Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Ecuador
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, Miami / Port Everglades, and other ports to Guayaquil and Posorja in 8–17 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $1,400.
Used-vehicle imports are generally banned in Ecuador — but returning residents can bring one car under menaje de casa, and the machinery lane into Guayaquil runs strong. A dollarized economy keeps the math simple.
Ecuador at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,400+
- Ocean transit
- 8–15 days (Gulf & East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Guayaquil · Posorja
- Import duty + VAT
- 0–40% + 15% IVA (eligible goods)
- Returning residents
- One used vehicle via menaje
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Ecuador: What You Need to Know
Ecuador generally prohibits the import of used vehicles — the standard auction-car play does not work here. The meaningful exception is menaje de casa: Ecuadorians returning after years abroad may bring one used vehicle as part of their household-goods allowance, a route we handle regularly from Miami and New York. Everything arrives through Guayaquil, the country's main port, or the modern deep-water terminal at Posorja, and the fully dollarized economy means no currency conversion in your landed-cost math.
The commercial backbone of this lane is equipment: Ecuador is the world's largest banana exporter, and packing-line machinery, irrigation systems, tractors, and refrigerated-logistics gear move steadily from U.S. Gulf ports, alongside construction and mining equipment for the southern concessions. New vehicles are importable at 5–40% duty by type plus 15% IVA, while most machinery clears at low or zero duty. We pre-classify every unit so the SENAE entry is clean.
Key takeaway
Used cars cannot enter Ecuador commercially — the one path is the menaje de casa allowance for returning residents (one vehicle). New vehicles pay 5–40% duty + 15% IVA, and machinery for the banana and mining sectors is the strongest everyday lane.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Ecuador
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami / Port Everglades, FL | Guayaquil | 8–12 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Guayaquil | 10–15 days | Weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Guayaquil | 12–17 days | Bi-weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Guayaquil | 11–16 days | Bi-weekly |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Posorja | 8–13 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Ecuador from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to Ecuador, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches Ecuador fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to Ecuador
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | $1,400 – $2,000 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,500 – $3,500 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,400 – $4,800 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | Custom quote | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentEcuador Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used vehicles (commercial) | Banned | — | Menaje de casa is the exception |
| Returning-resident vehicle (menaje) | Exempt / reduced | Reduced | One vehicle, eligibility rules apply |
| New vehicles | 5–40% | 15% | By type & engine size |
| Agricultural & banana-industry equipment | 0–5% | 15% | Core commercial lane |
| Construction & mining machinery | 0–10% | 15% | Category dependent |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Returning to Ecuador?
The menaje de casa program lets qualifying returning residents import household goods plus one used vehicle with major tax relief — the only used-car path into Ecuador. We confirm your eligibility, prepare the consular file, and ship the vehicle and household effects in the same container.
What We Ship to Ecuador
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into Ecuador's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for Ecuador.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to Ecuador.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Ecuador
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → Ecuador Routes
Miami / Port Everglades, FL → Guayaquil
8–12 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Guayaquil
10–15 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
New York / New Jersey → Guayaquil
12–17 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Guayaquil
11–16 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Ecuador Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
8–15 days (Gulf & East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Guayaquil · Posorja.
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to Ecuador. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Generally no — Ecuador bans used-vehicle imports for ordinary buyers. The one exception is the menaje de casa program: qualifying returning residents may bring a single used vehicle along with household goods at major tax relief. For everyone else the legal options are new vehicles, machinery, and commercial cargo. We confirm menaje eligibility before you plan around it.
It makes the math simple. Because Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency, there's no exchange-rate risk between your purchase price and the landed cost — duties, the 15% IVA, and our freight are all quoted and paid in dollars. That removes a layer of uncertainty common elsewhere in the region and makes budgeting a shipment straightforward.
Agricultural and banana-industry equipment is the core lane — Ecuador is the world's largest banana exporter, and that gear faces just 0–5% duty plus 15% IVA through Guayaquil. Construction and mining machinery (0–10%) is also strong. For commercial importers this is where Ecuador shines, well ahead of the heavily taxed new-vehicle category. We clear and deliver inland in Spanish.
Plan on roughly 11–18 days, typically via the Panama Canal from the East and Gulf coasts. Guayaquil is Ecuador's main port and commercial hub, handling the bulk of containerized and RoRo cargo, with onward delivery to Quito and the highlands. We route by your origin and cargo type and provide bilingual customs coordination on arrival.
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