Car Shipping Guatemala Calculator: 2026 Rates $1,150+

Quick Answer: Shipping a car to Guatemala costs $1,150-$2,450 in ocean freight from Miami, plus destination charges, duty and 12% IVA. RoRo to Puerto Quetzal runs 10-14 days; a 20' container to Santo Tomás de Castilla runs 7-11 days. Landed cost on a used sedan typically totals $2,600-$4,800.

Guatemala is one of the few Central American markets with no hard model-year ban on imported vehicles. That makes the tax math — not the age of your car — the number that decides whether the shipment makes financial sense.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Guatemala From the United States?

Quick Answer: Shipping a car to Guatemala from the US costs $1,150-$2,900 in ocean freight, depending on method and origin port. Add $350-$700 in destination port and broker charges, plus duty and 12% IVA. Most used sedans land in Guatemala for a total of $2,600-$4,800.

Your final cost splits into five buckets. Freight is only the first one. Most quotes you see online cover that bucket alone.

• Ocean freight: the vessel move, US port to Guatemalan port. $1,150-$2,900 depending on method.
• Origin charges: AES/EEI filing with ITN, dock receipt, title surrender to CBP, loading. Roughly $150-$275.
• Destination THC and warehouse: terminal handling at Puerto Quetzal or Santo Tomás, plus storage days. $180-$420.
• Import taxes: DAI duty on CIF, then 12% IVA, then ISCV first-registration tax.
• Inland delivery: port to Guatemala City or Antigua. $180-$350 by car carrier.

RoRo Pricing by Vehicle Size

RoRo prices by cubic dimension, not by weight. A standard sedan runs cheaper than a crew-cab pickup because the pickup eats more deck space.

RoRo

Miami(USMIA)

→

Santo Tomás(GTSTC)

from USD $1,150

20' FCL

Miami(USMIA)

→

Puerto Quetzal(GTPRQ)

from USD $2,100

A sedan such as a Corolla or Civic sits at $1,150-$1,550 RoRo from Miami. An SUV or half-ton pickup moves to $1,450-$1,950. Dually trucks and long-bed models price higher again.

Container options change the math. A dedicated 20' container Miami to Puerto Quetzal runs $2,100-$2,900. A shared or consolidated container slot costs $1,400-$1,800, but you wait for the box to fill.

Compare the neighboring lane before you commit. Our Car Shipping El Salvador Calculator: Rates 2026 guide shows how Acajutla pricing stacks up against Guatemalan ports — useful if you have family on either side of the border.

How Does the Car Shipping Calculator for Guatemala Work?

Quick Answer: A car shipping calculator estimates your total cost from three inputs: origin port, vehicle size class and shipping method. The calculator on this page prices RoRo, shared container and dedicated 20' FCL to Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás de Castilla, then adds destination charges so you see a landed figure, not just freight.

A car shipping calculator converts route, vehicle dimensions and shipping method into a live freight estimate. It replaces the back-and-forth email quote cycle with a number you can act on immediately.

Which Inputs Move the Price Most?

Cubic dimensions dominate RoRo pricing. Carriers charge by the space your vehicle occupies on deck, measured as length × width × height in meters.

1. Enter your origin port or the city where the vehicle sits today.
2. Select the vehicle class — sedan, SUV, pickup, van or heavy unit.
3. Choose running or non-running condition.
4. Pick your method: RoRo, shared container or dedicated 20' FCL.
5. Compare the returned estimates side by side before booking.

Condition matters more than most shippers expect. Non-running and wrecked vehicles cannot travel RoRo. They require a container and winch loading, which adds $150-$300 in handling.

Buying from Copart or IAAI changes the workflow. Auction vehicles often arrive non-running and need container loading plus a title release step. Our Copart Vehicle Shipping Calculator 2026: From $1,150 guide covers that process in detail.

What Do 2026 Rates Look Like by US Origin Port?

Quick Answer: Gulf Coast ports are cheapest into Guatemala. Houston and Galveston RoRo runs $950-$1,350 with 6-9 day transit. Miami and Port Everglades sit at $1,150-$1,550 with 7-11 days. West Coast departures from Long Beach cost $1,900-$2,600 and take 16-22 days via Puerto Quetzal.

Geography decides your discharge port. Atlantic and Gulf origins discharge at Santo Tomás de Castilla (GTSTC) on the Caribbean side. Pacific origins discharge at Puerto Quetzal (GTPRQ).

