By way of background, this is the third vehicle I have shipped to the DR, so I am aware of the process....and that process is always the same....but different....if you know anything at all of the "system."
The vehicle left yesterday (5/17) for the Port of Miami and is expected to arrive there sometime Sunday. This is my first foray into shipping out of Miami (last two went out of NJ). There are far more options (read boats) out of that port, and since this 2007 vehicle needs to be in the DR by June 30, so as to stay within the 5 year old vehicle import rule, shipping to and eventually out of Miami became the fastest option.
For those thinkng wait a minute, should not a 2007 be limited to December 31, 2012 to qualify?.....the answer is no. June 30 of the year following is the actual deadline.
Some updated information for those thinking of shipping.
First, try not to have the vehicle shipped to Puerto Plata. This is currently the worst option in terms of things missing from the vehicle. There have been way too many stories of parts removed/swapped before the car clears customs, i.e. lights, lenses, hubcaps, floor mats.....and in the case of one dealer...the entire dashboard....enough said.
Second, never ever put anything in the vehicle not a part of the car....it will go missing. Many people put extra car parts, tires, or other general things in the vehicle or trunk....and they are always "confiscated." However, I once put two beautiful looking tires in my SUV as a decoy.
Concerned that they would see and take the new full sized spare exposed and bolted underneath the back of the vehicle, I took two free almost new tires that I got from a tire dealer (that had been punctured with an ice pick and therefore rendered worthless) and conspicuously placed them in the back of the SUV. Sure enough, those tires disappeared.....but the spare was intact.
Third, non factory installed radios//CD players should be removed and brought in separately.....or they may well be removed for you before you get the vehicle. Note: I have no experience shipping vehicles with built in nav systems...so send those at your own peril.
While I seem to make a case for those who advocate buying on the Island, I firmly believe in shipping a vehicle that one is already familiar with as opposed to playing Dominican Roulette car shopping....because each car I have shipped was personally driven, serviced, and well maintained for at least three or four years prior to shipping. They were again serviced prior to shipment and have given me lots of trouble free miles in the DR.
As I update the timeline and costs, I wil also try to provide any other pertinent information that may help those of you shipping in the future. Just remember, the process is a fluid one.....and always subject to change.
So:
5/17/2013---Vehicle is loaded onto a car carrier and enroute to the Port of Miami ($475.00 shipping).
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
The vehicle left yesterday (5/17) for the Port of Miami and is expected to arrive there sometime Sunday. This is my first foray into shipping out of Miami (last two went out of NJ). There are far more options (read boats) out of that port, and since this 2007 vehicle needs to be in the DR by June 30, so as to stay within the 5 year old vehicle import rule, shipping to and eventually out of Miami became the fastest option.
For those thinkng wait a minute, should not a 2007 be limited to December 31, 2012 to qualify?.....the answer is no. June 30 of the year following is the actual deadline.
Some updated information for those thinking of shipping.
First, try not to have the vehicle shipped to Puerto Plata. This is currently the worst option in terms of things missing from the vehicle. There have been way too many stories of parts removed/swapped before the car clears customs, i.e. lights, lenses, hubcaps, floor mats.....and in the case of one dealer...the entire dashboard....enough said.
Second, never ever put anything in the vehicle not a part of the car....it will go missing. Many people put extra car parts, tires, or other general things in the vehicle or trunk....and they are always "confiscated." However, I once put two beautiful looking tires in my SUV as a decoy.
Concerned that they would see and take the new full sized spare exposed and bolted underneath the back of the vehicle, I took two free almost new tires that I got from a tire dealer (that had been punctured with an ice pick and therefore rendered worthless) and conspicuously placed them in the back of the SUV. Sure enough, those tires disappeared.....but the spare was intact.
Third, non factory installed radios//CD players should be removed and brought in separately.....or they may well be removed for you before you get the vehicle. Note: I have no experience shipping vehicles with built in nav systems...so send those at your own peril.
While I seem to make a case for those who advocate buying on the Island, I firmly believe in shipping a vehicle that one is already familiar with as opposed to playing Dominican Roulette car shopping....because each car I have shipped was personally driven, serviced, and well maintained for at least three or four years prior to shipping. They were again serviced prior to shipment and have given me lots of trouble free miles in the DR.
As I update the timeline and costs, I wil also try to provide any other pertinent information that may help those of you shipping in the future. Just remember, the process is a fluid one.....and always subject to change.
So:
5/17/2013---Vehicle is loaded onto a car carrier and enroute to the Port of Miami ($475.00 shipping).
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
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