Would you bring this car?

There is an extra tax on foreign cars.Not sure how much because it is based on the value of the car. We thought about taking an Xtera witch would be a good car there to. Add in the trouble and it was not worth it. We are in California, from Florida or Texas it might make sense.

tamara there are so many people down here with extended cab 4 door trucks here on both islands that our "tiny" island roads can handle them, as well as the cement trucks,water trucks,gas trucks,bulldozers,a few trucks that carry 40ft cargo containers all over, full size school buses and full size city buses

Hondas & Toyotas are really popular here. I'd think it would be well worth it to bring it, especially since it's paid for & with it having a few dings, it's an island car before you ever get on island. 🙂

I have to agree with Trade. Ship that car. A few dings won't mean a thing. And given the price of cars here if you decide later you want something smaller you could likely sell it for a profit over what it's worth in the states even with the shipping and taxes. Frankly this is one of the things I would likely have done differently if I had it to do over again. We sold both our cars in the states and bought one once we got here. We paid more than we would have liked for an older, although in good shape, car than we would have liked. I could have bought a four year old jeep liberty in the states with sixty thousand miles on it for around ten grand, here that vehicle would be fourteen grand plus as an example. A new Chevrolet Cobalt that sells in the states for eleven thousand is almost eighteen thousand here.
Jay

Wow! Thanks for the input. I was sort of thinking that since it was paid for, it might be worth dealing with any shipping hassles, that way we won't have to buy something overpriced down there or "give it away" here.

As for the "tiny" island roads....I don't know STX roads at all, but have heard the VI's do have some of the best roads in the Caribbean. I have seen so many tiny island roads that felt like single lanes but were double- I guess I just assumed they would be there, as well. That is good to know, too.

Tamara

"...I don't know STX roads at all..."

I wouldn't ship a car (or anything else) here until you've visited. This is not a place to move to sight unseen.

Good advice, of course, to not ship anything down sight unseen. We do have a PMV coming up in a couple of months and that is when the ball really starts rolling...I am just thinking ahead. I tend to research things very thoroughly before doing anything I'll regret. Picking up and moving to an island is "rash" enough, don't you think? LOL!!!

"There is an extra tax on foreign cars."
Honda Pilots are made in Lincoln, Alabama. Some earlier ones were built in Canada.
Just because it has a foreign name does not mean it will be taxed as a foreign car.

I used to drive a big 4X4 Bronco and never had any problems getting around small roads. I actually prefer driving a large car in STX because people tend to get out of your way more quickly. Me hitting their smaller car would do a lot more damage to them than to me 🙂

If it is a foreign car made in America there is still a tax. I believe it will be 3% instead of 6% for a true foreign car. Some American cars will also have the 3% if they are made in Canada or Mexico. The first couple of letter/numbers in the ven # will tell you where it was made. I don't remember what numbers mean what anymore but perhaps it is something you can find out online.

My philosophy on bring down cars, if it is paid off and is a reliable car bring it. If its not paid off getting permission to bring it here can be a real hassle and this is not the place to have a unreliable car. A good knowledgeable mechanic is like a good handyman hard to find or expensive.

Betty,

Is that 3% (or 6%) of blue book value? Or, is there another value table being used?

Thanks.

I was going to bring my 05 Chrysler Pacifica but I just found out that my loan company won't let me take of my state! I am soo pissed! I am also the one who is bringing the ford expedition. Is that even legal? what about refinancing on the island somewhere before I get there?-input please!

Unfortunately it is common for a lein holder to do that. Basically they don't want to have to come and track you down if you default on your loan.

As for refinancing, you are going to be caught in a catch-22, you have to have the car on the island to obtain financing with a bank on island. Unless you can find an island bank that does business where you live.

Stephanie, You could try refiancing it stateside with a company that would allow you to bring it here.

Mnji, thats blue book.

Betty,
Does your earlier posting mean the rules have changed from the info shown on another page of this website?
Or does the below info not pertain to foreign nameplate vehicles?

"Customs: You have to clear your car through Customs at an office close to the shipping dock usually. 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."

(I wonder if one foreign made part on your car puts it in the 3.5% catagory? yikes!)

heepajeep, which website are you talking about, where did you get your info? Most of the moving info on this particular website (vinow) was put on well after I had moved here so no I have not read the info on relocated provide here. I just participate in the message board.

I asked a friend who is a customs agent on stx to confirm what I remembered and he said it is the current value or blue book value. They don't use the blue book to base the price though they have some other system, but said the prices were pretty much the same. Now if your car is 1 year or less they may base it off the bill of sale.

And I was wrong about an American car made in Mexico or Canada, that will be 6%.

Betty,
Here is a link to the differing info I posted.
https://www.vimovingcenter.com/car/

I am curious as to why U.S. Customs imposes this import tax (unless it is something unique and actually goes to the territories) on vehicles already registered in the mainland.
As they should have already paid this tax when first ever registered in any of the states.