Importing a used car to Antigua and Barbuda

Documents

The Customs and Excise Division lists these documents for a vehicle import:

• Import licence from the Ministry of Trade
• Refrigerant form from the National Ozone Office
• Invoice
• Bill of lading
• Environmental Levy form
• Customs declaration (warrant)

Customs value is the open-market cost of the vehicle plus insurance and shipping. A valuation officer inspects the vehicle at the transit shed.

Clearance steps

Customs lists the steps in this order:

1. Take the vehicle to the transit shed.
2. Have it valued by the valuation officer.
3. Visit the Ozone Office.
4. Complete the environmental form.
5. Pay the duty.
6. Get the Port Authority stamp at Deep Water Harbour.
7. Collect the released vehicle.

Levy and duty-free concession

The Customs page does not name the currency. A 2014 news report gave $6,000 for used vehicles, so the figure has changed over time.

A duty-free concession covers the first EC$60,000 of value, once every 5 years. If the vehicle is sold within 3 years, the duties become payable.

Age limit

The Customs page gives no age limit. The only source we found is a 2014 Cabinet decision reported by RTC 89 FM on 25 November 2014 (news report, republished from the Daily Observer): used and reconditioned vehicles no older than 5 years, effective 15 October 2014. The same report says the Customs Comptroller had not yet received official word at the time. Treat this as unverified until Customs confirms it.

Sources

• Customs and Excise Division: vehicle importationcustoms.gov.ag, official
• RTC 89 FM: Gov’t bans importation of used and reconditioned vehicles, 25 November 2014rtc89fm.com, news report