Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Trinidad & Tobago
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, Miami / Port Everglades, and other ports to Port of Spain and Point Lisas in 6–14 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $1,400.
Right-hand-drive cars up to eight years old, light commercials and machinery to Port of Spain and Point Lisas, with the import licence and the left-hand-drive ban checked before you buy.
Trinidad & Tobago at a Glance
2 ports · Container · RoRo- Shipping from
- $1,400+
- Ocean transit
- 6–10 days (Florida) · up to 14 days from New York / New Jersey or Houston
- Arrival ports
- Port of Spain · Point Lisas
- Import duty + VAT
- Duty + motor vehicle tax + 12.5% VAT
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Trinidad & Tobago: What You Need to Know
Trinidad and Tobago drives on the left, and left-hand-drive vehicles are prohibited except for the narrow cases in section 45(2) of the Customs Act. That rules out most cars bought in the U.S. and points buyers to right-hand-drive stock, light commercials and machinery. Used vehicles need an import licence from the Trade Licence Unit, applied for on TTBizLink before shipment, and an individual may import one vehicle every four years.
Gasoline, diesel and CNG cars can be up to 8 years old from the year of manufacture, hybrids up to 3 and electric vehicles up to 2. Every vehicle also needs a certificate of cancellation of registration from the exporting country, age documents and a roadworthiness inspection by the Transport Commissioner before registration. Taxes are customs duty, motor vehicle tax by engine size and 12.5% VAT. Shipments arrive at Port of Spain or Point Lisas.
Key takeaway
Right-hand drive only, cars up to 8 years old, and the import licence before shipment. Send the VIN first and we check all three.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Trinidad & Tobago
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami / Port Everglades, FL | Port of Spain | 6–10 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Port of Spain | 8–12 days | Weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Port of Spain | 9–14 days | Bi-weekly |
| Houston, TX | Point Lisas | 9–14 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude U.S. export processing and import clearance at destination.
Shipping to Trinidad & Tobago from U.S. Ports
Seaway Export is headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. Cargo for Trinidad & Tobago is booked from four primary U.S. gateways — Savannah, New York / New Jersey (Newark), Houston and Los Angeles / Long Beach — and we pick the one closest to your cargo or with the earliest suitable sailing.
Headquarters
Savannah, GA
Garden City Terminal · Ocean Terminal
8–12 days · Weekly
ContainerRoRo via BrunswickPrimary gateway
New York / New Jersey
Newark · Port Elizabeth · Bayonne
9–14 days · Bi-weekly
ContainerRoRoPrimary gateway
Houston, TX
Bayport · Barbours Cut
9–14 days · Bi-weekly
ContainerRoRoPrimary gateway
Los Angeles / Long Beach
Los Angeles · Long Beach
Quoted per sailing
ContainerRoRo via Port Hueneme
Secondary gateways are booked on request; transit and frequency are confirmed at quote time.
Ports in Trinidad & Tobago
Arrival ports we book for Trinidad & Tobago, with the services each one receives.
Port of Spain
Main portContainer RoRoPoint Lisas
Container Flat rack / open top
RoRo and out-of-gauge service depend on the carrier's schedule and are confirmed at quote time.
What It Costs to Ship to Trinidad & Tobago
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 40' HC container | $1,400 – $2,200 | Consolidated with other vehicles; sails when the box is full | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20' container | $2,600 – $3,600 | One vehicle, sealed for you | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40' HC container | $3,400 – $4,800 | Fits 3–4 vehicles, or a vehicle plus cargo | Families, dealers, multi-car buyers |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $1,400 – $2,300 | Driven on board, no container; running units, no personal items | Running cars, trucks, wheeled machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | When the cargo will not containerize; usually the most expensive option | Oversized equipment, wide boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking. · Rates reviewed October 2026
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Request today's exact rate for your vehicle and hear back within 1 business day.
