Changing the car ownership

When we purchased our car, we were told it could only go in 1 person's name, no room for joint ownership.  I have no idea if it's true, but it didn't matter to us.  Plus, having the car in your (wife) name, won't mean a thing in the DR, as, sadly, husbands are what matters here.  I'm not agreeing with it at all, but it is the way things are.

My understanding is the same as Uncle Buck's. Our car was titled in both of our names in the US (mine first, actually), but when it was registered here, it was put into Rocky's name only.

Ok, now I get it.  Mr. gets to have his name on the car ownership, and Mrs. does not (by default).  Carlos said that we need to see a lawyer if I want the car in both names.  I think what he meant is we can draft paperwork to give both of us legal ownership, if thats what I want.  Otherwise, with the DGII, its not possible.

I just want to make sure nobody is pulling the wool over my eyes.

Thanks for the confirmation!

unless there have been recent changes, only one name is allowed on a matricula. in a case like John and Jim's Pizza it will work, but a guy and his spouse cannot get both names on the document..

A work around is to form a LLC, in which both spouses own 50% of the shares and the vehicle is transferred to the corporation. This can also be implemented on properties.

Titus Krause wrote:

A work around is to form a LLC, in which both spouses own 50% of the shares and the vehicle is transferred to the corporation. This can also be implemented on properties.

It's my understanding that an LLC (SRL) has to either pay income tax or a 1% asset tax if there is no income.

you mean like John and Jim's Pizza?

That is correct, the drawback is that there's a 1% yearly tax on the declared value.

A side agreement might solve the problem

We hereby agree that this vehicle ...... etc

Corp is an expensive workaround for joint ownership.  I hold my vehicles in my Corp but it's a working active Corp.

This is a good question and I'm glad everybody was able to chime in and help. I have a similar type of question with a little different circumstance. We purchased our car new at the dealership but because I did not have a cedula the dealership would only put the car in my husband's name. Now that I have paid the car off, I would like to have the ownership transferred to my name. Is it possible to do this and not have a sales value since I'm actually the one who technically owns the car and paid for it?  If it is possible, once this is done, then the car is technically just mine, correct?  There is no law here in the country which states that 50% of it is his if it's titled in my name or if anything should happen legally like an accident or business related issue they could not take it?  In the U.S. our personal assets were in my name and business related things and finances were in his name so that things would remain separate.

If you want the car in your name, you needed to have the bill of sale in your name or you have to do a transfer and that means paying the tax to the DGII on the fair market value of the car.

If you didnt get the ownership in your name because you dont have a cedula, how did your husband get it?  He has a cedula and you do not?   This is what happened to me but I am told this is not true, you dont need a cedula, you only need a valid drivers license.

In DR, all assets owned by a married couple are shared equally unless you have a marriage contract registered here .  Does not matter who paid for the assets of the marriage and the car is one of them. 

but I think its best to see a decent lawyer like Titus above...

You don't even need a license to own a car.  Any ID showing who you are works fine. However most buy so they can drive.  😛

Cedula is likely the issue on any type of financing at dealerships but again not always!

Can you maybe put “  Mr. & Mrs. “ or does it have to be a given name ….

NO you cannot Tippj. Must be name as it appears on cedula or passport!