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There’s not much information available on car shipping to Puerto Rico, making the task a bit challenging. Luckily, we’ve looked into the costs, requirements, and processes you can expect when moving your vehicle to the Isle of Enchantment.
To make the most informed decision when checking out car shipping to Puerto Rico, we’d recommend looking at the industry’s best car shipping companies. Another great idea is to get a free quote from a few leading auto shipping providers using the tool below.
What To Expect When Shipping A Car to Puerto Rico
Car shipping in Puerto Rico is rarely delayed due to weather conditions, as the island is hot and generally sunny year-round. There’s one major exception: hurricanes. With its location in the middle of the Caribbean, the Isle of Enchantment faces at least a few scares per season, with landfalls sometimes occurring. All car shipping in Puerto Rico will shut down during these times.
The typical method for vehicle transport to Puerto Rico is roll-on/roll-off (RORO shipping), which is when your car is driven onto a freight ship heading for the island. You can also choose a different method, such as air transport, but expect your price to skyrocket. RORO shipping is easily the most cost-effective and convenient method when considering how to ship a car to Puerto Rico.
Cost of Car Shipping In Puerto Rico
The cost of shipping for Puerto Rico will be largely based on your type of vehicle and chosen services, but you can expect a rate of between $1,000 and $3,000. Remember that the following factors can affect your car shipping cost when heading to Puerto Rico:
- Pickup and dropoff locations: If your origin or destination is hard to reach, expect a higher auto shipping rate. Door-to-door transport also raises prices considerably compared to terminal-to-terminal shipping. Consider that the vast majority of cargo headed to Puerto Rico moves through Florida’s Jacksonville port.
- Shipping method: Choosing an enclosed car carrier rather than an open car carrier can increase your shipping costs by up to 50 percent.
- Car value: If you have an expensive, luxury, or classic car, you may want to opt for the pricier enclosed car shipping option or even car shipping containers.
- Car size: Oversized vehicles may need to be placed into a high cube car shipping container for more room, but this will increase your rates on Puerto Rico car transport.
We gathered a few quotes from a Puerto Rico auto transporter to see how much shipping services usually cost from states like Florida, New York, and California.
Quotes For Car Shipping to Puerto Rico
These shipping rates from National Express Auto Transport reflect average prices when shipping a car to Puerto Rico. Prices tend to stay between $1,000 and $3,000, though industry leaders such as Montway Auto Transport can offer standout rates.
| Car Shipping Route | Cost |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico | $1,625 |
| Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico | $1,770 |
| New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico | $1,975 |
| Los Angeles to San Juan, Puerto Rico | $2,405 |
*These examples from National Express Auto Transports quote tool are based on the lowest rate offered for an operable 2015 Hyundai Elantra.
Requirements For Puerto Rico Car Shipping
For shipping a car to Puerto Rico, you’ll have to provide documentation about your vehicle, yourself, and the car’s recipient before finishing up a booking.
Below are some of the key requirements for car shipping to Puerto Rico:
- Identification: You will need to provide photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport.
- Personal information: Name, phone number, email, and address are a few of the personal details you can expect to fill out.
- Proof of car ownership: Proof of vehicle ownership comes from either a title loan, your vehicle registration, or sometimes the vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Proof of auto insurance: Some companies require that you carry auto insurance before booking, so be sure to have proof of a policy for your vehicle.
Once your car reaches Puerto Rico and you’ve signed the bill of lading, it’s time to pay an excise tax, also known as an import tax. This comes at a pretty steep price tag, with some people being charged over $1,000. Consider your import tax rate before thinking you’ve discovered cheap car shipping in Puerto Rico.
Recommended Providers For Puerto Rico Car Shipping
We’ll start narrowing down your options for car shipping to Puerto Rico by recommending Montway Auto Transport and uShip. With these companies, you can expect an excellent customer experience along with great costs and services.
Montway Auto Transport: Best Service Options
Founded in 2006, Montway Auto Transport is an established car shipping broker that offers some of the most affordable rates in the industry. With Montway, you’re connected to over 30,000 carriers that can ship vehicles across the lower 48 as well as to Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
Holding an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a 4.56-star average rating from customers, the company has a strong reputation as a trustworthy and reliable auto shipping company. We gave Montway Auto Transport a 4.6 out of 5.0 rating and named it as the Best Service Options choice for car shippers.
If you’re looking to learn more about this company for car shipping in Puerto Rico, check out our Montway Auto Transport review or get a quote below.
National Express Auto Transport
National Express Auto Transport is another affordable option for shipping a car to Puerto Rico. The company has been in business since 2015 and has a B+ rating from the BBB with a 4.68-star customer rating.
National Express provides helpful information for shipping a car to Puerto Rico on its website. You can also get a quick quote from the company with just your email address. This means you don’t have to worry about getting marketing calls if you’re just shopping around.
Auto Shipping to Puerto Rico: Conclusion
Having a car in Puerto Rico can make life easier while you’re there. It’s totally doable to take your car to Puerto Rico, you just have to be prepared to spend $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the distance and provider.
Car Shipping Puerto Rico: FAQ
Below are a few frequently asked questions about shipping a car to Puerto Rico.
How will it take to ship my car to Puerto Rico?
The time it takes to ship your vehicle to Puerto Rico depends on multiple factors, but the average time frame is between one and three weeks. From Florida, car shipping to Puerto Rico usually takes less than two weeks.
Can I have anything inside my car when shipping to Puerto Rico?
Some people like to pack their cars with personal items before starting the vehicle shipping process, but most Puerto Rico auto transport companies prefer or even require you to have your car clean and empty before shipment.
How much gas can I have in my car?
Your gas tank cannot be more than one-quarter full, so do not fill up your car before it ships. Extra fuel makes the car heavier and adds unnecessary weight onto the shipment.
How will my car be shipped to Puerto Rico?
For Puerto Rico auto shipping, the most common method for transport is roll-on/roll-off. Your car will more than likely be shipped to the Port of San Juan, though you can opt for either port-to-port or door-to-port shipping.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best car shipping companies.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, services, and shipping routes to give this rating.
- Shipping Options: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that an auto transport company offers an array of services. We take into account the availability of services, ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates, and insurance coverage options.
- Operations: We take a close look at how each auto transport company operates, including how quickly vehicles get picked up, average transit times, insurance coverage options, and more.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, a company’s history of service, and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable car shippers operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
