If you are moving to Puerto Rico, the question that comes up first is usually the price: how much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico? The short answer is that most people pay about $1,200 to $2,000 to ship a sedan from Jacksonville to San Juan, and about $1,500 to $3,500 when the car is picked up at home somewhere else in the U.S. But the shipping price is only part of the total. Puerto Rico’s excise tax, insurance, port fees and registration can add a lot, and they surprise many first-time shippers.
This guide breaks down every cost, shows example totals, and explains how to pay less. When you are ready for an exact price, request a free quote on our Puerto Rico car shipping page.
On this page
- Puerto Rico car shipping cost at a glance
- Port-to-port shipping cost
- Door-to-port shipping cost from other states
- The Puerto Rico excise tax (arbitrios)
- Insurance costs
- Other fees to plan for
- Example total costs
- How to save money shipping a car to Puerto Rico
- Should you ship your car or sell it and buy in Puerto Rico?
- How long it takes
- Puerto Rico car shipping checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Puerto Rico car shipping cost at a glance
| Cost | Typical amount | Who you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight, Jacksonville to San Juan (sedan, RoRo) | $1,200–$2,000 | Ocean carrier |
| Truck from your home to the Jacksonville port | $300–$1,700, depending on distance | Auto transport company |
| Optional marine insurance | Often a percentage of the car’s value | Ocean carrier or insurer |
| Puerto Rico excise tax (arbitrios) | Based on Hacienda’s appraisal; can be thousands for newer cars | Puerto Rico Treasury (Hacienda) |
| Port storage if picked up late | A daily fee after the free days end | Ocean carrier or terminal |
| Registration and inspection in Puerto Rico | Varies by vehicle | DTOP / CESCO |
Port-to-port shipping cost
Port-to-port means you drive the car to the departure port yourself and pick it up at the port in San Juan. It is the cheapest way to ship. Most mainland-to-Puerto Rico vehicle shipments sail from Jacksonville, Florida, where several ocean carriers run frequent roll-on/roll-off and container sailings to San Juan.
| Vehicle | Jacksonville to San Juan (typical) |
|---|---|
| Compact car or sedan | $1,200–$2,000 |
| SUV or crossover | $1,400–$2,300 |
| Pickup truck, minivan or large SUV | $1,600–$2,700 |
| Oversized or modified vehicle | Custom quote |
Ocean carriers price by the vehicle’s size, and some also add fuel surcharges or seasonal adjustments, so the same car can cost more in peak months.
Door-to-port shipping cost from other states
If you do not live near Jacksonville, a car carrier can pick up your car at home and deliver it to the port in time for your sailing. This adds the truck trip, but it is often cheaper than driving there yourself once you count fuel, hotels, meals, time off work and a flight home.
| Pickup region | Truck to Jacksonville | Typical total to San Juan (sedan) |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $300–$600 | $1,500–$2,400 |
| Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee | $500–$800 | $1,700–$2,700 |
| New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New England | $800–$1,100 | $2,000–$3,000 |
| Texas and the Midwest | $900–$1,200 | $2,100–$3,100 |
| California, Washington, Oregon | $1,300–$1,700 | $2,500–$3,500 |
All figures are 2026 estimates for a standard running sedan with flexible dates. Your written quote is the final price.
The Puerto Rico excise tax (arbitrios)
The biggest surprise for many people is the excise tax that Puerto Rico charges on vehicles brought to the island. The Puerto Rico Treasury Department (Departamento de Hacienda) appraises the car when it arrives and calculates the tax from that appraisal. It applies to most vehicles, including used cars you have owned for years, and it must be paid before the port releases the car.
- Newer and higher-value cars pay more, because the tax is based on the appraised value.
- Older, lower-value cars pay less, but they still go through the appraisal.
- You pay Hacienda, not the shipping company. The tax is never included in a shipping quote.
- You need a SURI account, Hacienda’s online system, to complete the release.
Because the tax can run into the thousands for a late-model car, ask Hacienda or a local professional for an estimate before you ship. For some cars, it can make more sense to sell on the mainland and buy in Puerto Rico. Compare the total cost both ways.
Insurance costs
Ocean carriers limit how much they pay for damage unless you buy extra coverage. For example, one major carrier’s standard liability on the Jacksonville–San Juan route is limited to a few hundred dollars unless you choose more coverage. Optional all-risk or declared-value coverage is usually priced as a percentage of the car’s value. For a car worth $20,000, coverage of around 2% to 2.5% of value would cost roughly $400 to $500. Check your own auto policy too, because some policies do not cover a car while it is at sea.
For the truck portion, the carrier’s cargo insurance covers your car while it is on the truck. Ask for a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate before pickup.
