Importing a vehicle from the USA to Guatemala is a five-step process; none of the sources this page cites gives an end-to-end time, so ask your shipping line and customs broker for an estimate. The tax is 32% of the seller invoice for a car carrying up to five people (0% DAI + 12% IVA + 20% IPRIMA), before shipping, broker and port fees. This guide covers the USA-side documents, the SAT customs path, the SAT registration and plates after arrival, and the costliest mistakes to avoid.
Who writes this: We’re Guatemala Life, a Guatemala-based team. We track vehicles as they land at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás de Castilla, work with SAT and the Guatemalan customs broker community, and follow SAT’s vehicle-registration steps. The US-side steps (CBP title filing, AES) are sourced from CBP — most of the practical friction happens on the Guatemala side, which is what this guide reflects.
Ports: vehicles arrive at Puerto Quetzal (Pacific, Escuintla) or Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic, Izabal). No port publishes a clearance-time comparison that we hold, so if your shipping line offers both, compare their storage-day terms before you book. Edited 25 September 2026: an unsourced clearance-time comparison was removed.
Quick summary: Get a clear title, file it with CBP and file AES in the US 72 hours before export, ship Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) from Miami/Houston/LA, hire a Guatemalan customs broker, pay 0% DAI + 12% IVA + 20% IPRIMA (32% of the invoice for a five-seat car), then register the car with SAT, which issues the plates.
Cost snapshot
For a $20,000 used Toyota RAV4 imported from Miami:
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle value (US sale price) | $20,000 |
| SAT Import Duty (DAI, 0% on cars) | $0 |
| SAT IVA (12% of the $20,000 invoice) | $2,400 |
| IPRIMA (20%, vehicle up to 5 seats, same base) | $4,000 |
| Taxes | $6,400 |
| SAT plates (form SAT-8630) | Q75 |
| Shipping, marine insurance, customs broker, port handling | Quoted individually; add your written quotes |
The taxes come to $6,400, 32% of the invoice. IVA and IPRIMA are on the seller invoice, not on CIF (Decreto 10-2012 art. 113). No shipper we checked publishes a complete Guatemala price and we found no published broker fee schedule (read 8 October 2026), so this page no longer shows a landed-cost total; it showed estimated shipping, insurance and broker amounts until 8 October 2026.
US-side requirements
1. Vehicle title — original and lien-free
You must have the original paper title in your name, with no liens. Banks will not release a title until the loan is paid off. If you bought the car cash, ask the seller for the original — a duplicate works only if it’s been on file for 30+ days.
For salvage or rebuilt titles: Guatemala accepts them, but the SAT valuation and the resale value drop significantly. Ask your shipping company whether it accepts salvage titles.
2. Notarized bill of sale
Required by SAT to verify the purchase price. Use a state DMV form or a notarized custom bill of sale. Include the VIN, year, make, model, sale date, sale price, seller’s full name and address, and your full name and address.
3. Title filing with CBP
CBP requires the original title (or a certified copy) plus two complete copies, presented with the vehicle at least 72 hours before export by vessel (19 CFR 192.2). EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 are forms for importing a vehicle into the US; they are not export documents.
4. AES filing (Automated Export System)
Electronic Export Information must be filed in AES 72 hours before export for every used self-propelled vehicle, regardless of destination, value or condition (15 CFR 30.2(a)(1)(iv)(H), per CBP). Confirm it appears on your shipping confirmation.
Vehicle age and condition limits
There is no model-year import ban. Article 109 literals a) and b) of Decreto 10-2012 were declared unconstitutional by the Corte de Constitucionalidad (Expediente 2959-2012, 28 June 2013). What survives is literal c):
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Arrives collided or damaged so it cannot circulate | Cannot be registered from its seventh model year |
| Declared unrebuildable in the exporting country | Can never be registered |
| Cargo vehicles, buses, microbuses, fire-service vehicles | No prohibition |
| Any other vehicle, any model year | Can be imported and registered |
Right-hand drive: the Reglamento de Tránsito (art. 21) does not authorize right-hand-drive vehicles on public roads. SAT’s used-vehicle registration asks for the Departamento de Tránsito’s authorization to circulate with right-hand drive, so without that authorization you cannot register one.
SAT customs duty calculation
Two taxes apply:
- DAI (Derecho Arancelario de Importacion) — 0% on cars and motorcycles (Guatemala’s line in the Central American tariff, SIECA).
- IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) — 12%.
- IPRIMA (first-registration tax) — set by vehicle type in article 114 of Decreto 10-2012: 20% up to five people, 15% for 6-9 people or a 4x4 with a two-range transfer case, 10% motorcycles, 5% hybrid/electric.
IVA and IPRIMA sit on the same base and neither is charged on top of the other (art. 116). For a used vehicle that base is the original invoice from the seller abroad, not CIF (art. 113) — as long as the invoice is legally valid where issued, SAT can verify it, the foreign title is presented and the payment went through the banking system. If any of those fails, SAT uses its annual table of taxable values (for 2026, Acuerdos de Directorio 16-2025 and 17-2025) instead.
What we see locally on SAT valuations: popular Japanese and Korean models (Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia) tend to have SAT tabulated values that are close to realistic US used-market pricing. Premium European brands and US-market-specific trucks can come in noticeably higher than what you paid — we’ve seen $20K bills of sale get assessed closer to $25K when the Tabla de Valoraciones cites a higher reference. It rarely goes the other direction. Your customs broker can pull the current tabulated value for your specific VIN before you ship, which is the single most useful pre-ship check you can run.
Use the Guatemala Import Calculator to estimate your specific car before paying for shipping.
Step-by-step process
Step 1 — Verify vehicle is eligible (do this BEFORE buying)
There is no model-year limit; check instead that the car will not arrive collided and unable to circulate (art. 109 c). Confirm the title is clean. Verify the VIN is recognized by SAT (your customs broker can run a pre-check).
Step 2 — Hire a Guatemalan customs broker (agente aduanero)
Required by law. We found no published fee schedule; get a written quote and check the broker against SAT’s list of active customs brokers (broker guide). They prepare the DUCA-GT (customs declaration) and shepherd the car through the port. See the international movers directory for selection criteria and vetting checklist.
Step 3 — Book the shipping
Ship Overseas describes RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) as its most cost-effective option and offers shared and exclusive containers; no shipper we checked publishes a complete Guatemala price, and Ship Overseas gives only an incomplete $800 figure for cars (shipoverseas.com, read 8 October 2026). Get several itemized quotes — see the international movers directory.
Step 4 — File US export paperwork (72 hrs before export)
The title documents go to CBP and the Electronic Export Information goes into AES, both at least 72 hours before export. Get copies for your records.
Step 5 — Vehicle ships
Transit time:
- Miami to Puerto Quetzal: 10-15 days
- Houston to Puerto Quetzal: 12-18 days
- LA to Puerto Quetzal: 19-25 days
Step 6 — Customs broker clears the vehicle
Once the ship docks, your broker presents documents to SAT, files the DUCA-GT, calculates duties, and arranges payment. Ask your shipping line and customs broker for the expected time at the port. Port storage accrues after the free days; ask the port for its rate.
Step 7 — Pay duties at any Guatemalan bank
Your broker provides the payment slip. Pay at Banrural, BAC Credomatic, or Industrial. The bank stamps the receipt — bring it back to your broker.
Step 8 — Vehicle is released
Drive it out of the port. The car now belongs to you in Guatemala but is NOT yet legal to drive on public roads until it has plates.
Step 9 — Pay IPRIMA and request registration at SAT
Pay IPRIMA on form SAT-4041 (generated in Declaraguate). Then request registration of a used vehicle through your SAT Agencia Virtual; SAT requires an up-to-date RTU, circulation tax paid on any vehicle already in your name, and a confirmed DUCA. The system generates form SAT-8630 for the plates (Q75 for two plates, Q30 for one) and SAT-4160 for the circulation tax.
Step 10 — Collect the plates at SAT
Plates are issued by SAT, not by a traffic office: take the request code and your DPI to a SAT service point. The electronic circulation card and ownership certificate download from Agencia Virtual. Source: SAT, Inscripción de Vehículos Usados. See the Guatemala vehicle registration tramite for full details.
Step 11 — Annual circulation tax
Every vehicle in Guatemala pays an annual calcomania (vehicle sticker tax) of Q200-Q4,000 depending on age and value. The first year is pro-rated.
A practical note on port storage: the clock starts the day the vessel is discharged, not the day you’re ready. The free storage window sits around 5-10 days depending on port and shipping line, and storage after that compounds quickly — we’ve seen first-time importers show up two weeks late and find storage fees larger than the registration cost. Have your broker pre-positioned with every document the moment the vessel is announced.
