Car Shipping to Honduras Calculator: Instant Quotes (2026)

Quick Answer: Shipping a car from the USA to Honduras, in its own 20 ft container to Puerto Cortés, with AB Group Shipping costs from $2,020 from Houston (September 2026 quote), with 3 days of transit; from Miami it costs $2,770 and takes 21 days. Honduran import taxes are paid on top: about 33% to 59% of CIF value for a used gasoline car worth up to USD 20,000 (our arithmetic from the official rates as of October 2026).

Many price pages you find for a calculadora envio carro honduras only quote the ocean leg. The taxes at Puerto Cortés can cost more than the vessel does, so this guide explains both.

How much does it cost to ship a car from the United States to Honduras?

Quick Answer: Shipping a car to Honduras in its own 20 ft container costs $2,770 in ocean freight from Miami or New Jersey and $3,010 from Savannah to Puerto Cortés (September 2026 rates). RoRo is cheapest, at approx. $1,650 from Miami. Marine insurance, Honduran import taxes, and port charges come on top; the taxes depend on the car's CIF value and engine size.

Your total bill has four buckets. Many quotes cover only the first one, which is why the bill at the port can come as a surprise.

• Ocean freight: $2,020 from Houston and $2,770 from Miami for an exclusive 20 ft container (September 2026 rates); RoRo approx. $1,200 from Houston and approx. $1,650 from Miami.
• Marine insurance: priced as a percentage of the declared value; ask for the rate and any minimum premium in writing with your quote.
• Honduran import taxes: DAI + ISC + ISV, about 33% to 59% of CIF for a used gasoline car worth up to USD 20,000 (our arithmetic from the official rates), plus a one-time Ecotasa.
• Post-arrival fees: terminal handling, customs agent, storage, plates — ask your customs agent for these in writing before the ship sails.

Freight ranges by vehicle type from Miami

RoRo is generally priced by the space a vehicle takes, not by its weight.

RoRo

MiamiUSMIA

→

Puerto CortésHNPCR

approx.USD$1,650Quote this route →

20' Container

Port EvergladesUSPEF

→

Puerto CortésHNPCR

from · Sep 2026USD$2,770Quote this route →

A standard sedan such as a Corolla or Civic books at approx. $1,650 RoRo from Miami. An SUV or half-ton pickup runs approx. $1,650 as well. A shared 40' container carrying two or three cars prices at approx. $1,950 per unit. An exclusive 20' box costs $2,770 (September 2026 rates).

Departing from Houston costs $2,020 for an exclusive 20' container versus $2,770 from Miami (September 2026 rates); from Los Angeles, it is $2,020 leaving from Houston. For a car on the West Coast, that means an inland leg to Texas before the sailing.

How does the car shipping to Honduras calculator work?

Quick Answer: The calculator on this page prices the ocean freight of your vehicle from the United States to Honduras with live carrier rates. It asks where the vehicle is, where it goes in Honduras, whether you want it collected, and the vehicle type. It does not calculate Honduran taxes: for those, use Customs' own Calculadora Vehicular.

We built the tool so you can see the charges, not just the total. Every calculadora envio carro honduras should show what is inside its price. Ours itemizes every option.

1. Enter where the vehicle is. A U.S. city or ZIP code, then the destination in Honduras.
2. Choose port drop-off or pickup. Inland trucking to PortMiami or Port Everglades prices separately at approx. $0.85-$1.40 per mile for open carriers.
3. Pick the vehicle type. Car, SUV, pickup, motorcycle or other, and how many. Engine size is not asked. It does not change the freight.
4. Review the options. Each shows the carrier, the departure and arrival port, the transit time and the itemized charges for shipping in a container.
5. Estimate the taxes separately. Use the worksheet below or Customs' own Calculadora Vehicular.

The manual worksheet if you want to check the math

You run the tax numbers yourself. Write down these five lines and fill them in.

