A couple quick corrections; the dealership is owned by an autogroup with a relationship with BMW. A water bill or electric bill can be used to prove physical residence.
Typical from DTOP and CESCO from PR. I’m a Puerto Rican myself and that happened to me with one of my cars. You are not alone on this. And about the potholes, yep, thats a lifestyle in PR. I acually have a Mirage ‘17 and I’m always dancing in the streets to avoid most of the potholes (you can’t avoid all of them, it’s impossible), so having a SUV or a Jeep (like in your case) is a Must-Have here. So congrats on fixing that issue. BTW: Love your channel, and thanks for supporting Puerto Rico! 😄
been there done that myself , I personally enjoyed a few years in the snow,I can't do it now cause of my age and joint pains here in the island ,as for the car life here , I never would want to express too many negative things thru the net , but only a good new car and used real good car no older than 5 years from there present year...I've had 4 used old clunky car since ive made my suicidal transition to the island , it's a psychotic beahvior to her involved with family and people to be hand me down car and waste more than 15 dollars in parts in perriod of 10 years...and they expect money on a car that is more than 15 years ...wish you well here ...Every Paradise has it's hell... just that some places in hell are actually a little more organized...lololo
Bittersweet to buy a car in P.R. I like that the sticker price is the price. Your water bill is your most important document from what I see. But buying a car from someone with tickets on it it's a no-brainer this information was very helpful thank you very much!
Everything is a mess. I'm used to do everything easy here in USA, but Puerto Rico everything is complicated. ... Believe me be prepare to do everything difficult is u want to go back. But in overall life in the Island is more fun and happy that in USA. I speak because I spend 21 years in USA and I know what I'm talking about..
Woman... you are something else. I am from Puerto Rico and the only reason I will be leaving in Puerto Rico if that’s the only place in the planet without zombies. Puerto Rico is a very difficult place to leave and the system is corrupted and evil. I wish you the best of luck and God protection for you and your family. Keep strong! You are amazing. 👍🏼
I see and know many people that live so happy and are doing very good in Puerto Rico. Everything depends on each individual. I also know people living in the US that are unhappy and struggling living pay check to pay check🇵🇷
@@marilynperez4499 I guess you are right. I came last week from visiting my mother in San Juan. The lack of respect from neighbors playing loud music, the conditions of the roads, the safety of driving and the crime are enough reasons for me to avoid living there. Perhaps, living in the “campo” away of the city is a better way to enjoy the island. Don’t get me wrong the island is a paradise but is the system of living there that vanished my love for Puerto Rico. 😔
Still, that registration fee is illegal, and the dealer has to include that on the price of the vehicle. There was a lawsuit brought up against a bunch of car dealerships on the island that went all the way to the supreme court of Puerto Rico and the defendants won.
OMG Thank You. I am looking for a car here in the island and I am very skeptical, I left the island at a young age, so I am back learning to be Puertorican again your input is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for sharing your nightmares and daily minutia of getting a vehicle in P.R. I’m seriously considering staying in Arizona. I have a house in Yuma, Arizona and a Ranch in Snowflake, Arizona. I almost put my homes for sale to move to Puerto Rico.
The thing about the marbete or “stickers” registration in the US, is that you are forced to buy Compulsory Liability Insurance from a list of insurance companies. Every driver in Puerto Rico is required to have a minimum of $3,000 in liability insurance coverage. Your liability coverage will automatically cover your own damages and medical expenses regardless of who is at-fault for the collision. Because of this every car in PR has liability insurance. It does not pay much but is something. The cost is around $100. Of course, you can buy extra insurance up to a full cover. In the US you can lie about having car insurance and get your stickers with no questions ask but a signature in a form. You do not go and just buy a sticker at the government agency. You have to take your car to an authorized inspection center where they check in addition to emissions, the working order of your car head lights, turn lights, brakes, alignment, horn, tires, windshield, bumpers, etc., a full check of the working order of your vehicle. At least once you pass, you pick your insurance from a list, pay and they issue your marbete right there. Also, in PR they have what the locals call “campaign” where cops on certain roads stop and check every car for expired stickers, and sometimes they check the working order of your car horn, head lights, turn signals, or whatever can be in no working order.
I live in MI, originally from PR, and I can tell you that you don't need a 4x4 in either place. You just need a FWD with good tires unless you are a terrible driver in either MI or PR :).
Our PR house with a steep drive often trucks can not make it up due to back end being too light . 4 wheel drive a must. You're right low cars will bottom out on dips and mountain or hill roads. Also weak minivans were useless climbers.
Hi Jen, you're so adorable. I am Pto.Rican living in the states now for over 30 yrs, thanks for the heads up with the Ticket issue, as I am planning to move back to the Island in the near future, God Bless.
