Importing Car Using DR-CAFTA

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Hipocrito Mejia

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Jan 5, 2006
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I haven't been around here in a while, but this was a topic that was left up the air from back then. I had several PMs asking about my experience, since I mentioned that I would be bringing a car to DR. After some delays, due to unrelated issues, I finally did it, and here's my experience:

I imported a 2007 Mercury Mountaineer using DR-CAFTA earlier this year. Things turned out to be a lot simpler than when I first inquired with DGA about the process.

They are now using the first digit of the VIN to determine whether your vehicle qualifies. That would be any vehicle with a 1, 4, or 5 as the first digit of the VIN. I was initially told that I needed the vehicle's "Certificate of Origin" from the manufacturer, which I had gotten, but ended up not needing it.

I bought my vehicle at a dealers' auction in the US, so they simply accepted the original receipt from the auction, as the current value of the vehicle to calculate the duties to be paid. I knew beforehand, with a phone call, the exact amount that they would charge. I do not know how they establish the current value for vehicles obtained in a different manner.

In total, I ended up spending around $90,000 DRP for duties, port charges, etc., and making 2 trips to SD over 3 days to get the car in my possession. I now have a car that would cost me about $300k DRP more to buy it from a dealer in DR, than my total expenditure.

Overall, I would say that I had a good experience, and that the process was quite painless. I would definitely do it again.
 
S

SKing

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Nov 22, 2007
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Thank you so much for this information. I have very bad luck with cars and the last thing I want to do is buy a car in the DR. I will most likely go this route. But which shipping company did you use? I am sending the rest of my furniture/appliances through Montero and someone told me that if I just get the 40ft container, they will put the car in it. But if your process was as easy as it sounds I think that I would like to duplicate your steps.

SHALENA

P.S. Actually, I just remembered that I need the car for a year so I cannot send it with my furniture anyway.....
 
H

Hipocrito Mejia

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I called Seaboard Marine, because I saw their sticker on a lot of cars at the dealers in DR. In turn, they advised me that I would be better off using a freight fowarder, as they are already set up with them, and would also be able to complete the paperwork required here in the US to get the vehicle shipped out. They gave me the info for 2 freight forwarders, and after speaking to both, I ended up using KBL Container Line in Elizabeth, NJ to ship the vehicle from Brooklyn, NY to Rio Haina, DR with Seaboard Marine. This is Roll-On-Roll-Off service, not inside a container. The other freight forwarder was slightly cheaper, but I felt more comfortable after my conversation with Maria at KBL.

The contact info is as follows:

Seaboard Marine - 732-574-3555

KBL Container Line - 908-965-0005 - Ask for Maria

You will need the dimensions for the vehicle (length, width, height) for a price quote. She will tell you what documents you need to provide here to ship the vehicle.
 
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jorgesarduysousa

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Nov 25, 2008
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HM I am glad things went well with your car,,,but unfortunately your car has little value [resale] in the DR, HONDA, TOYOTA, NISSAN are the major brands, just with parts you may have a problem obtaining it for repairs; you didn't mention if the 90k included the 1st. license plate; how much was that?
 
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suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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jorgesarduysousa said:
HM I am glad things went well with your car,,,but unfortunately your car has little value [resale] in the DR, HONDA, TOYOTA, NISSAN are the major brands, just with parts you may have a problem obtaining it for repairs;
Click to expand...

Jorge: It used to be that way, but not anymore. Tons of American cars now in The DR with Ford Explorers (companion to the Mercury) being very common now.
 
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DavidZ

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Aug 29, 2005
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www.vipcigartours.com
HM: So there was no issue in not owning the car for 1 year in the US before bringing it to the DR? Did you purchase it at the auction under a dealer's license of some kind?
 
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suarezn

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DavidZ said:
HM: So there was no issue in not owning the car for 1 year in the US before bringing it to the DR? Did you purchase it at the auction under a dealer's license of some kind?
Click to expand...

The 1 year ownership will just reduce your taxes, but is not a requirement for anything. The only requirement is that the car be 5 years old or less.
 
S

SKing

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Nov 22, 2007
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suarezn said:
The 1 year ownership will just reduce your taxes, but is not a requirement for anything. The only requirement is that the car be 5 years old or less.
Click to expand...

