Car Registration & Shipping It to the Islands

Not sure about your question, but would like to find out who you are using and how much are they charging.
Steve

Hello,

Sounds like you will have the car shipped and on island while your registration is still valid. Once on island you are suppose to get a permit to move the car from the dock to the DMV for inspection/registration as your stateside plates/registration are no good here. I don't think you will have a problem.

Double check with your shipping company what they need and if they have any issues with the registration expiration date.

Are you doing the registration on island yourself?

--Islander

Squeeterz-- I just got a quote from Managed Freight (their website is on this site somewhere) For my 2005 Ford Escape, it was 1500 to ship it, and 1600 for road tax/fees. Seemed like a lot to me, does that seem reasonable to anyone else who has used them? I really have no idea what a good price would be... they were very helpful with all of my questions though...

Hello Meg & Steve,

Here is a breakdown someone had posted several months ago for their car shipping costs (through Managed Frieght):

Tropical Shipping
$800
Export Power of Attorney
(needed for Tropical to handle paperwork)
$50
USVI Vehicle Road Tax $.16 a lb.
(2899lbs x .16)
$463.84
Personal Use Tax: (Value - $1000) x 4% $22065(Blue Book for my car) x 4%
$882.60
Licensing/Registration/Title (DMV)
$150.00
Registration Fee
$240.00
Customs Brokerage
$80.00
Managed Freight Handling Fee
$160.00
Total
$2826.44

thanks! i guess mine is more expensive cause i am shipping from NJ...sucks to be landlocked in Pittsburgh, wish the Erie Canal was still functioning. maybe i can float it down the ohio to the mississppi haha?

Shipping from California for me is going to be expensive, so I am going to drive to florida and then ship from there...not coming over for awhile though...*sigh*

Hi All-
Thanks for the info Islander.

We got our Jeep to Tropical (Port of Palm Beach, FL) yesterday, and encountered our first "learning experience" FYI to anyone shipping a vehicle: you cannot ship a vehicle that has more than 1/4 of a tank of gas. We had filled up on our way there, and had a nice afternoon drive before we could return to the port and finish the process.

The Jeep should be arriving in STX in about a week and a half. My fiancee will be on the island by then- but we have heard that having someone else handle the registration process is well worth the money. Islander- any suggestion on who to use? Also, what is the proceedure for insurance? (You need insurance prior to getting it registered, correct?) Do you get the insurance and give that info to whoever is handling the registration?

Thanks for all the information- this board has been a blessing!

Hi Steve-
We are using Tropical Shipping (Port of Palm Beach, West Palm, FL) The quote wat $1045 over the phone. Final cost to be calculated when it arrives at STX. My fiacees' employer on STX is paying for the shipping, but if I see a final bill I'll pass along the info.

Most insurance offices have a "guy" who will handle this for you. I think it cost about $20 per car -- maybe $30.

I got the quote of $1045 from Tropical and was told you have to bring a current car registration from your state and title
and it is paid in STX ie shipping costs road tax 16 cents per pound and excise tax -- this tax is based on if made in USA -- serial #'s should start with 1 or 4 --- I have a Saturn Vue
and my serial number starts with 5 - ??? I thought Saturns were USA only !! Also you cannot pack your car but I will have a "few things" in it Does anyone have any ideas how much car insurance will cost locally ? there is no way my stateside car insurance will cover anything on STX is there ?
Tis a mere pittance to live in Paradise ?? Gosh will be broke
PS I need a job ASAP too

Good afternoon all,
I got a quote for a 96 toyota corolla (VIN started with 1) from Managed Freight on 4/13/05 as follows:

Ocean Frt (wouldn't say who) - FL to STT = $1,045.00
Personal Use Tax - $4115 private party value @4% = $164.60
Road Tax - 3,200 lbs @ .16 = $512.00
DMV licensing & Registration = $105.00
Manageed Freight Processing Fee = $330.00
GR Tax = $44.46

I don't know what the GR tax is, their freight was higher (see below), and their processing fee seems far different than quoted above.

Tropical Shipping quoted on 4/13/05 as follows:
Ocean Frt - FL to STT = $985.00

Ermastine handles all the cars for Tropical (561-881-3900). She can fax you a Vehicle Delivery Checklist and Power of Attorney.She said they CANNOT ship items in the car any longer (you and MAY be able to slide get one box of CLOTHES ONLY in trunk), but you can drop personal effects packed in boxes at their LCO warehouse nearby and it would cost about $200.00 to ship 100 cubic feet (i.e., 30 pcs @ 18"x18"x18")of boxes to STT. Final measurement of cubic feet will be determined when they palletize the boxes. Must include a packing list and estimated values of all items for customs inspection. All boxes must have consignee (receivers) name and port to be delivered to.

I'm planning on driving to FL and pack as many boxes as I can to ship. It looks like I can save some money going direct through Tropical, rather than pay a freight forwarder (Managed Freight). I am told that Vanclyn at Tropical in STT (340-714-6520) can clear the car through DMV and get all paerwork complete. I am waiting to get a quote from her this afternoon. I'll post her quote.