If you want Pre-approval you may want to contact PenFed Credit Union or Navy Federal Credit Union. Both have branches in PR. They both pre-approve you and you then go shopping for the car.
Any goods or products shipped to PR are more expensive (usually 20% or so) than buying the exact same item in the mainland US. Locally made or locally sourced items tend to be less expensive here, so the lesson is to shop local as much as you can!
Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of moving there. Is it more expensive to ship your vehicle? I have a vehicle that I dont want to sell. Your videos are really helpful. Thank you.
The tax on newer vehicles is usually what makes people just buy on the island. If you have an older, reliable car then it may be worth shipping and paying the import tax. The shipping company can help you estimate the import tax and shipping cost to make the best decision for you.
You will need a utility bill, (can be home phone bill also) lease or rental contract are accepted too, with a copy of the bill under the real owner’s name , if that is the case. Sometimes house internet bill can count as an evidence of residence. It all depends what the bank accepts. You can contact me for more info, I worked in the auto industry and now I am an insurance agent. acosegurosyfianzas@gmail.com
❤hello Janethere! Thank you for sharing such important information- question, renting one bedroom condo, verses buying? Is there availability here in Cabo Rojo
Thanks again Jen for the great info! I wanted to add that my wife and I are leaving the island (after 3 years). We are selling our Mazda 3 in perfect condition. If anyone is interested, comment down below or send me message. We would be happy to guide through the entire process . Best luck!
Hello Jen and thanks for the advice! I'm wondering where you rented a car for 6 months (or was it 3?) and the price of it. I've just moved here and am navigating life without a car, which is next to impossible, even living in San Juan. If you have any insider tips for renting a car long-term without paying for a new car three time over, I'd love to get your advice! Thanks, Hilary
Hey Jen! I love that everytime I think of a question you have an amazing answer for it. Your videos are great! So my SO and I are coming to visit and instead of renting a car is it possible to buy a car there with an address in the States? We would store it with family till the next time we visit.
I am glad the information is useful. You can buy a car with US license, but I think you need to use family address for the car registration & insurance.
Just watched your video today, 4 years after your made it. I was wondering if sipping over and electric vehicle or truck is still free of the excise tax, I haven't been able to find any mention of it in the last 2 years in the media or government websites?
Yeah. It is interesting the amount of things Jen has to learn about the Spanish and our Puertorican language but regardless of that what she said about to save the receipts of the traffic violation tickets paid off is really true and that situation has been like that for several decades without has experimented any change in that particular issue. That really interesting and surprise me at the same time.
¿ será francesa la guacha ? usualmente los franceses hacen eso de omitir la ultima letra de una palabra. pq seríá increible que despues de tanto tiempo en P.R no sepas que marbete tiene una fucking e al final.
Most vehicles are at least 30% higher priced in PR, and that varies on make/model. The Jeep that I just purchased was almost double in PR than what I would have paid in mainland US, according to KBB. The cost of buying or shipping a vehicle to PR is definitely much higher than mainland US.
Hi! I've watched a lot of your videos and thank you for the helpful information :) I was wondering, Do you have a hard time getting around (Going to DMV, getting cars, health insurance, ect) without Spanish? I am Puerto Rican myself and planning on moving to the island soon, but I am not very fluent in Spanish, or at least professional talk. I was wondering how you do. Thanks!! :)
I speak bad Spanglish and that is sufficient. If I am struggling with a word or phrase, Google Translate helps me out. Many people speak English and are usually really nice about my bad Spanish.
This will depend on which part of the island you are moving to. San Juan generally you can get by with little Spanish. The rest of the Island or outside of a larger city, it can be a little more difficult.
Also I never owned any 4 wd drive vehicle in almost 50 years of both visiting (several times a year) and living here 10+ years. I go everywhere on the island also but slow and carefully and not lowered rides.. Good job in general though.. Bill
Good evening Jen, I just had a question about shipping my vehicle from Tennessee here. It’s a 2008 Jeep patriot and my question is how much tax would they charge me? I hear they use the black book instead of the Kelley blue book to appraise the vehicle! Thank you so much. Sincerely, Howard Lewis.
Yes, the marbete is the annual car registration and basic insurance coverage. You must have the updated sticker on your windshield and the paper copy in your vehicle at all times.
I cannot speak for buying a car. But I recently bought a house in PR, currently live on the mainland. They did a credit check and used the same criteria and sources as used on the mainland.
Hi Jen, I saw your video boy do I need help… I move to Rincon 2021 purchase a brand new Jeep renegade from Triangle Dealer in Mayaguez they are the worst and it was awful a month later it broke down and every time after. I gave it back to the bank they sold it. Well now I’m searching can you tell me what you purchase so I can have an idea? Thanks Nance Happy Holidays 🎅 🎄
The dealership usually does, the biggest risk is buying from an individual. Double check tickets on the CESCO app before buying or selling any vehicle.
