If it’s possible for various international car brands to make their automobiles available to the rest of the world, then it is also possible to ship your own car to Puerto Rico. In fact, this process can’t get any easier thanks to globalization and the various companies that enable this movement.
There are many businesses in the US that offer this type of service. It is what we call Car Shipping which is a service mainly provided to people or other businesses who would like to transport their automobiles across great distances, especially if that trip also includes entering and crossing a body of water.
If you’re moving to Puerto Rico specifically, and for some personal or professional reason you have to bring your car with you, there are some things that you will need to comply with in order to deliver your vehicle safely to its destination (read more). Luckily, that is exactly what we plan to talk about in this article today.
What You Need To Ship Your Car To Puerto Rico
1. Find The Right Shipping Company
If bringing your automobile with you to Puerto Rico is already set in stone, you need to start researching shipping companies in your area. Ideally, you would want a company that is near your residence or operates near a port where most cargo vessels that leave for Puerto Rico are located.
Most of your shipping costs will be calculated from distance traveled so proximity matters especially if you opt for a door to port type of service where the company of your choosing arranges to pick up your vehicle at your location in mainland US and hauls it to the port themselves. If you decide to drive the car to the port yourself and have the company, take over from there, then this wouldn’t matter as much so it really depends on the level of convenience that you want to experience by employing this type of service.
Overall, planning ahead and exploring what your options are will help you make a more informed decision and at the same time, help you safeguard your vehicle by finding car shipping in Puerto Rico that you can trust and rely on. After all, nothing feels better than having peace of mind while you’re waiting for your automobile to arrive.
2. Make Your Shipping Arrangements In Advance
Misfortune befalls the ill-prepared. Sounds kind of ominous, don’t you think? But it also holds a lot of truth. When you prepare ahead of time, you are less likely to overlook important details that would be crucial to the safe transport of your vehicle. Since you are shipping out such a big (and most likely expensive) item, you need to be thorough with how you carry out each step of the process. You can do so only if you have ample time to go over everything you need, which we will further explore on the next point.
Planning in advance can also help you land better deals and help you stave off costs that would otherwise be way higher if you arranged the shipment in the nick of time.
3. Prepare Your Vehicle For Shipping
Next, you have to make your vehicle “travel ready.” As a general rule of thumb, your car should only have about a fourth of its tank filled up with gas when shipping overseas.
Making sure that you remove all your personal belongings and other paraphernalia from your car before handing it off to the professionals is also a must as most companies waive their liability towards the loss of any personal items during transit that the vehicle owner forgot to safe keep.
Lastly, taking pictures of your vehicle (with date stamps) is also advised. You would want proof of what your car’s current condition is like, including any existing damages, scratches, dents, and other issues. Most companies would also ask you to disclose the same on paper so both parties are clear on the current condition of the automobile, read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/reviews/shipping-a-car/. This will prove useful should any unforeseen and unfortunate circumstance happen that will compromise the condition of your car. This can also help you file for claims on car insurance if the need arises.
4. Don’t Skip The Paperwork
While Puerto Rico is considered a US territory, they are still governed by their local laws. Preparing the right documents and requirements is a must if you want a hassle-free entry for your vehicle once it arrives at Puerto Rican borders. Some of the documents you will need are:
- A copy of your driver’s license (submitted prior to export with a notarized authorization letter if transported by another person)
- Bill of Lading from your shipping company authorizing their transport of your car
- Car Title
- EPA Form (3520-1) which you can download on the EPA website
- Updated Car Registration
- Car Appraisal as you would need to pay an import tax which is a percentage of the automobile’s appraised value.
- Receipt of Purchase if you bought a new car just recently
Make sure you have all of these on hand, plus any other document your shipping company may require ensuring that your car gets delivered safely to Puerto Rico. The process usually takes anywhere from a week to a month and ironing out all these requirements in advance would help make sure that your vehicle arrives at its destination as scheduled.
