Shipping a Car to Puerto Rico
Moving a car to Puerto Rico is a two-leg trip: a truck ride from your driveway to a mainland departure port, then an ocean sailing to San Juan. We handle both, the trucking under Royal Port and the ocean leg through our FMC licensed sister company, so one booking covers driveway to island.
It is domestic, with a twist
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so this is legally a domestic shipment with no customs clearance, sailing on US-flagged vessels under the Jones Act. The twist is on arrival: every vehicle entering Puerto Rico owes an excise tax, the arbitrios, collected by Hacienda before the car is released, and the amount depends on the vehicle. Budget for it and factor it into the ship-or-sell decision, we move the car, and the tax is between you and Hacienda.
The route
Most Puerto Rico cargo sails from Jacksonville, Florida, and there are also sailings from the Northeast, which is good news for our home region: a car picked up in New Jersey or New York has a short truck leg to the pier. Ocean transit runs roughly one to two weeks depending on the departure port, plus the truck leg and port processing on each end.
RoRo or container
Roll-on roll-off is the standard and the budget answer: the car is driven onto the vessel and secured for the crossing. Container shipping costs more and adds handling steps, but seals the car away entirely, the right call for collector and high-value vehicles, same logic as our luxury shipping guide. Either way the car travels empty, ocean carriers do not allow personal items, and it should arrive at the pier with a quarter tank or less.
One honest weather note
Hurricane season can pause Caribbean sailings on short notice. If your move is date-critical between June and November, build slack into the plan rather than betting on a single sailing.
How to price it
Get the truck leg priced instantly in our calculator using your pickup ZIP, then email us the vehicle and destination for the complete driveway-to-San-Juan number with the ocean leg included. The paperwork side of ocean moves is covered in our documents guide.
Puerto Rico shipping questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico?
The total depends on your pickup location, the vehicle size, and RoRo versus container. Price the truck leg instantly in our calculator, then email us for the complete number with the ocean leg included.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to Puerto Rico?
RoRo from the nearest departure port, with a flexible schedule. Living near the Northeast or Florida ports keeps the truck leg short, which is where most of the savings hide.
How long does it take to ship a car to Puerto Rico?
Plan on roughly two to three weeks door to door: the truck leg to port, port processing, and an ocean transit of about one to two weeks depending on the departure port.
Do I have to pay taxes on a car shipped to Puerto Rico?
Yes, every vehicle entering Puerto Rico owes an excise tax collected by Hacienda before release, and the amount depends on the vehicle. Budget for it as part of the ship-or-sell decision.
Does shipping a car to Puerto Rico go through customs?
No, it is a domestic shipment under the Jones Act on US-flagged vessels. The arrival steps are the local excise tax and an agricultural inspection, not customs clearance.
Where do cars ship to Puerto Rico from?
Most sailings leave from Jacksonville, Florida, with additional service from the Northeast. We truck your car from any US driveway to the right pier.
Should I ship my car to Puerto Rico RoRo or in a container?
RoRo is the standard, cheapest option for a daily driver. A container costs more but fully seals the car, worth it for collector and high-value vehicles.
Can I pack my things in the car for the sailing?
No, ocean carriers require the vehicle to be empty, and personal items are not insured. Ship belongings separately and send the car light.
Can you pick my car up in New Jersey or New York for Puerto Rico?
Yes, that is our home territory, and Northeast sailings make it a short truck leg to the pier. One booking covers driveway to San Juan.
Can I ship a car I just bought at auction straight to Puerto Rico?
Yes, auction yard to departure port is a run we do constantly. The pickup rules are in our auction guide, and the ocean leg follows in the same booking.
Is my car insured on the ship to Puerto Rico?
The trucking leg is covered by the carrier's cargo insurance, and the ocean leg carries its own coverage terms, provided with your booking. Photograph the car before handoff like any shipment.
Is it better to ship my car or buy one in Puerto Rico?
Cars on the island run expensive because of the same excise tax, which is why many people ship. Compare your total shipping cost plus tax against island prices for your specific car before deciding.