Last year, sorting out our car’s marbete (road tax) was like something out of a Seinfield episode. This year, I’m happy to report, it was smooth sailings. Granted, our renewal notice never showed up (it should arrive a month or two before expiration, but sometimes it doesn’t…). No worries, we drove down to CESCO in Aguadilla, got in line and a few minutes later had our renewal form. We then trotted off to a dedicated car inspection station on Carr 115 (almost at the junction with the Aguada end of Carr 414 on the right hand side when driving from Rincón, for those interested). We were greeted with a big smile and a handful of candies (I kid you not!). Our car was promptly inspected, we got our paperwork and were quickly off to pay the road tax.
We decided to find the Rincón “Colecturia” (a place where you pay for all types of governmental taxes). It is nicely hidden beside the Catholic Church in town (next to the Cash & Carry). This year, we had our private car insurance form in hand. This exempts us from the compulsory governmental insurance. So, a quick payment of $85 and we had our new marbete sticker in hand with 7 days to spare. And did I mention we accomplished all this (AND a stop at a hardware store) before lunch? 🙂
Sep 24, 2008 at 7:51 am
We heard that you can take the form (if you are lucky enough to get it in the mail) to Banco Popular and pay an extra $5 to get the sticker. I think that is for a new car though that doesn’t need the inspection. We went to a neighborhood “inspection station” and were done with the inspection and had the sticker in under an hour, and then went to CAICO with the receipt and got the $85 bucks back in the mail! Some things DO work, or our expectations are getting lower…katrina
Oct 14, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Hello! I randomly came across this searching for “marbete Puerto Rico” on google 🙂 I am in the same situation you were facing, haven’t received my renewal form! Am going to CESCO here in Metro area on Saturday, and was wondering if you had any advice for me, which lines to stand in to get the renewal form, etc? Thanks so much !
Oct 14, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hi Britanny and welcome! Glad to help. Just bring your original DTOP form from last year (“Permiso Para Vehiculos De Motor o Arrastres”) and an ID. We think the ID has to match the name on the form. We showed our form to the woman at the reception desk and before we could finish saying “No tenemos…” she told us which line to stand in. Seems like its quite common: Most people in the line were getting renewal forms so when we got to the counter and showed our form, we didn’t even have to say anything. They print your renewal form out then and there, so the line moves along very quickly. We were in and out in minutes. Good luck!
Jul 20, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I’ve been living in PR for 2 yrs now for school. Last year I received then renewal notice but this year I haven’t. The car is registered under my father’s name and am concerned about how I will get my new marbete. Did you visit the DTOP to get the paperwork? What did they require? Thanks!
Jul 20, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Hi Roshni,
Yes, we went to DTOP. We brought our original
DTOP form from last year (“Permiso Para Vehiculos
De Motor o Arrastres”) and an ID. We think the ID
has to match the name on the form but not sure.
They then issue the renewal form on the spot.
Hope this helps.
Feb 15, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Hi I have been living in PR for a few months and my marbete on my used car is punched for March – do I have to renew mine by Mar 1 or Mar 31?
Feb 16, 2011 at 7:58 am
Hi Traci, where in PR are you living?
You need to renew it by the end of the month it is marked for… in your case Mar 31st.