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About Brian Botta
Expertise

Relocating to a foreign country and adjusting to life in a different culture, with a different language and a different set of values can be difficult. As a foreign expatriate living in Venezuela I've become rather well acquainted with how the country operates and how to avoid problems in Venezuela.

I have specific expertise with regard to the relocation of English speaking individuals and families to Margarita Island, including the associated issues of renting or buying a home, acquiring language training, acquiring a residence or investor visa, opening bank accounts, finding competent professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, dentists, etc.) placing children in a private school and other associated issues involved with relocating individuals or families to Margarita Island.



Experience


Experience in the area
I (a US Citizen) relocated my family to Margarita Island in early 2005, and we have been living here since that time. We are now residents of Venezuela, living normal lives and doing business here on the Island.

I am active in real estate development and sales, as well as helping foreigners relocate to Margarita Island. I'm a writer, and my website (http://bulletproofretirement.com) has over 200 articles on the various aspects of relocation abroad and moving to Margarita. As a writer and researcher I am quite experienced with providing complete answers to specific questions.

I currently assist with the relocation of 1 to 2 individuals each month, about half of them from the US and the rest from Canada and the UK. Some of the clients are retirees, others are business or real estate investors who need assistance in finding quality properties to purchase. In either case, I've become experienced in solving problems with moving to Venezuela.


 
   

You are here:  Experts > Cultures > South America for Visitors > Venezuela > shipping my car to Margarita Island

Topic: Venezuela



Expert: Brian Botta
Date: 2/12/2008
Subject: shipping my car to Margarita Island

Question
Hello!
I read that topic about shipping a car.
(http://en.allexperts.com/q/Venezuela-3093/buying-shipping-car-caracas.htm)
I want to shipping a car to Margarita Island from USA and won’t pay 35% value of my car.
However my shipping company answer me, that it’s impossible.
They just can shipping to Puerto Cabello, I think probably it’s not a Free Port.
May be shipping a car from USA to Puerto Cabello and after that, shipping to Margarita Island or driving own car to Margarita Island from Puerto Cabello?
If it is possible, How much costs paperwork for my car?
And I'm not a citizen of Venezuela, but I’ll get the residence.
Thanks.


Answer
Hi John

Everything I'm about to say is within the context of bringing a vehicle to Venezuela and KEEPING it here.  If you just want your car to visit for a year, that's easy.  Contact the Venezuelan Consulate for your jurisdiction and arrange to have the car shipped here but not imported.  You'll have to take the car out of the country within 1 year.

Otherwise:

It is not possible to bring a used car into Venezuela, unless the car is imported as part of a Citizen or Permanent Resident's household goods when returning to the country.  That particular benefit is only open to those who are citizens or permanent residents of Venezuela, and since you're not, you can't do this.  

As a side note, please see the answer I gave regarding residence visas here:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Venezuela-3093/Information-residence-visa-investing.h...


Regarding the 35% value you're not going to pay, that's the vehicle tax on a new vehicle if it's going to receive a National License Plate which allows one to drive the car anywhere in the country.  If one is only going to keep the car on the Island of Margarita (which is a free port) then one can obtain a "Puerta Libre" plate and not pay the tax, but the car is not allowed to leave Margarita.

The tax has nothing to do with the cost of shipping the vehicle.  In fact, if one buys a new vehicle here, one gets a choice of Puerta Libre or Placa National, with a very large difference in price.

The rules are what they are, and if you want to import a car into this country, you'll be dealing with their rules.  Taxes is only one part of the game.

Since you cannot legally import a used car unless you're a citizen or a resident, and can only import a new car if you're the original owner and it's a current model year car with less than 500 miles on it, my advice is to purchase a new car or used car in Venezuela.

If you're determined to ship a car to Venezuela, then you need to contact the Venezuelan Consulate for your jurisdiction.  

I wish you much patience and luck,
Brian

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