Of all vehicles circulating in the country at the end of 2015, 63% were automobiles, 19% motorcycles, 13% light duty vehicles and 3% heavy load vehicles.
Figures from the report "Vehicular Fleet in Central America" prepared by the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData.com, indicate that 1.3 million vehicles were in circulation up to December 2015, of which 63% were cars.
Under pressure from importers the government has lowered taxes for importing used motor vehicles, but diluted the reduction by increasing the notional taxable value.
Car dealers in Costa Rica are asking for the establishment of a new formula for calculating taxes on used vehicles.
In the first quarter of 2013, 17,105 cars were sold , ie 2,296 more than in the same period in 2012.
Prensa.com reports that "this represents an increase of 16% as from January to April 2012 14,809 units were sold, according to statistics from the Automobile Dealers Association of Panama (ADAP)".