Published on Friday, April 25, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Municipality of San José has launched a new digital parking meter system, enabling more than 2,760 street parking spots across the city to be managed through the E-Park mobile app.

Drivers of all vehicle types can now pay for parking via the E-Park app, available on devices using Google, iOS, and Huawei operating systems.

The service operates Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and aims to reduce illegal parking and associated fines.

Parking fees range from ₡480 colones (approximately $0.96) for 30 minutes to ₡960 colones (about $1.92) for one hour.

Users can check in and out of spaces directly through the app, eliminating the need for physical meters, paper receipts, and manual reimbursements. The app also allows users to extend parking sessions and sends reminders before time expires.

City officials are encouraging drivers to respect designated parking zones and use the app to avoid fines. Unauthorized parking in marked areas could result in a penalty of $20.

The digital upgrade follows a suspension of the city's parking meter system in July 2024, while officials completed the hiring process for a new technology provider.

This week, the Traffic Police reinstated the vehicle license plate restriction policy in San José following the conclusion of Holy Week.

Notably, traffic fines were reduced this year after the Court Superior Council approved adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

Recently, Costa Rica recorded 174 traffic-related deaths. The figure marks a significant increase in fatalities compared to the deaths reported during the same period in 2024.

In 2024, Costa Rica recorded more than 500 traffic-related deaths, with motorcyclists making up 53% of the victims.

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What have you heard about expats having trouble finding parking spots on the streets of San José? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com