Ship and Register Car in Puerto Rico

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is how to Ship and Register a Car in Puerto Rico. All TransportDepot Inc. can help you ship your car to and from Puerto Rico from anywhere in the mainland USA.   In today’s RORO TIP, we will give you a step-by-step guide. Ship and Register Car in Puerto Rico.  Remember you can get rates to and from Puerto Rico on the link below.

Get Instant Ro-Ro Rates to Ship Car to Puerto Rico.

Get Rates at www.alltransportdepot.com, Call 678-528-5794, or Email ship@alltransportdepot.com. 

The requirement to  Ship and Register a Car in Puerto Rico.

Registering your car in Puerto Rico is not fun but is something that you will need to do. If you get pulled over in Puerto Rico and your car is not registered, the penalty will be at least a hundred dollars and you could get points on your license which will lead to an increase in insurance rates.

When you are registering your vehicle in Puerto Rico. speaking Spanish might be helpful but not necessary. There are always English-speaking agents. The physical things that you will need are an unexpired and clean Puerto Rico driver’s license, a clean title on the car, and the excise tax papers proving you are all paid up with the port.

If you are not a Puerto Rico resident the process will be a bit more difficult. You will need your unexpired US driver’s license, a clean title on the car, the import papers, the tax papers, your passport, your social security card, and some sort of paperwork that proves you own property in Puerto Rico or that you are renting.

If you are not a resident, the process will take longer and will be more difficult. We recommend that you work on becoming a resident before you do anything else.

The process of registering – Ship and Register a Car in Puerto Rico.

The process is a long one, but it is something that you need to do to be able to drive legally in Puerto Rico. The first thing that you will need to do is to stop at a DTOP office. This will likely be a long wait, so be sure you have a couple of hours to spare.

There, you will get a form filled out called “Expedition Comprobantes de Pago”, which is quite important. It serves as a request for an emissions test (which you will have to get) as well as a bill for you to pay to the Hacienda office. You will need to start the process all over and do that long wait again if you lose it and need another copy.

After that, you should take that form to a garage in Puerto Rico and get an emissions test.

This will cost somewhere from about $20 to 50 dollars depending on where you go. This will only take a few minutes, then (assuming your car passed the emissions test) you will get a certificate stating that it passed. At this point, you will need to visit a Hacienda office to pay your fees. The lines here might be extremely long, so be prepared to wait once again.

You can always try finding a Hacienda office in a more remote area of Puerto Rico as they normally have shorter lines there. Be sure you bring cash with you because some of these offices might not be accepting credit cards. They will give you a receipt.  Take this receipt back to the DTOP office. They will check that to make sure you paid and then they will inspect your car (again) to make sure that the information you provided is accurate and that the car you are trying to register is not stolen.

You will then get a filled-out form called “Informe de Investigation”, bring this form back into the office afterwards and you will finish up the registration process there. Once you get your window sticker for your registration, place it on the inside of your windshield as soon as you can.

Important facts when You Ship and Register a Car in Puerto Rico.

Keep these facts in mind when you are going to register your car in Puerto Rico:

➔ • It is easy to get a ticket for expired registration – One of the most commonly given out tickets is for expired registration. This is because it gets instantly checked any time you get pulled over. The stickers are even readable if you are parked or sitting at a light, so make sure you get your car registered every year as soon as you get the chance.

➔ • Do not lose any of the documentation you receive – As we mentioned above, do not lose any of the official documentation that you get from the DTOP office or Hacienda office. If you do, you will need to go back and wait all over again.

➔ • You need to become a citizen or at least get a place before you can register your car – You must be able to prove residency in Puerto Rico for you to officially register your car. So, you will either need a Puerto Rico driver’s license or you will need documentation proving that you own a home or are renting an apartment.

Finally, while to Ship and registering cars in Puerto Rico may be difficult. We at All Transportdepot Inc are here to assist With our seamless shipping process, it is now up to you to Make sure that you have all the required documentation before you head to the DTOP of Hacienda offices.

How to Ship a Car from the USA to Puerto Rico?

The cost of shipping a car from the USA to Puerto Rico ranges from $1,500 to $5,000. Consider using a budget-friendly option like All Transport Depot’s RoRo (ferry service that drives on and off) to save on container shipping costs. This is just an initial estimate, though. Remember to factor in import duties and any additional fees Puerto Rico may charge when your car arrives.

To obtain the cost of shipping, click the button below.

How to Import Cars from the USA to Puerto Rico?

Kevin Baker

Kevin is a skilled auto mechanic specializing in vehicle inspections at Big Apple Auto Shippers. His thorough inspections guarantee that every car is in optimal condition before embarking on its journey. Kevin’s dedication ensures the reliability of every shipment.