New York and Newark rarely make sense for Guatemala cargo. At $1,450-$1,850 with 11-15 days, the premium over Florida is real. Trucking the vehicle south to Port Everglades often costs less than the freight differential.

What Does Inland Pickup Add?

Inland trucking to the export terminal runs $0.85-$1.45 per mile. Open carrier sits at the low end. Enclosed transport for high-value units sits at the top.

A Dallas-to-Houston move costs about $290-$420. Atlanta to Miami runs closer to $600-$850. Factor that in before choosing a "cheaper" port.

Port cut-off and vessel ETD are not the same date. Cut-off typically falls 48-72 hours before departure. Miss it and your vehicle rolls to the next sailing, usually a week later.

Is RoRo or Container Shipping Cheaper for Sending a Car to Guatemala?

Quick Answer: RoRo is cheaper — typically $400-$1,300 less than a dedicated 20' container on the same lane. RoRo requires a running vehicle and allows no personal items inside. Container shipping costs more but protects the vehicle from weather and handling, and permits household goods loaded around the car.

RoRo means roll-on/roll-off. The vehicle drives onto a dedicated car-carrier deck under its own power. Longshoremen then lash it in place with straps and chocks for the voyage.

How Does a Shared Container Work?

You pay for a slot, not the whole box. The consolidator loads two to four vehicles into a 40' container at a Miami warehouse. The sailing waits until the box fills.

That wait adds 5-12 days to your door-to-door time. Budget for it. If your registration deadline is tight, pay the RoRo or FCL premium instead.

Shipping two vehicles changes the calculation entirely. A 40' container holds two sedans, or a pickup plus household goods. At $2,900-$3,900 for the box, the per-unit cost drops below RoRo.

Classic and collector vehicles need different handling. Enclosed container loading, soft-strap tie-downs and higher declared-value insurance all apply. Our Classic Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Rates from $1,850 covers those requirements.

How Do I Calculate Import Duty and Taxes on a Car in Guatemala?

Quick Answer: Guatemala taxes the CIF value — cost of the vehicle plus insurance plus freight. Apply the DAI import duty first (0-15%, or 0% under CAFTA-DR for US-built vehicles), then 12% IVA on CIF plus duty. A separate ISCV circulation tax applies at first registration, scaled by model year and engine size.

CIF means Cost, Insurance and Freight. SAT — Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria — assesses tax on the landed value, not on your purchase invoice alone.

Worked Example: $9,000 Sedan From Miami

Here is the math on a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu bought for $7,500, shipped RoRo from Port Everglades.

Total tax lands in the $1,300-$1,700 range for most CAFTA-qualifying sedans at this value. Swap in a Japanese-built vehicle and DAI adds another $450-$1,350.

What If My Bill of Sale Is Low?

SAT publishes reference valuation tables tied to the CAUCA regional customs framework. If your bill of sale sits below the table value, SAT uses the table — not your invoice.

That trips up buyers who get a family-deal price or an auction bargain. A $3,000 purchase can still be valued at $6,800 for tax purposes. Check the table before you build your budget.

What Are DAI Rates for Non-CAFTA Vehicles?

DAI rates for vehicles built outside the CAFTA-DR region run roughly 5-15%. The rate depends on engine displacement and HS classification under heading 87.03.

• Small-displacement passenger cars (under 1,500cc): typically the lower end of the band.
• Mid-size engines (1,500-3,000cc): mid-band DAI.
• Large-displacement SUVs and trucks (over 3,000cc): the top of the band, plus higher ISCV.
• Pickups classified under heading 87.04 can carry a different rate than passenger cars.

ISCV — the vehicle circulation tax charged at first registration — declines with vehicle age. It never reaches zero. Budget $150-$600 for most passenger vehicles.

Does CAFTA-DR Make My US Car Duty-Free in Guatemala?

Quick Answer: Yes — vehicles that qualify as US-originating under CAFTA-DR enter Guatemala at 0% DAI duty. You must present a valid certificate of origin and the VIN must confirm North American assembly. IVA at 12% still applies. Vehicles assembled in Japan, Korea or Europe pay full DAI even when purchased in the US.

Your VIN tells the story in the first three characters. This is the single fastest eligibility check you can run.

The Certificado de Origen must accompany the Factura Comercial and bill of sale at DUCA-D filing. Without it, your broker cannot claim preference, even on a US-built vehicle.

Keep the manufacturer's origin label or a dealer origin statement. SAT inspectors ask for it during physical inspection at the port. A missing label can stall clearance for days while storage accrues.

