After an unexpected three-week stay in the States we (Scott and I) are back in Belize again. We had only been here for a few days before we had to turn around and go back. It’s nice to start settling in since our trip to the States was non-stop and exhausting. We did decide that while we were in the States we would pick up a vehicle to ship to Belize. Scott has driven through Mexico from the States with vehicles to bring in but violence in Mexico has increased quite a bit so we were hesitant to drive through this time. Now I will have a new experience to write about since I have never shipped anything from the States.
We bought an old Jeep Cherokee in the DC area and drove it down to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to put on a freighter ship. We chose to work with Hyde Shipping so once we hit Ft. Lauderdale we headed right to the port. We got through security and headed in, but there wasn’t a clear sign indicating where Hyde shipping was. So we drove around for a bit and finally called to ask – turns out it’s the first left after the stoplight and the office is a small trailer (if you ever find yourself in this situation). Once we found it the process was a smooth one; we had the title and our passport and they had the rest of the paperwork. We pre-paid there (we had the option to pay in Belize City) and it cost $750 which was based on the size of the vehicle. The vehicle has to stay in Ft. Lauderdale for three days to be cleared by US customs and then it was shipped last Monday.
When we got to Belize we started the process of finding a broker and decided to work with a friend of ours here. So the vehicle arrived in Belize City on Thursday but we have to wait until Monday to start the paperwork and then we get to pick it up Wednesday. I don’t have the details yet on the Belize side but I will update everyone on that process once we go through it. Duty will be a very high percentage (check out the percentages here) so we’ll still need to put out money. We also found out that the shipping cost is included in the value of the vehicle when Belize customs determines the amount of duty. Right now we’re using vehicles that are limping along so it will be so nice to get our Jeep home and start exploring. It’s a perfect vehicle for Belize; an aftermarket lift, improved shocks and the entire vehicle has rhino-lining on it. I’ll keep everyone updated on the progress next week.
If you have any advice about shipping containers to Belize please feel free to comment and share – it’s a new experience for me and I get questions often about shipping items over.
My husband ships cars to Belize frequently because we have a car lot there (in Independence. our house is in Maya Beach). I heard that in Belize City they are really tough so I hope you have a good broker. We have a good broker for the Big Creek port (right next to Independence) but a lot of haggling still goes on. What’s pretty cool though is when you load your vehicle down with stuff from the States, they usually just charge a minimal fee on the contents, instead of the usual charge. We’ve brought in a BUNCH of stuff that way. I believe in buying Belize when we can, but some things can’t be found there, or, they are so expensive it’s prohibitive to purchase them. If you have any questions just email me directly. Phil is coming home tomorrow so he might be able to answer any question I can’t.
Thanks for the comment Sandy – that’s very helpful to know. We didn’t put anything in the vehicle because we weren’t sure it would actually make it. We went back and forth about it so now I wish we would have! I agree – we buy Belize when it’s available but a lot isn’t available. I will send you an email to get more info. Thanks again.
Kristi,
Can you email me the final list of how much it cost you with broker fees and duties at lauriepalo@gmail.com. I would greatly appreciate it.
Sandy, who do you use to ship the vehicles? I heard there is a port in Alabama that ships directly to Big Creek? We live in Independence and want to ship items back to the states including a vehicle. Also, where is your husbands car lot here?
Hi Sue,
My name is Sarita and I really curious about your comment. Could you please suggest a custom’s broker in Belize?
Thank you so much!
Sarita
Sorry! Sandy!
Sarita
Great post. Thanks for all the information!
Belizedragonfly, what was your total expense for shipping the vehicle? Any recommendations for a Houston connection from Seattle?
Sandy, We’re coming down in Feb or March. Love the idea of cramming the car with stuff! What are your thoughts about driving a truck from Seattle to Houston and shipping from there? Any connections, costs or tips you can share? And did we meet at a poker party in June?
Karen, are you just wondering about what we paid to the shipping company, or the entire process including picking it up from Belize customs? You can also email me at belizedragonfly@gmail.com if you prefer. Thanks!
Hey …recently we ship our car to belize it was really cheap and affordable for us ..we use Hyde shipping in belize city or Caribbean shipping agencies limited ..they are located in Florida as well …website wwww.csabelize.com
We use their broker we was very nice took care of everything for us his name is Mr .skeen .down to earth and he got his job done by the books …so I highly recommend this shipping agencies …
Dear Friends,
Please, advise me with route to transfer my SUV loaded with personal staff
from LA to Belize (where I go for my retirement). I am not reach, just looking for better options to do my trip and I do not want to drive Mexico. Will appreciate your help.
Regards,
Walter
I want to ship a 1987 Mercedes Benz 300SDL to Belize Airport, Belize City, Belize. I need the car in Belize by October 12, 2012.
I live in Harrisburg, PA.
Can anyone help with info and price?
Hi Sandy, I am trying to find out more information about relocating to Belize and how you go about using a shipping container for everything at one time. If you could be so kind as to give me any information on this that you may have, I would be in your debt. :). I need relevant info for 2013 that is i mean to say now or this year. thanks Silverlady
Sandy,
I have a small place in Maya Beach and I am looking for a small truck.
Do you still have a used car lot in Independence? Or can you help arrange to get a car in from the states?
Thanks.
Greg Lockwood
Sandy,
My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to Belize in August and we are thinking that buying a car there may be our best bet. If you could email me at lauriepalo@gmail.com the information on your dealership that would be great. I am just beginning research and don’t have a clue on much of anything yet.
I too am in the process of shipping down a vehicle so this information was very helpful. Please let us know how it turns out and the following steps you took.
