Below is a rough guide on how to get it done. There is also some information about insuring your car with the State insurance policy.
Registering your Car in Puerto Rico
1) You need to go to a gas station that does inspections (look for sign "inspeccion"). There is one on Avenida de La Constitucion as you exit Old San Juan, on the left. It's just past the Capitolio. I believe the inspection - if you pass - costs $11.
2) You need to go to the DMV in Carolina. It's offically called CESCO, I think. Here is the link: http://www.dtop.gov.pr/disco/disco.htm. It's about a half hour drive from Old San Juan, and not too hard to find. It's just off Rt 3 in Carolina. You need to bring your license, registration, title. Also, it's important to bring those "tax" documents they gave you regarding the import of your car showing you paid and/or are excempt from the import taxes. Bring also your original social security card or passport.
3) You need to pay for the stamps ("sellos") for the car/registration at either Hacienda in Old San Juan, or at the Colecturia in Carolina (which is located in the State Court on Rt 3). I think you can only pay in cash. Sorry, I can't remember how much they cost - but definitely bring over $100 with you.
4) You will need a marbete - this is the road tax and it's a sticker you put on your car. This costs between $100 and $150. Once you have all the paperwork in order, you can get this at Banco Popular. You might also get this at CESCO - I'm trying to remember now!
2) You need to go to the DMV in Carolina. It's offically called CESCO, I think. Here is the link: http://www.dtop.gov.pr/disco/disco.htm. It's about a half hour drive from Old San Juan, and not too hard to find. It's just off Rt 3 in Carolina. You need to bring your license, registration, title. Also, it's important to bring those "tax" documents they gave you regarding the import of your car showing you paid and/or are excempt from the import taxes. Bring also your original social security card or passport.
3) You need to pay for the stamps ("sellos") for the car/registration at either Hacienda in Old San Juan, or at the Colecturia in Carolina (which is located in the State Court on Rt 3). I think you can only pay in cash. Sorry, I can't remember how much they cost - but definitely bring over $100 with you.
4) You will need a marbete - this is the road tax and it's a sticker you put on your car. This costs between $100 and $150. Once you have all the paperwork in order, you can get this at Banco Popular. You might also get this at CESCO - I'm trying to remember now!
ACAA - Puerto Rico's State Insurance
By law you do not need to register your car with an insurance carrier to make it legal. Although it is recommended to pay for ACAA insurance which will cover the state minimum. It costs around $99 per year.
Auto Accident Compensation Administration (Administración de Compensaciones por Accidentes de Automóviles, or ACAA, in Spanish), administrator of the state car insurance program
http://www.acaa.gobierno.pr - 787-759-8989
--
These comments are made above are from observations and personal experiance. In no way do they reflect the actual law. The comments should be strictly read as advice and not literal law.
Posts
2 comments:
There are supposed to be some inspection stations from which one can get the marbete, instead of going to CESCA and waiting forever or going to a bank, etc. On the DTOP website, when looking up inspections for registration renewal, choose your town, and it lists the inspections stations that do this. My housemate tells me that where he does it in Ponce, he can pay with a credit card; however, the one closest to me in Carolina only takes cash, so I'm told. The inspection is $11. All the marbete fees, including the mandatory insurance, are ~$200. Bring extra in case you discover that there are multas (fines) on your vehicle from toll booth violations (real or false), or if the inspector has to do extra work to make your vehicle pass. Everything I've read online about these "inspections" say that they're a sham; everyone passes, and some have even taken their paperwork without the vehicle and gotten "passed."
This has been reinforced by the poor condition of vehicles I've seen with terrible tires, non-working tail or brake lights, etc. One van I looked at when I was buying didn't have a working speedometer, but it had a marbete. However, my housemate just told me that he read that they're making the inspections real this year. I'll get mine this month, so I'll find out.
Post a Comment