If your license plates are faded or illegible, don’t paint them.  The inspection manual lists painted plates as a grave flaw which will cause your vehicle to fail the inspection.  This defect is becoming more and more common, in December 1667 vehicles were failed because the plates were repainted.

Plates must be legible, original and located in a visible place.  If your plates are illegible, you must take them to the National Registry for replacement. You must present a CONAVI document stating that you have no outstanding fines and pay 3000 colones per plate that needs to be replaced.