I too am in the process of coming over to Belize. Belize City, the Cayo District. We are wanting to ship two cars. We don’t’ know very much about Belize City, but know that’s where we want to be. If you can give me any information as far as shipping items, and what items is best to bring over, that i can’t find in Belize. Why is a Broker needed? Can you suggest one?
I greatly appreciate it.
Best Regards
Fatima
Hi Fatima! Thanks for the comment – I responded to your questions on the email address you used for your comment. Hope it helps and good luck!
Greeetings,
We are also moving to Belize and just starting to research shipping a vehicle. Would like to hear how it went with your jeep on the Belize end. Thanks
Hello Eric and Cheryl, everything went pretty smooth with getting the jeep in. One of our Belizean friends helped us out with the pick-up process. So it took about a half day of hanging around the port before we could drive off in the Jeep.
I too am investigating bringing my pick-up down from the US. I drove through Mexico in 2009 but have heard too many stories about the possibility for violence and am no considering shipping the vehicle.
Who would be the cheapest and need I be concerned about paying duty on what I have in the back. Do they ask you to itemize what you have in the truck?
Thanks
Michael, as far as who would be the cheapest I have not used anyone except the company listed here in my article. That is the company that other people I know in Belize have used as well. For duty on what you have in the car I have gotten multiple answers on that. Our broker told us that we could have put things in the car and wouldn’t have had to pay duty, but I don’t know if that is the official answer so I would suggest that you prepare to pay some duty on the items inside your car as well. If anyone has a different answer to that, or knows what the rule is, please comment and let us know. Thanks!
Hello Guys, I am an expat-to-be and I need your help. Soon I will trade my Los Angeles life for Placencia in Belize,planning departure in July 2012. I’ve been visiting that land a few times before… I love to be there again and forever… so, the Belizian paradize is in my dream, in my blood, in my mind.. This is not a tourist trip other people talking about. This is my way to retirement, one way ticket to better life in new land…
Every one of us have deserved a small piece of paradize on Earth and I wish you to have one ASAP in your life as well. I came to mine one and I want to enjoy it.
I want to bring with me SUV Toyota FJ Cruiser, as my friend-on-wheels. Absolutely great vehicle for traveling,fishing, camping,diving.
My “Friend” will be loaded with personal things of his owner, including scuba/electronics equipment.
Due to permanent violence and/or negative situation in Mexico I have forced myself to change my plan to travel by land. I decided to ship my SUV by the containership from Texas to Belize.Internet is suggesting many things, but
not those from the people who had got real experience in do so.
Please, help me with info about EVERYTHING ….PLUS SUGGESTIONS for my jorney. I will appreciate anything from the experience you share with me on my way trying to save my life from idiots.
God Bless Your Hearts,
Walter Maria
Walter – I have gone through the process of shipping a vehicle to Belize (as you read in this post). We used Hyde Shipping and paid a set fee for it, and that included fees charged by Belize. If you will be arriving to Belize before your vehicle then you should ask around for advice on getting help from a broker to collect the vehicle. You will have to pay duty based on the blue book value of the vehicle, and then you are free to take it once everything clears. As for packing your stuff in the vehicle, we chose not to load the vehicle up because we weren’t sure if our things would be there when we picked up the vehicle. Some people have told me that they did put all their stuff in the vehicle to be shipped and had no problem. I believe you get charged duty on items inside the vehicle as well. If anyone has other experiences with shipping a vehicle, please comment! Good luck with your travels.
Please post the amount of duty you paid to bring your Jeep into the country. Thanks for all of the helpful information!
Michelle
First let me say I m so excited to stumble on this page. I am moving to Belize for a year and I am trying to figure out the whole duty piece on my vehicle. I’d love more information on actual costs and any suggestions you may have on the process. I look forward to hearing from you…Thanks!
I too am looking to use container shipping for truck, personal items and furniture. need help use the hot52pickup@the warm mail. Need some guys
Hello John – I sent you an email to the address you used here. Thanks!
I am teacher in Belize with a limited income. If you could email me to give me an idea of the fees to get the car out of port that would be great. The fees after shipping are what concern me most. Thank you for your all these posts.
Hello Mike – thanks for reading! I just sent you an email with the info you’re looking for. Thanks!
hi i am also trying to ship my pick up from new jersey to belize and really need reasonable estimate to for shipping and customs to get my vehichle to belize city. please can you help?
Hello,
We are also trying to figure out info on shipping items and vehicles.
Do you know what Blue book figure they use since there are various estimates of what your vehicle is worth depending on how you are selling it whether as trade in or to another person. Can you please email me. We also need to know if there is a percentage with duty? How can you plan for it if you have no idea how they come up with a number? Thank you
Hello belizedragonfly,
I’m looking to move my 1999 Range Rover to Belize the first week of October, 2012. Can you please, provide me the total cost for the entire transaction. I currently live in Webster, NY and will drive the vehicle to the Port in Florida. Also, which broker did you use?
Thanks, so very much for your help.
Hello everyone! For further information about shipping vehicles please email me directly at belizedragonfly.com so I can answer your questions individually. I will be putting a fact sheet together soon to post that will help lay out the process for everyone. Thanks!
I have never being to Belize originally from Jamaica, but I know when we ship items to Jamaica we pack it with stuff and we are not usually charge fees. Friends have shipped cars to Haiti and have been afforded the same courtesy. I know family members ship furniture with storage compartments, refrigerators etc with no charge
Debbie thanks for the input!
Hello belizedragonfly ,I am trying to find out more information about relocating to Belize and how you go about using a shipping container for everything at one time. If you could be so kind as to give me any information on this that you may have, I would be in your debt. :). I need relevant info for 2013 that is i mean to say now or this year. thanks Silverlady
my email is CAKneubhul@gmail.com