Other fees to plan for
- Port storage (demurrage): ports give a number of free days, then charge a daily fee. Pick up your car quickly in San Juan.
- Recall fees: some carriers charge a fee if your car has an unresolved fire-risk safety recall. Fix recalls before shipping.
- Non-running vehicles: a car that does not drive needs a winch on the truck and special handling at the port.
- Oversize charges: lift kits, roof racks and large tires can move your vehicle into a higher price category.
- Personal items: RoRo ships do not allow loose belongings. Shipping goods in a container costs more.
- Registration in Puerto Rico: after release, you register the car with DTOP through a CESCO office.
Example total costs
Example 1: Orlando to San Juan, 8-year-old sedan
- Truck from Orlando to Jacksonville: about $350–$500
- Ocean freight to San Juan: about $1,200–$2,000
- Optional insurance: a few hundred dollars, depending on value
- Excise tax: based on Hacienda’s appraisal of an older car
- Shipping total: about $1,550–$2,500, plus the excise tax and registration
Example 2: New York to San Juan, 3-year-old SUV
- Truck from New York to Jacksonville: about $800–$1,100
- Ocean freight to San Juan: about $1,400–$2,300
- Insurance: priced on the SUV’s higher value
- Excise tax: likely higher because the vehicle is newer
- Shipping total: about $2,200–$3,400, plus the excise tax and registration
Example 3: Los Angeles to San Juan, pickup truck
- Truck from Los Angeles to Jacksonville: about $1,300–$1,700
- Ocean freight to San Juan: about $1,600–$2,700
- Shipping total: about $2,900–$4,400, plus the excise tax, insurance and registration
How to save money shipping a car to Puerto Rico
- Choose RoRo over a container unless you need extra protection or want to ship belongings.
- Be flexible with dates. A pickup window of a few days makes it easier to match your car with a carrier heading to Jacksonville.
- Book two to four weeks ahead, especially in summer and before the holidays.
- Drop the car at the port yourself if you live in Florida or nearby.
- Send documents early so the car is not rolled to a later sailing or held at arrival.
- Pick up the car quickly in San Juan to avoid storage fees.
- Estimate the excise tax first. For some newer cars, selling on the mainland and buying in Puerto Rico costs less overall.
- Fix open recalls before you ship to avoid recall fees and delays.
Should you ship your car or sell it and buy in Puerto Rico?
Shipping makes sense when you love your car, it is paid off or nearly paid off, it is in good condition, and the excise tax is reasonable. Selling may make sense when the car is newer and the excise tax would be high, when the car is near the end of its life, or when you could use the cash for your move. Car prices in Puerto Rico can also be higher than on the mainland, which favors shipping a car you already own. Get a shipping quote and an excise tax estimate, then compare both totals.
How long it takes
The ocean crossing from Jacksonville to San Juan takes about 3 to 5 days. Including the truck trip to the port, the wait for the booked sailing and the Hacienda release, most shipments take about 1 to 4 weeks from pickup to San Juan.
Puerto Rico car shipping checklist
- Title or registration, and a lender letter if financed
- Driver’s license or passport copy
- Authorization letter if someone else drops off the car
- Tax identification details requested for the Hacienda release
- SURI account set up with Hacienda
- Quarter tank of fuel or less, no personal items
- Open recalls fixed, car cleaned inside and underneath
- Dated photos from every side
Related guides
- Puerto Rico car shipping: ports, documents and quote
- Shipping a car from Puerto Rico to Florida
- Envío de autos a Puerto Rico
- Car shipping cost guide
- How to choose a car shipping company
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Puerto Rico?
About $1,200 to $2,000 for a sedan from Jacksonville to San Juan, port to port. With door pickup in another state, typical totals are about $1,500 to $3,500, plus the Puerto Rico excise tax.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to Puerto Rico?
Drive the car to the Jacksonville port yourself and book roll-on/roll-off service with flexible dates. Send your documents early and pick up the car promptly in San Juan to avoid storage fees.
How much is the excise tax on a car shipped to Puerto Rico?
It depends on Hacienda’s appraisal of the vehicle. Newer and higher-value cars pay more. Ask Hacienda or a local professional for an estimate before you ship.
Is it cheaper to ship a car to Puerto Rico or buy one there?
It depends on your car’s value and the excise tax. Shipping often makes sense for older or paid-off cars in good condition. For newer cars with a high excise tax, selling and buying in Puerto Rico can cost less.
How long does shipping a car to Puerto Rico take?
The ocean crossing takes about 3 to 5 days. Most shipments take about 1 to 4 weeks from pickup to release in San Juan.
Is shipping a car to Puerto Rico international?
No. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so shipping a car from the mainland is a domestic shipment, and no passport is needed.