Required documents for SAT clearance
- Original US title (lien-free)
- Notarized bill of sale
- Bill of Lading from shipping company
- Marine insurance certificate
- Your passport AND DPI (if you have it)
- Power of attorney for your customs broker (notarized)
- Mechanical inspection certificate (some imports — broker advises)
Common mistakes
- Buying a wreck that cannot circulate. A car that arrives collided and undrivable cannot be registered from its seventh model year (art. 109 c); one declared unrebuildable never can. There is no general age limit.
- Title still has a lien. SAT will not clear. Pay off the loan and get the title released first.
- Skipping the customs broker. Self-clearing is illegal — only licensed brokers can file the DUCA. Doing it without one means storage fees pile up while you sort it out.
- Underestimating the SAT valuation. SAT uses your seller invoice only if it can validate it (legally valid, verifiable, foreign title presented, paid through a bank); otherwise it uses its own table.
- Forgetting the CBP title filing and AES in the US. CBP allows the export only once the documents have been filed 72 hours ahead (19 CFR 192.2).
- Using the wrong port. Some shipping lines only call at Puerto Quetzal; others Santo Tomas. Match the line to your nearest US port.
- Not budgeting for storage. Ask the port or your broker how many free storage days apply. Storage charges run after that.
Driving in Guatemala vs the US
A few practical differences once your car is on the road:
- Speed limits: posted in km/h (not mph), and a posted sign governs. Without one, Reglamento de Tránsito Arts. 112 and 113 set 30 to 90 km/h in urban areas and 40 to 100 km/h outside them, by road type; see speed limits in Guatemala. Corrected 25 September 2026: this line previously gave 30-50 km/h in cities and 80 km/h on most highways.
- Octane: regular unleaded is 91 octane (vs 87 in the US). Premium is 95-97. Most US engines run fine on regular.
- Diesel: widely available, lower sulphur than 5 years ago but not Ultra Low Sulphur. Consult your owner’s manual on tolerance.
- Tolls: few toll roads (CA-9 to Puerto Quetzal, Atitlan bypass). Cash only. ~Q5-Q20.
- Insurance: US insurance does NOT cover Guatemala, so a local policy from G&T, Mapfre, El Roble or similar is the practical answer. On whether it is required: Article 29 of the Ley de Tránsito does impose third-party and occupant liability cover, but only “conforme las disposiciones reglamentarias de esta ley”, and Reglamento Article 193 leaves even “su puesta en vigor” to a separate regulation. That regulation was published on 17 March 2025 (Acuerdos Gubernativos 46 to 49-2025, due 1 May 2025) and repealed three days later, on 20 March 2025, by Acuerdos 56 to 59-2025; it was still repealed as of March 2026. So the duty exists in the statute and is not in force. Full trail: car insurance in Guatemala. Corrected 20 September 2026 — this line previously said liability is mandatory.
- License: a US driver’s license is valid for as long as your migratory authorisation is in force (Reglamento de Tránsito Art. 24); once you become a resident you must convert to a Guatemalan license — see driving on a US licence and the drivers license tramite. Corrected 23 September 2026: this line previously said a US license is valid for 90 days.
How we verified this
Last verified: 24 September 2026. DAI read at SIECA’s Central American tariff; IVA and IPRIMA from SAT’s consolidated text of Decreto 10-2012 (arts. 108-118); registration steps from SAT’s used-vehicle registration page. Port clearance timing and storage fees reflect what we observe firsthand at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás. US-side export filings (title filing, AES) sourced from CBP. Processes change — if you hit a discrepancy, email us and we’ll correct within 48 hours.
Corrections & updates
Corrected 24 September 2026: DAI on cars is 0%, not 20%; the tax is 12% IVA plus 20% IPRIMA on the seller invoice (32% for a five-seat car); there is no 10-year import limit; plates are issued by SAT (Q75), not by a “DGT”; EPA 3520-1 and HS-7 are US import forms, and every used vehicle needs AES filing regardless of value.
SAT duty tables, age limits, and port procedures change. If you imported a vehicle and encountered a different fee, a changed form, a new port routing, or an updated EV incentive rate, email us and we’ll update within 48 hours.
