The temporary suspension follows a government decree allowing most public-sector employees in nonessential services to take leave during one week of the country's mid-year public school vacation.

The annual school break is traditionally one of Costa Rica's busiest domestic travel periods, with many families visiting beaches, mountains and other rural destinations. July is considered one of the country's peak tourism months.

All Cosevi offices are scheduled to resume in-person operations on Monday, July 13.

Authorities said drivers who need to file claims or resolve matters involving driver's licenses, license plates or traffic fines must wait until offices reopen. However, claims may still be submitted by email at recepcion-impugnaciones@csv.go.cr.

Cosevi also warned that drivers cited during the holiday period whose vehicles are impounded, license plates are confiscated or driver's licenses expire will not be able to recover those items until offices reopen next Monday.

Under Costa Rica's traffic law, owners seeking to recover impounded vehicles must pay the original traffic fine, a towing fee and a daily vehicle custody fee. The towing charge varies based on the distance between the location where the vehicle was seized and the police impound lot.

The base towing fee is approximately $15 for the first 3 miles, with an additional charge of about $8 for each additional mile. Vehicles stored at a Cosevi impound lot are also subject to a custody fee of $10 per day.

Traffic fines remain valid for seven years. As a result, vehicle owners must pay all outstanding fines, towing charges, custody fees and any other unpaid penalties that remain in effect before an impounded vehicle or confiscated license plate can be released.

To recover an impounded vehicle or license plate, drivers must schedule an appointment through the Cosevi website.

Although Cosevi offices are closed, public security authorities have launched a nationwide road safety operation for the holiday period.

Officers will be enforcing traffic laws and targeting impaired driving, speeding, transporting children without the required safety equipment, driving on sidewalks, operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license, making illegal U-turns and other traffic violations.

In a related development, public transportation authorities have temporarily suspended weekday driving restrictions in the San José metropolitan area during the mid-year school vacation.

As of May, Costa Rica had recorded 278 traffic fatalities this year, with motorcyclists accounting for 59% of those deaths.

Costa Rica recorded more than 500 traffic-related deaths in 2025, representing a 13.3% increase compared with 2024.

Cosevi, an agency under the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), is responsible for enforcing Costa Rica's traffic laws.

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