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100+ Free COSEVI Driving Theory Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: COSEVI Driving Theory Exam

40 questions

Questions on the official DGEV theory test, taken in about 50 minutes

MOPT — Dirección General de Educación Vial

70 of 100

Minimum passing grade on the official theory exam, equal to 28 of 40 correct

DGEV — Preguntas frecuentes de teóricos

¢5,000

Entero payable before matriculating the theory test

DGEV — Procedimientos y requisitos: Teóricos

13 years

Minimum age at which a candidate may sit the theory exam

DGEV — Preguntas frecuentes de teóricos

18 months

Validity of the theory-test payment receipt from the date it is paid

MOPT — Educación Vial aclara: aprobación de curso teórico no vence (2025)

20 business days

Period a failed candidate is barred from re-sitting the theory test

DGEV — Procedimientos y requisitos: Teóricos

2 March 2026

Date the DGEV began examining the new separate car and motorcycle manuals

MOPT — Periodo de transición aplicará para quienes aprueben examen teórico antes del 27 de febrero

Ley N° 9078

Governing statutory road traffic and safety law in Costa Rica

Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica

Costa Rica's official driver theory test is a 40-question computerised exam run by DGEV/COSEVI, taking about 50 minutes and needing 70 of 100 (28 correct) to pass, for a ¢5,000 entero. Since 2 March 2026 car and motorcycle candidates sit papers drawn from separate manuals. This 100-question English study adaptation works through Ley 9078, signage, priority and roundabouts, vehicle safety, emissions and eco-driving.