Related guides
- Vehicle Import Hub — Detailed shipping, ports, and broker comparisons
- Best Cars to Import — Resale value rankings
- Customs Brokers Directory — Selection criteria and red flags
- EV / Hybrid Tax Benefits — 5% IPRIMA for electric and hybrid
- Guatemala Import Calculator — Interactive cost estimator
- Guatemala Vehicle Registration (SAT plates) — After-import paperwork
- Driver’s License — Switch from US to Guatemalan license
- Car Insurance in Guatemala — Once the car is here, is insurance compulsory? Yes in the statute, not in force
- Moving from USA hub — All relocation guides
Official sources
- SAT Guatemala — Aduanas — Customs authority
- SAT Aranceles (EV / hybrid tax incentives) — Verify current duty reductions on electric and hybrid vehicles with your customs broker; incentive rates are updated by SAT resolution
- CBP — Exporting a Motor Vehicle — title filing 72 hours before export
- CBP — Exporting Used Self-Propelled Vehicles — AES filing for every used vehicle
- SAT — Inscripción de Vehículos Usados — Vehicle registration and plates
Information verified 24 September 2026. SAT tax rates, registration steps, and shipping prices change — confirm with your customs broker before paying for shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old can a car be to import to Guatemala?
There is no model-year limit. The age bans in article 109 literals a) and b) of Decreto 10-2012 were struck down by the Corte de Constitucionalidad (Expediente 2959-2012, 28 June 2013). What survives is literal c): a vehicle that arrives collided or damaged so it cannot circulate cannot be registered from its seventh model year, and one declared unrebuildable in the exporting country can never be registered.
How much will I pay in customs duty?
For a car carrying up to five people the tax is 32% of the original seller invoice: DAI (import duty) 0%, IVA 12% and IPRIMA (first-registration tax) 20%, both on the same base and neither on top of the other (Decreto 10-2012 arts. 113, 114, 116). SAT’s annual valuation table replaces your invoice only if the invoice cannot be validated. A $20,000 five-seat car owes $6,400 in tax.
Do I need a customs broker?
Yes — by Guatemalan law, only a licensed customs broker (agente aduanero) can file the DUCA declaration and clear your vehicle through the port. We found no published fee schedule for customs brokers, so get a written quote; the broker’s fee is separate from the duties themselves.
Can I drive my US-plated car in Guatemala?
Yes, temporarily. A tourist gets a temporary-import permit for tourist vehicles from SAT customs at the office where they enter (Q160 + Q100 per sticker + Q60). RECAUCA Article 442 lets the car stay up to the period migration grants you, and a tourist stay is up to 90 days, extendable once (Código de Migración Art. 74). After that the car must leave or be formally imported. For a permanent move, do the formal SAT import. Details: our foreign-plated vehicle guide.
Where does the car arrive?
Most US imports arrive at Puerto Quetzal (Pacific, ~2 hours from Guatemala City) or Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla (Atlantic, Izabal). Miami and Houston routes default to Puerto Quetzal. NY/NJ routes often go to Santo Tomas.
What documents from the USA do I need?
Original US title (clear, lien-free) and a bill of sale. CBP requires the original title (or a certified copy) plus two complete copies at least 72 hours before export (19 CFR 192.2), and Electronic Export Information filed in AES 72 hours before export for every used vehicle, regardless of value. EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 are forms for importing a vehicle INTO the US, not for exporting one.
What about pensionado or retiree vehicle exemption?
Guatemala does NOT currently grant a vehicle import exemption for pensionado / rentista visa holders the way some Latin American countries do. The 32% tax applies regardless of visa status. The menaje de casa exemption covers household goods only, not vehicles.
Can I import a Tesla or other EV?
Yes. The saving is in IPRIMA, not in the duty: hybrid, electric and hydrogen vehicles pay IPRIMA at 5% instead of 20% (Decreto 10-2012 art. 114 numeral 14, as reformed by Decreto 40-2022). DAI is 0% on every car, electric or not. On top of that, Decreto 40-2022 art. 7 exempts fully electric vehicles from IVA and IPRIMA, and hybrids from IPRIMA only (hybrids still pay 12% IVA), at 100% in the law’s years 1 to 5 (to 29 August 2027 by our count), stepping down to 10% in year 10. An EV more than 5 years past manufacture, or with a salvage-type title, cannot be imported (art. 16).
