Jet Ski Shipping Overseas: Cost, Methods and Prep
What it costs to ship a jet ski or PWC from the U.S. in a shared container, a 20′ of its own or on its trailer by RoRo, priced by region from our cost model, with the prep carriers ask for and the duty in six markets.
On this page
Size, weight and the methods that fit
A Sea-Doo GTX 170 is 3.45 m long, 1.25 m wide and 380 kg dry. That is small enough to share a container with other cargo, which is why a shared slot is the cheapest way out: $1,000–1,600 to Mexico, against $2,000–2,900 for a 20′ of its own.
A 40′ is 12 m long inside, so three PWCs on stands fit end to end. Two side by side do not: 2.5 m of hull is wider than the 2.35 m between the walls. On its trailer a PWC can also roll aboard a RoRo ship, but the Bahamas has no RoRo call in our model, so jet skis go there by container.
- Shared container: priced per slot, with the PWC on a stand or its trailer and blocked to the floor.
- Own 20′: one PWC with its trailer, spares and gear, sealed in a box only you open.
- RoRo: the PWC stays on its trailer and is towed aboard; nothing loose may travel in the hull or on the trailer.
| Class | Reference model | L × W × H (m) | m³ | Weight (kg) | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet ski / PWC | Sea-Doo GTX 1701 | 3.45 × 1.25 × 1.2 | 5.2 | 380 | Shared container · 20′ container · RoRo on its trailer or a roll trailer |
Price by region
Each cell is the lowest model price into that region for a single PWC. The Caribbean and Central America are the short, cheap legs from Florida and the Gulf; Australia is the dearest, $3,300–5,800 even in a shared box, because the ocean leg is the longest on the table.
Each cell is the lowest-priced method for that reference boat to the region's featured destinations, from a U.S. East or Gulf Coast port: the range runs from the published "from" price to the typical high. Port-to-port; the importer's side is separate.3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11
| Reference boat | Mexico & Central America | Caribbean | Mediterranean Europe | UAE & Gulf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet ski / PWCSea-Doo GTX 170 | $1,000–1,600Shared containerLowest in MexicoSeaway lane rate | $1,100–1,800Shared containerLowest in BahamasSeaway lane rate | $1,300–2,000Shared containerLowest in ItalySeaway lane rate | $1,800–3,600Shared containerModel estimate |
Every method on one lane
To Mexico every method is open. A 20′ costs roughly twice the shared slot but no one else's cargo is in the box. RoRo costs the most for something this small, because the carrier bills the space the trailer takes on deck.
Preparing it for the ship
- 1
Run the tank nearly empty
Carriers treat a fuelled engine as dangerous goods under the IMDG Code, so the tank goes in close to empty and no fuel cans travel with it.
- 2
Disconnect the battery
Take off the negative lead, tape both terminals and strap the battery in its tray.
- 3
Flush the jet pump
Flush salt water out of the pump and cooling lines and let them drain, so nothing corrodes during weeks in a hot box.
- 4
Strap it down
Ratchet straps over the seat to a stand or the trailer frame; the trailer is chocked and blocked to the container floor.
- 5
Have the papers ready
Bring the title or bill of sale and the hull identification number. A PWC valued over $2,500 needs an EEI filing in AES before it sails.
Where they ship and what it costs
Mexico, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are short hops from Florida and the Gulf. The UAE and Australia buy U.S. PWCs for long coastlines and pay the longest ocean legs.
Jet ski / PWC: lowest-priced method by destination
- Mexico4,5,6,3,7,14,15,16,17$1,000–1,600by Shared containerDuty 15% · 0% U.S.-built (USMCA)Country guidePrice this route
- Bahamas4,5,6,3,18,19,20$1,100–1,800by Shared containerDuty 0%Country guidePrice this route
- Dominican Republic4,5,6,3,21,15$1,100–1,800by Shared containerDuty 20% · 0% U.S.-built (CAFTA-DR)Country guidePrice this route
- Costa Rica4,5,6,3,7,22,23,15,24$1,200–1,800by Shared containerDuty 15% · 0% U.S.-built (CAFTA-DR)Country guidePrice this route
- United Arab Emirates4,5,6,3,10,11,25$1,800–3,600by Shared containerDuty 5%Country guidePrice this route
- Australia4,5,6,3,7,26,27,15,28,29$3,300–5,800by Shared containerDuty 5% · 0% U.S.-built (AUSFTA)Country guidePrice this route
Duty and import taxes
On a $15,000 CIF jet ski, Mexico charges $5,149 at the standard rate and $2,539 when the craft qualifies under USMCA. Origin matters here: Yamaha builds WaveRunners in Georgia and Kawasaki builds Jet Skis in Nebraska.
