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Bringing a car to Puerto Rico

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chabs182

Hi Everyone, My name is Chris and I recently moved to Gurabo from Denver.  I am wondering if anyone has any info on bringing a car here from the US?  Info on the process you went through, as well as costs and other hoops you had to jump through would be very helpful.  Thanks in advance!!

bmay777

Chris,

This blog article was a life saver for our car shipping process:

https://jenonajetplane.com/shipping-a-c … rt-review/

We used the same company Puerto Rico Car Transport that she mentions there.  The process was fairly painless for what it is.  Our car took about 6 weeks to arrive.  We opted to pay the extra fees on site at one of the trailers in the parking lot.  We used the one to the left of the white one she shows in the blog.  The most confusing part was the last step #12 on buying the temporary insurance.  This is office is in the same building, but on the back side.  If you're facing the front door go around on the left side. 

My Spanish is pretty basic and it was hard to explain what I needed.  I believe it's technically called "Comprobante de ACCA" or ACCA voucher.  The guard wouldn't let me in at first and I had to get someone from the first desk in the front to call back there and explain what I needed.

I was the first in line when the office opened and was able to drive the car out in about an hour. 

Hope that helps!

chabs182

Thank you so much!

wpotvin

I just recently shipped a large SUV from New York to San Juan. I got several quotes, and they all were in the neighborhood of $2,300.   I shipped a Jeep down in 2019 for about $1,700.   

The pickup process has improved because of COVID but can be confusing.  In the past, you first went to the Port to get your car's paperwork, then to Hacienda in Old San Juan to pay the IVU, and back to the Port to pick up the car.  You can now pay the IVU online.  This is great, but you can't pay until you have the paperwork from the port, especially the port inspection paper and all your vehicle information, including the title.  Here is my recommendation.
1. Bring your shipment papers, a tablet or laptop, and a phone with a hotspot to pay the IVU online at the port.  You need to be able to receive emails on your phone or tablet. I did it on my cell phone, but it was really hard.
2. When you get the notice that your car has arrived, go to the port.  There is an office in a trailer behind a lot of fences.  It's there, but you have to search a bit.  Ask directions if absolutely necessary (a guy thing).
3.  There are two windows.  One is the Port window, and one is for Hacienda for taxes, but Hacienda does not service customers.  (More later).  Pick up your paperwork at the Port window.  They have posted the website for tax payments in the window. 
4. Once you have the paperwork, you can complete the tax declaration and payment online.  I recommend finding the site and starting the process before your arrival.  There is a PR Government site for tax payments with many payment options.  The car import tax page is on that site and is very specific.  It takes some searching to find the correct page.  The process on that page is lengthy, so a head start is a help.  You put in make, model, VIN, shipping, and other data.  Once at the port, you can fill in port inspection information and other items from the paperwork you got from the port. 
5. When you finish the tax declaration, you will get the tax amount, and you can pay the tax via credit card online.   They are then supposed to e-mail the receipt to you.  When you get it, bring it back to the Port window, and they will give you a clearance paper.  You bring the paper to the parking area, and they get your car.
6. My receipt never came by e-mail.  After waiting a bit, going to lunch, coming back and, it had still not arrived.  I went to the Hacienda window at the port; they looked it up and got me the receipt.
7.  You then take your car to a regular inspection station - at many service stations,  With no PR registration, you have to show them your title.  Now you go to DMV.

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