Transitioning help needed

To register the car you will need to get it out of the Crowley lot at the port. Check in With Crowley security, go inside get paperwork, go outside to the cashier and pay the Crowley fee, then back to the parking lot and pay the suri tax. There are two trailers, you can use either service. Then back to the Crowley office and hopefully out to the car. And they are closed for lunch from 11 to noon.

You will need to make an appointment with the PR DMV. Google a website cescocitas then select the Tramites especial, box. I don’t read Spanish so I copied and pasted in a translator, look to make an appointment to register your car. It takes about 10 days, at least when I did it in May. So make the appointment before the car is shipped.

Note: they don’t accept cash, checks or credit cards, just “stamps” you can buy them through the cescocitas site or at the lawyers/doctors offices at every Ceso center.

Btw, this is not an appointment for a drivers license, that is a separate appointment, and the wait was 2 months this past summer. And get the extra $17 in stamps from the real ID, so you can use it at the airport.

Once the car is registered, you will need a Marbetta, inspection. Bring the car to an inspection station, they are all over, it’s $11. They will give you paperwork. Bring this to a bank or Collecteria, you can pay a $99 additional fee for the PR minimum required liability policy.

Yes $99 but it’s only a small liability policy, or you can get a private policy from a company like Mapfree for about $1,000 for real liability, collision…. If you bring proof of this private policy they will wave the $99 fee.

Put the Marbetta on the lower right side of the windshield. Now you are done.

Watch JELA's Ark on YouTube. They have some videos that speak directly to your issues. You can also find them on IG (same name) and DM them. I would start watching their videos starting when they arrived to PR.

Re shipping. Contact UPACK, it’s ABF freight. They will drop a container, multiple sizes, at your home. You pack it they come back and pick it up and ship it. A 28’ container (28x8x9) is about $6K from Jacksonville to your home in PR (rates change frequently). If you need less space the cost is less. There is an additional transport fee if the start point is not in Jacksonville, FL.

They are great at giving quotes over the phone. Call them.

As for an address, look for a PO Box company, there is likely one near where you will stay until the home is built, best of luck.

Start by getting estimates from shipping companies.  They will advise you on everything you need to know to ship "stuff" to PR.  I did it many years ago.  I don't know if they are still in business- they are a broker-middle man between you and the shipping company and they take care of all the paperwork and most importantly- they are knowledgeable of the most recent rules/laws pertaining to shipping and taxes.  I used EconoCaribe.

Something else I learned there is a big difference in price wheather you are using a whole container, 1/2 container or if you choose to go loose cargo.  Loose cargo is only recommended if it is a few large items and you don't have a set date for the cargo to arrive in PR.  I used loose cargo rates for a refrigerator.

I have a moving company coming Monday for my stuff. It’s a 48 with only my stuff. 10,000. Rosa del monte

I used UPACK and it was awesome. No issues whatsoever.

I had same issue as you (no physical address) so I just got a POBox with the USPS .

You purchased land....I assume to build a home at some point? That will be a nightmare.Sorry to say it simply will be. Various reasons all together. Drivers license recommend you keep your license active from the states if you can.mine I do online every so many years. All your concerns I understand but most of those can Only be addressed if your actually living here.no one answering calls are common here and if they do they typically hang up on you.that's simply the reality. Everything you do here has to be in person and takes all day. There is a under current of discrimination that will always be working against you to some degree.Again FACT.! Your best shipping is call Crowley shipping in san Juan or USPS items . I used USPS and most of my items required assembly when arrived. The insurance thing is a joke with them.or sell most of your items before coming .I did alot of that as well.it can be a nightmare all together making the move.if you can survive adapting and getting set up here it's worth it. Now that I've been here a few years my bank pharmacy etc.know me.but that takes a while. The locals are used to gringos coming and going so they dont take you to serious until you've been here a while.And Always be cautious don't buy anything unless it is priced ...there's 2 prices here local and gringo.good luck

