Cleared for Departure: The Paperwork Behind Shipping an Exotic Car From Florida to Puerto Rico

September 24, 2026
Admin
Puerto Rico

Shipping an exotic car from Florida to Puerto Rico is one of the most demanding routes in vehicle transport. Logistics is only half the job. The other half is paperwork, and on a Lamborghini or a vintage Ferrari, one missing signature can hold a six-figure car at the port for weeks. Rodi Cargo has been running the Miami-to-San Juan lane for over 40 years, and the smoothest shipments are the ones where the documentation is right before the vehicle leaves the driveway.

Start With Clean Ownership Documents

The first thing our team asks for is the original Florida title. Not a photocopy, not a lien-release letter, and not a duplicate a bank is still holding. If an active lienholder exists, the lender must release the title or provide written authorization for the vehicle to leave the mainland. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and Porsches financed through boutique lenders sometimes come with export restrictions written into the loan. Read the contract before you book transport.

You also need a current Florida registration and a photo ID matching the title. If the car is titled to an LLC, plan to provide the operating agreement and a member resolution authorizing the shipment.

The Bill of Lading Is the Ocean Contract

Once the car is at our Miami facility and crated, Rodi issues the bill of lading. This is the ocean carrier’s contract of carriage and the document Puerto Rico customs and the San Juan terminal use to identify and release your vehicle. Every detail matters: the VIN, the declared value, the shipper name, the consignee name in Puerto Rico, and the vessel and voyage number. If the consignee on the bill of lading does not match the name on the Puerto Rico registration paperwork, the vehicle will not be released. We double-check this before we seal the container.

Pro Tip: If the vehicle is a gift, a family transfer, or being shipped ahead of a permanent move, tell us at booking. The declared value and consignee setup on the bill of lading affect the tax calculation on arrival.

Puerto Rico Excise Tax: The One Most People Underestimate

Puerto Rico levies an excise tax (arbitrios) on every vehicle imported to the island, collected by the Departamento de Hacienda. The tax is not a flat rate. It is tiered by vehicle value, and for exotic and luxury cars the effective rate climbs sharply. Standard vehicles land in the 6 to 18 percent range. High-value collector cars and modern supercars can carry a materially higher effective rate once the tiered calculation is applied to the assessed value.

Hacienda’s SURI portal has an online tool that calculates the excise tax from the VIN and returns the assessed value and tax due. The port cashier will collect that amount before releasing your car. Do not budget from a forum post or a broker estimate. Run the VIN through SURI yourself, or ask us to run it at booking, and plan the cash side of the shipment accordingly.

DTOP Registration and CRIM

Once you pay the excise tax, the paperwork moves to the Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP, or Obras Públicas). DTOP issues the Puerto Rico title, license plate, and marbete (annual sticker). Bring the original mainland title, the paid Hacienda receipt, proof of insurance from a Puerto Rico carrier, an EPA emissions certification if requested, and your ID. Vehicles held on the island long-term also become subject to CRIM (Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales), the municipal property tax authority. For a personal exotic parked in Guaynabo or Dorado, CRIM impact is usually limited. For dealer inventory or a business-owned car, plan on additional filings.

Pro Tip: Set up your Puerto Rico auto insurance policy before your car ships, not after it lands. San Juan brokers can bind coverage effective on the vessel arrival date if you send them the bill of lading and a copy of the mainland policy in advance. That lets you complete the DTOP registration the same day the car clears the port.

Insurance and Declared Value

Standard ocean freight liability limits are capped by international convention well below what an exotic vehicle is worth. Rodi arranges declared-value marine cargo insurance based on the actual value of your vehicle, whether that is a $250,000 daily driver or a seven-figure collectible. We ask for a recent appraisal or bill of sale to substantiate the value. The premium is a small percentage of the covered amount, and it is the most important line item on a high-value shipment.

A Move This Valuable Deserves the Right Team

With over 40 years of experience serving Miami, Orlando, and Puerto Rico, Rodi Cargo runs the Florida-to-Puerto Rico exotic vehicle lane with the paperwork discipline the cargo demands. Our team handles custom crating, ocean booking, marine insurance, Hacienda coordination, and DTOP delivery so your vehicle arrives ready to register and drive. Get a free exotic car shipping quote from Rodi Cargo today.