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Topic starter
Good Morning!
Our car gets on the ship on Thursday and I still haven't been able to get the copy of our window sticker from General Motors. We have a Buick Encore that we assumed was manufactured in the US, but from the VIN # it appears to of been assembled in Korea.
The info below is from the shipping company:
"It is our understanding that U.S. Customs in St. Croix does charge a fee if the vehicle is manufactured out side of the U.S. If it is manufactured in the U.S., then there is no fee.
If your VIN number of vehicle starts with a “1” “4” or “5”, then your vehicle is manufactured in the U.S., according to information I received from Customs.
If your vehicle was not manufactured in the U.S., then the fees would be as follows:
Canada and Mexico, 6% of retail value*
Other Origins, 3.5 of retail value*"
I have attempted several places (dealership,window sticker web site, GM) to obtain the window sticker to show the import tax was paid, but have hit brick walls. Does anyone have any other ideas? We would love to avoid paying the 3.5% fee since we know it was paid when our car entered the US from Korea.
Posted : February 27, 2017 12:07 pm
You're going to get stuck paying the fee.
Posted : February 27, 2017 12:33 pm
That fee is not about the tax paid when the car was originally manufactured. That is a USVI fee that must be paid for foreign manufactured vehicles.
Posted : February 27, 2017 12:47 pm
Tommy is correct. You're paying it. No way around it and that info is easily accessible. Why are you asking about a window sticker? You mean the VIN? The shipping company won't just make stuff up lol. 20% WAPA increase and a new sin tax (soon)... welcome to paradise! OH and don't expect to get your tax returns either... ever. 😀
Posted : February 27, 2017 1:49 pm
Yes Tommy is correct.
I purchased a Ford manufactured in Canada and had to pay the fee to enter the USVI.
No way around it.
Posted : February 27, 2017 2:33 pm
Yep, even though I have my vehicle as an American company, it was assembled in Canada and I paid the fee. You will as well. Well, if you want to pick up your car
, you will.
Posted : February 27, 2017 2:48 pm
The USVI is not part of NAFTA so none of those tariff protections apply here.
Posted : February 28, 2017 11:25 am
So much for buying American. Totally by accident I turned out to be a patriot and support of US economy by buying American built Japanese car. At least according to VIN. 🙂
Posted : February 28, 2017 1:39 pm
Topic starter
Thanks for the all info!
During our last visit to STX someone had told us we could avoid paying if we proved they were paid, but I guess they were wrong!!
Posted : February 28, 2017 3:37 pm
hahahahahaha, this is another one of those things the TV show Island Life doesn't tell you about. Welcome to the Islands mon, if you find this irritating you ain't seen nothing yet. Within the next few years, you will either learn to let things roll off your back like water off of a ducks back or be moving back to the states.
If it makes it taste a little better, just look at it like an initial down payment on that living the dream in paradise.
mike
Posted : March 1, 2017 12:00 am
My neighbor likes to tell everyone when he bought his John Deere tractor 30 years ago he thought he was buying the most American thing made until he found out it was made in Japan.
Posted : March 1, 2017 1:10 am
