A new procedure (imagine that!) seems to be in place for first time driver’s licenses that may interest your readers.

My and my wife had come to La Uruca to finish the photos and signatures for the last step in the residency process. That had gone better than expected so we though we would try the licensing run.

We had forearmed ourselves with multiple copies of passports and stateside drivers licenses. Found a small office (with parking) about 50M before the CONSEVI entrance for the required medical cert and blood typing. No line! My wife had her Red Cross donor card so she skipped the blood work (and it’s fee). A little Spanglish and a little Englais and that was all done lickety-split – so went on to a BCR just inside the CONSEVI entrance to make payment but was told that a new issuance required us to visit CONSEVI first to get a voucher as we were not in the system. This turned out to be correct – read on.

Walked on down 200m or so to the licensing office and arrived at around 10AM. Found a nice long line – but there are always lines in Costa Rica, right?

So shuffle and stand… about 10:50 a nice gentleman in uniform appeared and made some sort of mumbley announcement which my on-board (and not too stellar) Spanish translator caught only the word “internacionale”…. I should have asked “Repite? Por favor” but did not and so proceeded to shuffle some more. When we got the head of the line, attendant informed us that the time for extrajeranos had ended at 11:00 AND that we hadn’t need to wait in line at all – just come to the front – like they announced just before 11:00. Turns out they have a special crew upstairs that does nothing but “internacionale” first-time licenses but they shut down at 11:00. So come back manana. Side note – a group of the folks we had been on line with for the last two hours and trying to practice our Spanish on were VERY upset that we were being turned away. We had to really be insistent that it was OK for us to come back. Cool. I really am building a big “bueno” bank against the day when the inevitable “mal dia” happens.

So we did. Went back to the head of the line, was sent upstairs where four other were waiting their turn. In due time got our required paperwork and bank voucher – so back to the BCR just in time to see the one window close (it was about 11:30) – waited around until they reopened about 12:45 and 10 minutes later we were headed back to the liscencio with our receipts. Again – went to the front of the line as we had been instructed upstairs and were sent to an area just inside where photos were being taken – 15 minutes later we were both leaving with our new licenses in hand.

Had we known the right procedures and arrived at a optimum time (9:00AM should be about right) we could have done this in less than two hours.

Everyone (official and otherwise) was nice – especially after the first few minutes of contact – while I think they were waiting to see if we were examplos of the “Ugly Americano” – once they saw us struggling to do the right thing and speak some halting Spanish – they were suddenly more than helpful. I do not consider it time wasted at all.

PS: If you have a motorcycle endorsement on a US license and want the Costa Rican equivalent, it is a separate card and requires a second payment.

Also, Costa Rica issues four “classes” of moto license. Almost anything that will keep up in US traffic will be a class four. Just ask for “maximum” – they will not bat a eyelash. Otherwise you will find yourself riding a 200cc flyweight.

All new issues are good for three years.

Of course, any of this is subject to change at any time.

If you live here, you just either learn to adapt or you leave. My first year here was pretty tough as I was the consummate A-Type. Now, I take my iPod when I know the lines will be long and I make do. I also learned Spanish and THAT allows me to chat and make friends while I am waiting. Now… I just do not even think about it much any more. The DL thing is MUCH better than when it was in the old location… so changes are being made. You mellow out.

This blog took me to therealcostarica.com which answered a multitude of questions that that concerns me. Good to know my license is good for at least the length of my stay on my visa.

I was considering doing a home-stay and language school in Chile, (I know the Spanish they speak there is different than Latin America) but am leaning toward Costa Rica again. I’m planning to stay at least three months, but that could easily be extended depending on how things go. The Central Valley outside of SJ is looking good. I have some loose ends here that have to be taken care of first.