• Line 1 — Customs value of the vehicle (the value Customs accepts, which may differ from your receipt).
• Line 2 — Ocean freight to Puerto Cortés.
• Line 3 — Insurance premium paid.
• Line 4 — CIF = Line 1 + Line 2 + Line 3.
• Line 5 — Apply DAI, then ISC on Line 4 plus DAI, then ISV 15% on the accumulated base; a used vehicle adds the one-time Ecotasa.

We use the same open-formula approach for air cargo. See How to Calculate Air Freight Rates USA to Colombia: 2026 Per-Kilogram Formula Guide for the chargeable-weight version of the same logic.

How do I calculate the import taxes on a vehicle in Honduras?

Quick Answer: Honduran vehicle import taxes are calculated on CIF value in this order: DAI (import duty), then Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo based on the car's CIF value, then ISV at 15% applied on the accumulated base. For a used gasoline car worth up to USD 20,000 the three together come to about 33% to 59% of CIF: 33% to 45% with an engine up to 1,500 cc and 45% to 59% above it (our arithmetic from the official rates as of October 2026; Customs publishes no combined figure). A pickup pays about 21%.

Start with CIF. It stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight. The three percentage taxes are built on that single number. One exception: a vehicle of year 2010 or older makes a single payment of L 10,000 (lempiras) under Decreto 7-2026, explained in the salvage section below.

The three taxes, in order, plus the Ecotasa

DAI (Derecho Arancelario a la Importación) is the import duty. Passenger cars classify under HS heading 8703. The rate is 5% for a gasoline engine up to 1,500 cc or a diesel up to 2,500 cc, 15% above that, and 0% for hybrids and electric cars. A pickup of heading 8704 pays 5%, or 10% if it is diesel with a gross weight of 2.5 to 5 tonnes. A vehicle that originates under CAFTA-DR pays 0%; origin depends on where and how it was built, not on where it was bought.

ISC (Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo) is set by the vehicle's CIF value and by whether it is new or used, never by its engine. A used vehicle pays 10% up to USD 7,000, 15% up to USD 10,000, 20% up to USD 20,000, 30% up to USD 50,000, 45% up to USD 100,000 and 60% above that; a new one starts at 10% up to USD 45,000. It is charged on CIF plus DAI. Pickups of heading 8704 pay none and hybrids are exempt; whether electric-only cars pay it is not confirmed.

ISV (Impuesto Sobre Ventas) is the 15% sales tax. It applies last, on CIF + DAI + ISC. That cascade is why any estimate that skips the order comes out wrong.

Ecotasa is a one-time charge on a used vehicle, paid at import: L 5,000 for a CIF value up to USD 15,000, L 7,000 up to USD 25,000 and L 10,000 above that. It is outside the ISV base.

Worked landed-cost examples by vehicle type

These figures apply the official rates as of October 2026 to used vehicles. The two cars have gasoline engines above 1,500 cc (DAI 15%), and no CAFTA-DR preference is assumed. Totals are in U.S. dollars and leave out the Ecotasa, shown in lempiras; add them to the CIF value for the landed cost. Treat them as planning estimates, not official assessments.

Look at the F-150 line. A pickup pays 5% DAI and no ISC, whatever its engine, if Customs classifies it as a pickup of heading 8704; how it classifies a double-cab pickup is not confirmed. The Tesla has two lines because the rule is not settled: electric cars pay 0% DAI, but the finance ministry's table marks them as subject to ISC while the regulation exempts vehicles that use alternative fuels.

Honduran customs publishes an official digital estimator. Aduanas Honduras confirmed the tool in this public notice about its digital calculator. It is the Calculadora Vehicular: an estimate from the vehicle type, year, purchase value, insurance and freight that leaves out customs agent fees and storage. Use it for the taxes and our calculator for the freight.

Readers comparing duty structures across Latin America should also read Import Duties on Machinery from USA to Colombia: Complete 2026 Guide. Colombia's IVA-plus-arancel model works differently from the Honduran ISC cascade.

The Ecotasa is paid once, at import, with the customs declaration. The matrícula is separate: you pay it at registration, not at the customs window.

How does Honduran customs value your imported vehicle?

Quick Answer: The Administración Aduanera de Honduras (Aduanas Honduras) values a used vehicle under the WTO (GATT) customs valuation rules, including depreciation according to the model. It may question the value you declare, so your purchase invoice supports the declaration but does not settle it.

