Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Guayaquil to Panama City

Import Duty: Variable rates typically 15-25% of CIF value depending on vehicle specifications and origin. ITBMS Tax: 7% value-added tax applied to duty-inclusive value in most cases. Luxury Tax: Additional 5-10% for high-value vehicles exceeding specific thresholds.

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances (under 500 miles), but for long cross-country moves (over 1,000 miles), shipping can become comparable or even cheaper when factoring in gas, food, lodging, and wear-and-tear on your vehicle, making driving better for short trips and shipping often better for long, busy, or difficult trips. The decision balances cost, time, and convenience, as shipping saves you time and adds miles/wear, while driving costs less upfront but adds stress and expenses.

This ferry makes the crossing much cheaper and easier than when I did it using a shipping container. As well as being much faster and easier than the old crossing method, this option also works out much cheaper. For a standard 4×4 the all-in price for vehicle and 2 people works out to about ~$700USD.