I hope this helps.
Edgar

wait so explain this to me...managed freight just gives your stuff to tropical, but we can give it directly to tropical? so what do we pay managed freight for? and does tropical have a website?

Greetings Meg,
Yes tropical has a website at www.tropical.com, but I would just call Ermastine directly if you have questions about shipping a car. Tropical Shipping are shippers with their own fleet of ships. Managed Freight is a freight forwarder, kind of like a broker. Often freight forwarders can get better deals for small shipments as they 'consolidate' a bunch of small shipments into a single larger shipment sent by a shipper like Tropical, and they often handle all of the paperwork, like hiring a customs broker and clearing customs, that can be very troublesome for many. I'll have to check, but I don't understand why there is a customs fee when there is no duty to pay on personal effects unless this is something unique to the VI.

I'm still investigating this myself, and I'm not trying to knock Managed Freights' service, but in this situation, I have not seen the advantage of using Managed Freight as Tropical seems to be willing to provide the same services without the burden of Managed Freights' fees IF you can deliver the car and personal effects to their dock in West Palm Beach. If you are shipping across the states, you may want to get a firm quote by Managed Freight. It could still be worth it.

I have not heard of any other freight forwarders besides Managed Freight in the boards, and I have only read good things about Lee at Managed Freight here. However, I am looking at about $400.00 -500.00 less so far to go direct with Tropical.

Has anyone on the board shipped directly with Tropical, and what was your experience?

Thanks,
Edgar

We shipped two vehicles direct with Tropical. It was a small hassle, but certainly worth $400-$600 saved.

We called and they send the paperwork we needed. Some we mailed back and some took with us when we delivered the cars. Read and follow all directions carefully. When we were dropping off our cars, there was a man using a hose to siphon gas out of his car because the tank was more than 1/4 full!!

Hello Linda,
Did Tropical clear the DMV for you as well? What did they charge?
Edgar

Hello Edgar,

"You have to clear your car through Customs at an office close to the shipping dock usually. (Note: If your car is totally made in the US, it may enter duty free.) You will pay 3.5% of the Book Value or the Bill of Sale which ever is greater on cars made outside the U.S. or cars that contain foreign made parts. The U.S. customs office will accept personal checks, cash, certified checks and money order."

Does your car apply? If so that would be the customs fee.

--Islander

Thanks Islander,
I'm not sure if my car applies as the VIN starts with a 1, but the car is a Toyota... maybe (hopefully) all the parts were made in the USA.

I figured a customs inpection would be required simply as the freight is moving through a port and there is no charge for this, but unless the items require duty to be paid (i.e., the foreign made parts), I wasn't sure what the fee to Managed Freight was for. You can always pay the duty directly to customs and not hire a customs broker, as you referenced. The only time I have heard of a charge by customs for an inspection was when you hired an inspector to clear a shipment afterhours (this is how the inspectors make HUGE overtime pay), but with new TSA rules since 9/11 I could be wrong. Since we are dealing with non-commercial (and non-perishable) shipments, I wouldn't imagine overtime would apply for anyone.

One note, Lee at Managed Freight said to use Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and select the private party value with the 00802 zip code for the 'book value'. I checked edmunds.com also, but I could not get a value with 00802 zip. Edmunds has shown a lower private party value when I've compared in the past.

Edgar

Hello Edgar,

If you are refering to the Customs Brokerage Charge that was listed in the post I made, the person shipped a BMW. You can read his complete cost break down with insurance and other costs at: https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect/movingstory11.php

--Islander

Thanks Islander!
Edgar

No they didn't. We really lucked out. After two days of looking for an apt we found something just right. The LANDLORD took a half day off and walked us through the customs/dmv/process. And his son was an insurance agent. We bought insurance and his "guy" got both cars registered.

This is a great island!!

What a deal! Who was the insurance company. I may want to get a quote with someone local as USAA doesn't have a local presence. It's always good when you can deal 'nose to nose' with someone. Did you just pay with local checks for the customs/DMV process?
Edgar

QUESTION - is anyone familiar with "importing" for resale? What duties and fee's will i have to pay (excise) etc...i am assuming that a "personal" tax is due from whoever buys the car? I cannot find any contact info to get this answered...i will be on STX end of this month to find out personally, But wondering it anyone knows what i pay for and what i do not pay for when doing resale...any help is appreciated!
What a great place here, PLEASE keep up the good work!
Steve

Executive Insurance in Barren Spot. Owners name is Lance Chardon. Tell him I sent you -- maybe I'll get a break on my coverage!

Hi,

just to let you know, we are shipping our ford expedition by itself. It was too big to fit in the container. We are using Crowley. their website is crowley.com. They have been wonderful to deal with.

cost for shipping this beast is $ 1400.00, must have original title with it, so make alot of copies for yourself.

if you are not bringing the car to them yourself. Look through your yellow pages. We found a local company, that is going to come pick it up on a flat bed and bring it down to crowley for $300

Unless you really know someone, I would not let anyone drive it down for you, you never know.

hope this helps you.