Import a Vehicle from USA to Guatemala
Cost calculator, shipping companies, customs process, and broker directory — everything in one place.
Total Landed Cost Calculator
Enter your vehicle details to calculate the total import cost
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| The breakdown appears here after you press "Calculate Total Cost". | |
* Taxes per Decreto 10-2012 arts. 113-114 (0% DAI, 12% IVA and IPRIMA by vehicle type on the same base, no cascade; a used vehicle's base is the seller's invoice, a new one's is CIF) and Decreto 40-2022 art. 7 (EVs: IVA and IPRIMA exempt at 100%; hybrids: IPRIMA only, to 29 Aug 2027 by our count). If SAT cannot verify the invoice it uses its valuation table. Shipping, insurance, broker, port and registration are estimates, not official tariffs.
Process Guides
Step-by-Step Process
Complete guide: documents, customs, registration. The entire process start to finish.
Shipping Companies
RoRo vs container, ports, transit times, and costs compared.
Best Cars to Import
Popular makes, resale value, what to avoid, and what sells well in Guatemala.
Customs Brokers
How to choose a customs broker, what they charge, and what to expect.
Guatemala Ports Guide
Puerto Quetzal vs Santo Tomas: location, costs, hours, and what to expect on pickup day.
EV & Hybrid Benefits
Decreto 40-2022: EVs exempt from IVA and IPRIMA at 100% in the law's years 1-5; hybrids from IPRIMA only.
Copart & IAAI Auctions
How to buy at US auctions: registration, bidding, fees, title types, and how to avoid scams.
The Process in 4 Phases
Preparation in the US
Get original title, choose shipping company, hire customs broker in Guatemala.
Ocean Shipping
Deliver vehicle to port, export documentation, marine insurance.
Customs Clearance
Inspection, tax calculation, IVA paid at customs (SAT determines IPRIMA at the Registro Fiscal de Vehiculos), vehicle release.
Registration & Plates
Register with SAT, get plates, circulation card, and insurance.
Every year, thousands of vehicles make the journey from the United States to Guatemala. Whether you’re sending a car to family back home, relocating with your vehicle, or buying a US-spec car for better price and selection — the process involves shipping, customs, taxes, and registration, and the tax alone is 32% of the seller invoice on a used car for up to five people.
This hub brings together everything you need in one place: calculate your total landed cost, compare shipping options, understand the customs process, choose the right car for Guatemalan conditions, and connect with licensed customs brokers who handle this every day.
Quick reference: Total landed cost = declared value + 0% duty + 12% IVA + 20% IPRIMA (a car) + shipping, port and broker quotes + Q75 plates + circulation tax. The tax alone is 32% of the taxable base; IVA and IPRIMA sit on the same base and do not cascade. Timeline: the shipper’s sailing schedule, then customs clearance and SAT registration. Required: NIT (tax ID) + customs broker (can’t DIY). Arrival ports: Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) and Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic).
Cost calculator and breakdowns
- Vehicle Import Cost Calculator — input vehicle price + destination + options, get total landed cost
- Best Cars to Import — Toyota Tacoma + Hilux, Honda CR-V + Civic, RAV4 dominate. Why some cars work and others don’t.
- EV / Hybrid Import Benefits — current incentives + charging infrastructure reality
How to ship + clear customs
- Shipping Companies — RoRo vs container, US departure terminals, how shippers quote
- Customs Brokers Directory — licensed gestores aduaneros, how to verify one and get a written quote
- Ports Guide — Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) vs Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic): customs offices, storage terms, pickup day
- US Auto Auctions — Copart, IAA, dealer auctions: what to know before bidding for export
The 3 cost components broken down
1. Shipping costs (USA → Guatemala)
| Method | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) | Individual quote | Shipper’s sailing schedule | Vehicle is driven on and off the ship |
| Container (shared or exclusive) | Individual quote | Shipper’s sailing schedule | Ask for a container and a RoRo quote from the same port |
| Driving through Mexico | No ocean freight; Mexico permit, refundable deposit and insurance (guide) | Days on the road | Two border crossings instead of a port |
How shippers quote, and what each one publishes, is in our shipping guide.
2. Customs duties + taxes (Guatemala side)
| Item | Calculation | Example ($15,000 car) |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable base | For a USED vehicle, the original invoice from the seller abroad if the tax administration can verify it and you present the vehicle title and bank proof of payment; otherwise the annual table of taxable values (Decreto 10-2012 art. 113). CIF applies only to NEW vehicles | $15,000 |
| DAI (Customs Duty) | 0% — Guatemala’s tariff on cars and motorcycles is zero | $0 |
| IVA (VAT) | 12% of the base | $1,800 |
| IPRIMA | Rate by vehicle TYPE (art. 114) — 20% for a car — on the same base, not on top of IVA | $3,000 |
| Subtotal taxes | IVA + IPRIMA | $4,800 (32.0% of the base) |
3. Port + broker + registration fees
| Fee | Amount | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Port handling and storage | The terminal’s tariff; ask your broker | Storage terms per port are in our ports guide |
| Customs broker fee (gestor) | Agreed with the broker; get a written quote | Broker guide |
| First plates (SAT) | Q75 for a two-plate vehicle (Q30 for one plate) | SAT, used-vehicle registration, form SAT-8630 (read 28 October 2026) |
| Vehicle circulation tax | Paid at registration on form SAT-4160 | SAT, used-vehicle registration (read 28 October 2026) |
Bottom line on a $15,000 car: $15,000 + $4,800 tax = $19,800 before shipping, marine insurance, port handling, the customs broker, the Q75 plates and the circulation tax. Because both taxes are flat percentages of the base, the tax does not climb as a share of vehicle value; it stays at 32% of the taxable base whatever the car is worth.
