Quick Answer: Shipping a car from the USA to the Dominican Republic with AB Group Shipping costs from $2,545 (September 2026 quote), port to port from Miami in its own 20 ft container, with 12 days of transit to Caucedo; New Jersey costs from $2,770. Dominican import taxes come on top, charged as percentages of the vehicle's CIF value.
- RoRo Miami to Rio Haina runs approx. $1,550 for a standard sedan, and our full-container transit from Miami is 12 days port to port.
- Container shipping costs $2,545 from Miami for an exclusive 20' container (September 2026 rates) or approx. $1,800 in a shared container, but protects the vehicle and lets you load personal effects legally declared.
- Dominican import taxes are the real cost driver: the import duty (arancel), 18% ITBIS on the customs value plus all import taxes (not just CIF plus duty), and a CO2 tax of 0%-3% of CIF value.
- The embedded calculator at #quote-calc prices your exact vehicle, port pair, and service level in seconds — no email required.
Most Dominican families shipping a car home compare only the ocean freight number. The tax bill at Rio Haina is usually larger than the freight itself, so plan both figures together.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: shipping a vehicle from the USA to Dominican Republic
| Port | Sedan | SUV, pickup or motorcycle | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiamiCheapestPort Everglades | $2,545 | $2,545 | 12 days |
| Houston | $2,680 | $2,680 | 20 days |
| New JerseyNew York | $2,770 | $2,770 | 23 days |
| Los Angeles | $2,645 | ≈ $2,700 | 14 days |
Port to port to Caucedo or Rio Haina, in USD, quoted with our system on November 2, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. Each vehicle travels alone in a 20 ft container; two can share a 40 ft one. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery. ≈ Approximate price: what our system quotes leaving from another port, or the median of the other ports for that shipment. What our customers are quoted for a sedan, often with pickup and delivery: typically $2,820, half of them between $2,770 and $3,070 depending on the origin city.
Shipping from another state? Which port to read
Each port in the table is the one that cargo from these states usually leaves through. Miami: Florida. Houston: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. New Jersey: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and West Virginia. Los Angeles: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama ship through Savannah; Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota ship through Chicago (rail); Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska ship through Seattle / Tacoma: those ports are not in the table yet. We pick up in every state, and the calculator finds the best port from your city.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to the Dominican Republic in 2026?
Quick Answer: Shipping a car to the Dominican Republic costs from $2,545 out of Miami with the car in its own 20 ft container (September 2026 rates), or approx. $1,550 by RoRo from PortMiami to Rio Haina and approx. $1,800 in a shared container. Northeast departures from Newark or Baltimore run approx. $2,770 in a container or approx. $1,650 by RoRo. Prices exclude Dominican import taxes, which are assessed separately by the DGA on CIF value.
Miami is the cheapest gateway to the island. Sailing frequency is weekly, and the run to Rio Haina is short. That combination keeps RoRo sedan rates at approx. $1,550 in most of 2026.
| Service | Vehicle type | Origin port | 2026 rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo | Sedan / compact | PortMiami (USMIA) | approx. $1,550 |
| RoRo | SUV / pickup | PortMiami (USMIA) | approx. $1,550 |
| Shared container | Sedan or SUV | PortMiami (USMIA) | approx. $1,800 |
| Exclusive 20' container | 1 SUV or 2 compacts | PortMiami (USMIA) | approx. $2,545 |
| RoRo | Sedan / SUV | Newark (USEWR) | approx. $1,650 |
| Container | Sedan / SUV | Baltimore (USBAL) | approx. $2,770 |
Northeast lanes cost more, and transit is longer: 24 days port to port from New Jersey versus 12 days from Miami for a full container. Expect approx. $100-$225 above Miami pricing from Newark or Baltimore.
What the base rate includes and excludes
An honest quote separates freight from destination charges. Beware of "all-in" numbers that hide Dominican taxes.
- Included: ocean freight, origin terminal handling, Bill of Lading issuance, ISPS security fee, and BAF
- Excluded: DGA duty, ITBIS, CO2 excise, port storage past free time
- Excluded: inland trucking to the load port and Dominican broker fees
Inland trucking from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Orlando to the load port adds approx. $0.85-$1.60 per mile on an open carrier. A Boston-to-Miami reposition typically lands between approx. $950 and $1,500.
After free time expires, storage charges accrue daily; ask the terminal or your customs agent for current rates. Have your Dominican customs broker ready before the vessel arrives, not after.
For corridor context, compare these numbers against South American lanes in our Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026 guide. Caribbean routes price lower per unit because the sea leg is far shorter.
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Go to the calculator →How Does the Car Shipping Calculator for the Dominican Republic Work?