Price My ShipmentWhat Your Shipment to Trinidad & Tobago Includes
Included
- Ocean freight booking from the U.S. port to the destination port
- Container loading, blocking and bracing at our partner warehouse, or RoRo terminal delivery
- U.S. export filing: AES/EEI and title validation with CBP
- Dangerous goods declaration when the cargo needs one (EVs, hybrids, lithium batteries)
- Bill of lading, booking confirmation, and departure and arrival notices
Optional and recommended
- Marine cargo insurance, strongly recommended: 1.75% of declared value, $200 minimum. Without it, carrier liability is limited to about $500 per package under COGSA.
- U.S. pickup from an auction yard, dealer or address, quoted only when you choose it
- Personal items packed inside a container (not allowed on RoRo)
Not included — handled by the importer
- Import customs clearance at destination
- Import duties, VAT and other destination taxes
- Destination terminal handling, port storage and release fees
- Registration, homologation and inspections in the destination country
For some destinations we can introduce an independent licensed clearing agent; ask at quote time.
Trinidad & Tobago Import Duties & Taxes
Information only — assessed and paid by the importer at destination.
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline, diesel and CNG cars (up to 8 yrs) | By HS code | 12.5% | Plus motor vehicle tax by engine size |
| Hybrids (up to 3 yrs) | By HS code | 12.5% | Shorter age limit than petrol cars |
| Electric vehicles (up to 2 yrs) | Relief up to TT$400,000 CIF | Per VIN | Legal Notice No. 477 of 2025 |
| Left-hand-drive vehicles | Prohibited | — | Except Customs Act section 45(2) cases |
Indicative rates for general guidance. Destination customs makes the final assessment, and the importer pays duties and taxes on arrival. Ask your clearing agent to confirm the figure for your exact vehicle before you buy.
Import rules for Trinidad & Tobago
The short version for a used U.S. vehicle. The sections on this page carry the detail, and we confirm each VIN before you buy.
- Used cars
- Up to 8 years old
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Left-hand-drive U.S. cars
- Not registrable
- Salvage titles
- Confirm per VIN
- VAT / GST at import
- 12.5%
Rules verified October 2026
Compare import rules for every countryDocuments You'll Need
Export side (we handle)
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID for the export filing
- U.S. AES/EEI export filing — we file it
- Dangerous goods declaration for EVs and hybrids — we prepare it
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Import side (your clearing agent will ask for)
- Bill of lading and commercial invoice (we send both to you)
- Importer's tax or ID number in the destination country
- Import declaration, lodged by your clearing agent
- Inspection, homologation or registration papers where required
Licence before the car sails
Shipping a used vehicle without the Trade Licence Unit's licence can lead to fines or forfeiture. Send us the VIN, the year of manufacture and the steering side, and we confirm the age and drive side before you apply on TTBizLink. Reviewed October 2026; tax figures are indicative and depend on the vehicle's classification.
Sources
Customs, tax and transport authorities, official gazettes and press reports used to check the import rules on this page.
- 1.Trade Licensing Unit: motor vehicle import licencesMinistry of Trade and Industry · accessed Oct 24, 2026
- 2.Used vehicle age limit extended to eight yearsCNC3 · accessed Oct 24, 2026
What We Ship to Trinidad & Tobago
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Shared or dedicated containers, or RoRo where the ports serving Trinidad & Tobago offer it. We handle the U.S. export side; your clearing agent handles import.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Dismantled into a 40' HC container is usually the least expensive way to ship machinery to Trinidad & Tobago; open top, RoRo or flat rack when it will not containerize.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Boats up to about 30 ft with a beam of 102 in or less ship side-loaded on a cradle in a 40' HC to Trinidad & Tobago; larger boats go RoRo on a trailer or on a flat rack.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Larger yachts, by survey
- Jet skis & PWC
How It Ships to Trinidad & Tobago
The methods below match the services at the arrival ports for Trinidad & Tobago. Dots show relative cost: one dot is the least expensive.
