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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 A CAR TO VENEZUELA

Topic: Venezuela



Expert: Brian Botta
Date: 3/15/2008
Subject: SHIPPING A CAR TO VENEZUELA

Question
BRIAN, I AM TRYING TO GIFT MY 2000 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 PICK UP TRUCK TO MY FIANCEES MOTHER, IN VENEZUELA. MY FIANCEE IS FROM THERE AND SAYS THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN SHIP IT OVER THERE IS IF THE TRUCK IS IN HIS NAME FOR A YEAR FIRST. BUT THEN HE SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT SINCE THE PICK UP TRUCK IS AN OPEN BED THAT THEY WONT LET US SHIP IT. THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS FASTER. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT HOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Answer
Hi Heather

The real problem is that the truck is 8 years old.  Venezuelan law does not allow for the importation of used vehicles, unless they are being brought into the country as part of household goods for a Venezuelan returning to the country after spending at least 1 year living outside the country.

This law does not apply to trucks rated over 1 ton (classified as industrial equipment), which a Silverado is not.  The open bed isn't an issue.  Possibly you could have the truck imported as business equipment with the acquisition of a business investor visa.  I don't know.

The only other solution is for *you* to arrange to receive a residencia visa very quickly (get your fiance to  arrange that) and ship the vehicle down as part of your household goods.  Otherwise, there is no way to do what you're trying to do that I know of.

Of course, you could always just ship the vehicle without importing it, which would allow you to use the vehicle for 1 year within Venezuela, but after that the vehicle would have to leave the country for some period of time (1 week, 1 month??? I get different responses depending on who I talk to) before bringing it back into the country.  Maybe your fiance could find someone to help straighten out the paperwork after the vehicle was in the country, but I doubt it.

The problem is that anyone who could import used vehicles into Venezuela would be doing it, because it would be very, very profitable.  This is one of the rules that is enforced.  Sorry.

Cheers,
Brian

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