Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Honduras
Puerto Cortés is Central America's deepest port — just 3–5 days from U.S. Gulf terminals. We move cars, work trucks, and machinery weekly with DAI, ISV, and ecotasa calculated up front.
Honduras at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,100+
- Ocean transit
- 3–5 days (Gulf Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Puerto Cortés
- Import duty + VAT
- DAI 5–20% + 15% ISV + ecotasa
- Puerto Cortés
- Deepest port in C. America
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Honduras: What You Need to Know
Puerto Cortés is Central America's deepest port and a member of the U.S. Container Security Initiative — just three to five days from Florida and Gulf terminals, with weekly container and RoRo calls. From the dock, San Pedro Sula is under an hour away and Tegucigalpa about four, making Honduras one of the fastest door-to-door moves in the region and a natural distribution point for neighboring markets.
Import math stacks three lines: DAI duty of 5–20% by vehicle type, 15% ISV sales tax, and the ecotasa environmental fee banded by vehicle value. Age limits apply — roughly ten years for cars, with more room for trucks and work equipment — so we verify model years before purchase. Pickups dominate this lane, and dealer consolidations of three to four units per 40ft container keep per-unit freight low.
Puerto Cortés's CSI membership and modern terminal handling cut a lot of the friction that slows other regional ports, but the win is what happens after the dock. Because San Pedro Sula's industrial corridor sits less than an hour inland, we can deliver a vehicle, a generator, or a pallet of parts to the buyer's gate the same week it lands, and we hand the cargo to a Honduran broker who pre-files the DAI, ISV, and ecotasa so there are no surprises at clearance. The short Gulf transit also makes Honduras a practical hub: importers serving El Salvador or Nicaragua often land here first and move units overland rather than wait on slower direct calls.
Key takeaway
Three taxes decide landed cost: DAI 5–20%, 15% ISV, and the value-banded ecotasa. Cars must be under roughly 10 years old (trucks get more room), and 3–5 day transits from the Gulf make Puerto Cortés one of our fastest international lanes.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Honduras
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami / Port Everglades, FL | Puerto Cortés | 3–5 days | Weekly |
| Tampa, FL | Puerto Cortés | 3–5 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Puerto Cortés | 4–6 days | Weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Puerto Cortés | 7–10 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Puerto Cortés | 4–6 days | Weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Honduras 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 Honduras, 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 Honduras 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 Honduras
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) | $1,100 – $1,700 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,200 – $3,100 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,000 – $4,200 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,200 – $2,000 | 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.
Estimate your landed cost to Honduras →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentHonduras Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars (≤10 yrs) | 5–20% | 15% ISV + ecotasa | Ecotasa banded by value |
| Pickups & work trucks | 5–15% | 15% ISV + ecotasa | Longer age window than cars |
| Motorcycles | 5–15% | 15% ISV | Engine size dependent |
| Heavy machinery | 0–5% | 15% ISV | Strong construction demand |
| Boats & marine | 5–15% | 15% ISV | Caribbean coast market |
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
Shipping for a dealership or fleet?
Weekly 40ft consolidations from Gulf yards land three to four units at Puerto Cortés, with bonded onward trucking to San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and neighboring markets. Per-unit freight drops sharply at volume.
What We Ship to Honduras
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 Honduras'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 Honduras.
- 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 Honduras.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Honduras
| 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. → Honduras Routes
Miami / Port Everglades, FL → Puerto Cortés
3–5 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Tampa, FL → Puerto Cortés
3–5 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Puerto Cortés
4–6 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Puerto Cortés
4–6 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Honduras 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
3–5 days (Gulf Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Puerto Cortés.
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 Honduras. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Puerto Cortés is Central America's deepest port and a member of the U.S. Container Security Initiative, just three to five days from Florida and Gulf terminals with weekly container and RoRo calls. From the dock, San Pedro Sula is under an hour away and Tegucigalpa about four — making Honduras one of the fastest door-to-door moves in the region and a natural distribution point for neighboring markets.
Three lines decide landed cost: DAI import duty of 5–20% by vehicle type, the 15% ISV sales tax, and the ecotasa environmental fee banded by vehicle value. Pickups and work trucks generally pay lower DAI than passenger cars. We calculate all three per VIN before purchase so there are no surprises at Puerto Cortés.
Yes — cars must be under roughly ten years old, while trucks and work equipment get more room. Because the limit shifts the math, we verify each VIN's model year before purchase. Pickups dominate this lane, and they often combine a longer age window with lower DAI, which is why they make up so much of the volume into Puerto Cortés.
Yes — it's the standard play for dealers and fleets. Weekly 40ft consolidations from Gulf yards land three to four units at Puerto Cortés, with bonded onward trucking to San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and neighboring markets. Per-unit freight drops sharply at volume, so consolidating is usually the cheapest way to move multiple vehicles. Tell us your units and we'll build the load plan.
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