Vehicles
Shared 40' HC container
- What fits
- Your vehicle with 2–3 others, loaded and strapped
- Best when
- One standard car or SUV at the lowest container price
Dedicated 20' container
- What fits
- 1 vehicle
- Best when
- Classic, high-value or non-running car shipped on its own
Dedicated 40' HC container
- What fits
- 3–4 vehicles
- Best when
- Several cars for one consignee, dealers and families moving together
Dedicated 45' HC container
- What fits
- Up to 6 compact vehicles (selected lanes, confirmed at quote time)
- Best when
- Dealer volume of compact cars where the lane offers 45' equipment
RoRo (roll-on / roll-off)
- What fits
- Running vehicles driven aboard; oversize trucks by measurement
- Best when
- Running cars, pickups and trucks to ports with RoRo service; no personal items inside
Boats
Dedicated 40' HC, side-loaded on a cradle
- What fits
- Boats up to about 30 ft with beam up to 102 in; windshield, arch, tower and antennas removed and packed inside
- Best when
- Most trailerable powerboats and center consoles: protected, sealed and usually the least expensive
RoRo on its trailer
- What fits
- Boats on a roadworthy trailer, sized by length, width and height
- Best when
- Boats too wide or tall for a container, to ports with RoRo service
40' flat rack
- What fits
- Boats that will not containerize, cradled and lashed on an open platform
- Best when
- Over-width or over-height boats where no RoRo service exists
Breakbulk (yachts)
- What fits
- Yachts and large vessels lifted aboard by crane
- Best when
- Vessels beyond flat-rack limits, planned by survey
Heavy equipment
Dismantled into 1 × 40' HC container
- What fits
- Compact excavators, skid steers, tractors and machines with bucket, cab or tracks removed
- Best when
- The default for most equipment and usually the least expensive
Split load: 40' HC + 40' open top
- What fits
- Machines whose base is too tall for a closed box; the open top is crane-loaded
- Best when
- Height is the only problem and width still fits
RoRo
- What fits
- Self-propelled machines and towables driven or rolled aboard
- Best when
- Large running machines to ports with RoRo service; not available on most lanes
40' flat rack
- What fits
- Over-width or over-height machines lashed on an open platform
- Best when
- The machine cannot be dismantled to fit and no RoRo service exists; the most expensive option
Breakbulk / project cargo
- What fits
- Very heavy or very large units loaded by ship or shore crane
- Best when
- Beyond flat-rack limits; planned per shipment by survey
Popular U.S. → Trinidad & Tobago Routes
Miami / Port Everglades, FL → Port of Spain
6–10 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Port of Spain
8–12 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
New York / New Jersey → Port of Spain
9–14 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Houston, TX → Point Lisas
9–14 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Trinidad & Tobago Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm the best U.S. departure port for your cargo and sailing date.
Delivery to our U.S. warehouse
Days 1–7Drop the cargo at our partner warehouse or terminal, or have us arrange U.S. pickup from an auction, dealer or address — quoted only if you choose it. Condition photos are taken on receipt.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), dangerous goods declaration where needed, and professional loading, blocking and bracing.
Ocean transit
6–10 days (Florida) · up to 14 days from New York / New Jersey or HoustonSailing to Port of Spain · Point Lisas, with departure and arrival notices from us.
Arrival and handover
After arrivalWe send the arrival notice and release the bill of lading. Your clearing agent lodges the import declaration, settles duties and taxes, and collects the cargo.
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 Trinidad & Tobago. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Generally no. Left-hand-drive vehicles are prohibited except for the cases listed in section 45(2) of the Customs Act, and other left-hand-drive imports need a licence. Right-hand-drive cars, light commercials and machinery are what we ship to this lane.
Gasoline, diesel and CNG cars can be up to 8 years old, counted with the year of manufacture, under the limits applied from January 1, 2026. Hybrids can be up to 3 years old and electric vehicles up to 2. Light commercial pickups and panel vans follow their own limits, which we confirm per VIN.
Customs duty by tariff classification, motor vehicle tax that rises with engine size, and 12.5% VAT on the value plus duty. The engine size often decides the total, so send the VIN and we estimate it before you buy.
About 6–10 days from Miami to Port of Spain, 8–12 days from Savannah, 9–14 days from New York / New Jersey and 9–14 days from Houston to Point Lisas. Allow extra days for the licence, the cancellation-of-registration certificate and port release.
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