Quick Answer: With AB Group Shipping, shipping auto parts to Colombia starts at $381 for 2 m³ / 500 kg from Miami (September 2026 quote), port to port. Ocean transit runs 4 days from Miami, 6 from New Jersey, 10 from Houston and 14 from Los Angeles. Colombian duties on most parts run 5-15% plus 19% IVA.
- Consolidated LCL is the cheapest way to move auto parts under about 10 CBM; above that, a 20' FCL usually wins on cost per cubic meter.
- Transit to Cartagena or Santa Marta is 4 days from Miami, 6 from New Jersey, 10 from Houston and 14 from Los Angeles, port to port.
- DIAN applies 5-15% duty on most HS Chapter 87 parts plus 19% IVA, calculated on the CIF value, not the invoice value alone.
- Every price on this page is port to port and updates monthly — check the live table under the quick answer or run the calculator at #quote-calc.
Auto parts move on documentation, not just freight. A correctly classified Factura Comercial clears Cartagena in days; a lumped invoice sits in inspection for weeks while demurrage builds.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: container shipping from the USA to Colombia
| Port | 20 ft | 40 HC | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiamiPort Everglades | $756 | $972 | 4 days |
| Houston | $756 | $972 | 10 days |
| New JerseyNew York | $821 | $972 | 6 days |
| Los Angelesleaves from Houston | $756 | $972 | 10 days |
Port to port to Cartagena, in USD, quoted with our system on September 28, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. General cargo. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery.
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. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii ship through Los Angeles / Long Beach; 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 car parts to Colombia?
Quick Answer: Consolidated auto parts shipments start at $381 from Miami for 2 m³ / 500 kg, port to port (September 2026). The same volume runs $888 from Houston and $917 from Los Angeles. Your gateway drives the price more than your cargo does. Rates move monthly, so check the live table on this page.
The gap between Miami and Los Angeles is not about distance alone. Miami runs weekly direct consolidations to Colombia with deep volume. West Coast cargo transships through Panama, adds handling, and prices accordingly.
MiamiUSMIA
CartagenaCOCTG
HoustonUSHOU
CartagenaCOCTG
Los AngelesUSLAX
Santa MartaCOSMR
Those three numbers are September 2026 quotes for 2 m³ / 500 kg port to port. The price table under the opening answer updates itself every month. Use that table, not a screenshot of this paragraph, when you talk to your supplier.
What does "port to port" actually exclude?
Port to port means you deliver the cargo to the origin warehouse or port. You collect it at Cartagena or Santa Marta after clearance.
Not included in the freight figure:
- Colombian destination terminal handling and DTHC
- DIAN clearance and your customs broker's fee
- Inland trucking from the coast to Bogotá, Medellín or Cali
- Import duty and 19% IVA
Those are real costs. They are not AB Group freight, so we will not invent a figure for them. Your Colombian broker quotes clearance and inland haulage against your specific HS codes and delivery address.
What if I ship from a city that is not listed?
Your cargo prices off the nearest gateway. Atlanta and Savannah shippers price approx. off Miami. Dallas prices approx. off Houston. Phoenix and Las Vegas price approx. off Los Angeles/Long Beach.
Midwest shippers usually rail to Houston or Savannah. Northeast shippers load at Port of New York and New Jersey. The calculator on this page prices your exact ZIP code, so you do not have to guess.
2 m³ / 500 kg of consolidated auto parts, Miami to Colombia, port to port. The same box from Los Angeles runs $917 because West Coast cargo transships through Panama.
Why "all-in" quotes are usually not all-in
Ocean freight is never one number. A real quote itemizes origin THC, BAF, CAF, ISPS and destination DTHC. Forwarders who hide those lines are not cheaper — they bill them later.
Ask every forwarder to break the quote into line items before you compare. Consolidated pricing behaves the same way on nearby lanes; see LCL Shipping Miami to Panama 2026: Small Business Cost Calculator and Transit Times for a side-by-side on how volume drives the rate.
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Go to the calculator →What duties and taxes does DIAN charge on imported auto parts?
Quick Answer: Colombia applies an import duty of 5-15% on most auto parts under HS Chapter 87, plus 19% IVA. Both are calculated on the CIF value — goods, freight and insurance combined. Used parts face stricter controls and some categories require prior authorization before DIAN releases the cargo.
