Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Costa Rica

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Costa Rica — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.05

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

100

Motorway Limit

km/h

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

80 km/h

Motorway / Highway

100 km/h

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Costa Rica

General limit: 0.05 g/dL · Novice/young drivers: 0.02 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Costa Rica can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Costa Rica on the Live Map

Costa Rica has a WHO-estimated 16.7 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Costa Rica.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Costa Rica's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Panama Nicaragua Honduras El Salvador Guatemala Belize

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Costa Rica drive on?

Costa Rica drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Costa Rica?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC (novice/young drivers: 0.02). Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Costa Rica?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Costa Rica — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Costa Rica?

By the numbers, Costa Rica has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 16.7 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 75 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.