plate to 1467 (Telediario).
- Unpaid traffic fines are added to the marchamo; you can check them first with COSEVI. Parking-meter fines are collected too.
Step 3: where to pay the marchamo
| Where | How | Source |
|---|---|---|
| INS | INS branches and service points. The INS “Dónde pagar” finder lists branches and authorised points by province, canton and district (Guanacaste included). | INS |
| Banco Nacional | BN Móvil app and BN Banca en Línea online banking (with free home delivery of the marchamo); in person at BN branches, BN Servicios and Walmart. BN Tasa Cero at Walmart: 3, 6, 9 or 12 months with no interest or fee. | Banco Nacional |
| BCR | BCR Móvil app, the online office (oficina virtual) at bancobcr.com, Puntos Tucán and about 120 branches. Plan BCR 0% over 3, 6 or 12 months. Delivery by Correos de Costa Rica for ₡2,900 (3 days in the Greater Metropolitan Area, 5 elsewhere) or pickup at a BCR branch from noon the next business day. | Delfino |
| Collection businesses | INS opened payment at authorised collection businesses from 8 a.m. on November 2. Find them by canton in the INS finder. | El Observador |
Bank promotions (interest-free instalments, prize draws) change and come with conditions: read them on the bank's site before you choose.
What you need to pay
- The payer's Costa Rican ID (cédula); without one, a residence card (DIMEX) or passport.
- A valid plate number for the vehicle and the owner's details.
- A current technical inspection to collect the sticker (see step 1).
Source: INS payment requirements · Checked:
The new digital tag
- From the 2027 marchamo, vehicles with a windshield get a digital tag that goes on the inside of the windshield. It has no GPS and lasts up to 10 years, but you still pay the marchamo every year.
- Your proof of payment (derecho de circulación) is digital and arrives by email; you can also look it up on the INS site.
- Motorcycles keep the traditional sticker. The tag is charged separately, and its cost had not been announced when we checked.
- The tag doesn't show your plate: before fitting it, check that it matches your vehicle at grupoins.com (Banco Nacional). Replacements for damage, loss or a bad install are handled by INS (Delfino).
Source: El Observador · Checked:
Deadline and late payment
The deadline is December 31, 2026. After that, INS adds surcharges to each item:
- SOA mandatory insurance: the Central Bank (BCCR) basic deposit rate plus five percentage points, pro rata for the days late.
- Traffic fines: 36% a year.
- Property tax: 8.43% annual interest (may vary) plus a 10% monthly fine, capped at 100%.
- Parking meters: 2% a month, up to 24%.
Driving without a current circulation permit also exposes you to a fine and to having the vehicle taken off the road (Traffic Law, art. 146 x and art. 151 a). Source: INS FAQ.
In 2026 the fine for driving without a current marchamo or inspection is ₡60,679.58 (Poder Judicial, La Nación). Fine amounts are updated every year; the 2027 amounts had not been published when we checked.
Paying the marchamo from abroad
- Look up the amount online by plate on the INS site.
- If you have a Costa Rican bank account, pay in its app or online banking (see the table). The receipt arrives by email.
- Someone else can pay for you: BCR says anyone can pay the marchamo for any plate, whether or not it's in their name (Delfino).
- We could not confirm whether any online channel accepts cards issued outside Costa Rica. Ask INS (800-MARCHAMO) well before December 31.
Wheels Down Concierge can handle your marchamo, Dekra or import paperwork
Wheels Down Concierge is our partner in Guanacaste: they do the lines, appointments and vehicle paperwork for you, in person. Trámite CR is just the guides-and-tools site.
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FAQ
Where can I pay the 2027 marchamo?
At INS branches and service points and at authorised collection businesses. Banco Nacional takes it in BN Móvil, Banca en Línea, its branches, BN Servicios and Walmart; BCR in BCR Móvil, its online office (oficina virtual), Puntos Tucán and its branches.
What is the deadline to pay the 2027 marchamo?
Collection opened on Monday, November 2, 2026 and the deadline is December 31, 2026.
Can I pay the marchamo before my Dekra inspection?
Yes. INS says you can pay without a current technical inspection, but you collect the sticker after you pass, at any INS branch or service point.
What happens if I pay the marchamo late?
According to INS: surcharges on the SOA insurance (BCCR basic deposit rate plus 5 points, pro rata per day late), 36% a year on traffic fines, 8.43% annual interest plus a 10% monthly fine (capped at 100%) on the property tax, and 2% a month (up to 24%) on parking-meter fines. You also risk a traffic fine and having the vehicle taken off the road.
Can I pay the marchamo from abroad or for someone else?
You can look up the amount online and pay through Costa Rican online banking if you have it. BCR says anyone can pay the marchamo for any plate, in their name or not, so someone in Costa Rica can pay for you. We could not confirm whether any online channel accepts cards issued outside Costa Rica.
Related guides
Sources
- Payment requirements: INS — requirements
- Surcharges, marchamo items, SOA cover: INS — FAQ
- Branches and payment points: INS — where to pay
- 2027 dates and digital tag: El Observador, Nov 2, 2026
- Banco Nacional channels, Tasa Cero, delivery: Banco Nacional (blog)
- BCR channels, 0% plan, delivery: Delfino.cr, Nov 2026
- Lookup by phone and text: Telediario
- 2026 traffic fines: Poder Judicial, circular 220-2025
- 2026 traffic fines: La Nación
- Unpaid fines: COSEVI public lookup