Most parts classify under HS 8708 (parts and accessories of motor vehicles). Other categories sit outside Chapter 87 entirely and carry their own rates.
| Product | Typical HS heading | Duty band | IVA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body & suspension parts | 8708 | 5-15% | 19% |
| Tires | 4011 | Own rate — confirm | 19% |
| Batteries | 8507 | Own rate — confirm | 19% |
| Filters | 8421 | Own rate — confirm | 19% |
Only a licensed Colombian customs broker (agente de aduanas) can confirm the exact subheading and rate for your part numbers. Rates change by resolution.
How the duty math actually works
Duty and IVA stack. IVA applies to the CIF value plus the duty, not to the invoice alone. Here is the formula with round numbers:
- Start with CIF value: goods + freight + insurance = $10,000
- Apply duty at 10%: $10,000 × 10% = $1,000
- Build the IVA base: $10,000 + $1,000 = $11,000
- Apply 19% IVA: $11,000 × 19% = $2,090
- Total tax burden: $3,090 on a $10,000 CIF shipment
That is an illustration of the formula. It is not a quote, and your real rate depends on classification.
Can US-made parts enter duty-free?
Yes, often. The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement gives qualifying US-origin goods reduced or zero duty. The catch is documentary.
You need a valid Certificado de Origen from the supplier. Without it, DIAN charges the full MFN rate. "Made in USA" printed on the box proves nothing to a customs officer.
Used parts carry real restrictions
Colombia restricts or prohibits several used-goods categories. Used tires, airbags and certain safety components face prohibition or prior-license requirements. Remanufactured units can be fine under one subheading and blocked under another. Confirm classification with your Colombian broker before you buy used inventory — not after the container sails.
DIAN expects a standard document set at clearance:
- Factura Comercial, itemized line by line
- Bill of Lading (B/L) matching the invoice exactly
- Certificado de Origen for preferential duty
- Packing list with weights and dimensions
- Importer's RUT and NIT registered for foreign trade
Duty structures differ across the region. If you also source for Central America, compare the breakdown in Importing Auto Parts from USA to Guatemala: Full Guide.
How long does ocean transit take from each US port?
Quick Answer: Ocean transit to Colombia runs 4 days from Miami, 6 days from New Jersey, 10 days from Houston and 14 days from Los Angeles, port to port. Add 3-7 days for consolidation and cut-off at origin, plus 2-5 days for DIAN clearance at Cartagena or Santa Marta before you collect.
Ocean transit to Colombia by US gateway
See the data
| Gateway | Port code | Transit days | Sailings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | USMIA | 4 | Weekly+ |
| New York / New Jersey | USNYC | 6 | Weekly |
| Houston | USHOU | 10 | Weekly |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | USLAX | 14 | Weekly |
Source: AB Group Shipping quoting system, port-to-port full container transit · September 2026
Which gateway does my region use?
- Florida and the Southeast → PortMiami
- Texas and the central states → Port Houston
- California and the Southwest → Los Angeles/Long Beach
- The Northeast → Port of New York and New Jersey
- The Midwest → rail to Houston or Savannah
Your gateway sets both price and transit. The calculator prices your exact origin, so you can test two gateways against each other in under a minute.
Pro Tip: cut-off is not ETD
Documentation cut-off usually falls 48-72 hours before the physical container cut-off, and the container cut-off falls days before the vessel's ETD. Miss the doc cut-off on a weekly service and you roll a full week. Build your supplier's invoice deadline backwards from the doc cut-off, not from the sailing date.
LCL timing
Consolidated cargo waits for the container to fill at the origin CFS. At the destination it goes to a deconsolidation warehouse in Cartagena. Expect 3-5 extra days on each end versus a full container.
FCL timing
A full container moves straight to the container yard after discharge. No co-loaders, no deconsolidation queue. For recurring quarterly restocks, that predictability is often worth more than the freight saving.
For a benchmark across the wider corridor, see Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days.
When is air freight worth it?
Air freight to Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) moves in 1-3 days. It prices on chargeable weight, so a pallet of brake rotors is punishing and a box of sensors is reasonable.
Use it for line-down repairs and high-value electronics. Do not use it for routine restocking.
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Go to the calculator →Should you ship auto parts LCL or FCL to Colombia?
Quick Answer: Ship LCL when your parts total under about 10 cubic meters; ship a 20' FCL above that. The crossover sits near 10 CBM because LCL prices per cubic meter while FCL prices per box. Heavy, dense parts like engine blocks and brake rotors can hit the weight limit before the volume limit.
The 10 CBM rule of thumb works for mixed parts. It breaks for dense cargo. A pallet of rotors or alternators bills on weight, not volume, under the standard 1:1000 revenue-ton rule.
