Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic

Shipping Your Car to the Dominican Republic? Car Shipping to the Dominican Republic from the USA starts at a cost of $1,100 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 20 days, depending on the make and model of the car and whether the origin in the USA is on the east or west coast. Below, our 2024 guide will explore everything you need to know about car shipping to the Dominican Republic.

Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic: Checklist

Vehicle Shipping Options

Vehicle Import Approval

Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic: Costs & Time Frame

Shipping a Car to the Dominican Republic: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Dominican Republic

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Dominican Republic

Other Dominican Republic/US Shipping Options

Are you ready to get started shipping a car from the USA to Dominican Republic?

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your vehicle to Dominican Republic.

More information on the process of shipping a vehicle to Dominican Republic can be found below.

As you engage in the car shipping process, some of the most important questions to consider include:

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for shipping to Dominican Republic. Your actual tax rate is based on these details.

You should never assume your scenario is the same as someone else’s. Some vehicles such as used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for newer vehicles for shipping into Dominican Republic.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Dominican Republic, fill out our free quick quote form.

Upon arrival of your vehicle shipment to Dominican Republic, the vehicle must be declared in Customs, where the Customs Agent makes a ´DECLARACION UNICA ADUANERA´ (DUA), which is the actual presentation to customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

Things to Consider

Taxes & Duties for Dominican Republic Car Shipping

Prior to shipping a vehicle from US to Dominican Republic, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Dominican Republic requirements. If you are shipping a vehicle to Dominican Republic from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties including:

• 20% on the CIF value – (cost, insurance and freight). For vehicles fabricated in the USA this tax is 0%. Also, every vehicle which VIN# starts with 1 are made in USA. Vehicles with VIN# starting in 4 & 5 made in the USA will also be 0% However, not all brands apply for 0%. This will depend on origin of materials the parts used to manufacture the car.
• Tax “ITBIS” – 18% from Vehicle CIF value. (For all Makes and models)
• Emissions Tax – (varies on the percentage of CO2 emissions). Determined and paid once registered. Not a customs tax.
  1. Less than 120g CO2 / km = 0%
  2. More than 120 and up to 220g CO2 / km = 1%
  3. Over 220 to 380g CO2 / km = 2%
  4. Over 380g CO2 / km = 3%.

Car shipping to the Dominican Republic from the United States can be made using Roll-On/Roll-Off, shared container, or sole container service.

Roll-On/Roll-Off – Your vehicle will be driven onto an expansive load area on the delivery vessel, similar to a parking structure, and secured for shipping. This is our most economical import alternative, since the only added charges are customs clearance and port expenses.

Shared Container Service – Our recommended shipping option! Your vehicle is securely loaded into a 40ft enclosed container, along with other vehicles that will share the additional charges for container shipping. (Additional container shipping charges include terminal handling, trucking and unloading fees, as well as customs clearance expenses)

All vehicles are loaded and stacked using our industry-leading R-RAK steel loading system into a shipping container. Although you’ll enjoy the added security of a fully enclosed container with no exposure to the elements, the container must reach capacity before shipping out so you might experience a longer wait time before your vehicle is shipped to the Dominican Republic from the US.

Full Container Load – Just like our shared container shipping services, you’ll have the added advantage of a fully enclosed shipping container that will contain solely your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for the container to reach capacity, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before the vehicle ships out. However, added terminal handling expenses won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Upon receiving your vehicle, we’ll photograph and record the vehicle’s condition and loading process into our guaranteed condition report. All vehicles are loaded utilizing our cutting-edge steel loading framework that doesn’t rely on outdated wooded ramps and nails like those used by other shipping companies, which can damage your vehicle.

Once your vehicle is loaded into its own container, it is locked and secured for transport so that it can’t be accessed before reaching its final shipping destination in the Dominican Republic. Since the car will be fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our customers to transport additional items inside the vehicle. However, please make sure everything is packed securely, as we won’t be responsible for any damages. The custody of both vehicle and personal effect in its interior are to be accounted for, ANY article within the car MUST BE DECLARED in the BL, therefore, leaving a breakdown of transported goods. These goods are also subject to further tax fees.

After arrival in the Dominican Republic, our shipping agents will access the container, record the vehicle’s condition and photograph the unloading process. In comparison to our Roll-On/Roll-Off Service, enclosed shipping container transport to the Dominican Republic from the US is safer, as well as quicker thanks to regular departures every week.

Sourcing Vehicles – More than twenty years’ experience shipping cars has enabled us to build up a broad system of vehicle purchasers. In return for a nominal charge, we can help customers abroad who wish to buy cars.

Other Services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your shipment will depart from depends on the method of car shipping to Dominican Republic, where your vehicle is located, your shipping budget, and which car shipping services the nearest port offers. We have multiple shipping departure locations for cars in the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah and more.

Destination Ports – Dominican Republic

CFR Classic can arrange for vehicle shipping services to just about any worldwide destination. We ship cars to the following Dominican Republic ports, both near Santo Domingo:

Before shipping your vehicle to Dominican Republic, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms.

This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement. We do not recommend washing the interior of the car as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.

To register a vehicle introduced into the Dominican Republic after shipping, and for the issuance of the first license plate and the certificate of ownership (registration) by the Directorate General of Internal Taxes (DGII), the importers of the vehicle must submit:

• Signed, stamped and sealed request letter indicating the representative’s information to remove the plate (applies in the case of Legal Entities).
• Copy of title of ownership of the country of origin of vehicle or commercial invoice.
• Copy of the Identity Card, on both sides, of the person requesting the plaque.
• Power notarized & legalized, in case of being a representative who performs the process.
• Copy of the Identity Card, of both sides, of the authorized representative.
• Copy of Tax payment & Invoice of Customs Taxes.
• Copy of the payment receipt of the General Customs Directorate (DGA).
• Copy of the Unique Customs Declaration (DUA).
• Copy of the Bill of Landing (BL or bill of lading).

Importing a Car from the US to Dominican Republic
Importing a Car from Dominican Republic to the US
Car Shipping from the US to Dominican Republic
Car Shipping from Dominican Republic to the US
Cargo Shipping from the US to Dominican Republic
Cargo Shipping from Dominican Republic to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to Dominican Republic
Moving Household Goods from Dominican Republic to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

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