Quick Answer: The calculator on this page prices your shipment in under 30 seconds. Enter the vehicle year, make, model, origin ZIP code, destination port, and service type. It returns an all-in ocean freight figure with transit days, sailing frequency, and an estimated Dominican tax range for planning purposes.
The car shipping calculator Dominican Republic shippers use here runs on live lane pricing, not static brochures. It updates with sailing schedules out of PortMiami.
- Select your vehicle class: sedan, SUV, pickup, motorcycle, ATV, or classic.
- Enter your origin ZIP code so the tool can add inland trucking if needed.
- Choose your destination port: Rio Haina (DOHAI) or Caucedo (DOCAU).
- Pick RoRo, shared container, or exclusive 20' container service.
- Review the freight total, transit window, and estimated destination taxes.
Declared value matters more than most shippers realize. The calculator uses it to price marine cargo insurance at 1.5%-2.5% and to model the CIF base the DGA will assess.
Freight and destination charges stay separated on screen. You see true landed cost, not a teaser rate that balloons at the port. There is no signup, no email gate, and no follow-up sales call.
Pro Tip
If your vehicle does not start, steer, or brake, the calculator will quote container service only. Declaring a non-runner as operable gets the car rejected at the gate — and you still pay the trucking bill.
RoRo vs. Container: Which Is Better for Shipping a Car to the DR?
Quick Answer: RoRo is cheaper and faster for standard running vehicles, saving approx. $995 versus an exclusive container on the Miami to Rio Haina lane. Container shipping costs more but protects paint and body, allows personal effects, and is mandatory for non-running, modified, or high-value vehicles. Both sail weekly from PortMiami.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
Your car drives onto a purpose-built vessel and gets lashed to the deck. It is the lowest-cost option on the Caribbean lane. Terminal release at Rio Haina is usually faster because there is no container to strip. The trade-off: the vehicle generally needs to run and steer, no personal items are allowed beyond the spare and jack, and the unit sits exposed to port handling and salt air.
Container (shared or exclusive)
A 20' box holds one large SUV or two compact cars braced with soft straps. The cargo stays sealed from origin to destination. Personal effects can travel legally when properly declared to customs; confirm how with a licensed Dominican customs agent. Shared container consolidation hits the sweet spot at approx. $1,800 from Miami — cheaper than exclusive, safer than RoRo. Exclusive 20' service costs $2,545 from Miami (September 2026 rates) and makes sense for collector cars, modified builds, and any non-running unit.
| Factor | RoRo | Shared container | Exclusive 20' |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (Miami→Rio Haina) | approx. $1,550 | approx. $1,800 | $2,545 (Sep 2026) |
| Ocean transit | Varies by carrier schedule | 6–10 days | 12 days |
| Personal effects | Not allowed | Allowed, itemized | Allowed, itemized |
| Damage risk | Moderate | Low | Lowest |
| Non-running vehicles | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best use case | Daily driver, budget move | Family sedan plus boxes | Classic, luxury, modified |
Classic and collector cars should always move in an enclosed container with soft straps and desiccant bags. Salt air on an open RoRo deck attacks chrome and unsealed trim. Our Classic Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Instant Quotes breaks down enclosed pricing in detail.
MiamiUSMIA
Rio HainaDOHAI
MiamiUSMIA
CaucedoDOCAU
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Compare RoRo against shared and exclusive container pricing side by side.
Go to the calculator →What Is the Dominican Republic Car Import Tax in 2026?
Quick Answer: Dominican vehicle import taxes stack several charges. The Dirección General de Aduanas applies the import duty (arancel) on CIF value, 18% ITBIS on the customs value plus import taxes, and a CO2 tax of 0%-3% of CIF set by grams of CO2 per km (Law 253-12); the DGII collects a flat 17% first-registration tax (primera placa) on CIF value under Law 557-05. Age limits apply.
The Dominican Republic car import tax 2026 structure stacks several levies on the same base. That base is CIF: cost, insurance, and freight combined.
| Tax | Rate | Applied to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import duty (arancel) | Varies by tariff line (0%–99%) | CIF value | Confirm the rate and any DR-CAFTA preference with a licensed customs agent |
| ITBIS (VAT) | 18% | Customs value + all import taxes | Base includes the duty and the other taxes charged on the import (Código Tributario art. 339) |
| First-registration tax (primera placa) | 17% | CIF value | Law 557-05, collected by the DGII |
| CO2 tax | 0%–3% | CIF value | By CO2 g/km (Law 253-12); 3% if no emissions value is documented |
The five-year age rule
Passenger vehicles older than five model years are generally barred from import. Trucks and heavy commercial units carry different thresholds. A 2020 sedan arriving in 2026 will face rejection at the port.
Multiple industry sources confirm the age restriction, including this overview from Ship Overseas on car shipping to the Dominican Republic. Verify your model year before booking any sailing.
