Guidelines to follow while importing used car in Dominica :-
Shipping Ports :-
Major destination port in Dominica for used vehicle importation is Roseau.
Right-hand side :-
As the traffic moves on the left side of the road on Dominica; consequently, car steering wheels are located on the right hand side of the vehicle.
Duty and Taxes on used vehicle imported :-
- Import Duty- 40% of the customs value.
- Customs Service Charge (CSC) – 3% of the customs value.
- Environmental Surcharges- $3,000.00 per unit on motor vehicles manufactured five years or more, otherwise 1% of the customs value for vehicles manufactured less than five years.
- Excise Tax- 28% of the customs value plus the import duty plus the customs service charge.
*Exemption is given on vehicles purchased by Diplomats.
- Value Added Tax (VAT) – 15% on customs value plus import duty plus customs service charge plus the excise tax.
- Registration and proof of ownership.
Documents required for Customs clearance :-
- Original Certificate of title and registration
- Original purchase or Commercial Invoice
- Original Bill Of Lading (BOL)
- Original driver’s license
- Bill of Sale
- Foreign Registration papers
- Export documents
- Insurance Policy
- Police Certificate of Registration
- Dominican consular invoice, stamped by the Dominican consulate
Returning Residents :-
A person shall be deemed to be a returning resident if they have returned for permanent residence, have attained the age of 18 years and is a citizen of Dominica by birth. The returning resident must prove prior ownership of the vehicle country of residence upon their importation into Dominica. Receipts and invoices for the vehicle should be made available upon request by the Customs Officer. The vehicle must be imported from the country where the applicant resided continuously for the past seven years immediately before returning to Dominica. Only one member of a family returning home will be eligible.
Duties and Taxes :-
Excise Tax- 28%
Customs Service Charge-3%
Environmental Surcharge :-
- $3000 is applicable if the vehicle is 5 years or older
- 1% if the vehicle is less than 5 years old.
Returning Resident should abide by following condition :-
- The Returning Resident will be required to enter into an agreement with the Comptroller of Customs.
- It is not allowed to sell, trade, give away, or otherwise dispose of the vehicle within a period of five years without paying necessary duties.
- It is allowed to sell the vehicle after five years without the payment of customs duties. However, approval of the Minister for Finance after consultation with the Comptroller of Customs is required.
- If the returnee leaves the country for a period less than six months then the Comptroller of Customs must be informed of the custody of the vehicle.
- In case the returnee leaves Dominica for a continuous period of over six months, then all applicable duties will be immediately paid in full. The exemption is given on special circumstances as determined by the Financial Secretary.
Note- If any term of the agreement is violated then the Comptroller reserves the right to seize the said vehicle as being liable to fined pending payment of the applicable duties in full. The Comptroller also reserves the right to sell the vehicle by public auction after a period of two months from the date of seizure.