This can surprise first-time importers. When Customs doubts a declared value it reviews it, and the taxes are assessed on the value it accepts. For vehicles from the USA it also adds U.S. inland freight when you cannot show what your declared freight covers.

What is the DUCA?

The DUCA (Declaración Única Centroamericana) is the customs declaration (declaración de mercancías) filed for your shipment. Plan on a licensed agente aduanero to file it: the regional rule lets a non-commercial import clear without one only up to a value of 1,000 pesos centroamericanos.

The taxes are settled on that declaration, and Customs' own estimate may change when it is presented. Get the numbers right before filing.

How depreciation works by model year

The law values used vehicles under the GATT rules, including depreciation according to the model. We found no depreciation table published by Customs, so we quote no percentage per year. Keep the papers that support the value you declare:

• Keep the original Certificate of Title — no photocopies.
• Keep the bill of sale or commercial invoice.
• Keep repair invoices and condition reports — they document the car's condition if Customs questions the value.
• Photograph the odometer and any body damage before loading.

Is it cheaper to ship a car by RoRo or in a container to Honduras?

Quick Answer: RoRo is cheaper — approx. $1,650 from Miami to Puerto Cortés versus $2,770 for an exclusive 20' container (September 2026 rates). Containers cost more but let you load personal items, protect the vehicle from weather, and handle non-running cars. Shared containers split the difference at approx. $1,950.

RoRo stands for Roll-on/Roll-off. Your car is driven onto a vessel deck and lashed down. No container, no packing, no crating. Keys stay with the terminal.

Shared containers work well for mixed loads. Two motorcycles plus a sedan fit comfortably in a 40' high cube. For bike-specific rates and bracing standards, see Motorcycle Shipping from USA to Central America: 2026 Rates and Container Options.

One operational note. Shared container sailings depend on consolidation timing at the Miami CFS. If your unit is the first booking of the week, you may wait for the box to fill.

Which U.S. port is cheapest, and how long does shipping take?

Quick Answer: Houston is the cheapest gateway to Puerto Cortés: $2,020 for a car in its own 20 ft container with a 3-day transit (September 2026 rates). Miami and Port Everglades run $2,770 with 21 days and weekly sailings, Newark approx. $2,770 at 10-14 days, and Los Angeles $2,020 leaving from Houston.

PortMiami and Port Everglades are the South Florida gateways to Puerto Cortés (HNPCR). The calculator shows the carrier, the departure and arrival port and the transit time of each option.

Houston makes sense for Texas-based shippers. Sailing from Houston usually beats trucking a car 1,200 miles to Florida.

Port cut-off is not the vessel ETD

These two dates are different, and mixing them up costs you a sailing. Cut-off is the deadline to gate your vehicle into the terminal. ETD is when the ship departs.

Each sailing has its own cut-off, stated in your booking. Separately, U.S. Customs must receive the vehicle and its title at least 72 hours before export by vessel. Miss the cut-off and the car waits for the next sailing.

What documents do I need to import a car into Honduras?

Quick Answer: You need the original Certificate of Title, the commercial invoice or bill of sale, the Bill of Lading, the customs value declaration, your identification, and the customs declaration (the DUCA), normally filed by a licensed customs agent. U.S. export side also requires AES filing and 72-hour CBP title submission.

Split the paperwork into two sides. The U.S. export side and the Honduran import side. Both must clear before your car moves.

U.S. export documents

• Original Certificate of Title — CBP asks for the original, or a certified copy, plus two complete copies.
• CBP 72-hour rule — per CBP regulations at 19 CFR 192, the title and the vehicle must be presented to Customs at the export port at least 72 hours before export by vessel.
• AES/EEI filing — an Electronic Export Information filing that returns an ITN number. No ITN, no loading.
• Bill of Lading (B/L) — issued by the carrier or NVOCC for your shipment.
• Lienholder letter — required if the title shows a recorded lien or the vehicle is leased: a signed letter stating that the vehicle may be exported.

