A vehicle lookup in Costa Rica is done with the plate or the VIN, and each piece of data lives at a different institution: the Registro Nacional (the car, its registered owner and liens), the INS (marchamo), COSEVI (fines), DEKRA (technical inspection) and, for imported cars, the US history by VIN. The quickest start is the CarrosUsados.cr plate lookup, which shows for free which car it is, its fiscal value and any liens, and the free VIN check.

Which lookups can I do, and where?

  • By plate, Registro Nacional: the car's details, registered owner and liens (rnpdigital.com, free sign-up). Our plate lookup shows the car, its fiscal value and liens, never the owner's name.
  • Marchamo, INS: whether this year's is paid and its amount (how to check it).
  • Fines, COSEVI, and technical inspection, DEKRA (costs and booking).
  • By VIN: make, model, year and engine, and whether it has US records (vehicle history).

What should I check before buying a used car?

  1. That the VIN is the same on the windshield, the door and the papers, and matches the Registro.
  2. No liens or fines, and a paid marchamo and current inspection.
  3. If imported, its US history by VIN, to rule out salvage or total loss.
  4. A trusted mechanic's inspection (used-car checklist), and the transfer cost.

Then browse the used cars for sale in Costa Rica.

FAQ

Does a plate lookup show the US history?

No. That history is checked with the VIN, because the car had another plate in the US.

What is a DUA lookup?

The DUA is the customs declaration the car was imported with. See DUA lookup by VIN.

Reviewed on November 11, 2026 with information from the Registro Nacional, the INS and reports from La Nación, Teletica, Delfino and La República. Each institution's services can change: confirm on its official site.