Sample COSEVI Driving Theory Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your COSEVI Driving Theory exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to the COSEVI Manual del Conductor, what three components form the 'Trilogía Vial' (Traffic Trilogy) that constitutes the road traffic system in Costa Rica?
A.The Human Factor, the Vehicle Factor, and the Road and Environment Factor
B.The Traffic Police, the Ministry of Transport (MOPT), and the Judicial Court
C.The National Highway System, the Rural Road Network, and Municipal Streets
D.The Driver, the Passenger, and the Commercial Freight Carrier
Explanation: The COSEVI Manual del Conductor defines the traffic system through the 'Trilogía Vial' (Road Safety Trilogy), which is composed of three interconnected elements: the Human Factor (El Factor Humano), the Vehicle Factor (El Factor Vehículo), and the Road and Environment Factor (El Factor Vía y su Entorno). A failure in any of these components disrupts safety.
2In official Costa Rican traffic crash statistics analyzed by COSEVI, which component of the Trilogía Vial is responsible for approximately 90% of traffic collisions?
A.The Human Factor
B.The Road and Environment Factor
C.The Vehicle Factor
D.Unforeseeable mechanical failure
Explanation: Road-safety analysis consistently attributes the great majority of collisions — commonly quoted as around 90% — to the human factor. The recurring errors are speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, distraction such as mobile phone use, and failure to yield right of way. This is why Costa Rican driver training devotes most of its content to driver behaviour rather than to vehicles or roads.
3What is the minimum age required under Costa Rican Ley N° 9078 to obtain a Class B-1 driver's license for light motor vehicles?
A.18 years of age
B.16 years of age
C.21 years of age
D.20 years of age
Explanation: Article 84 of Ley de Tránsito 9078 sets the general licensing requirements and states that a first-time applicant must be over eighteen years of age, with the sole exception of the type A-1 licence regulated by Article 85. Article 86 then defines what a B-1 licence authorises: motor vehicles up to 4,000 kg gross weight (peso bruto o PMA).
4Under what specific conditions permits an applicant aged 16 to obtain a Class A-1 driver's license for motorcycles up to 125 cc in Costa Rica?
A.Written authorization from parents or legal guardians and an active civil liability insurance policy
B.A signed recommendation letter from an authorized driving school instructor and a commercial bond
C.Proof of full-time secondary school enrollment and passing the road test in an automatic scooter
D.A special judicial emancipation order issued by the Family Court of Costa Rica
Explanation: Under Article 85 of Ley 9078, minors aged 16 to 18 may obtain a Class A-1 motorcycle license (combustion engines up to 125 cc or electric motors up to 11 kW) provided they present written authorization from their parents or legal guardians and maintain an active civil liability insurance policy covering damages to third parties.
5What is the primary overarching goal of road safety (seguridad vial) as defined by the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and COSEVI?
A.To eliminate or minimize traffic accidents, protect human life, and ensure smooth, efficient road mobility
B.To maximize revenue collected through traffic infraction fines and vehicle confiscation
C.To restrict private vehicle ownership in favor of mandatory state public transit
D.To prioritize highway commercial transport over local municipal and non-motorized traffic
Explanation: Road safety (seguridad vial) aims to prevent traffic collisions, minimize the severity of injuries and fatalities, preserve the physical integrity of all road users, and facilitate orderly, efficient mobility while protecting the environment.
6How long is the Digital Medical Certificate (Dictamen Médico Digital) valid from its issuance date for driver licensing procedures in Costa Rica?
A.180 days (approximately 6 months)
B.30 days (1 month)
C.1 year (365 days)
D.2 years (730 days)
Explanation: The Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos and COSEVI establish that the Dictamen Médico Digital is valid for 180 calendar days from the moment it is issued by an authorized physician. The applicant must complete their licensing formalities before it expires.
7Which drivers does Costa Rican Ley N° 9078 place in the stricter 'novice' regime for demerit points and alcohol limits?
A.Anyone whose first driver's licence was issued less than three years ago
B.A person who has held a driver's license for less than one year
C.Any driver under the age of 25 regardless of years licensed
D.A driver who has accumulated more than four demerit points within their first renewal
Explanation: Ley 9078 does not use the word 'novato' as a defined term; it describes the driver 'con licencia de conducir emitida por primera vez dentro de un plazo menor de tres años' in Article 143(a), which sets the stricter alcohol band for that group. Article 92 makes a first-issue licence valid for three years, and Article 135 caps a three-year licence at six demerit points, so the novice period runs for the first three years of licensure.
8What vehicles is the holder of a Costa Rican Class B-1 driver's license authorized to operate?
A.Motor vehicles up to 4,000 kg gross vehicle weight, optionally towing a light trailer
B.Motor vehicles up to 8,000 kg gross vehicle weight and mini-buses carrying up to 25 passengers
C.Commercial cargo trucks exceeding 8,000 kg and articulated tractor-trailers
D.Motorcycles of any cylinder capacity as well as light passenger motor vehicles
Explanation: A Class B-1 driver's license authorizes driving motor vehicles of up to 4,000 kg gross vehicle weight (peso bruto total), such as passenger sedans, SUVs, and light pick-up trucks, with or without a light trailer whose weight does not exceed legal limits.
9How long is the payment receipt (entero de pago) for the official COSEVI driving test valid from the date of payment at the bank?
A.18 months
B.6 months
C.12 months
D.3 months
Explanation: According to DGEV and COSEVI regulations, the payment receipt for the driving test rights (derecho a prueba, ¢5,000 CRC) remains legally valid for 18 months from the date of deposit in the authorized banking system.
10What is the administrative relationship between DGEV, COSEVI, and MOPT in Costa Rica's driver licensing system?
A.DGEV administers the courses and driver tests, COSEVI coordinates road safety funds and infractions, and MOPT is the governing ministry
B.COSEVI is a private testing contractor completely independent from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport
C.DGEV is a municipal police agency operating exclusively within the central canton of San José
D.MOPT handles road construction only and has no legal authority over driver testing or traffic regulations
Explanation: The Dirección General de Educación Vial (DGEV) is the specialized directorate responsible for driver education and testing; the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI) oversees road safety planning, funding, and infraction management; both operate under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT).

About the COSEVI Driving Theory Exam

Costa Rica requires every first-time driver licence applicant — B-1 car candidates and A-1/A-2/A-3 motorcycle candidates alike — to pass the official computerised theory examination (prueba teórica de manejo) run by the Dirección General de Educación Vial under COSEVI and MOPT. It tests Ley de Tránsito N° 9078, road signs and markings, priority and roundabouts, vehicle safety and maintenance, the human risk factors, emissions and eco-driving. The official exam is administered in Spanish; this is an English-language MCQ study adaptation, not an official translation or a simulation of the official paper, and it keeps the Costa Rican legal, administrative and road terms in Spanish so candidates recognise them on the day.

Assessment

The official test is a 40-question computerised single-choice examination taken at a Dirección General de Educación Vial (DGEV) sede. Candidates have about 50 minutes and need 70 out of 100 — 28 correct answers — to pass. Questions are selected at random from the official DGEV bank, so each paper differs. Since 2 March 2026 the content is drawn from two separate manuals: the Manual del Conductor para Automóvil (six chapters) for car licences, and the Manual del Conductor para Motocicleta for A-class licences. Both rest on Ley de Tránsito N° 9078.

