We need our truck but can not afford to buy a new one

6POSTS

3 years ago

@Julien

Greetings from Follow the Spirit Ministry. We have a traveling ministry of the word and music. We plan to move to Belize to continue this journey. We pull a trailer with music equipment. It is set up so we can play music from the trailer, broadening our outreach. The truck is a 2007 1-ton deisel. Recently we discovered the truck is too old to enter on a QRp. We plan to use both the QRP for one and the work visa for the other. We need the truck to deliver to our ministry but cannot afford to buy a new one. Is there another approach we should consider to moving to Belize?

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DnBR Active member

39POSTS

3 years ago

@Brigitte B

First welcome to Followthespirit

Secondly, Brigitte B, can you elaborate? My wife and I are moving in the next couple of months. I'll be on an employment visa.

I need to drive, because we have a dog that cannot fly, so I'll be coming with a pick up (2011) and trailer. I shall have paperwork from the university for my visa.

How aggressive is customs at the Corozal border in valuing possessions?

The vehicle, there's websites that provide value, so I feel ok with that. I'll also be bringing several hundred pounds of academic books that don't have a market value, plus the usual clothes, mundane tools and personal items. I'm an educator, so not wealthy, and have fears of losing my life savings just to enter country.

followthespiritministry New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

@Brigitte B

We understand that one cannot import vehicles over 3 years old is this true?

Thank you for your reply Brigitte

Brigitte B Serial expat

331POSTS

3 years ago

@Brigitte B
We understand that one cannot import vehicles over 3 years old is this true?
Thank you for your reply Brigitte
-@followthespiritministry

That is not true.

Only QRP has a rule that a vehicle has to be under 5 years old.

If you don鈥檛 come in under QRP, just about any age vehicle can be imported into Belize.

Brigitte B Serial expat

331POSTS

3 years ago

@Brigitte B
First welcome to Followthespirit

Secondly, Brigitte B, can you elaborate? My wife and I are moving in the next couple of months. I'll be on an employment visa.
I need to drive, because we have a dog that cannot fly, so I'll be coming with a pick up (2011) and trailer. I shall have paperwork from the university for my visa.

How aggressive is customs at the Corozal border in valuing possessions?
The vehicle, there's websites that provide value, so I feel ok with that. I'll also be bringing several hundred pounds of academic books that don't have a market value, plus the usual clothes, mundane tools and personal items. I'm an educator, so not wealthy, and have fears of losing my life savings just to enter country.
-@DnBR

I can鈥檛 elaborate on your visa and/or entry status in Belize.

You should get a broker to get your vehicle/trailer and belongings into Belize.

There is typically no duty on books. There used to be a minimal charge called environmental tax. Not sure if that still applies.

I suggest making a detailed list of everything in your vehicle and trailer.

Put a cost with each item. If items are used, use yard sale prices. Anything new, bring receipts,

If traveling with a trailer full of stuff, Mexico may require you to get a broker as well. Some people get through without a broker. It鈥檚 s crapshoot,

This site provides some rates of duty.

Vehicles are not imported into Belize on Sundays.

I鈥檇 avoid Saturday as well.

Plan your drive so you don鈥檛 have to cross any borders on a weekend.

Make sure you get a Belize import permit for your dog as well as a health certificate satisfying the import conditions.