Trinidad Vehicle Registration Process

1. Registering An Imported Vehicle In Trinidad What To Know
2. Trinidad Vehicle Inspection
3. Driving & Vehicle Registration Resources In Trinidad
4. Driving In Trinidad
5. Trinidad Vehicle Resources

Registering An Imported Vehicle In Trinidad: What To Know

Before we discuss the various aspects of registering a vehicle in Trinidad, you should be aware that there is both a value added tax (VAT) and a motor vehicle tax that will have to be paid to register a vehicle in Trinidad & Tobago.

The VAT currently sits at 12.5% of the vehicle value, however, the motor vehicle tax varies depending on the type of vehicle and its engine displacement. For vehicles with an engine size of 2,000cc’s or more, the tax has been increased 50%. There is also a sliding scale of taxation that charges more for different tiers of engine displacement. What this means for those shipping cars from the U.S. is that it won’t be cheap since many of our vehicles exceed 2,000 cc’s.

Trinidad Vehicle Inspection

There if a fine of around $750 if you are caught driving a vehicle that has not been submitted for inspection in Trinidad. This fine also applies if you are driving with an expired inspection sticker since every vehicle is legally required to be roadworthy. The inspection is sometimes to referred to as a “Roadworthiness Inspection” for this reason. If a vehicle is five years old (or more), it must be reinspected every two years.

Visit our Trinidad shipping page to learn more about the process of shipping a vehicle from the U.S.! We offer a wealth of information that includes the required documents, cost expectations, taxes and duties, and much more!

Driving & Vehicle Registration Resources In Trinidad

There are some key differences to driving in Trinidad that you should be aware of. This section covers the main points and includes some driving tips on the island, as well as some informational resources to help you if you have further questions.

Driving In Trinidad

Vehicles in Trinidad drive on the left side of the road, as opposed to the right-side driving in many other countries. You may find that drivers in Trinidad use their horn more liberally and their blinkers less frequently than you’re accustomed to. You should also pay special attention to pedestrians as they may not always yield to vehicular traffic.

Driving without insurance or registration is not a light offense in Trinidad, nor is texting while driving or operating a vehicle with any alcohol in your system. These are very important things to keep in mind, especially if you’re coming from the U.S., where the penalties are less severe in comparison.

Trinidad Vehicle Resources

Trinidad Highway Code - Driving regulations for Trinidad and Tobago including information for drivers, pedestrians, and how to interpret the local street signs. There is also a good section about driving and safety tips.

Trinidad Ministry of Works & Transport - The Ministry of Works and Transport oversees the licensing, registration, and inspection of vehicles in Trinidad. You can think of them as the equivalent to a motor vehicle bureau or department in Trinidad.

We encourage our readers to contact us if you’re considering shipping a vehicle to Trinidad. We maintain some of the most competitive pricing in the industry and our staff are happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today by calling the number at the top of the page if you’d like to know more, or if you want a FREE cost estimate!