Ship a Car from the USA to the Dominican Republic: Guide

If you need to ship a car from the USA to the Dominican Republic, think of it as a relay: the car leaves the yard, gets towed to a port, clears US export paperwork, crosses on a vessel and then clears Dominican customs. Knowing each leg before you buy is what keeps storage charges, delays and surprise costs off your bill.

The full route: from a US yard to a driveway in the DR

Whether you're sending a car to family, buying for yourself back home or flipping inventory, the path from a Copart or IAAI yard usually looks like this:

1. Payment and release at the auction.
2. Inland transport (tow truck or car carrier) from the yard to the departure port.
3. Paperwork handoff to the shipping line or export agent.
4. Loading onto the vessel, either RoRo or container.
5. Arrival at a Dominican port.
6. Customs clearance with the DGA: duties paid, car released.
7. Pickup, plates and registration sticker (marbete).

Every leg has its own cost and timeline. None of them is hard, but they all have to line up.

Step 1: inland towing to the port

Your first big expense after the hammer falls is the tow. Price depends on the distance from yard to port, the vehicle type and whether the car rolls.

• A non-runner or a car that won't roll may need special equipment, which costs more.
• Yards close to East Coast or Gulf ports often make for cheaper shipping to the DR.
• While the car waits for a truck, the yard may start charging daily storage. Moving fast saves money.

In the RCA app, every lot listing shows its location along with a shipping quote to Dominican ports, and RCA Transport handles and tracks inland transport orders.

Step 2: RoRo or container

There are two main ways across the water:

RoRo typically doesn't allow personal items inside the car. Containers are more flexible, but timing depends on filling the box and on loading and unloading. If your car has heavy damage, get quotes for both.

Step 3: US export paperwork

This is where most shipments stall. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reviews vehicle documents before the car can leave. In general you'll need:

• The original title with no open liens. For the DR it has to be a clean or rebuilt title: a salvage-title car can't ship.
• The auction invoice or bill of sale.
• Exporter and consignee details for the receiver in the DR.
• The electronic export filing, which your forwarder or shipping line prepares.

The title usually has to be at the port several days before the car sails. That's why it matters that the auction mails it promptly and nobody sits on it. Exact requirements can change, so confirm them with your freight forwarder.

Step 4: arrival ports in the Dominican Republic

Three ports handle most incoming vehicles:

• Caucedo: east of Santo Domingo, near Boca Chica. A major container terminal.
• Río Haina: west of Santo Domingo. Handles a lot of general cargo and vehicles.
• Puerto Plata: on the north coast, convenient if the car is headed to Santiago or the Cibao region.

Choose based on where the car will actually be picked up, and compare quotes for each. Cheaper ocean freight isn't a win if the car then has to cross the whole country by road.

Step 5: Dominican customs and taxes

Once the car lands, the DGA calculates duties. The starting point is the vehicle's reference value in the DGA database, not necessarily what you paid at auction. The rules RCA's calculator uses:

• CIF = reference value + freight + insurance (2%).
• On the CIF: 20% tariff, 18% ITBIS (VAT), 15% excise tax and 2% CO2 tax.
• First plate $150 and registration sticker $30.

Example from the database: a 2023 Honda Accord EX with a reference value of $14,955 and $850 freight comes to a CIF of about $16,104, with estimated taxes of roughly $10,286. It's an estimate; the DGA sets the final numbers. For the full breakdown, see our guide to Dominican Republic car import taxes.

Before buying, remember that a salvage-title car can't ship to the DR (it needs a rebuilt title), and check the DGA's current rules on vehicle age, since they can affect whether the car can be imported and what it owes.

What it costs to ship a car to the DR

Shipping cost isn't a single line item. Here's an example budget RCA uses for a 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid bought at Copart in California, with a rebuilt title:

Notice that towing and freight combined are well below the taxes. That's why you run every number before bidding. Auction fees and freight rates change, so treat these as reference only. For a deeper look at each cost, read auction car fees and total cost.

Common mistakes when shipping a car to the DR

• Buying far from a port without pricing the tow. A cheap car in a remote yard can end up costing more.
• Leaving the car on the yard. Daily storage piles up while you wait.
• Not having the title in time. No original title, no sailing.
• Estimating taxes from the auction price. The DGA uses its own reference value.
• Skipping the import rules on vehicle age and title type before bidding.

How RCA helps you ship your car

RCA Auto Broker handles the process end to end. In the app you can search lots, see shipping quotes to Caucedo, Río Haina or Puerto Plata and run a total budget with Dominican taxes built in. If you're buying from the island, here's how to buy a US auction car from the Dominican Republic without flying in.

After purchase, the export CRM shows exactly where your car stands: Purchase → Transport → Shop → Documentation → Inspection → Customs → Arrived in DR → Closed.

The bottom line

Shipping a car from the USA to the Dominican Republic comes down to five things: the tow to port, the right shipping method, clean paperwork, the right arrival port and an accurate tax estimate. When every leg is coordinated, the car arrives without delays or charges you didn't see coming.

If you're a serious buyer who wants the full numbers before you bid, RCA Auto Broker stays with you from the auction yard to the day you pick up your car in the DR. Your trusted broker.