Duty-free is not tax-free. IVA at 12% and the ISCV remain payable in full on every qualifying vehicle. Industry guides on the lane, including Ship a Car to Guatemala – Learn All There is to Know, confirm the same structure.

Are There Age Restrictions for Importing a Car Into Guatemala?

Quick Answer: Guatemala does not impose a hard model-year ban like Costa Rica or the Dominican Republic. Vehicles older than about 10-13 years face steeply higher ISCV assessment and tighter SAT scrutiny. Salvage-title and flood-damaged vehicles are accepted but require full disclosure and a technical inspection at the port.

No blanket age cutoff exists. That is a genuine advantage for returnee families compared with regional neighbors, as noted by Living in Guatemala.

The practical ceiling is economic, not legal. Vehicles over 15 years old often cost more in tax, inspection and repair than the car is worth on the Guatemalan market.

• Salvage and rebuilt titles clear customs — but you must declare the status up front.
• Undeclared damage triggers seizure and re-export costs of $1,500 or more.
• Right-hand-drive vehicles cannot be registered for road use in Guatemala.
• Flood-damaged units face additional technical inspection at the port of entry.

What Documents Do I Need to Import a Vehicle Into Guatemala?

Quick Answer: You need the original title (not a copy), a notarized bill of sale, your passport or Guatemalan DPI, the bill of lading, the EEI/AES filing with ITN number, and a CAFTA-DR certificate of origin. Your Guatemalan customs broker files the DUCA-D declaration to clear the vehicle at the port.

DUCA-D stands for Declaración Única Centroamericana. It is the single customs declaration used across Central America, including at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás de Castilla.

US Export-Side Paperwork

• Original Certificate of Title — a photocopy will not clear. CBP requires the original.
• Title surrender to CBP at least 72 hours before vessel loading, per CBP regulations under 19 CFR 192.
• EEI filing in AES generating an ITN number for the bill of lading.
• Notarized bill of sale showing the purchase price and both parties.
• Lien release letter if the vehicle was financed.

Guatemalan Import-Side Paperwork

• NIT number for the importer of record — register before the vessel arrives.
• Passport or DPI (Documento Personal de Identificación) for the importer.
• Poder — power of attorney authorizing your broker to clear on your behalf.
• Certificado de Origen for CAFTA-DR preference claims.
• Original bill of lading or telex release from the carrier.

Returnee families should register the NIT early. Processing takes several days and the vessel will not wait. Storage at Santo Tomás starts accruing while you sort the paperwork.

What Hidden Fees Should You Budget For?

Quick Answer: Beyond ocean freight, budget $350-$900 for destination charges. The common line items are terminal handling at Puerto Quetzal or Santo Tomás, warehouse storage, broker fee, marine insurance at 1.5-2.5% of declared value, and inland delivery to Guatemala City. Demurrage starts after 5-7 free days.

Should You Buy Marine Insurance?

Yes, especially for RoRo. Carrier liability is capped at a token amount per unit under standard bill of lading terms. All-risk coverage costs 1.5-2.5% of declared value.

Total-loss-only policies run cheaper but cover nothing short of a sinking. For an open-deck RoRo move, all-risk is the sensible choice.

Port-to-Port vs Door-to-Door: What Changes?

Is Overland Trucking Through Mexico Cheaper?

Rarely. Overland transport from the US through Mexico to Guatemala runs $2,800-$4,200 with 8-12 days in transit.

The route involves two border crossings, Mexican transit bonds and higher theft exposure. It makes sense for oversized units that will not fit a container, or for time-critical moves when no vessel space exists. For a standard sedan, ocean freight wins on price every time.

For corridor rate benchmarking across Latin America, compare our Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026 guide. Additional lane pricing context is available from Guatemala Car Shipping Costs: Complete USA Rate Guide.

Moving a full household alongside the vehicle? Our Complete Guide to Mudanzas a Guatemala covers combined vehicle and household goods shipments.

Ready to Price Your Shipment?

Quick Answer: Use the car shipping calculator Guatemala tool embedded on this page. Enter your origin port, vehicle class and preferred method. You get RoRo, shared container and dedicated 20' FCL estimates in seconds, with destination charges included — no email address and no follow-up sales calls required.

With thousands of shipments processed across the Miami-Latin America corridor, AB Group Shipping books weekly sailings to Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás de Castilla. We handle RoRo, container and consolidated vehicle moves from every major US export port.

The calculator above prices your exact vehicle against current 2026 market rates. Run the numbers on RoRo first. Then compare a shared container slot and a dedicated 20' FCL before you decide. No email required, no follow-up calls — just the rate.