Ship a Car to Costa Rica from USA
Ship Overseas- Your Trusted Partner in International Car Shipping
Ship Car to Costa Rica
Wondering how to go about shipping a car from the USA to Costa Rica? Ship Overseas can guide you through it. We know it can seem confusing and overwhelming at first, but not when you rely on a company with nearly four decades of experience in this field! Thanks to our skill and attention to detail, you will enjoy a smooth, seamless experience for shipping a car to Costa Rica.
Let’s start you off with a free quote. We will just need the Year/Make/Model of your car, Pickup Zip Code or Departure Port, and Destination Country, in this case, Costa Rica. Ship Overseas offers weekly sailings (RoRo only) from four ports in the USA to one port in Costa Rica.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car to Costa Rica?
The costs to ship a car from the U.S. to Costa Rica are as follows:
- Starting costs from East Coast: $970
- Starting costs from Houston, TX: $1260
As these are estimated costs only, many factors will impact the final price you will pay, including:
- The area of the USA from which your car is being shipped. It costs less, in general, to ship from the East Coast than the West Coast.
- The method you choose to get your car to the U.S. port. Some people choose to take their own car to the port, which is less expensive. But others live too far from the nearest port and choose to have our truck drivers transport their car from their home to the port, which is more expensive.
- The size of your vehicle. You will pay more to ship a larger car than a smaller one. So you will pay less to ship a compact car, for instance, than an SUV.
Meet the Spanish Speaking Team
Kendra
Shipping Agent
Call or Text (858) 289-4922
Handles incoming quotes and shipments to Latin America. Kendra also speaks Spanish
Ricardo
Shipping Agent
Call or Text (858) 877-9577
Handles incoming quotes in English and Spanish. He also handles a lot of Whatsapp & FB Messenger.
Departure and Arrival Ports
The departure ports from the USA to Costa Rica include:
- Newark, NJ
- Baltimore, MD
- Houston, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
There is only one arrival port in Costa Rica and that is Puerto Limon, a prominent port located on the eastern coast of the country.
Vehicle Age Limit
There is a 12-year age restriction for Costa Rica.
Documents Required to Ship a Car to Costa Rica
The two documents required to ship a car to Costa Rica include:
- Original Title
- ID
Salvage Titles
Costa Rica does not accept salvage titles.
Shipping Cars for Military
At this time, we do not ship cars for the military to Costa RicaHow
How Long Does it Take?
It takes four weeks for your car to sail to Costa Rica.
Additional Information About Shipping to Costa Rica
- As a tourist, you are afforded the right to drive the vehicle for three months without paying taxes. The time begins when you enter the country, not when the vehicle enters the country. For example, if you enter Costa Rica on the 1st of October, but your vehicle enters on the 1st of November, you will only have two months to drive the vehicle, not three. This is very important to keep in mind.
- You will be required to pay a local tax, and some additional fees, all of which add up to around $90.00 US (normally this is all part of the customs procedure). At the end of three months, you have the right to extend the right to drive the vehicle for an additional three months.
- You have to leave the country prior to the three-month limit, anywhere for 48 hours. When you re-enter, they will re-stamp your passport, which will allow you to drive the vehicle for three additional months. If you wait until the three-month period is up, theoretically you are required by law to pay the taxes on the vehicle.
- A clear Title of Ownership with no Liens on the Title.
- If you bought a car new, then your name must be listed on the front of the Title as the registered owner.
If the vehicle has been sold, then both the Seller and Buyer have to sign the back of the Title in the spaces as detailed on the back of the Title. - For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot have more than a ¼ tank of gas.
- There are 3 main reasons people ship cars to Costa Rica.
- A Costa Rican Resident bought a car in USA and needs to import it
- An American, who retired and now resides in Costa Rica, needs to ship their car
- A traveler just wants to ship their car from USA to CR and drive back.
- The first two situations will have to pay import duty. The traveler won’t have to pay import duty.
Vehicle Import Tax
To learn the latest vehicle import tax amount for Costa Rica, please ask your Customs broker.
Destination Handling Charge
The destination handling charge for shipping a car to Costa Rica is $200.
Vehicle Import Duty For Costa Rica
If you are in the USA, contact the Costa Rica Embassy by phone.
Embassy of Costa Rica
2114 S St NW
Washington, DC 20008
If you are in Costa Rica, please visit the Costa Rica Aduanas Website
Offering weekly sailings from ports in the USA to Costa Rica
Our shipping vessels depart on a weekly basis from U.S. seaports to the ports of Puerto Limon and San Josein Costa Rica.
To get it there, you can choose from these two options:
RoRo Shipping – These vessels are specifically designed to ship wheeled cargo such as cars and motorcycles. In order to choose this option, your vehicle must work because it will have to be driven onto the ship via a ramp.
Container Shipping – Vehicles are placed in a container for transport. Under this option, you have two more choices to make: shared or exclusive. More on all this later.
Puerto Limon
This is the capital city and main hub of Limón province and the second-largest city in Costa Rica. The city itself is home to 55,000, and the port is located on the eastern coast of Costa Rica. It’s easily accessible, which makes it such a popular port for car shipments from the USA and elsewhere.
San José
The capital and largest city of Costa Rica, San Jose is situated in the mid-west portion of the Central Valley. Not only is it the seat of the national government, but it’s also a major transportation hub. The metro area is home to more than two million and is a popular tourist destination. We ship cars here all the time so we know the process inside and out.
Shipping Method for Shipping a Car to Costa Rica
Our shipping vessels depart on a weekly basis from all four U.S. seaports listed above to Puerto Limon. We do not offer container shipping from the U.S. to Costa Rica, only RoRo shipping.
RoRo Shipping (Roll-On/Roll-Off)
Is your car still in working order? Do you plan to ship a single vehicle to Costa Rica? RoRo shipping is a cost-effective and efficient method with reliable departure and arrival dates. All vehicles are tied to the deck with no exposure to the ocean, giving your vehicle the best protection from the elements.
Roll-On/Roll-Off is our most popular option, as well as the most convenient and affordable. Only wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, motorhomes, campers, trailers buses, construction vehicles, and boats can use it, provided they can be driven onto the ship of their own power. Once loaded onto the vessel, each vehicle will be tied down securely.
