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US car in Belize

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PeterLawton
  1/14/2017 12:19 EST

Are there substantial barriers to driving to Belize and keeping your car there? (I know there are in Mexico.) Additionally, I know back in the old days it was popular to bring US used cars to Belize to sell. I imagine this is no longer true but would appreciate some confirmation. Thanks.

bobbyveee
  1/14/2017 12:42 EST

If your going to keep it your going to pay import duty of around 65% of their valuation

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MateoGuineo
  1/14/2017 13:24 EST

Still pretty common for people to bring cars in from Texas solely for the purpose of reselling.

The biggest barrier is simply paying the tax & duty. You can easily find the rates online. Plan on paying up to 70% of the vehicles book value if it's a V8. Much less for 4 cylinder and diesel engines.

MateoGuineo
  1/14/2017 13:26 EST

Still pretty common for people to bring cars in from Texas solely for the purpose of reselling.

The biggest barrier is simply paying the tax & duty if you plan to bring in a vehicle for 30+ days. You can easily find the rates online. Plan on paying up to 70% of the vehicles book value if it's a V8. Much less for 4 cylinder and diesel engines.

hrlee7804
  1/15/2017 14:46 EST

If you retire there with the QRProgam there are no fees for vehicles or personal items. Some exceptions of course. Check the program parameters.

PeterLawton
  1/22/2017 17:26 EST

Thanks, guys. Sorry took so long to respond.

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belizelenny
  1/30/2017 14:05 EST

No issues, however duty will have to be paid if its to stay in Belize.

thomasandstrawberry
  3/6/2017 13:13 EST

Super. Thanks for that tip. It seems that I will qualify for QRP. Though I'm a little dubious. Hard to imagine a bureaucrat going the extra mile to process a request to avoid duty, but I'll sure give it a try.

I anticipate needing my Chevy cargo van for hauling building materials and equipment, and then for toting my boat or windsurfer to the sea once in a while. I figured, based on 70% of blue book, that I would pay a $4500 duty for importing my van. If it comes t that, my intuition is to pay. I don't think I could sell my van here for much over $4500, and I don't think I would find a van as good over there for $4500.

terrific
  3/6/2017 16:21 EST

Yes you are very unlikely to replace your van in Belize for that price, with a comparable reliability.
The QRP acceptance to the program has to be in place when you bring in the Van, to get the benefit.

phantone
  3/7/2017 14:17 EST

I am not disagreeing with anyone's comments, but instead sharing my own actual experience. Mexico; Paid 28.00 for a tag permitting the drive from boder to border. Drove during daylight hours only. Had a wonderful drive and time. Drove down east coast. Headed south just before Merida. Belize; entered as tourist with vehicle got a thirty day stamp. Paid no duty on anything brought with me. Drove car until tags expired (about ten months) Got warned a couple of times at the nothern check point heading out of Belize City. Went to register the car in San Ignacio, showed them the receipt for the vehicle, they collected duty of 48% of the receipt value. In this case 2500.00, so the duty was nearly US 1250.00. Sold the truck there five months later for BZE9000.00. Four cylinder Toyota 4 Runner. Not surprising is the fact that there are many belizean entreprenuers who make a decent haul bringing vehicles in from the US. It is also a viable way to earn money living in Belize without violating any of the prohibitios against unauthorized work in the country. So if you like Mexican food and Texas . . . . way to keep rice and beans on your place in San Ignacio. By the by, the more familiar you become with the process of importing vehicles, the more likely you will discover ways of improving your bottom line in this area.

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