How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car to Puerto Rico? Learn All There is to Know

If you’re deciding to ship a car to or from the US to Puerto Rico, several factors will determine the overall cost you pay. You’ll need to decide on your shipping carrier, shipping services, and shipping method. You’ll also need to choose your shipping speed and season. Each of these factors–along with a few others–will determine the overall cost you pay to get your car from between the United States and Puerto Rico.

Ship a Car to Puerto Rico

When shipping to Puerto Rico cost is one of the first things that enter your mind. You may even do price comparisons between shipping to Costa Rica and shipping to Puerto Rico. But, distance is the only factor that will determine the overall price you pay to ship your car. You’ll also need to understand the different factors that contribute to determining the overall shipping price quoted to you. Unless you use a broker when shipping your car, you’ll need to know what to look for when shipping your car.

Getting Car Shipping Quotes

The first step to understanding shipping to Puerto Rico costs is to get quotes from a variety of different car shipping carriers. The majority of car shipping carriers provide a car shipping calculator on their website. The calculator will ask you to choose the start point and endpoint for your shipment as well as what type of shipping method you’d like to use. After providing these details and your contact information, the calculator will tell you the shipping to Puerto Rico cost. 

There may be a large gap between the high end and low end of the estimate. This is because the overall cost of shipping your car will be determined when you choose which shipping methods and services you want to use when sending your vehicle overseas.

Getting quotes from a variety of different shipping carriers will help you understand how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico.

How Reputation and Experience Affect Cost

Beyond the basic factors that contribute to shipping costs (which we’ll cover in the next section), there are several other things you’ll need to consider when shipping your car. 

The quote you receive reflects more than the size of your vehicle, the distance it’s traveling, and the shipping methods and services you’ve chosen to use. The price you pay is also tied to the car shipping carrier you choose, how long they’ve been in business, and whether they’re a commercial shipping carrier or a small business. 

The longer a car shipping carrier is in business, the more they’ll charge for their services. However, shipping carriers who have great reviews and have been in business a long time have the ability to offer you services smaller shipping services can’t. They typically ship cars more frequently, provide more shipping methods and services, and can offer more resources than small local businesses.

Factors That Determine Shipping Costs

There are many factors big and small that you’ll need to consider when answering the question “how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico?” Listed below are some of the key factors that’ll affect the overall price you are quoted by a shipping carrier.

• Distance is one of the primary factors that will determine the price you’re quoted when getting to ship a car. The further your car has to travel, the more you’ll be expected to pay.

• Size and Weight is another primary factor contributing to the overall shipping to Puerto Rico cost is the size and weight of your vehicle. Typically after you get an estimate for how much it will cost you to ship your car, an agent will ask you for the make and model of your specific vehicle. The reason for this question is because the agent will take the information you give them and look up the size and weight of your specific vehicle.

NOTE: Some carriers charge flat rates based on vehicle type, whereas others charge a flat rate per pound.

• The Shipping Season will also influence the price you are quoted when preparing to ship your car. The summertime is the busy season for car shipping carriers. Those looking to ship during the summer season will be subjected to higher prices and shipping delays due to congestion on the seas. Wintertime is the down season for car shipping, but still comes along with high prices due to inclement weather, fuel costs, and congestion on the seas caused by people trying to take advantage of the slow season.

• Shipping to Puerto Rico cost is also based on the speed of your shipment. The more flexible you are with your timetable, the less you’ll have to pay. Expedited shipping always comes at a higher cost.

• The type of insurance you choose for your vehicle will also affect the overall price you’ll pay to ship your vehicle overseas. Car shipping carriers offer varying degrees of insurance, and whichever you choose will be reflected in the final number you are quoted.

Shipping Methods and Costs

As alluded to earlier, the cost of shipping a car has a lot to do with how you choose to ship your vehicle. Unless you have the expendable income to ship your car via plane, you’ll have two primary methods of shipping your vehicle: Roll on Roll off  (RoRo) or Container. If you’re looking to lower your shipping to Puerto Rico cost, RoRo shipping is the more economical choice. Your vehicle will be loaded onto the shipping vessel, secured, and kept in the same spot until your car reaches its destination port. However, the lower price also leaves your vehicle vulnerable to any damage caused by the weather during the vessel’s travel to the destination port.

Container shipping, on the other hand, involves your car being loaded into a container that is placed onto the ship. Once your vehicle is in the container, it will be secured and remain there throughout the duration of the trip. Container shipping also comes with two different options, you can choose to ship your car in its own container, or you can share a container with other vehicles to reduce the price.

If you choose to ship your car in its own container, then it’s likely you’ll also be able to ship some of your personal belongings along with it. If you choose to share a container with other vehicles, you’ll reduce the cost of choosing container shipping over RoRo shipping.

