Shipping a car to the Dominican Republic from the US starts at $1,100 with an estimated turnaround time of 20 days, depending on the make and model of the car and whether the origin in the US is on the east or west coast. In this article, our 2022 guide will explore everything you need to know about shipping a car to the Dominican Republic, starting with some general information that may help you decide if this is a good option for you.

Understand shipping

Gather all necessary documentation, including:

Here are the costs you should consider when importing a vehicle:

  • Freight and Insurance – Costs of transporting your vehicle overseas.
  • Wharf, Transport, Storage, and Delivery – Costs of handling your vehicle with its arrival of it to the country.
  • Duties, Taxes, and Fees – Charges for the country you are importing your vehicle to.
  • Customs Agent Charges – Fee to pay the customs agent.

Selecting a shipping company to bring your vehicle from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic

Learn about shipping methods, ports, and position of the vehicle

Verify that there is no dirt or other foreign substance on the undercarriage

Shipping options

There are many important considerations when you engage in the car shipping process, including:

  • Whether you’re importing a new or used vehicle.
  • Whether you plan to keep the car at your new destination permanently, or it’s just a temporary move.
  • How old the car is.
  • Whether or not you plan to file for tax exemptions for the move.

I don’t want my car to be General Juan’s for more than 5 years. Let’s move it.

These questions will help you determine if your car is eligible for shipping to Dominican Republic. Knowing your actual tax rate depends on the information you provide. You should never assume that your case is the same as someone else’s. For instance, not all cars are eligible for shipping into Dominican Republic.

Import approval

When you arrive in the Dominican Republic with your vehicle, you must declare it with Customs. The Customs agent will create a declaration called a ´DECLARACION UNICA ADUANERA´ (DUA).

You will need the following documents:

  • A copy of your customs declaration
  • The original bill of lading.
  • The original title to the vehicle’s country of origin
  • CO2 manufacturer certification for vehicles that are not in the table of CO2 emission rates and for manufacturers who don’t provide their own documentation

What to Consider

If you’re bringing a vehicle from the US to Dominican Republic and paying customs taxes, you’ll also need to nationalize it by applying for a first license and registration.

Costs and Time

I have never tried importing a car from the US to the Dominican Republic before, but I checked on Google and based on that, it looks like a compact car would cost about $1,100 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 20 days.

Shipping rates can vary for many factors, one of which would be the make and model of your vehicle, where you’re located, the port of departure in the US, and your destination.

In addition to these things, you’ll have to think about storage fees and other vendor fees. Taxes and duties are also charged in the Dominican Republic.

When shipping a vehicle from the United States to the Dominican Republic, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with local requirements. If you’re shipping a car from the United States to the Dominican Republic, you should understand that your car will be subject to customs duties and other fees, since it is being imported into the country.

20% on the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value. For vehicles made in the USA, this tax is 0%. Also, if your VIN# starts with a 1, it was made in the USA. If you have a 4 or 5 for your VIN#, it also means it was made in the USA and will be exempt from taxes. But not every company qualifies for 0%. This will depend on the origin of materials used to manufacture the car.

Shipping types

Roll-On/Roll-Off – Your vehicle will be driven on to a large platform situated in the delivery vessel, which is similar to a parking structure. The platform provides enough space for your vehicle and it will be secured at this point. These are our most economical import options since you’ll only have to pay for customs and shipping fees.

Our recommended shipping option: shared container service. This is where your vehicle is securely loaded into a 40ft, fully enclosed container with other vehicles that are traveling to the same destination. The cost of this will depend on how many other vehicles are in the container, so it’s best to start by finding out the number of weeks that you’re traveling for and then emailing us for a quote.

Full Container Load – FCL is just like our shared container shipping service but there’s an additional advantage: the container will only hold your vehicle. This means you’ll have less of a wait before it ships out and there are no uncertainty or delays from other car owners. The one downside is that there is some added terminal handling costs that can’t be shared with others.

Tips

An important step before shipping a car to Dominican Republic is to ensure it is free of dirt, gravel, and any other contaminant that could introduce invasive plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

Motor vehicle owners in the Dominican Republic must register their cars and get the first license plate from the Directorate General of Internal Taxes. They can do this by either visiting their local DGII office or sending their car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to their local DGII office.