Costa Rica Shipping – People deciding on Costa Rica Relocation and shipping to Costa Rica are commonly asking whether they should sell their car before moving or ship their car to Costa Rica. This seems like a pretty simple question but before you make any decision you should first know the pros and cons of leaving your car and bringing it over.
First let us talk about what are involved if you decide to bring your car and ship it to Costa Rica.
For starters, you should make sure that your own car can be serviced in Costa Rica and that parts are available because it would be a big problem and a real waste of money if after spending hard earned money bringing your car down to Costa Rica it breaks down and you cannot get it repaired. Popular cars to ship to Costa Rica are Toyota 4Runners and Rav4s. Those cars made overseas are easier to find parts in Costa Rica.
Secondly, you have to look for an international transport company that will ship your car to Costa Rica; freight charges from the US to either Puerto Limon or the Port of Caldera amount to about $500 to $800.
Next you have to remember that all imported vehicles are taxed from 52 to 72 percent of the items value so make sure that you take that into consideration before making your decision.
Lastly, once your car arrives in Costa Rica, it needs to be inspected and you need to take care of your Marchamo, plus your car will also need emissions certifications. Taking it through customs should be something you leave to the Costa Rica shipping companies that do this on a day to day basis. Those that “know a guy” find out very quickly that should have used the professionals due to extra costs or having their car trapped in customs.
Click to Get Your Free Costa Rica Shipping Guide
Now let us talk about what may happen if you decide to sell your car and not ship your car to Costa Rica.
There are three possible scenarios in here. First, is that you may need to sell it about 5 to 6 six months ahead of your scheduled departure to get the best possible offer you can get for your car. The problem with this is that you would be without car for a couple of months and have to take public transportation to get to your daily destinations. On the other hand, if you decide to wait until the last minute to sell your car, you would need to sell it quickly and incur some loss. Lastly, if you are not willing to sell your car for less than its real value, then you would have to either leave it with a friend to sell it, or pay for storage.
Since you did not bring your car to Costa Rica, you would want to buy a replacement vehicle when you arrive in this country. The problem with this is that cars in Costa Rica are twice the price of its counterpart in the US, Canada and other parts of the world. Another issue you may encounter when buying a car in Costa Rica is that unlike in the US and Canada where you will be given detailed information of any damage or repairs done on the car and when the yearly maintenance is done, plus a warranty for a period of time that covers you if it suddenly breaks down, in Costa Rica it is unheard of and has never been done. When you buy a car in Costa Rica you wouldn’t know anything about it and if it breaks down do not expect the seller to foot the repair bill or give you your money back. Furthermore, do not expect the judicial system of Costa Rica to help you get a refund because it would be a total waste of money and time.
Upon doing the numbers and taking everything in consideration, it is actually less expensive and totally hassle-free to ship your car than sell it and buy a new one in Costa Rica.