DR-CAFTA origin and DGA valuation
A US-manufactured vehicle may qualify for reduced duty under DR-CAFTA, depending on its origin and documents; confirm it with a licensed Dominican customs agent before shipping. ITBIS, the primera placa tax and the CO2 tax still apply.
The customs value the DGA uses may differ from the price on your bill of sale, so confirm how your vehicle will be valued with a licensed Dominican customs agent before shipping. For background, see AES Shipping notes on Dominican vehicle imports.
- Original vehicle Title, front and back
- Bill of Sale, if your customs agent asks for it
- Commercial Invoice (for a new vehicle)
- Ocean Bill of Lading
- Passport or Dominican cédula
- Declaración Única Aduanera (DUA)
Dominicans who lived abroad two consecutive years and return to settle can bring household goods free of tariff duties, once only, under Ley 14-93 art. 13(d) as amended by Ley 146-00. Vehicles fall outside that exemption and have their own partial tax exemption under Ley 168 of 1967, which requires having owned the vehicle at least one year. Eligibility depends on time abroad and documentation. Confirm with a licensed Dominican customs broker before you book.
Tax rates change by resolution
Dominican duty and excise figures are updated by DGA resolution and can shift without long notice. The percentages above reflect current 2026 market practice for planning purposes only. AB Group Shipping is a freight forwarder, not a customs advisor or tax counsel. Always confirm your final liability with a licensed Dominican customs broker before you commit to a sailing.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car From Florida to the DR?
Quick Answer: Ocean transit from Miami to Rio Haina or Caucedo is 12 days port to port for a full container. Add inland pickup and the US rule that the vehicle be presented to CBP at least 72 hours before export. From New Jersey the sea leg is 24 days, and from Houston 20 days.
| Origin port | Ocean transit | Sailing frequency | Door-to-port total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami (USMIA) | 12 days | Weekly | Varies with inland pickup |
| Port Everglades (USPEF) | 6–9 days | Weekly | 11–16 days |
| Jacksonville (USJAX) | 7–10 days | Bi-weekly | 12–18 days |
| Newark, New Jersey (USEWR) | 24 days | Check current schedule | Varies with inland pickup |
| Baltimore (USBAL) | Ships via New Jersey: 24 days from NJ | Check current schedule | Varies with inland pickup |
| Houston (USHOU) | 20 days | Check current schedule | Varies with inland pickup |
Rio Haina vs. Caucedo
Rio Haina (DOHAI) handles most RoRo units and sits 20 minutes from Santo Domingo. Caucedo (DOCAU) is the deep-draft container hub with modern gantry cranes. Most diaspora shipments clear through Rio Haina because it is closer and cheaper for local trucking.
Port cut-off is not vessel ETD
The vehicle and its documents must be presented to US Customs at least 72 hours before export (19 CFR 192.2), not on sailing day; 48 hours is not enough. Miss the cut-off and your car rolls to the next weekly sailing — a full week lost, plus terminal storage. Build a three-day buffer into your inland trucking schedule, especially if the truck is coming down I-95 from the Northeast in winter.
Customs clearance at destination adds 3-7 business days once the broker files and taxes are paid. December holiday volumes and the pre-school-year rush push clearance to the high end of that range.
What Documents Do You Need to Ship a Car to Santo Domingo?
Quick Answer: Dominican customs asks for the original Title for a used vehicle (or the Commercial Invoice for a new one), the ocean Bill of Lading and the Declaración Única Aduanera (DUA); confirm any other papers with a licensed customs agent. US Customs (CBP) requires the original Title or a certified copy, plus two complete copies, presented with the vehicle at least 72 hours before export under 19 CFR 192.2, plus an AES/EEI filing with the ITN. That filing is required whatever the value only for used self-propelled vehicles; new vehicles follow the normal low-value exemptions.
According to CBP regulations under 19 CFR 192, the original Title or a certified copy, plus two complete copies, must be presented with the vehicle at least 72 hours before export. A plain photocopy will not clear. An outstanding lien stops the shipment cold.
- Original Certificate of Title or a certified copy, plus two complete copies
- AES/EEI filing that generates the ITN number — required whatever the value only for used self-propelled vehicles (15 CFR 30.2); new vehicles remain subject to the normal low-value exemptions
- Lien release letter on bank letterhead if the Title shows a lienholder
- Title in the exporter's name — an authorization letter does not replace a matching Title
- Power of attorney for the agent filing the US export
- Dominican customs paperwork prepared with your customs agent before the vessel arrives
Personal effects traveling inside a container must be declared; ask a licensed customs agent what list and values Dominican customs needs. Vague entries like "household items" invite inspection and delay. Our guide on LCL Shipping Miami to Panama 2026: Small Business Cost Calculator and Transit Times explains how consolidated personal cargo gets documented properly.
