ARESEP opens public consultation for increase in vehicle inspection fees

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) has opened a public consultation for file ET-095-2026, which contains the extraordinary tariff setting for the technical vehicle inspection and re-inspection service. The proposal, published in La Gaceta No. 180 on Thursday, September 24, 2026, proposes increases of ₡65 in the maximum tariff band and ₡55 in the minimum for all vehicle categories. Interested parties have until Friday, October 2, 2026, to submit their positions.

The notice appears in the Decentralized Institutions section of the official gazette, under publication stamp IN202601128433, and is signed by the General Directorate of User Attention of ARESEP, led by Gabriela Prado Rodríguez. This is an extraordinary adjustment, outside the ordinary tariff review cycle, which the Authority is submitting for public consideration before resolving.

The document presents maximum and minimum tariff bands by vehicle type, along with their absolute and percentage variation. The absolute increase is uniform—₡65 at the ceiling and ₡55 at the floor of each band—but the relative effect differs according to the current tariff: ranging from 0.90% for taxis to 2.18% for special services.

Proposed inspection tariffs

• Vehicle weighing less than 3.5 tons: from ₡6,012 to ₡6,077 (maximum) and from ₡5,083 to ₡5,138 (minimum), 1.09%.
• Vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons: from ₡7,206 to ₡7,271 and from ₡6,093 to ₡6,148, 0.91%.
• Taxis: from ₡7,226 to ₡7,291 and from ₡6,109 to ₡6,164, 0.90%.
• Buses, minibuses, and microbuses: from ₡7,030 to ₡7,095 and from ₡5,944 to ₡5,999, 0.93%.
• Motorcycles: from ₡4,562 to ₡4,628 and from ₡3,857 to ₡3,913, 1.43%.
• Special equipment (construction and agricultural machinery): from ₡4,572 to ₡4,638 and from ₡3,866 to ₡3,921, 1.43%.
• Electric, historic vehicles, and those covered by decree 30709-MAG-MOPT: from ₡4,700 to ₡4,765 and from ₡3,973 to ₡4,029, 1.39%.
• Trailers and semi-trailers: from ₡4,876 to ₡4,941 and from ₡4,122 to ₡4,178, 1.34%.
• On-site inspection for first-level marketing (article 5 of traffic law 9078 and decree 30751-MOPT) and special services, such as document replacement or inspection of registration characteristic changes: from ₡2,996 to ₡3,061 and from ₡2,533 to ₡2,588, 2.18%.

Re-inspection: amounts by category

• Vehicle weighing less than 3.5 tons: from ₡4,680 to ₡4,745 and from ₡3,957 to ₡4,012, 1.40%.
• Vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons: from ₡5,052 to ₡5,117 and from ₡4,271 to ₡4,327, 1.29%.
• Taxis: from ₡5,189 to ₡5,254 and from ₡4,387 to ₡4,443, 1.26%.
• Buses, minibuses, and microbuses: from ₡5,228 to ₡5,294 and from ₡4,420 to ₡4,476, 1.25%.
• Motorcycles: from ₡3,877 to ₡3,942 and from ₡3,278 to ₡3,333, 1.69%.
• Special equipment: from ₡4,259 to ₡4,324 and from ₡3,601 to ₡3,656, 1.53%.
• Electric, historic vehicles and those under decree 30709-MAG-MOPT: from ₡3,854 to ₡3,919 and from ₡3,258 to ₡3,313, 1.70%.
• Trailers and semi-trailers: from ₡3,975 to ₡4,040 and from ₡3,361 to ₡3,416, 1.64%.

How to submit positions

• Send a signed written statement, with a photocopy of the ID card, to the email consejero@aresep.go.cr or deliver it to the ARESEP offices, in the Turrubares building of the Oficentro Multipark, Guachipelín de Escazú, San José.
• Single deadline: until Friday, October 2, 2026.
• Legal entities must sign the document through their legal representative and provide a current certification of legal standing.
• If sent electronically, it must have a digital signature or a scanned signature, and the email cannot exceed 10.5 megabytes.
• The file can be consulted at the ARESEP facilities from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or downloaded at www.aresep.go.cr, in the files section.
• Advice and additional information: email consejero@aresep.go.cr or the toll-free line 8000 273737.

The adjustment affects all vehicle owners in the country, who must undergo the technical inspection to circulate legally, as well as the workshops and inspection centers that charge for the service. Since this is an extraordinary fixing, the change would apply regardless of the ordinary tariff calendar, so the decision adopted by ARESEP after the consultation will define the cost of the procedure for next year.

Source: La Gaceta, No. 180 of September 24, 2026, Decentralized Institutions, p. 63 (official reference: IN202601128433; file ET-095-2026).