Hello, we moved from Denver a year ago.  We used Upack as well.  They dropped a container off in the front of our house.  It was a 26 foot long semi trailer.  We loaded it ourselves but I think you can pay extra to have them load it.  We fit a 3 bed 2 bathroom house in it.  It cost $11,200.  They picked it up at our house in Denver and 3 weeks later dropped it off in front of our house in Gurabo.  You don't pay import taxes on the household goods you move.  Upack explained that in the fine print.  If you put a car in there I think you would. My wife wanted me to add don't put anything that could melt near the top of the truck FYI.  You get 3 days to load it and unload it.  They were very reliable and everything made it unharmed.  We have opted to keep our Colorado drivers license for the time being, but I made an appointment to get a Puerto Rican ID card the beginning of last month.  The first appointment they had was at the beginning of December.  We use Universal Insurance for our home and auto insurance.  You do need insurance, but when you register your car, they will charge you for the governmental liability insurance to get the marbete (registration sticker) unless you can prove you have your own.  I do not know if the insurance would cover the car in the case of theft.  I have heard from multiple close friends who grew up here to be very cautious buying a used car here.  Bring a mechanic with you.  As far as water and electrical, do you have meter numbers for the water and electrical boxes?  It gets complicated with this stuff, but if you have meter numbers the process is easier.  If you have any other questions message me.  We have friends who have bought multiple properties to fix up and have faced every obstacle in the book.  But all their properties have had meters.

Omg Hi Karma! U r the other honest person here who writes how s..t is in PR for real hahaha. Didn't see your posts in long time.
I wrote few long explanations what people are setting themselves for...but then deleted it as I feel i just talk to wall, naive people who been in island 23 minutes "knows it better" hahaha. And am tired of backlash from Boricuas trying to disguise the true appearance, allied with bunch of people who either belong to the 23 minutes on island experts, or have an interests in bringing more fools in. Either way just deleted it. Enjoying simple pleasurable stress and frustration free cold in old functioning mainland hahaha... so much better. Soooooo much better. Don't want to even go to vacation to PR.
Didn't tell you - last time "in the safe area" i lived in, I had tourists loud in the night... until the shooting in 2:00 am three houses away (it was organized crime related) (you know i wasn't happy about the criminality in PR, its really really bad. /dead body dumped there.. shooting the other day../ but nothing shut the party like that 2:00 shooting, I actually wasn't even mad at the criminals this time. Of course tourists pack very early morning and checked out of airbnb . You know airbnb on left, across the street, on right side..airbnb everywhere.. Totally unaware of realities, new ones arived shortly. Of course no one tells them that shootings are there so frequent and dead bodies related to organized crime dumped on the very street LOL.... But hey it can serve as tourist attraction too

So glad im out of that tropical paradise like impostor hell.

I would just add to the "keep your ID from USA" - depending in which area (out of hundreds districts in PR you actually belong - that determines how fast or never you will get the ID.) But be aware ,(if that didn't change) you are obligated to change your ID within 3 months (please verify). If stopped by police who will find out you overstayed that, they can take you to court... You fan try your good luck of explaining to the judge that in dysfunctional PR only first 70 people gets DL...

Also about the car or house unattended... You trying your good luck again.
It might be ok. Or not. But don't be surprised if your car is not where you left it. Or was being taken apart.
So did the house (windows/doors... Whatever that isn't chained up..) nope, police won't find anything. Even if you give them video recording with thief placing his ID with address straight to camera... Lol.
For hiring workers - one thing you need to know: In PR, only people who actually works - are Dominicans.
Don't expect Boricua to actually work, if you employ Boricua (they will promise blue from sky) but their working enthusiasm isn't just there. Don't be surprised if their work progress is slower that that of snail. And so it quality. But price, price will be at least of double of what they would charge local. And if they don't do job or if you expect them (like as if you would in civilized country to come and fix what they screwed) the 'non answering' mechanism will be activated on their part (they won't communicate, they won't answer...)

Just out of curiosity, who told you moving to PR was good idea?

As most have recommended, unpack is a Great option for bringing over your belongings.

When it comes to the ID, I would highly recommend going to an expediter. I used license and co, I believe I paid $150 but the process was seamless. I paid them and went in the next day to take a photo. Less than a week later I went to pick up my new ID from license and co. Zero hassle.

As far as your vehicle, yes it would be covered if you have full coverage. I use seguros múltiples, Juan ***

Best of luck

Also watch Jentheredonethat on YouTube she has lots of videos about moving to PR & the processes. This website also explains & gives links to help, https://relocatepuertorico.com/25-thing … erto-rico/

Beware of Seguros Multiples. I had a car accident and they were a nightmare to deal with. No one spoke English. They do not bother to use email and you can spend hours on hold trying to get someone. They canceled my policy and handed the premium refund check to the body shop guy! Who behaves like this? I have a mailbox yet received nothing from them.

I left for Universal.

LOL..any insurance, or better said - any institution in PR is nightmare to deal with. Police included..