- Car Shipping El Salvador
- Shipping A Vehicle To El Salvador
- Typical Shipping Prices – How Much Does It Cost?
- Cost & Time Examples For Shipping A Car To El Salvador
- Popular Shipping Destinations
- Required Documents For Shipping A Vehicle To El Salvador
- Allow Us To Assist
- Costs For Shipping Into El Salvador
- Auto Transport To El Salvador
- Other Services
- Related Information & Faqs

Car Shipping El Salvador
Shipping A Vehicle To El Salvador
Typical Shipping Prices – How Much Does It Cost?
- If you use a shipping container to transport a car to El Salvador from the U.S., it will generally cost $2,000 to $4,200 for a standard car.
- Factors that can affect the total cost include where it’s being shipped from, the size of the vehicle, and the added costs of local import taxes and registration.
Cost & Time Examples For Shipping a Car to El Salvador
To/From | Ground | Ocean | Days |
---|---|---|---|
New York, NY to (New York port) to Acajutla | $275 | $5,100 | 5+31 |
Los Angeles to (California port) to Acajutla | $350 | $2,600 | 5+18 |
Boston, MA to (New York port) to Acajutla | $400 | $5,100 | 5+31 |
Las Vegas, NV to (California port) to Acajutla | $450 | $2,600 | 5+18 |
Portland, OR to (California port) to Acajutla | $475 | $2,600 | 6+18 |
Houston, TX to (California port) to Acajutla | $1,125 | $2,600 | 8+18 |
Phoenix, AZ to (California port) to Acajutla | $550 | $2,600 | 6+18 |
Detroit, MI to (New York port) to Acajutla | $575 | $5,100 | 6+31 |
Memphis, TN to (New York port) to Acajutla | $800 | $5,100 | 6+31 |
Houston, TX to (New York port) to Acajutla | $1,075 | $5,100 | 7+31 |
*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and the type of vehicle.
*Save the ground transport cost by delivering the vehicle to the nearest port.
*Allow an additional 10 days to process the documents.
*Prices are for 1 car in a dedicated 20ft container. This is the safest and most reliable way to transport a vehicle internationally. Other items may be included in the container to help save you money when moving.
*Using the RoRo (roll on, roll off) method is less expensive and shipments can be completed in fewer days. Contact us now for a free RoRo quote.

Exporting your vehicle into El Salvador requires a clear and original title. If you are shipping a vehicle that is still being paid for or is leased, then you need a notarized letter from the lienholder giving you permission to move the vehicle into the country.
In order to export your vehicle to El Salvador, US Customs requires that you drop your car off at the pier from which it is shipping at least 72 hours in advance. This allows for time for the vehicle to be checked thoroughly and for Customs to assure that nothing was placed in the vehicle after an initial inspection.
It is probably not a good idea to drive to El Salvador instead of exporting your car. The highways connecting the southern United States and El Salvador are not properly maintained and might be dangerous at certain points. You can avoid the dangers and stress of driving your car to El Salvador by hiring an auto shipping firm to perform the job for you.
You must be in the country for your auto shipment to clear. This means that you are not able to send your vehicle ahead and have it waiting for you at the place in which you plan to stay while in the country. You must be there to pick it up and present the proper identification upon arrival in order for your vehicle to clear customs.
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Popular Shipping Destinations

Required Documents For Shipping A Vehicle To El Salvador
- Bill of lading (original and copy)
- Original commercial invoice with vehicle value
- Vehicle title for proof of ownership
- Certificate of compliance (translated into Spanish)
- Driver's license
- Residence permit
Allow Us To Assist
El Salvador is a beautiful country, full of some of the most beautiful scenery found in the world. However, as one of the underdeveloped countries in the region, it is also a country that requires vast knowledge and expertise of the area in order to successfully ship a vehicle here. To successfully ship, you need more than a qualified shipping company; you need one that will see you through all facets of the process.
Chances are, to get your vehicle into the country, it will arrive via container on a ship. Overseeing this process to ensure that your car is not damaged en route means that your auto shipping company must have a hand in all facets of the journey, from getting your car properly loaded into the container to working closely with the handlers on the ship to helping you and your vehicle through El Salvadoran customs upon arrival.
Costs for Shipping Into El Salvador
El Salvador operates on the Central American Tariff System. This classifies certain commodities into categories and then adds a 13% Value Added Tax to the item in question, which may well apply to your vehicle as well. In addition to the VAT, you may also need to pay 30% of the CIF value of the vehicle, which depends on the year, make and model.
Auto Transport to El Salvador
It is important that the company in question is fully licensed and bonded via the Federal Maritime Commission. This not only provides you a greater level of protection but also assures that you know the company in question knows what they are doing to have received this level of licensure.
One of the things that your auto transport company might instruct you to do is take the tags off of your car ahead of shipping it. The license plates are sometimes stolen off of vehicles being shipped for souvenir purposes.
Make sure to ship your vehicle apart from the rest of any household goods that you may be shipping into the country, if you are planning a permanent move here. This assures that the process will move quickly and you do not inadvertently forget any necessary paperwork you might need.
Don’t run into a gas emergency; do your research well in advance. The US Coast Guard requires that for vehicles being shipped via container, the gas tank is completely empty. For roll on/roll off shipping, there should only be a quarter of a tank of gas in the vehicle prior to shipping.

Other Services
Related Information & FAQs
- Have professionals handle shipping a car from the US to El Salvador
- What will it cost to ship a car to El Salvador through an overseas transporter?
- The method of transport most used for shipping a car to El Salvador from the USA
- How can I ship a car to El Salvador with other belongings?
- Importing a car to El Salvador is wise if the experts are hired
- Professional transport companies provide the best way to ship a car to El Salvador