Hi I have a Canadian registered 2000 Pontiac Montana that I am currently driving in Mexico to Belize. I wish to sell the car in Belize.

Does anyone know of anyone who might want to buy this car (for a great price)? Also any information about how to import the car if this is needed?

Thanks,
Glenn

You cannot sell the vehicle in MX, legally. If you would like to bring the vehicle in to BZ, you would have to pay the duty on it or get an insurance bond, which you can only get once and is valid for up to a year.

Hi Beanie. Thanks for the reply.

What is an insurance bond? Can i bring the car into the country on a temporary permit and then try to sell once I'm in the country. Then pay the duty on it once I sell it?

Thanks,
Glenn

I'm not aware of an insurance bond. Technically, when bringing a personally-owned vehicle into Belize you either pay the duty or get a temporary permanent with a deposit equal to the amount of the duty which is refunded when you leave the country. Sometimes the deposit is collected, sometimes it's not.
To be safe and perfectly legal: if you want to sell it in BZ, pay the duty and add it to the price.
You can get around all that with appropriate bribes to willing officials but it's just not worth the risk.

Thanks for the reply CTscuba. I think I'm just going to sell the car for whatever costs it takes me to import the car. So somebody is going to get a great deal!

The import tax I believe is 60% of blue book value? Is this correct? It's extremely high! Any idea how to find the blue book value? Would would they use 60% of the price I bought it for, which I have a copy of the ownership papers stating this. I only bought about 5 months ago.

Thanks for the info. Also if anyone know anyone looking for a vehicle let me know :-)

Glenn

if you have the ownership paperwork with your purchase price on it.. that is want to are SUPPOSED to use... but sometime they just make shit up.. they did with our RV! and we had the purchase recipt with the price we paid!
good luck
here is a link for duty on car/truck http://www.customs.gov.bz/rate_motor_vehicles.html

Duty goes by age, number of engine cylinders. gas or diesel. Very many variables and they can make up any price they want.

Thanks for the replies again.

Im thinking of a backup option. If I cant find a buyer before I get to Belize I can import it on a temporary car permit. Then can I take the car to the wreckers and get a letter to say it has been scrapped. If I have this will they remove the temporary car permit from my passport so I can leave the country?

Obviously I dont want to do this as it is such a waste of a perfectly great vehicle, but I am running out of time and may not have any other options.

When I first moved to BZ, I did not want to pay the duty on my vehicle as I was not sure that I was going to stay (one year rule) and was not interested paying the duty until I was sure. I brought it in on a temporary permit and then purchased the insurance bond before the 30 days were up. I had it done at/near the border.

If you would like to sell your vehicle in MX, advertise on one of the forums and you may find a buyer that will meet you in the free zone.

so then what is your asking price? if you want to try to find a buyer first.. you need a list a price & pics if possible.. some one out there maybe looking