Time Limit

About 50 minutes

Passing Score

70 of 100 (28 of 40 correct)

Exam Fee

¢5,000 CRC entero, paid at an authorised collector (BN, BCR, ASECONSEVI) before matriculating (Dirección General de Educación Vial (DGEV) / Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), MOPT)

COSEVI Driving Theory Exam Content Outline

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

General Aspects of Traffic and Road Safety

Maps to Capítulo 1 of the manual: the Trilogía Vial of human, vehicle and road, road-safety objectives, the Article 84 and 85 licensing requirements, what a B-1 licence authorises, and the roles of DGEV, COSEVI and MOPT.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

Traffic Legislation, Fines, and Demerit Points

Maps to Capítulo 6: the Ley 9078 fine tiers, Article 136 points (6 for Category A, 4 for Category B, none for C to E), the Article 135 ceilings by licence validity, suspension under Article 139, and partial recovery under Article 138.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

The Road Environment and Signaling

Maps to Capítulo 2 and the entorno vial topic in Capítulo 1: roadway geometry (calzada, carril, espaldón, acera), circular regulatory signs, yellow warning diamonds, centre lines, the yellow no-parking kerb, the Article 110 parking clearances, and the officer's precedence over every device.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

The Vehicle Factor and Safety Systems

Maps to Capítulo 3 and the protection-systems topic in Capítulo 5: active safety (brakes and ABS, steering, tyres) versus passive safety (belts, airbags, head restraints), the Article 36 mandatory kit, the 1.6 mm tread limit, and Article 94 child restraints.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

The Human Factor and Driver Conduct

Maps to Capítulo 5: perception-reaction time, the Article 143 blood and breath alcohol bands for regular versus professional and newly licensed drivers, the penalty for refusing the breath test, fatigue and microsleep, phone distraction under Article 126, and pedestrian priority.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

Rules of Circulation and Right of Way

Maps to Capítulo 4 and the speeds topic in Capítulo 2: the Article 105 priority order and the supplementary right-hand rule, the Article 98 default limits (urban 50, unmarked 60, school 25, motorway minimum 50), right turn on red, the overnight red-light rule, and overtaking bans.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

Roundabout Navigation (Las Rotondas)

Maps to the roundabout rules in Capítulo 4, following Article 106 clause by clause: priority for circulating traffic, the 30 km/h limit, the ban on overtaking and on changing lanes inside the ring, exit-by-exit lane assignment, signalling, and cyclists.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

The Driver and Environmental Pollution

Maps to the sustainable-mobility topic in Capítulo 1 and maintenance in Capítulo 3: combustion by-products, the catalytic converter, black and blue exhaust diagnosis, the Article 38 emission-control requirements, RTV inspection, and the Category A penalty for excess noise or emissions.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

Technical, Economic, and Eco-Efficient Driving

Maps to the conducción inteligente topic in Capítulo 1 and to Capítulo 3: anticipatory eco-driving, shifting at 2,000-2,500 rpm, engine braking on descents, tyre inflation and fuel use, aerodynamic drag, and the deceleration fuel cut-off.

10 of 100 study questions (10%)

Motorcycle Operation and Two-Wheeled Safety

Maps to the separate Manual del Conductor para Motocicleta used for A-class candidates since 2 March 2026: helmet and retroreflective clothing under Article 117 and their fine tiers, the 24-hour headlight rule, the ban on passengers under five, the 25 km/h filtering ceiling, braking distribution and lane positioning.

How to Pass the COSEVI Driving Theory Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70 of 100 (28 of 40 correct)
  • Assessment: The official test is a 40-question computerised single-choice examination taken at a Dirección General de Educación Vial (DGEV) sede. Candidates have about 50 minutes and need 70 out of 100 — 28 correct answers — to pass. Questions are selected at random from the official DGEV bank, so each paper differs. Since 2 March 2026 the content is drawn from two separate manuals: the Manual del Conductor para Automóvil (six chapters) for car licences, and the Manual del Conductor para Motocicleta for A-class licences. Both rest on Ley de Tránsito N° 9078.
  • Time limit: About 50 minutes
  • Exam fee: ¢5,000 CRC entero, paid at an authorised collector (BN, BCR, ASECONSEVI) before matriculating