Shipping Services 

In addition to choosing the shipping method you’ll use, your shipping to Puerto Rico cost will also be determined by the shipping service you choose.

Whereas your shipping method determines how your vehicle is transported overseas, your shipping service determines how your vehicle is transported to the loading port and to you. The primary services shipping services offered are door-to-port and port-to-port.

Door-to-port shipping involves an agent from the shipping carrier coming to your home to pick up your vehicle. They’ll then drive your vehicle to the loading port, where it will either be loaded into a container or rolled onto the ship and secured for transport. You won’t have to do any of the work to get your car to the loading port and onto the shipping vessel. You will, however, need to pick up your vehicle after it arrives at its destination port.

Port-to-port shipping is less expensive than door-to-port but requires you to drop your vehicle off at the loading port and pick it up at the destination port. Depending on how far you live from the loading port, this option can be a bit more tricky, because after you drop your car off, you’ll still need to be able to find your way back home without your vehicle.

What is the Process for Shipping a Car

The process for shipping a car is fairly easy and broken up into several steps. You’ll need to make sure that you have all the necessary documents for importing your car and you’ll also need to be certain your car meets all of the country’s automobile regulations. In addition to these factors, you’ll also need to prepare yourself to pay any import duties, taxes, and fees when your car arrives in Puerto Rico.

Required Documents

There are a few different documents you’ll need when shipping your car to Puerto Rico. It’s suggested that you contact a customs’ agent for Puerto Rico to make sure you have the full list of documents you need. The customs agent will also be able to confirm your car can be imported into the country as well as can inform you of the different duties, fees, and taxes you’ll be required to pay to import your car into the country. 

Listed below are some of the general documents you’ll need to import your car. If any of them seem unfamiliar or confusing to you, don’t worry. Most shipping carriers offer customs clearance services, which allows an agent to complete all of the paperwork on your behalf.

• Title – You need a copy of the title, in order to ship a car from the mainland U.S. to Puerto Rico. If the vehicle is being leased, a notarized letter from the lien holder is required.
• Driver’s License – A copy of a valid driver’s license must be submitted prior to export. A notarized letter must be included if the vehicle is being delivered by someone else on behalf of the owner. 
• Vehicle Appraisal   – Import tax is based on the established value of the car, which is why an accurate appraisal is required.
• Bill of lading
• Purchase invoice.
• EPA form.
• Registration

Taxes and Duties

As mentioned earlier, after your car arrives at the port, the other thing that determines how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico is the different duties, taxes, and fees you are charged. The duties and taxes you pay will be determined by the age of your car and how large it is. Older cars are typically charged more because they release more pollutants into the air. Larger are also taxed because they are defined as being “gas guzzlers.” 

These are some of the primary duties and taxes you’ll pay when shipping your car to Puerto Rico. However, your car’s appraisal value will also play a role in determining how much you are asked to pay when importing your car.

You’ll also need to be ready to pay any fees that come along with having your car imported and inspected. Oftentimes, if your car passes inspection quickly, you won’t need to pay a fee at all. However, if a detailed inspection needs to be performed on your car, you’ll most likely incur additional charges.

Buying a Car and Having it Shipped

If you’re thinking about buying a car in the US and having it shipped to Puerto Rico, that is an option. However, it will change the way you answer the question: how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico? 

When you choose to buy a car from a dealership or at auction, it becomes the shipping carrier’s responsibility to retrieve your car and get it ready for shipping. The services that the shipping carrier provides come at a higher price.

However, though a bit more expensive, choosing this option also enables you to only have to pick up your car from the destination port.

Is it Smarter to Buy a Car in Puerto Rico?

Reviewing these different options may make you question whether it’s better to simply purchase a car in Puerto Rico. This idea is clever, but unfortunately, cars are typically more expensive in Puerto Rico and it’s actually cheaper for a person to buy and ship a car in the US and have it shipped. 

Shipping a Financed Car

If you’re asking yourself the question, “can I ship a financed car,” the answer is yes, you can. When shipping a financed car you’ll need to have slightly different documentation with you than if you were the owner of the car, but as long as you possess a Lien Holder Authorization, you’ll be good to go. All you’ll need to do is find the car shipping carrier that fits your budget.

Conclusion

After reading this post you’ve learned about what you’ll need to do to answer the question, “how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico?” You’ll need to stop and think about what shipping methods and services you are most comfortable with using. You’ll also need to determine what season works best for shipping your car as well as what speed you’ll be shipping to Puerto Rico. And if you’re still thinking about shipping to Costa Rica, continue to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, your shipping experience is determined by what you choose. Your shipping carrier is the one who helps you get you where you want to go.