Moving to Puerto Rico from California

International Movers CA To PR

Puerto Rico may be much smaller than California, but it has a lot of room to stretch out. Most of the population of Puerto Rico is clustered along the coastlines, leaving Puerto Rico’s lush mountains free to explore. With a consistently gorgeous climate and unspoiled natural beauty, Puerto Rico is a popular location for U.S. citizens to visit or even put down roots.

Moving to Puerto Rico is going to require the expertise of an overseas moving company with experience in domestic and international relocations. Here is what you need to know about moving to this tropical paradise.

What does it cost?

Costs for shipping your household goods to Puerto Rico will vary depending on how you are doing it. Ground and rail transport will only take you so far. You will still need to arrange for overseas transport, most often by shipping container. Extra special cargo, such as antiques or rare vehicles, are most often transported via air transport, which is significantly more expensive. Working with an overseas mover will help you achieve the best outcome, at the best price.

Moving household goods to Puerto Rico

As a U.S. citizen moving to Puerto Rico, you will not owe customs duty or taxes (note: Do your research before you depart, to be sure you understand any state or municipal taxes that could apply). Shipping to Puerto Rico from California is no different from moving from California to North Dakota. No customs clearance, no problem.

The U.S. Census Bureau requires an Electronic Export Information filing for all shipments valued at over $2,500 unless the federal government has exempted them. You can complete this process using their Automated Export System (AES).

You must also provide a bill of lading and detailed inventory of your shipment.

What items are prohibited?

Make sure to do your research before you go to avoid surprise taxes or restrictions you may not have considered. For example, most people are surprised to hear that any coffee brought into Puerto Rico for personal use is subject to a tax levied per pound. You could start your research here. Puerto Rico does prohibit some imports, like endangered animals, plants, explosives, narcotics, livestock, and even lottery tickets. Items such as alcohol and firearms are restricted and subject to additional scrutiny.

Can I ship my vehicle to Puerto Rico?

Here are some of the documents you will need to ship your vehicle to Puerto Rico:

• Proof of ownership or permission from leaseholder to take the vehicle outside of the continental U.S.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license 
• Bill of lading
• Bill of sale or purchase invoice
• EPA Standard Form 3520-1
• Vehicle registration

You must pay excise tax on your vehicle when it arrives and obtain a Puerto Rican driver’s license within your first 30 days.

Three Men and a Truck

We must admit, moving to Puerto Rico from California can be a little complicated. You will likely need to coordinate a combination of shipping methods, managing timelines and logistics to ensure their safe arrival. Who needs it? Working with an overseas moving company like Three Men and a Truck will save you time and energy so you can focus on what matters. Let us manhandle the stress so you don’t have to. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation shipping quote.

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