Shipping your vehicle from the United States to Guatemala means choosing a method, a departure port and a shipper. This guide sets out what shippers, SAT and the US Federal Maritime Commission publish, read on 8 October 2026.
Quick summary: No shipper we checked publishes a complete Guatemala price: Ship Overseas’s FAQ gives only an incomplete $800 figure for cars, with no upper end, and asks you to contact it for a quote. You get an individual quote based on vehicle size, method and route. Ship Overseas offers RoRo, shared container and exclusive container service to Guatemala. Vehicles arrive at Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) or Santo Tomas de Castilla (Caribbean), each with a SAT customs office. Ask every shipper for its FMC licence.
RoRo vs Container Shipping
As Ship Overseas describes its three methods for Guatemala (read 8 October 2026):
| Feature | RoRo (Roll-On/Roll-Off) | Shared container | Exclusive container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Operational vehicles | Budget-conscious shippers; works for non-running vehicles | High-value, luxury or classic vehicles |
| Cost | Most cost-effective option | Lower cost: you split it with others | Private container space |
| Personal items | Remove all personal belongings | Can include personal items | Car and personal belongings in a private container |
| Protection | Weather-protected transport | Shared with other vehicles | Maximum protection |
Any personal belongings you ship are subject to Guatemalan customs rules, which prohibit items such as hazardous materials and illegal goods (Ship Overseas FAQ).
Shipping Costs and Departure Ports
Prices: no complete price published. Ship Overseas’s FAQ gives only an incomplete figure for cars ($800, with no upper end) and asks you to contact it for an estimate. It says shipping charges depend on vehicle size and type and on the shipping method, and asks for the make, model, year, US pickup location and Guatemalan destination to quote. Get several itemized quotes.
US departure terminals listed by Ship Overseas for Guatemala: Baltimore (MD), New York/New Jersey, Jacksonville (FL), Galveston (TX), Newport News (VA), Charleston (SC), Brunswick (GA) and Long Beach (CA). It describes Jacksonville as having routes to Guatemala’s Caribbean coast and Long Beach as serving Guatemala’s western ports such as Puerto Quetzal.
Transit times: no shipper we read publishes a Guatemala-specific transit time. Ask for the sailing schedule when you get your quote.
Arrival Ports in Guatemala
| Port | SAT customs office address (SAT, read 20 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) | Aduana Puerto Quetzal: km 111 of the CA-9 Sur, Puerto Quetzal, municipality of San Jose, Escuintla |
| Santo Tomas de Castilla (Caribbean) | Aduana Santo Tomas de Castilla: inside the port, at km 298 of the CA-9 norte, municipality of Puerto Barrios, Izabal |
Your shipper and customs broker will tell you which port your sailing uses. Our ports guide covers what to expect at each.
How to Choose a Shipping Company
Must-Haves
- FMC licence. The Federal Maritime Commission says US-based ocean freight forwarders and NVOCCs must obtain a licence from the FMC (46 CFR 515.3). Ask for the number and check it.
- Experience with Guatemala. Ask how often the company ships there and for references from recent Guatemala imports.
- Door-to-port and port-to-port options. Door service picks up from your location.
- Insurance. Ship Overseas says its shipping charges include basic marine insurance and offers optional extra coverage; ask every shipper what is covered and for how much.
- Bill of lading and a full cost breakdown before you pay.
Red Flags (our checklist)
- No physical office or only a PO box
- A price far below the other quotes (ask what is excluded)
- No FMC licence
- Cannot provide references from Guatemala imports
- Demands full payment upfront
What to Expect: Timeline
None of the shippers we read publishes a Guatemala-specific timeline. The phases are: pickup or drop-off at the US port, US export processing and loading, ocean transit, arrival and unloading in Guatemala, and customs clearance through your customs broker. Ask your shipper and broker for an estimate of each.
Documents the Shipper Needs
Ship Overseas lists for Guatemala (read 8 October 2026):
- Original vehicle title
- Current registration certificate
- Valid government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license) and a copy of your passport photo page
- Bill of sale (if recently purchased)
- Power of attorney (if using a shipping agent)
- Vehicle inspection report
It notes that all documents must be originals or notarized copies, and that it verifies your specific requirements during quoting.
Tips
- Get several quotes: prices are individual, so compare itemized quotes.
- Remove all personal belongings from a RoRo vehicle (Ship Overseas preparation guidelines).
- Fuel at 1/4 tank or less, battery disconnected, loose parts secured (Ship Overseas).
- Clean the vehicle for customs inspection and photograph existing damage before handover (Ship Overseas).
- Check the vehicle’s age if it is electric: Decreto 40-2022 prohibits importing electric vehicles more than 5 years old from manufacture.
- Budget for taxes at customs: IVA 12% plus IPRIMA (20% for a vehicle carrying up to five people; 15% for six to nine people or four-wheel drive with a two-range transfer case, Decreto 10-2012 art. 114). Our import calculator estimates the total.
- Line up your customs broker before shipping so the paperwork is ready when the vehicle lands.
Related Guides
- Complete Import Process — full step-by-step customs guide
- Vehicle Import Calculator — calculate your total landed cost
- Customs Brokers — find a licensed agent
- Ports Guide — what to expect at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomas
- Best Cars to Import — which vehicles have the best value