Exporting a car from the US to Haiti can be a tough undertaking if you don’t have all the necessary legal paperwork and documentation on hand. The customs clearance here is lengthy and if care is not taken, you may end up spending more time and money than budgeted. However, with proper planning and knowledge of all the intricacies involved, you should be able to save some money and have a lot less to worry about.
Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is in close proximity to the United States and the cost of shipping cars in Haiti is generally low depending on the shipping port your vehicle is departing from. Usually, transport shipments from Florida port cost much lesser than other ports in the US.
Also, the requirements for shipping cars in Haiti is determined by the purpose of your bringing it into the country, which could range from either organizational, business, or for personal reasons. You will need to make a thorough research on the customs regulations, duty rates and necessary documents for importing cars in Haiti.
Important document for importing cars in Haiti
- Passport or visa (a visa may not be required for US citizens in Haiti depending on the length and purpose of their visit, but a valid passport is necessary)
- Original Title of vehicle
- Driver’s license
- Ocean bill of lading
- Bill of sale
- Detailed cargo manifest
- Point of Origin and destination
Most common ports in Haiti
- Port-au-Prince
- Croix-des-Bouquets
- Cap-Haitian
- Carrefour
- Port-de-Paix
- Les Cayes
Taxes and import duties
Haiti excludes non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from paying import taxes but requires that they pay an inspection fee for shipping cars in Haiti. Taxes are charged for regular imports based on the value of the vehicle with the taxation rates ranging between 5% and 20% and rising by increments of 5%.
A maximum tax of 20% is required for vehicles worth $2,000 and above, while a 10% tourist tax must be paid when importing Haiti used cars into the country. There is also a daily fee which applies to vehicles kept in temporary storage in the country while the paperwork and other documents are being sorted out.
You can consult with the United States Office of the Embassy of Haiti for more related information and about consulate locations in the U.S. Also, if you’re experiencing legal issues or find difficulties in the process of getting your cars in Haiti through customs, there is a list of attorneys from the Haitian Embassy in the U.S. that can prove very helpful, and you can easily get across to them.