Vehicle Shipping & Registration in PR: Process and Pitfalls
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Must Knows
Top 5 Common Mistakes When Importing a Car to Puerto Rico
Coquí Destination and Relocation Services breaks down the 5 most common mistakes when shipping a car to Puerto Rico—helping you avoid delays, surprise costs, and paperwork issues so your vehicle arrives stress-free and road-ready.
Helpful links:
U.S Boarder and Customs Protections
https://www.cbp.gov
Department of Motor Vehicles of Puerto Rico
Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP)
🚗 Vehicle Shipping and Registration in PR
✔️ Know the Requirements Before You Ship
Shipping a vehicle to Puerto Rico involves more than just transport. You’ll need to pay customs duties, port handling fees, and comply with strict emissions regulations. Once on the island, your car must pass an inspection and be registered under the marbete system — Puerto Rico’s annual registration and insurance program. Many newcomers underestimate how different the process is from the mainland U.S.
🔑 Avoid Costly Delays and Fines
Without proper planning, vehicles can be held for weeks at the port. Common pitfalls in Puerto Rico include:
- Not declaring the vehicle correctly in the Hacienda (SURI) portal
- Arriving without the original title or a lien release, especially for financed cars
- Scheduling inspections too late or using garages that don’t handle emissions properly
- Paying unnecessary taxes due to incorrect valuation of the car
- Letting the vehicle sit at port too long, triggering storage fees
Even something simple like using the wrong VIN format in SURI can delay clearance.
📌 Timelines & Common Delays
A well-prepared process can take 2–3 weeks, but most vehicles take 4–6 weeks or more due to common hiccups like holidays, government office closures, or inspection bottlenecks. The marbete system also has set windows depending on your last name or vehicle type, which many expats are unaware of. If a vehicle arrives right before a holiday or in hurricane season, delays often stretch further.
📅 Need Help with your Vehicle Registration?
Avoid surprises and make sure everything runs smoothly — book a free 15-minute consultation with me to talk through your vehicle plans.
