Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic

The process of shipping a car to the Dominican Republic from the U.S. is by and large easy and inexpensive. This ease and affordability of shipping a car to the Dominican Republic is the courtesy of a well-established system of international ocean freight forwarding services.

Are you planning to ship a car to the Dominican Republic? A good shipping company like AES can guide you step by step to make the process pain-free and simple. From arranging documents for customs to getting the car to its destination point in the Dominican Republic, we have your back at every stage. 

Documents Required for Car Shipping to the Dominican Republic 

• Original Title which must be free of any lien. The U.S Department of Motor Vehicles certifies the title before it gets recognized by the Dominican Consulate. 
• A valid international passport.
• Original registration documents of your vehicle.
• A bill of lading or invoice for delivering your shipment ( in this case, your car ).
• A residence visa.
• Driving License.

Conditionalities for Vehicle Entry in the Dominican Republic

Some pre-conditions and restrictions must be taken into account before shipping a car to the Dominican Republic. These conditionalities determine whether your car qualifies or not for its shipment to the Caribbean country. 

Here are a few aspects that you need to keep in mind before shipping your car to the Dominican Republic.

• Any car older than 5 years is restricted to enter the Dominican Republic.
• Only one car is allowed to import.
• No car with over 2000 cc or 6 batteries is allowed to enter the country.
• The fuel in the tank of the vehicle to be shipped must not be more than ¼ of its total fuel capacity. Dominican customs authorities require this for safety concerns.
• The owner’s presence is necessary to get the car cleared from customs.
• The car must be registered with the owner for at least 1 year.
• New residents to the country are exempted from duties on auto shipment.
• A Dominican citizen can only import back a vehicle to the island country after living abroad for at least 2 years.

Cost of Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic

If you want to know how much does it cost to ship a car overseas, you should be aware of the different factors affecting the cost of international shipping. Professionals associated with the shipping companies can work out the final cost of shipping your vehicle to the Dominican Republic. 

Generally, the type and size of your vehicle, the location in the U.S, and the mode of shipment greatly influence the cost factor. So, some major factors directly affecting the shipping cost include:

Shipping Distance

Shipping distance refers to the distance between the port in the U.S from where you ship the car to the port in the Dominican Republic. If you hire door-to-port services, you will have to pay additional charges for picking up your car from the doorstep.

Shipping Medium

The most common auto shipping methods are RORO shipping and container shipping. We will discuss the efficacies of both of these methods a little later in this guide. For now, it is pertinent to mention that RoRo shipping is going to charge less for transporting your car to the Dominican Republic. 

Import Duties and Taxes

If you are looking to import a car to the Dominican Republic, you should expect to pay certain import charges to the local customs authorities. So, U.S customs will only approve the import of your vehicle once you submit the proof of paid taxes along with other documents required.

You can contact the Dominican Embassy in the U.S to get complete information about the tax rates and customs laws.

Marine Insurance ( Optional )

If you avail of this option, Marine insurance will cover any damage to your car while it is heading towards its delivery point. Shipping companies charge you a fixed percentage of whatever amount of money you want to cover.

Marine insurance is important especially in the hurricane season when the vessel is more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. 

Preferred Ways of International Auto Transport

RORO Shipping

If you are seeking the cheapest option to ship your car to the Dominican Republic, then RoRo shipping should be your way to go.

In this method, the vehicle is rolled on and rolled off at its respective port of origin and destination. Your car must be in the operating model so that the company can drive it on and off the vessel as and when required.

RoRo is the most common car shipping method all over the world. It is the most popular and preferable way of importing vehicles and other heavy machinery. The reasons for this are numerous. 

First, this way of shipping a car is less time-consuming. So, the company handles the car with quite ease when it is in working condition. Therefore, the shipping company transports the car to the port of departure quickly, without incurring unnecessary delays. As a result, it reaches its destination in less time. 

Moreover, RoRo shipping saves your hard-earned money as you need no special equipment to uplift and place the car in its proper place. Further, you can also save some extra dollars by driving the car to the port instead of transporting it on the truck.

Additionally, there is no worry related to the size and shape of the vehicle when it comes to RoRo shipping. Your vehicle is allotted its fixed place on the shipping vessel where it carries its voyage spaciously in the sea.

Last but not the least, you can plan and schedule departure and arrival times of your choosing with RoRo shipping. After meeting all of the import requirements, your car can instantly begin its journey towards the Dominican Republic.

Container Shipping

Shipping in containers is a costly affair. The high cost in this mode of shipment is due to the added protocol and more safety prospects for your car. 

People use container shipping for transporting luxury and vintage cars. So, you can either hire a 20 feet exclusive container or a 40 feet shared container according to your need. 

In the case of a private container, the vehicle is sealed and locked inside a separate container. If there is a space available, you can also ship some extra luggage with your car in this mode of shipment. 

