We're struggling with the same issue right now.
We go to DR for 2 months at a time now, and when my husband retires [soon!] it will be at least 5 months. For now we rent a car - costs upwards of $2000 a trip for a car [last trip was a Nissan Tilda - which Avis considers a Full Size car, hahaha] because an SUV is ridiculously expensive for months.
Last trip we built an addition on our house and included a large garage with locked gates - the "plan" is to send our Toyota Venza down, but the issues raised above concern me. Cost of shipping it, having it sit for many months at a time, security of the vehicle even with the locked gates, etc., etc., plus having to spend another $30,000+ to replace it in the USA...... A lot to consider.
Using motoconchos isn't for us [I've never been on one, and don't plan to start now!] and taxis do not exist where we live. A car is a requirement, we're not in a touristy area.
Decisions, decisions......
AE
AE, we are there about 5-6 months a year and shipped our car under the residency rule.
It stays in the covered garage, I should cover w/ a tarp but I don't.
Storing a vehicle isn't hard... the worst thing you can do is to start it intermittently.
Like the old song "All or nothing at all"
Short starts create condensation..... not good.
You can overinflate the tires, use a battery tender and stabilise the gas (leave it full, again to combat condensation)
I have to do the same thing on the US end - store the car for the winter...
It sat for 6 months this year... but fired right up and drove off after being stored as above.
I have a Venza too.... I'm not sure how it would like RD.... maybe someting a bit rougher is req'd.... dunno.
The renting is money down the drain.... we've all done it.
When you "make the move"... will nobody be getting residency so you can import a car?
Need to own for a year prior to importation..... you know the rules...
Hope this helps.