bringing your automobile over

Whether you're importing a vehicle or household belongings, the only smart way to do it is to engage an importing service (typically a container shipper, but vehicles, too) that's based here in Costa Rica. Only the local guys know the convoluted "ins and outs" of the importing process.

Getting a vehicle or a container to a port of entry in Costa Rica is kid stuff. Getting it (especially a vehicle) through Customs and getting it "nationalized" as a legally registered Costa Rican vehicle requires special knowledge and contacts. Deal with a local importer and let him make the arrangements in the country of origin.

There are two ways to ship a vehicle. One is to have it shipped in a container. The other is "roll-on-roll-off" where the vehicle is driven onto the ship and secured to the deck either on a lower deck or on the main deck.

The importer can use the Vehicle Identification Number to determine the import duty and other costs. The importer will arrange payment of all the costs.