Hello Jen, I’m living in Rincon, PR and shopping for a 2022 and the sticker on the car has 30,770.00 and their claiming nothing is added so with taxes and fee’s is $37,995.00 and 2,000 down it comes to $35,995.00 🤷♀️ 2022 Bronco Sport??? To be on the same page you mention you went to Caguas and to Autogroup is that correct? Please correct the info for sticker price thank you 🙏 🌹
You would have to bring your lease agreement or some officially recognized document that proves your physical address. Phone bill, electric bill and lease agreement usually work.
Hi Jen, Thank you for theis video, so is it better/easier to ship a new/use car, truck, etc from the main land or just go to the dealership in the island??
It is easier to buy here, unless you are looking for something very unique. Shipping cost, delays, and taxes can be a real hassle. jentheredonethat.com/moving-and-shipping-items-to-puerto-rico/
“There’s no record of your payment of the traffic tickets” typical DTOP trying to grab more money out of people. But yeah cars are more expensive here than in the US and used cars even more so. Depending on what car you want it may be cheaper to just ship it from the USA (though that’s another odyssey on itself).
Yes, check vehicle prices in PR compared to same vehicle and shipping costs to determine if it is better to buy in PR or ship a vehicle. jentheredonethat.com/moving-and-shipping-items-to-puerto-rico/
You can't get pre-approved for a car loan without having the exact car and dealership. The car loan is a very different process in PR than in the US. It is important to understand the differences and the process in PR. Most Puerto Ricans know the process, but I didn't.
I already had my PR driver's license, but I know many snowbirds that have registered cars here with non-PR driver's licence. Here is how to get your PR license, if you want to. jentheredonethat.com/drivers-license-puerto-rico/
@@JenThereDoneThat I am from Puerto Rico but I moved 21 years ago to WA. When I came to WA in 2001, I used my driver's license to come to the US. Last month I was talking with my girlfriend in Puerto Rico. She told me that we (Puerto ricans) can't use the driver's license anymore to go to the US that we (Puerto ricans) need to use the US passport. If I go back to Puerto Rico and can use my US driver's license and don't need my US passport. Then I think if you Jen don't have a US driver's license anymore you will need to get your US passport to go to the US. Please let me know if the information that my girlfriend gave me is wrong. I think the reason Puerto Rico and not accepting driver licenses anymore to go to the US is because a lot of illegal from near islands and from Central and South America were going to Puerto Rico and had a Puerto Rico driver's license to go to the US like they were Puerto Rican when they weren't. By the way, today I subscribed to your channel and I sent videos some of your videos to my friends and neighbors. Thank you for all your honest videos👍
Congratulations for moving to paradise. I ran out of the island and won’t come back. Those hassles will get pretty old soon. PR is good for visiting… not living.
Thanks, after 7 years I know exactly what you mean by the hassles (anything to do with the government is especially bad). But, the good outweighs the hassles, and I am getting better at dealing with them.
MY SUV in the States was 2 WD SUV, and not a model that I could easily get service & parts for in PR. Plus it would be very expensive to ship & pay taxes on . For me it was a much better deal to buy a used Jeep here on the island.
If they just "lose" the receipt, but otherwise there's not a penalty for non-payment -- why not wait to pay until it's time to get the marbete sticker?
Many people do that. I didn't know about a few parking tickets (nothing was left on my vehicle to indicate a ticket), so I paid those when renewing my Marbete.
You usually need something with an PR address to purchase a car. They usually ask for a water, electric, or phone bill. If you buy the house, then move there is no problem for the car.
There are currently ZERO car leasing options on the island. If you learn of a car lease please let me know, many people would be interested in the option.
Basic insurance is included in the annual Marbete, you have to have it. For newer vehicles, many of us have additional insurance (which is very cheap compared to many States).
Unless you’re from PR don’t come. What else must we lose and sacrifice to outsiders. Y’all want to come and enjoy for a while, sure. But outsiders come and quickly take.
Sorry Babe you got played I always have copies on my phone of every ticket I've ever paid and I've never had an issue they have to accept it so don't let them try to play you You saw you were American and decided that they probably could get some more money off you
in my case wish never would of moved here to be with psycho family and other community B.S. cause supposedly I look like an undercover agent...And other Weird stuff...!! wish you well ...
so ya te fuiste de la isla? estoy viendo que muchos boricuas viviendo en ee uu se van para Boriken. tambien tengo entendido que hay mucho gringo alla, sobre todo por Rincon 👎🏽 👎🏽