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

COSEVI Driving Theory Study Tips from Top Performers

1Buy the manual that matches your licence. Since 2 March 2026 the exam is drawn from two separate books — automóvil and motocicleta — sold by the Imprenta Nacional at ¢3,500 each. Studying the wrong one, or an older single-volume edition, leaves gaps.
2Memorise the demerit point values from Article 136: Category A carries 6 points, Category B carries 4, and Categories C, D and E carry none.
3Learn the speeding ladder, because it is the classic trap: more than 20 km/h over the limit is Category D, more than 30 km/h over is Category C, more than 40 km/h over is Category B, and more than 120 km/h in absolute terms is Category A.
4Learn the Article 98 speed defaults: 50 km/h in dense urban areas, 60 km/h where there is no demarcation, 25 km/h at crossings by schools, health centres and mass gatherings, and a 50 km/h minimum on motorways.
5Work through Article 106 clause by clause for roundabouts: first exit from the outer right lane, third exit or later from the inner or leftmost lane, no overtaking and no lane changes inside the ring, 30 km/h maximum.
6Review the Article 36 kit: one fire extinguisher, at least two warning triangles, at least one retroreflective vest, plus a spare wheel and the tools to fit it. First-aid kits and jumper cables are sensible but are not on the legal list.
7Keep the two alcohol bands straight: above 0.50 up to 0.75 g/L in blood for drivers generally, but only 0.20 to 0.50 g/L for professional drivers and anyone licensed less than three years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the official COSEVI theory exam and what score is needed to pass?

The official COSEVI theoretical test consists of exactly 40 computer-based multiple-choice questions. To pass, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 70%, which corresponds to answering at least 28 out of the 40 questions correctly within the 50-minute time limit.

How do I pay the exam fee and schedule my official DGEV appointment?

Pay the ¢5,000 entero first, at an authorised collector such as Banco Nacional, BCR, ASECONSEVI or BN Servicios, and keep the receipt — matriculation asks for the receipt number printed on it. You also need DGEV user credentials, requested at any Educación Vial or COSEVI sede, or by email if you hold a digital signature. You can then matriculate online at servicios.educacionvial.go.cr, any day of the week, or by calling 9000-626356.

What happens if I fail the DGEV theory test?

The DGEV states that a candidate who fails is amonestado for 20 business days (días hábiles) and cannot sit the test during that period. Because matriculation requires a payment receipt number, you will also need a fresh ¢5,000 entero for the new attempt. There is no cap on the number of attempts.

In what language is the official theory exam administered?

The official examination at DGEV sedes is administered in Spanish only; no English sitting exists. This practice bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation, not an official translation and not a simulation of the official paper. It keeps the Costa Rican legal, administrative and road terms in Spanish so that you recognise them on the day.

Did the exam change in 2026?

Yes. MOPT and the Imprenta Nacional released new Manuales del Conductor on 16 February 2026 at ¢3,500 each, and the DGEV began examining their content on 2 March 2026. The single manual was replaced by two: one for automóvil and one for motocicleta, so car and motorcycle candidates now sit papers drawn from different material. Candidates who passed on or before 27 February 2026 could still take either practical test until 31 December 2026; after that date their pass covers the car licence only.

How young can I sit the theory test, and does the pass expire?

The DGEV sets the minimum age for the theory exam at 13, which is well below the licence ages of 16 for an A-1 motorcycle licence and 18 for a B-1 car licence. The pass never expires: the DGEV confirms it is taken once in a lifetime, is never repeated, and also covers a later licence class, so a B-1 holder adding a motorcycle licence does not resit it.

What are the key rules for navigating roundabouts (rotondas) in Costa Rica?

Article 106 of Ley 9078 sets them out: traffic already circulating has priority, the maximum speed inside is 30 km/h, overtaking is prohibited, and lanes may not be changed inside the ring except when entering or leaving. Lane choice is made on the approach — the outer right lane for the first exit, the inner lanes for the second, and the inner or leftmost lane for the third exit or any later one — with the right indicator on before you exit.

What safety equipment is legally mandatory to carry inside a vehicle under Ley 9078?

Under Article 36 of Ley 9078, all motor vehicles must carry at least one operational fire extinguisher, at least two reflective warning triangles (or cones), and at least one retroreflective vest, along with a functional spare tire and tire-changing tools (jack and lug wrench).