Information About Car Import into Jamaica

Regulations, taxes and rules for importing cars into Jamaica

If you intend to import a motor vehicle or motor cycle you must first apply to the Trade Board for an Import Licence and receive it before making arrangements for the shipping of the vehicle to Jamaica. Anyone who imports a motor vehicle or a part thereof which requires an import licence without first obtaining a valid import permit will be liable to a fine in accordance with Section 210 of the Customs Act. The role of the Trade Board in the approval of import permits is facilitatory, and hence the Trade Board is not responsible for any misrepresentation to consumer.

 

18 years old Jamaicans can legally import a maximum of two motor vehicles in any three year period, regardless of whether said vehicles are new or used. One motor car and one light commercial vehicle or two light commercial vehicles; or one light commercial vehicle and a regular commercial vehicle. In the case of a used vehicles, it can be no more than four years old in the case of motor cars, or five years old in the case of light commercial vehicles. Individuals residing in Jamaica are allowed to access this facility once every three years. A one year restrictive clause prohibiting the unauthorized disposal/sale or pledging of vehicles as collateral will be incorporated in import permits approved for the importation of motor vehicles by individuals. Please note that the Inland Revenue Department will not facilitate request for the transfer of locally pre-owned motor vehicles unless the requesting entity is duly certified by the Trade Board.

 

An individual importer is required to complete and submit in triplicate manually or online at www.tradeboard.gov.jm an order and clearance permit application to the Trade Board along with the prescribed fee of USD $35.00 for approval, prior to the vehicle being shipped. Please note that effective July 1, 2014 the Trade Board will no longer accept cheques and cash payment at their office except for point of sale transactions. The application should be supported by the following documents:

 

A pro-forma invoice if the car is new, or if used a certificate of title or registration;
Certified copies of two forms of identification such as Passport, Driver's License or National Identification Card;
Photocopy of both sides of the Tax Payer Registration Card.

 

The application is generally processed in 24 hours after which it can be collected and the applicant can complete shipping and clearance activities.
In addition to the Import Licence issued by the Trade Board, the following needs to be submitted to the Customs Department:

Title/Registration Certificate
Invoice
Bill of Lading
Bill of Sight
Tax Compliance Certificate
C78/Import Entry

Once these are submitted for a new motor vehicle, an estimate of Customs Duty payable on your vehicle can be done by applying the relevant Aggregate Customs Duty rate to the value on the pro-forma invoice. In the case of used vehicles, the depreciated value applicable to the age and mileage of the vehicle can be referenced from the Glass's Guide - for vehicles being shipped from the U.K. and Europe, and the N.A.D.A. Book - for vehicles being shipped from North America, i.e . the United States and Canada.

The importation of motor vehicles that are considered to be in a damaged or salvaged state is prohibited regardless of the extent of the structural damage, and whether or not the damage was caused through natural disaster or in transit.

Car trends in Jamaica

Due to the rising cost of fuel on the local market, most people are looking for vehicles with good fuel efficiency. The poor road conditions have forced many to purchase SUVs, however many have chosen diesel vehicles to help offset the effect of the high gas prices. Many SUV owners are now using Low Sulphur Diesel which cost a little more but lasts longer and generally improves the performance of the vehicle.

The gasoline in Jamaica ranges from 99.00JMD to 140.40JMD depending on the type of vehicle and location of gas station. Many Jamaicans use this as a determining factor when importing vehicles.