Run both calculations before you choose. The calculator does it automatically when you enter real weights and dimensions.
| Container | Usable CBM | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| 20' | 28-33 CBM | Quarterly restock for a mid-size shop |
| 40' | 58-65 CBM | Distributor-level volume |
| 40HC | 68-72 CBM | Bulky body panels, bumpers, trim |
LCL: what actually happens
Your pallets enter a CFS warehouse and get consolidated with other shippers' cargo. In Cartagena they are deconsolidated again. That means more touches and more damage exposure. Crate fragile body panels, glass and headlamp assemblies properly — shrink wrap alone will not survive it.
FCL: what you gain
One seal, one DIAN inspection, no waiting on a co-loader's cargo. You also control your free time before demurrage and detention start running. For importers moving stock every quarter, FCL removes most of the variables that cause missed delivery dates.
Free time runs out fast
Free time for LCL cargo at the Cartagena CFS typically runs 5-7 days. Start your DIAN clearance before the vessel arrives, not after. Importers who send documents to their broker on arrival day routinely pay storage they did not budget for.
How do you prepare an auto parts shipment that clears DIAN first time?
Quick Answer: Clearance problems in Colombia almost always come from paperwork, not cargo. Classify every part with a correct HS code, itemize the Factura Comercial line by line, secure the Certificado de Origen for US-made goods, and confirm your importer of record holds an active RUT with foreign trade authorization.
- Classify before you buy. Get HS subheadings from your Colombian broker so you can calculate landed cost before committing to the purchase order. A 15% duty surprise kills the margin on a container of filters.
- Build a line-item commercial invoice. Part number, description in Spanish, quantity, unit value, country of manufacture. DIAN rejects lumped descriptions like "auto parts, 1 lot".
- Request the Certificado de Origen at order time, not after the container sails. Retroactive preference claims are slow and sometimes impossible.
- Confirm filings on the US side. Your forwarder must transmit AMS and manifest data accurately; for any US import leg, the ISF 10+2 is due 24 hours before vessel loading. Bad data triggers holds.
- Pack and label. Palletize, shrink-wrap, mark every pallet with the consignee NIT and the B/L number. Declare batteries and aerosols as dangerous goods — undeclared lithium cells get containers rolled.
Pro Tip: Spanish descriptions win inspections
Write each invoice line in Spanish next to the English part description — "pastillas de freno / brake pads, Toyota Hilux, P/N 04465-0K260". Inspectors at Cartagena match the physical part to the written description. When they can read it, the container moves. When they cannot, it goes to physical inspection and you pay the storage.
Many of our Colombian clients import parts and complete vehicles in the same quarter. If a car is on your list, pricing works differently — see the Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026. Pacific-coast buyers comparing neighbouring markets can check Miami to Ecuador: Car Shipping Costs.
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Go to the calculator →Freight is the easy part of this lane. With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, the pattern is consistent: shipments that fail fail on documents. Get your HS codes and your Certificado de Origen right, pick the gateway that matches your region, and the rest is schedule management. Run your exact volume and origin through the calculator on this page for a live port-to-port rate — no email, no sales call.
Ocean transit runs 4 days from Miami, 6 days from New Jersey, 10 days from Houston and 14 days from Los Angeles, port to port. Add 3-7 days for consolidation and port cut-off at origin, plus 2-5 days for DIAN clearance at Cartagena or Santa Marta. Air freight to Bogotá moves in 1-3 days for urgent orders.
Colombia charges 5-15% import duty on most auto parts under HS Chapter 87, plus 19% IVA on top. Both apply to the CIF value, meaning goods plus freight plus insurance. Parts manufactured in the United States with a valid Certificado de Origen can qualify for reduced or zero duty under the US-Colombia trade agreement.
Some used parts are allowed, but Colombia restricts or prohibits several categories including used tires, airbags and certain safety components. Each case depends on the HS classification and current DIAN resolutions. Confirm with a licensed Colombian customs broker before you purchase used inventory.
Yes, below roughly 10 cubic meters LCL consolidation is almost always cheaper because you pay only for the space you use. Above that threshold, a 20' full container usually costs less per cubic meter. Dense cargo like engine blocks can bill on weight instead of volume, so run both numbers.
You need a line-item Factura Comercial, the Bill of Lading, a packing list, the Certificado de Origen for preferential duty, and an importer with an active RUT and NIT authorized for foreign trade. DIAN rejects vague invoice descriptions, so list every part number and its country of manufacture.
Guides for shipping to Colombia
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- FCL Miami to Cartagena: 2026 Pricing & Transit Time Guide · Container (FCL) calculator
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