Duty and import taxes on a $15,000 CIF value
| Country | Tariff line | Standard duty | U.S.-built | Taxes after duty | Total, standard | Total, U.S.-built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico14,15,16,17 | 8903.93.99 / 8903.33.99 | 15% | 0%USMCA | Customs processing (DTA) 0.8% · IVA 16% | $5,149 (34.3%) | $2,539 (16.9%) | Read on the official tariff |
| Bahamas18,19,20 | 8903 | 0% | no preference | Processing fee 1% (max $1,500) · Environmental levy · VAT 10% | $1,940 (12.9%) | — | Read on the official tariff |
| Dominican Republic21,15 | 8903 | 20% | 0%CAFTA-DR | ITBIS 18% | $6,240 (41.6%) | $2,700 (18%) | Confirm with your broker |
| Costa Rica22,23,15,24 | 8903.93.00 / 8903.22.00 | 15% | 0%CAFTA-DR | Law 6946 levy 1% · Selective consumption tax (ISC) 10% · VAT 13% | $6,611 (44.1%) | $3,645 (24.3%) | Confirm with your broker |
| United Arab Emirates25 | 8903 | 5% | no preference | VAT 5% | $1,538 (10.3%) | — | Read on the official tariff |
| Australia27,15,28,29 | 8903 | 5% | 0%AUSFTA | GST 10% | $2,325 (15.5%) | $1,500 (10%) | Read on the official tariff |
Prices on this page come from our boat and machinery cost model, reviewed October 26, 2026, the same figures as the rate hubs and the calculator. They are port-to-port and per unit; duty and the importer's side are shown separately.
Sources
- 1. Manufacturer boat specifications (LOA, beam, weight, bridge clearance), Boat builders' published specifications (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
- 2. Special cargo: flat racks, open tops and out-of-gauge acceptance, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 3. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 4. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 5. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 6. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 7. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 8. Yacht and powerboat shipping, Peters & May (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 9. Float-on/float-off yacht transport, DYT Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 10. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 11. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 12. IMDG Code: dangerous goods by sea, including fuelled engines, vehicles and machinery, International Maritime Organization (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 13. Foreign Trade Regulations, 15 CFR 30.37(a): EEI filing exemption for $2,500 or less per Schedule B number, eCFR (U.S. Census Bureau rules) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 14. Tarifa de la LIGIE: fracciones 8903 y 8429, Secretaría de Economía (SNICE) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 15. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 16. Permiso de importación temporal de embarcaciones: 10 years, $51 + IVA (or $45 online), Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 17. Temporary import of boats: new requirements from January 1, 2025 (RGCE rule 4.2.11), Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 18. Frequently imported items: processing fee, environmental levy and VAT base, Bahamas Customs Department (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 19. Pleasure vessels: cruising permit fees by length, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 20. Pleasure vessel import and cruising permits, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 21. Arancel de Aduanas e ITBIS, Dirección General de Aduanas (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 22. Cálculo de la obligación tributaria aduanera (DAI, selectivo, Ley 6946, IVA), Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 23. Arancel de Aduanas (TICA), Ministerio de Hacienda de Costa Rica (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 24. Ley de Concesión y Operación de Marinas y Atracaderos Turísticos, art. 27: temporary import of foreign-flag vessels, Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 25. GCC Common Customs Tariff and VAT on imports, UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 26. BICON: used machinery and vessel import conditions, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 27. Working Tariff: chapters 84, 87 and 89, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 28. Importing a yacht: 5% duty and 10% GST, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 29. Bringing superyachts into Australia: control permits and 12-month temporary importation, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship a jet ski in the same container as my car?
Yes. A PWC on a stand fits beside a car in a 40′, and the box is priced once. Declare both on the bill of lading, run both tanks low and disconnect both batteries.
Do I have to ship the trailer?
Not in a container: the PWC can ride on a wooden or steel stand and the trailer stays home. By RoRo the trailer is how it gets aboard, so it needs inflated tyres and a working coupler, and it is declared as its own item.
How many jet skis fit in one container?
Three on stands end to end in a 40′ high cube, since each is about 3.5 m long and the box is 12 m inside. For three or more, one 40′ shared between them usually beats separate shared slots.
What does duty cost on a jet ski?
On $15,000 CIF at standard rates: $5,149 in Mexico, $1,940 in the Bahamas and $2,325 in Australia, duty and import taxes together. The table on this page runs the same figure through six countries.
Is a jet ski cheaper to ship than a small boat?
Yes, by about half. A PWC shares a container to Mexico from $1,000, while an 18′ bass boat on its trailer starts at $2,800 by RoRo.
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