Corrected 28 October 2026: this hub printed shipping, port-handling, broker and registration price ranges and transit times without a source, and a Q200 plate fee; SAT charges Q75 for two plates. Those ranges and the landed-cost total built on them were removed from the guide text and tables. The calculator above still uses estimates for shipping, insurance, broker and port costs, not official tariffs; treat its total as a rough guide.
Things people get wrong
- No NIT before shipping — you NEED a Guatemalan tax ID before customs clearance. Get this BEFORE the car arrives or it sits at port accruing storage fees.
- DIY customs clearance — illegal in Guatemala. You MUST use a licensed customs broker (gestor aduanero). Skipping this isn’t an option.
- Salvage / rebuilt titles — Guatemalan customs flags these for additional scrutiny. Many brokers refuse to handle them. Resale value drops 30-50%.
- Wrong car choice — luxury German cars, modern turbocharged engines, large American SUVs, anything with rare emissions equipment all create maintenance/parts headaches in Guatemala. Stick to Toyota + Honda for best ownership experience.
- Underestimating timeline — get the shipper’s sailing schedule and your broker’s clearance estimate before you plan flights and rental car bridges.
- Forgetting EV/hybrid charging context — Guatemala City has growing EV infrastructure. Antigua, Quetzaltenango: limited. Smaller towns: nonexistent. Verify your route works for an EV before importing.
Diaspora context
Most US-to-Guatemala vehicle imports are diaspora sending cars to family — usually a parent’s pickup truck or a sibling’s used SUV. Common pattern:
- Family in Guatemala chooses the model they want (Toyota Tacoma, Honda CR-V, etc.)
- You buy used in the US through Carmax, Carvana, dealer, or auction
- You arrange shipping (or drive it down + Mexico transit)
- Family in Guatemala has the NIT + customs broker lined up before the car arrives
- They register and pay duties while you fly back
Total time investment for the US-side person: typically 1-2 weekends of car-buying + 1 day for shipping arrangements. Family handles everything in Guatemala.
For non-family relocations (you’re moving yourself), do all of the above PLUS your residency paperwork. The car import doesn’t require residency, but landing without one creates other friction.
Related
- Moving from USA to Guatemala — full relocation guide including pets, household goods
- Customs Brokers Directory — verified gestor list
- SAT Vehicle Import Tramite — government procedure details
- Driving in Guatemala — what to know once you have plates
- Live Exchange Rate — convert quetzales for fee planning
Need Help With Your Import?
Connect with verified customs brokers who handle vehicle imports every day.
Find a Customs BrokerRelated Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to import a car from USA to Guatemala?
Tax on a car is 32% of the taxable base — 0% customs duty (Guatemala’s tariff on cars is zero), 12% IVA and 20% IPRIMA, the last two on the same base and neither charged on top of the other. On top of tax: ocean freight, marine insurance and the customs broker, each quoted individually, the terminal’s port tariff, plus Q75 for a two-plate vehicle and the vehicle circulation tax when SAT registers the car. A used car with a $15,000 seller invoice that the tax administration accepts as the base pays $4,800 in tax, so it reaches $19,800 before those costs. Use our import calculator for your specific car.
What documents do I need to import a vehicle?
From the US side: clean title (not a salvage/rebuilt title for most cars), bill of sale, your passport copy, and proof of payment. From the Guatemala side: NIT (Guatemalan tax ID), DPI or passport, and a customs broker (gestor aduanero — required by law, can’t DIY). For commercial use additional documents apply. The customs broker handles the actual filing in SAT system.
Can I drive my US car to Guatemala instead of shipping?
Yes — you can drive across through Mexico. You’ll need Mexico’s temporary vehicle import permit from Banjercito, which carries a refundable deposit, Mexican auto insurance, and your title + registration; the permit fee, the deposit by model year and the insurance rules are in our drive-through-Mexico guide. At the Guatemala border (El Carmen, La Mesilla, or Tecún Umán) the same import process applies — except your car arrives by road instead of ship. Driving saves the ocean freight but adds fuel, days on the road and two border crossings.
Which port do most US-to-Guatemala vehicles arrive through?
Vehicles arrive at Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific coast or at Santo Tomás de Castilla / Puerto Barrios on the Atlantic coast; we found no published share of vehicle imports by port. Ask your shipping line which port its route from your US port calls at. See our ports guide for both.
What cars are best to import to Guatemala?
Toyota and Honda dominate Guatemalan resale market — Tacomas, Hilux pickups, RAV4, CR-V, Civic, Corolla. These hold value, parts are cheap, mechanics know them. Avoid: anything turbocharged or with complex emissions equipment (parts hard to source), large American SUVs (gas costly, parking impossible in Antigua/colonial cities), older European luxury (Mercedes, BMW — repair costs brutal). EVs and hybrids are growing but charging infrastructure limited outside Guatemala City. See best cars to import for full breakdown.
How long does the whole import process take?
Transit time depends on the departure port and the shipping line: ask the shipper for its sailing schedule from your port, then add customs clearance (ask your broker for an estimate) and SAT registration. Missing documents add time while the car sits at the port. Don’t ship a car before having a NIT and broker lined up.
Are salvage / rebuilt-title vehicles importable?
Technically yes, but not recommended. Guatemalan customs treats salvage titles as suspect — clearance takes longer, often requires additional inspections, and resale value drops 30-50% vs clean-title equivalents. Many Guatemalan customs brokers refuse to handle salvage titles entirely. If you’re getting a deal that involves a salvage title, the savings often disappear in clearance friction + resale loss. Stick to clean titles.