All of the shipping companies state that you have to have had the car in your name for one year, do you know of a reputable shipping company that doesn't require that?

Lil' lady question of the day....
Do you menfolk think that a Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry are "safe" cars? What I mean by safe is....my biggest worry is having an accident and what kind of car is not going to shrivel up like a tin can when hit, that's why I was thinking SUV but they are so expensive. I also figured Nissan or Toyota because they can be repaired easily in the DR.

SHALENA
 
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johnny

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Feb 8, 2003
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hausenland.com
Hipocrito Mejia said:
I haven't been around here in a while, but this was a topic that was left up the air from back then. I had several PMs asking about my experience, since I mentioned that I would be bringing a car to DR. After some delays, due to unrelated issues, I finally did it, and here's my experience:

I imported a 2007 Mercury Mountaineer using DR-CAFTA earlier this year. Things turned out to be a lot simpler than when I first inquired with DGA about the process.

They are now using the first digit of the VIN to determine whether your vehicle qualifies. That would be any vehicle with a 1, 4, or 5 as the first digit of the VIN. I was initially told that I needed the vehicle's "Certificate of Origin" from the manufacturer, which I had gotten, but ended up not needing it.

I bought my vehicle at a dealers' auction in the US, so they simply accepted the original receipt from the auction, as the current value of the vehicle to calculate the duties to be paid. I knew beforehand, with a phone call, the exact amount that they would charge. I do not know how they establish the current value for vehicles obtained in a different manner.

In total, I ended up spending around $90,000 DRP for duties, port charges, etc., and making 2 trips to SD over 3 days to get the car in my possession. I now have a car that would cost me about $300k DRP more to buy it from a dealer in DR, than my total expenditure.

Overall, I would say that I had a good experience, and that the process was quite painless. I would definitely do it again.
Click to expand...

Will be good if you explain that the 90,000DP you paid was for the 16% ITBIS (which I still find cheap for a 20k car) or it was for the first placa which for that vehicle is over 600,000DP.
Under DRCAFTA the only thing they eliminated (since last year) was the Arancel, which was 20% 5 years ago.
The first placa is supposed to be 17% of the cost of the vehicle in the market (not what you pay for)
 
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johnny

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Feb 8, 2003
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hausenland.com
AlterEgo said:
Good link johnny. The car we're thinking of shipping is a 2009 Toyota Venza that we bought new in '09. It's not even on the list.

Anyone know what they do if the car isn't known to them? Do they use the bill of sale from 2-3 years ago?

AE
Click to expand...


They will calculate with a similar Toyota (Cylinder, CC, Price)
 
J

johnny

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Feb 8, 2003
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hausenland.com
belmont said:
Don't you mean 17% of RD$600,709.61 (current value of vehicle)?
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Not. 600,709.61 is the Tax you have to pay. that include 16% ITBIS + 17% Primera Placa + others tramites.
What I think is that HM have not pay yet for Primera Placa. Wish I am wrong, but let wait for him to explain. Maybe what he paid was the tax for Aduana. La Primera Placa es en Impuestos Internos.
 
S

SKing

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Nov 22, 2007
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belmont said:
Don't you mean 17% of RD$600,709.61 (current value of vehicle)?
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering because that sight says that that is te value they give to the car, not the cost of the placa. Now I'm confused

SHALENA
 
H

Hipocrito Mejia

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Jan 5, 2006
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To clear up a few items; the first placa was not included in the $90,000. That was for the fees at customs and port. The first placa would have been $91,000 DRP; however, I got a one time deal through a friend for $45,500 DRP. (Don't know and didn't care to ask how it was done, but it was all "legal".)

The one year of ownership is a requirement only if you are importing the vehicle under law 168. You can not use both DR-CAFTA and law 168 on the same vehicle. One or the other.

As for the value of the car... remember that I stated up front that I bought the car at a dealers only auction in the US; which means that I paid "wholesale", not retail price for the car, and that DGA accepted the original receipt from the auction to establish the value of the car. Again, I do not know how they establish the current value for vehicles obtained in a different manner. That valuation is the main source of problems/complaints from people dealing with DGA.
 
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