Honduran import documents

• Factura Comercial or an equivalent document, such as the bill of sale, showing the purchase price.
• Certificado de Origen when claiming CAFTA-DR preferential treatment.
• Customs value declaration and the Certificate of Title — Customs checks the title against its list of barred titles.
• Identification — ask your customs agent which ID and tax registration (RTN) Customs will ask of you.
• Poder (power of attorney), if your agente aduanero asks for one to act for you.
• Packing list for anything else shipping inside the container; ask your customs agent how those goods must be declared.

Shipping household goods alongside the car? The documentation logic is similar across the region. See Moving to Ecuador from USA: 2026 Complete Cost Guide & Required Documents for a full personal-effects checklist.

Can I import a salvage-title car into Honduras?

Quick Answer: It depends on the exact wording of the title. Honduran law bars rebuilt vehicles and irreparable, junk, parts-only or scrap titles. A plain "salvage" title is not on Customs' list of barred titles. Have the exact wording confirmed with a customs agent before buying.

Do not buy a rebuilt, junk, parts-only or non-repairable title for Honduras: a vehicle with a barred title is not nationalized and can only be re-exported. Under the previous age exception Customs kept refusing those titles and right-hand drive; whether that holds under Decreto 7-2026 (2026 to 2029) is not confirmed.

• Declare the title exactly as it reads. Customs checks every used vehicle's Certificate of Title against its list of barred titles.
• Non-running units cannot go RoRo. A vehicle that will not drive on cannot be loaded that way. Plan on a shared or exclusive container.
• Left-hand drive only. Customs lists vehicles that have or have had their steering wheel on the right among those that cannot be imported or nationalized.
• Any model year can enter until February 2029. Decreto 7-2026 allows vehicles of any year of manufacture for three years from 13 February 2026. A vehicle of year 2010 or older makes a single payment of L 10,000 under the decree, 2026 registration included; newer ones pay the ordinary taxes. Confirm the final amount in Customs' calculator or with a customs agent before you bid at auction. Afterwards the standing law returns: no vehicles with more than ten years of use.
• Hybrids are exempt from ISC. They also pay 0% DAI. An electric car pays 0% DAI, but whether it pays ISC is not confirmed.

What hidden fees and post-arrival costs should you budget?

Quick Answer: Beyond freight and taxes, budget for terminal handling at Puerto Cortés, customs agent fees, scanner and inspection charges, storage after the free time, and Honduran registration with plates. Customs' own calculator covers only the estimated taxes, so ask your customs agent for each amount in writing before the ship sails.

Marine insurance can cover total loss and general average; check what the policy you are offered covers. General average is a shared-loss rule that can hit uninsured cargo hard after a vessel casualty, so skipping the premium is rarely a good trade.

Free time at Puerto Cortés is limited

Storage and demurrage start when the free time ends; ask your customs agent how many free days you get and the daily rate after them. Have your customs agent pre-positioned before vessel arrival with the DUCA drafted and funds ready.

Registration is a separate line item. The matrícula, the registry fees and the municipal road fee are paid after nationalization — at the registry, not at the port. The Ecotasa is not one of them: a used vehicle pays it once, at import.

If the car is part of a full household move, budget both together. International Moving Costs from USA to Chile: 2026 Prices & Required Documents shows how vehicle and household-goods budgets interact on a single relocation.

Ready to price your shipment?

Quick Answer: Use the embedded calculator on this page to price RoRo, shared container, and exclusive 20' container rates from any U.S. port to Puerto Cortés. Enter your ZIP and vehicle type for live ocean freight options in under two minutes; for Honduran taxes, use Customs' own Calculadora Vehicular.

AB Group Shipping moves vehicles and consolidated cargo across the Miami–Central America corridor every week. We handle the U.S. export side: inland trucking, AES filing, CBP title submission, booking, and the Bill of Lading. Your licensed Honduran agente aduanero handles the DUCA.

Skip the guesswork and the follow-up calls. The calculadora envio carro honduras sits right on this page. Enter your details, compare methods and ports, and see real ocean freight prices in seconds — no email, no sales call.