Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Cotonou to San Salvador

Shipping a car from the U.S. to El Salvador costs between $1,000 and $3,000, not including import duties and taxes. Import duties can range from 1% to 30% of the car's value, based on factors like engine type and age, plus a 13% value-added tax (VAT).

You can ship cars to El Salvador if they are generally 8 years old or newer, trucks up to 15 years old, and buses up to 10 years old, with specific rules for hybrids/EVs (7 years) and exceptions for returning residents or classic cars (over 25 years), but all vehicles must meet strict emissions and documentation rules, with recent updates favoring newer models like 2017+ for light vehicles.

The cheapest way to ship a car internationally is generally Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO), where cars drive onto and off the ship, costing around $900-$2,500+ depending on destination, as it avoids packaging and crane costs. For more protection, Shared Container shipping (grouping cars) is the next cheapest, while booking through platforms like Shiply or using companies with price matching, like SGT Auto Transport or Sherpa, can also find competitive rates.