Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Panama
No vehicle age limits, a light 7% ITBMS, and the Colón Free Zone re-export engine make Panama Central America's most flexible import market — just 4–6 days from Florida.
Panama at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,200+
- Ocean transit
- 4–6 days (Florida)
- Arrival ports
- Colón (MIT) · Balboa
- Import duty + VAT
- By value + 7% ITBMS
- Vehicle age limit
- None — any year imports
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Panama: What You Need to Know
Panama imposes no age limit on imported vehicles — rare in Latin America — and its 7% ITBMS is among the region's lightest tax loads. Manzanillo International Terminal at Colón sits on the Atlantic entrance to the canal, four to six days from Florida, while Balboa serves the Pacific side. Duty is assessed from a CIF value table rather than a flat percentage, so landed cost stays predictable across vehicle types and ages.
The Colón Free Zone — the largest free zone in the Americas — makes Panama a powerful re-export hub: units landed under the bonded regime pay no Panamanian taxes and redistribute across Central and South America and the Caribbean. Panama is also a top retiree destination, and qualified residents can use household-goods (menaje de casa) exemptions when relocating. We run both clearance tracks from the same Colón arrival.
Panama's position astride the canal makes it a natural consolidation point, and we use that to your advantage. Florida departures to Colón run weekly with some of the shortest Latin American transits we offer, so a dealer can stage several auction cars in one container, clear them together on the value table, and have them road-ready in days rather than weeks. For onward markets, the same Colón arrival can pivot into bonded re-export without ever formally entering Panama — useful when a buyer in Colombia, Ecuador, or the Caribbean is finalizing while the cargo is already on the water. We confirm the right track before booking so a unit isn't taxed locally only to be re-exported later.
Key takeaway
No vehicle age limit, value-based duty, and just 7% ITBMS make Panama the region's most flexible market — and re-export units through the Colón Free Zone pay no Panamanian tax at all. Transit from Florida is only 4–6 days.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Panama
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami / Port Everglades, FL | Colón (MIT) | 4–6 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Colón (MIT) | 5–8 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Colón (MIT) | 4–7 days | Weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Colón (MIT) | 7–10 days | Weekly |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Balboa | 6–9 days | Weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Panama 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 Panama, 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 Panama 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 Panama
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) | $1,200 – $1,800 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,300 – $3,200 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,100 – $4,300 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,300 – $2,100 | 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 Panama →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentPanama Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | By CIF value table | 7% ITBMS | No age restrictions |
| Pickups & SUVs | By CIF value table | 7% ITBMS | Commercial-use rates differ |
| Colón Free Zone re-export | 0% | 0% | Bonded re-export regime |
| Boats & yachts | 0–10% | 7% ITBMS | Major cruising destination |
| Heavy machinery | 0–5% | 7% ITBMS | 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
Retiring to Panama?
Panama's pensionado program grants qualified retirees a household-goods import exemption of up to $10,000 plus periodic tax-advantaged vehicle imports. We coordinate your menaje shipment and vehicle in one consolidated move.
What We Ship to Panama
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 Panama'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 Panama.
- 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 Panama.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Panama
| 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. → Panama Routes
Miami / Port Everglades, FL → Colón (MIT)
4–6 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Colón (MIT)
5–8 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Colón (MIT)
4–7 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
New York / New Jersey → Colón (MIT)
7–10 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Panama 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
4–6 days (Florida)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Colón (MIT) · Balboa.
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 Panama. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
No — Panama imposes no age limit on imported vehicles, which is rare in Latin America and makes it one of the region's most flexible markets. Older classics, high-mileage trucks, and salvage units all remain importable. Combined with the light 7% ITBMS, that openness is a big reason buyers choose Panama over stricter neighbors.
The Colón Free Zone is the largest free zone in the Americas and turns Panama into a powerful re-export hub. Units landed under the bonded regime pay no Panamanian taxes and can be redistributed across Central and South America and the Caribbean. If your unit is destined for resale beyond Panama, we keep it in the free-zone bonded track so no local duty or ITBMS applies.
Duty is assessed from a CIF value table rather than a flat percentage, then 7% ITBMS is added — one of the region's lightest tax loads. Because the table sets the basis, landed cost stays predictable across vehicle types and ages. We calculate the exact duty and ITBMS per VIN before you bid so the total is clear.
Yes. Panama's well-known pensionado program grants qualified retirees a household-goods (menaje de casa) import exemption of up to $10,000, plus periodic tax-advantaged vehicle imports. It's one reason Panama is a top retiree destination. We coordinate your household-goods shipment and vehicle in one consolidated move and confirm the current pensionado benefits before you ship.
More shipping destinations in North & Central America
Plan your shipment with our guides
Free, in-depth playbooks on buying, paperwork, and choosing the right shipping method.
Ready to Ship to Panama?
Get a customized quote for your shipment to Panama with detailed pricing and transit options.