A complete solution for importing or exporting cars between the Netherlands and Costa Rica

At SCL Rotterdam, we understand that importing or exporting a car can be a complex process. Whether you want to import a car from Costa Rica or ship a vehicle to this beautiful country, we offer a complete solution from A to Z. With our extensive experience and full-service approach, we ensure that your car is transported safely, quickly, and efficiently.

Advantages of SCL Rotterdam when importing from and exporting to Costa Rica

The process of importing or exporting a car can be complicated, but at SCL Rotterdam, we make it simple:

• Extensive experience: We have over 15 years of experience in registering cars from Costa Rica.
• Complete service: From customs clearance to registration, we offer everything under one roof. We also provide purchase assistance on location and can carry out any modifications in our workshop.
• Lowest possible BPM: We arrange the lowest possible BPM for you.
• Own workshop: All necessary adjustments and conversions to your car are carried out in our own workshop.
• Custom packages: You receive a package tailored to your specific needs.
• Personal service: Our team of experienced staff is ready to provide personal guidance and expert help.

Costs of importing from or exporting to Costa Rica

For the import or export of your car, we offer a customized package. This means that you can choose the SCL services that are relevant to your situation. The costs of importing or exporting a car can be easily requested via a non-binding quote. In this price quote, we explain exactly what you pay for our services. Requesting a quote is free, and you get a clear overview of all costs.

Importing a car from Costa Rica

Importing a car from Costa Rica to the Netherlands requires specific steps. Below is an overview:

• Import duties and VAT: When importing a car, you pay import duties and VAT.
• European standards: The car may need to be modified to meet European standards. Our technicians can make these modifications for you in our workshop.
• Required documents: For customs clearance, you need the car's purchase invoice and a copy of the original registration certificate.
• BPM: Once the car is registered with a Dutch license plate, BPM must be paid. At SCL, you receive a pre-calculated BPM estimate using accepted calculation methods, ensuring you get the lowest possible BPM.

Exporting a car to Costa Rica

Exporting a car to Costa Rica also has its own guidelines:

• Taxes and fees: Upon the car's arrival at a port in Costa Rica (usually Puerto Limón), you must be present in person. All taxes and fees must be paid in advance. The tax depends on the age of the vehicle; the older the car, the higher the tax.
• Electric cars: No import tax is levied on electric cars.
• Necessary documents: Insurance certificate, registration certificate, purchase invoice, and emission certificates are required.

Suitable transport options for exporting cars to Costa Rica

We offer various transport options for shipping your car to Costa Rica:

• Container transport: This is the safest way to ship your car. We ensure that your vehicle is securely fastened and protected in a container.
• Ports of import: We mainly export via the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, focusing on the destination Puerto Limón in Costa Rica.

Things to consider when exporting cars to Costa Rica

There are some special rules and points of attention for exporting cars to Costa Rica:

• Legislation: Make sure you are fully aware of the laws and regulations in Costa Rica regarding the importation of (classic) cars.
• No agent at destination: SCL has no agent at the destination. It is the responsibility of the sender and/or recipient to hire a local customs agent.

Additional services

We also offer additional services to make the process as smooth as possible for you:

• Transport insurance: We offer comprehensive transport insurance to protect your car during transport.
• Customs clearance: We are happy to handle the entire customs clearance process for you.
• License plate registration: We take care of the entire license plate registration upon arrival in the Netherlands.

Contact an import/export specialist

Do you have questions about importing or exporting a car to Costa Rica? The specialists at SCL Rotterdam are ready to help you with expert advice and tips. We tell you exactly what you need for shipping your car and how the import/export process works. With our customized solutions, you save money, and your car is delivered quickly to the location. Contact us today!