Title name must match the exporter
A vehicle titled in someone else's name gets rejected for export. Under 19 CFR Part 192, CBP accepts the exporter as owner only when the export declaration matches the Title, and a notarized authorization letter does not fix a mismatch. Fix ownership paperwork weeks before your booking date, not the morning of the port cut-off.
How Do You Book and Track Your Dominican Republic Car Shipment?
Quick Answer: Booking takes four steps: run the calculator for your rate, submit Title and ID documents, schedule inland pickup or drop-off at the load port, then receive the Bill of Lading after sailing. AB Group Shipping moves vehicles weekly from PortMiami and coordinates clearance with Dominican brokers at Rio Haina.
- Confirm your rate on day 1 using the calculator on this page.
- Submit Title, ID, and lien release for document review on days 2-4.
- Deliver the vehicle to the load port on days 5-7.
- Receive your Bill of Lading after vessel load, days 8-10.
Preparing the vehicle for loading
Terminals reject poorly prepped units. Keep fuel at a quarter tank maximum and make sure the battery holds a charge.
- Remove all loose items from RoRo units except the spare and jack
- Disable aftermarket alarms that can drain the battery mid-voyage
- Photograph existing damage on all four corners before drop-off
- Retain two sets of keys — one travels, one stays with you
Track your shipment by Bill of Lading number through the carrier portal. Consolidated loads also track by container number. With thousands of shipments processed across the Miami-LatAm corridor, we push vessel milestones to shippers rather than waiting for calls.
Marine cargo insurance at 1.5%-2.5% of declared value is optional but strongly recommended. Carrier liability alone will not cover full replacement, as East West Auto Transport explains for Dominican Republic shipments. On a $25,000 vehicle, coverage runs about $375-$625.
Weighing more than one destination? Compare regional lanes with our Car Shipping to Costa Rica Calculator: 2026 Rates and Car Shipping El Salvador Calculator: Rates 2026 guides.
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Go to the calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Ship your car with AB Group Shipping
Explore our overseas car shipping services: RoRo, container or air from any US port, with your rate in 60 seconds.
RoRo shipping from PortMiami to Rio Haina, the port serving Santo Domingo, is the lowest-cost option for a standard sedan or SUV, while shared and exclusive 20' containers cost more. See the price table at the top of this page for current rates. Those rates cover ocean freight only, not Dominican import taxes.
No. Dominican regulations generally prohibit importing passenger vehicles more than five model years old, and customs will refuse entry at Rio Haina. Different age thresholds apply to trucks and certain commercial units. Confirm your vehicle's eligibility with a licensed Dominican customs broker before you book any sailing.
Our shipping data gives 12 days port to port from Miami for a full container; RoRo timing depends on the carrier's schedule. Add 3-7 business days for Dominican customs clearance once your broker files and taxes are paid, plus inland trucking and the US rule that the vehicle be presented to CBP at least 72 hours before export.
Yes. A US-manufactured vehicle may qualify for reduced duty under DR-CAFTA depending on its origin and documents; confirm it with a licensed Dominican customs agent before shipping. You still owe 18% ITBIS on the customs value plus import taxes, the 17% first-registration tax (primera placa) on the CIF value, and a CO2 tax of 0%-3% of the CIF value set by grams of CO2 per km.
Only in a container, never in RoRo. RoRo terminals require empty vehicles apart from the spare tire and jack. In a shared or exclusive container, you may load personal effects, but they must be declared; confirm the paperwork Dominican customs needs with a licensed customs agent.
Shipping a car home to the DR does not have to start with a phone tag loop. Use the car shipping calculator Dominican Republic families rely on — embedded right above at #quote-calc — to compare RoRo, shared container, and exclusive container rates for your exact vehicle and ZIP code. You get the freight number, the transit window, and an import tax estimate on screen in seconds. No email required, no follow-up sales calls. Get your instant quote and book a weekly PortMiami sailing to Rio Haina.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on October 18, 2026.
- Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) – Comunidad de Ayuda: Saludos quisiera saber cual es el costo de la placa de un vehículo traído de extranjero · 2019-08-06
- Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA): Preguntas frecuentes · DGA · Republica Dominicana
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Informational Notice: Changes to the Foreign Trade Regulations Export Requirements
- eCFR / Office of the Federal Register: eCFR :: 19 CFR Part 192 -- Export Control
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (via OIRA reginfo.gov): CBP - Requirements for exporting a vehicle (including: snowmobile, ATV and Motorcycle) - Part 192 Export Control supporting statement
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Importing a Motor Vehicle
- eCFR (U.S. National Archives / Office of the Federal Register): 49 CFR 176.905 -- Stowage of vehicles.
- 19 CFR 192.2(c)(1)
- DGII, ITBIS page
- DGA, 'Preguntas frecuentes', read 11 Oct 2026
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on October 18, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]
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