CESCO registers motor vehicles in Puerto Rico. The Driver Services Directorate says registration and transfer are done at its centers. Law 22 says no vehicle may travel a public road unless the Secretary has authorized it, except a vehicle that belongs to the United States government. A first registration and a title require proof that the excise tax, the arbitrio, was paid to the Department of the Treasury. The CESCO home page does not say how many days a person who has moved to Puerto Rico has to finish that registration.
What do I do, in order?
- Keep the ownership document with the vehicle. Article 2.03 says nobody may bring a motor vehicle into Puerto Rico without the papers that prove ownership, and the vehicle may not be taken off the docks unless the person who brought it presents that document. The Secretary can authorize a removal under Article 2.09. The text of that article is the place to confirm the dock procedure. This page does not restate it.
- Pay the excise tax. Hacienda asks for the bill of lading from the ocean carrier, an appraisal for a vehicle, the commercial invoice, and any other document the Secretary requests. Payment questions go to (787) 620-2323, option 2.
- Take the excise receipt and the ownership papers to a CESCO for the first registration and the title. Article 2.03 says the receipt is required before either one is issued.
- Get the compulsory liability policy. The insurance office says you obtain it when you renew the marbete, the windshield sticker, through CESCO Digital or at an authorized collector, bank, cooperative, or official inspection station. You have the right to choose the insurer. A pre-marked selection form is described as a violation of Law 245 of 2014.
- If you are a non-resident, or you are U.S. armed-forces personnel, and the car still has valid plates from the state where it is registered, Article 2.45 is the section that sets a five-day registration and a sticker. Do not treat that five-day rule as the rule for a person who has become a resident. The CESCO page does not state the resident deadline. Confirm it at the center.
What proves you own a used car?
Article 2.04 splits the proof. A used vehicle from a state or country that uses titles needs the title in the applicant's name. The title must show whether it was transferred and whether a lien exists or existed. A lien must be cancelled, or the lender must certify that it authorizes the vehicle to be moved to Puerto Rico. If you do not have the title, the article says you ask the Court of First Instance for authority to register, with notice to the Department of Justice and to the transportation department. A used vehicle from a state that does not use titles needs the registration, with the state seal, and a bill of sale acknowledged before a notary. A new vehicle needs a seller's invoice authenticated by a notary if the sale happened outside Puerto Rico, and the manufacturer's statement of origin.
What excise tax does Hacienda publish?
The vehicle excise page says you can estimate the tax in SURI with the make, model, and year, or with the VIN. The VIN is the better estimate. For automobiles introduced from outside Puerto Rico or manufactured in Puerto Rico after October 31, 2014, the table is:
| Taxable price in Puerto Rico | Excise tax |
|---|---|
| Up to $6,170 | $637.50, the minimum |
| More than $6,170 up to $10,690 | $637.50 plus 10.2 percent of the amount over $6,170 |
| More than $10,690 up to $21,380 | $1,098.00 plus 19.6 percent of the amount over $10,690 |
| More than $21,380 up to $31,780 | $3,188.35 plus 23.0 percent of the amount over $21,380 |
| More than $31,780 up to $44,890 | $5,575.15 plus 27.2 percent of the amount over $31,780 |
| More than $44,890 | $9,253.10 plus 34.0 percent of the amount over $44,890 |
That page does not say this table is waived because you already paid sales tax in a state, and it does not print a credit. The CESCO page does not print a registration fee. Confirm both amounts at Hacienda and at CESCO.
Insurance, inspections, and a shipped car
The compulsory policy pays up to $4,500 per accident for damage your vehicle causes to another vehicle. It does not pay for your own vehicle, and the page does not state a bodily-injury amount. There is no cap on how many accidents the policy can pay during its term, but $4,500 is the maximum for any one accident. The CESCO home page does not state a safety inspection, an emissions test, or a VIN inspection before registration. Official inspection stations are one of the places where you can buy the compulsory policy.
A car that arrives by ship is the case Article 2.03 is written for. It does not leave the dock without the ownership document, and it is not registered the first time without the excise receipt. See car shipping to Puerto Rico, the cost page, and importing, then shipping inland. RideShipper compares quotes for the inland or ocean move. It is not a carrier or a broker, and it does not pay the excise tax or register the car.