With shared container shipping, the company places your car with other vehicles in a shared container.

Choose AES for shipping a car to Dominican Republic

The most reliable way of shipping a car to any other country is to get the services of an experienced international shipping company.

A well-established shipping entity like AES can secure a safe shipment of your car with an advanced understanding of the complex procedures involved. They can provide you insights into the custom laws, taxes, and other regulations involved in the shipment process. 

Additionally, AES aids you in the documentation process so that your vehicle avoids unnecessary delays due to different checks and restrictions by the port authorities. 

Here is how we build a quality-filled, positive shipping experience for our clients.

Safe, Fast, and Affordable Shipping

With AES on board, vehicle shipment tasks are executed professionally. Our shipping experts ensure top-quality services with their vast networking in the shipping industry and deep knowledge of the shipping laws of different countries.

We provide affordable shipping quotes that are tailor-made for your unique and personalized shipping experience. Therefore, our employees can help you accumulate all the paperwork involved and we can file the documents to the U.S customs on your behalf. 

AES has hundreds and thousands of satisfied clients across the globe. Moreover, we aim to make the international shipping process more efficient and cost-effective without compromising on the quality of the services offered.

Door to Domestic Port Services

By booking our local auto transport service, you can have us anywhere in the U.S and we will carry your vehicle to the port of departure or the nearest warehouse. So, our team will make sure to haul your car with full safety protocols. Once it gets to the loading point, you can keep track of your car’s journey till the company delivers it to the destined port in the Dominican Republic. 

Available Modes of Shipping

We offer both RORO and container shipping options to transport your vehicle. Our shipping agents provide customized solutions to your shipping problems. Depending on your preferred mode of shipment, AES offers you competitive and comprehensive shipping quotes.

RORO is a relatively cheap and quick way of transporting a car to the Dominican Republic. However, if you are extra conscious about the safety of your vintage treasure, you can opt for our exclusive or shared container shipping.

Popular Shipping Destinations in the Dominican Republic

• Santo Domingo ( capital city )
• San Pedro de Marcoris
• Moca
• San Cristobal
• La Vega
• La Romana
• Santiago de los Caraballos 

Oversized Cargo Shipping to the Dominican Republic

Over the years, AES has successfully shipped oversized cargo and large construction-related heavy equipment not only to the Dominican Republic but all over the world.

Some oversized cargo that we have been able to ship internationally include:

• Tractors and Excavators
• Bulldozers and Dump Trucks
• Industrial and Farm equipment
• Hydraulic equipment, Forklifts
• Motor Graders
• Cranes
• Pile Drivers
• Heavy vehicles including large trucks
• Oversized machinery and engines

Additional Information about shipping a car to Dominican Republic

Who can receive your vehicle in the Dominican Republic?

Once the car reaches the country, only its owner or a consignee can pick it from the port. A consignee is someone who you designate on documents to pick up the car on the behalf of the owner.

Whoever comes to pick up the car must bring some extra cash to pay off port storage fees and destination handling charges.

Car Keys

Car shipping companies require the keys of your car as well to operate and move your car inside the shipping vessel. On arrival at the destination port, you get your keys back. 

Customs Clearance and Shipment Documents

You need to produce the original title of your car and an ID to make sure your shipment goes smoothly. International shipping companies also require a U.S passport for getting customs clearances. In case you don’t possess a U.S passport, an EIN ( Employer’s Identification Number ) will do fine. 

Additionally, shipping companies need a power of attorney form. This form is necessary to legally designate/authorize a person that can act on your behalf to deal with the shipping procedures.

FAQ’s 

How long does it take to ship a car to the Dominican Republic from the U.S.A?

Shipping time from the Dominican Republic to the U.S.A depends on various factors. 

Shipping from the east coast will take more time as compared to the west coast. 

It also depends on the mode of shipment. If you choose shared container shipping for your car, it will certainly take more time. Compared to this, RoRo shipping is quicker and time-saving.

How much does it cost to ship a car overseas?

Generally, shipping a car from the U.S.A to the Dominican Republic starts at $1100-1200. The cost factor varies depending on the model of the car, preferred shipping method, and the starting point of the vehicle’s journey inside the U.S.

What is the process of shipping your vehicle to the Dominican Republic?

The process of transporting your car to the Dominican Republic is fairly simple. Here is a summary of the necessary work involved in shipping your car to this Caribbean country.

• Gathering all the necessary documents for vehicle transport including commercial invoice ( in case of the new vehicle ) and original title.
• Getting an understanding of the costs/charges. This encompasses freight and insurance charges, transport, storage and delivery charges, other duties, and taxes.
• Choosing an international car shipping company and preferred shipment mode to move your vehicle to the Dominican Republic.
• Finalize your vehicle’s departure and destination ports.
• Ensuring the presence of a designated person who receives the vehicle at the destination port.