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You have just moved to Curaçao, or you are planning to. One of the first things you will realize: you need a car. Public transport is limited, ride-sharing apps are not widely available, and the island's spread-out layout means walking or cycling is not practical for daily life.
The good news: buying a car as a non-resident or new resident is straightforward. The process is a bit different from what you are used to in the Netherlands, the US, or Canada, but it is not complicated once you know the steps.
This is the first question every expat faces. Here is a clear comparison to help you decide.
Cost: €1,200 to €4,700 for shipping, plus customs processing. If you qualify for the verhuisboedel (household goods) exemption, you pay zero import duty. If you do not qualify, expect 27% duty + 9% turnover tax on the car's current market value plus shipping costs.
Verhuisboedel conditions: The car must have been registered and continuously insured in your name for at least 1 year before shipping. Limited to 1 car per household. You must complete the import paperwork within 6 months of registering as a Curaçao resident. Lease cars do not qualify.
Transit time: 17 to 25 days from Rotterdam.
Practical concern: If your car runs on diesel, annual road tax in Curaçao is XCG 1,177/year (compared to XCG 296 to XCG 419 for petrol). This is a significant ongoing cost difference.
Shipping companies from NL: Allways Transport (Dordrecht), Carib Intertrans (near Rotterdam), Marlog Car Handling, Move Your Box Worldwide.
Cost: $1,000 to $4,100 from Florida for shipping. Import duty is 27% + 9% OB on CIF value (there is no verhuisboedel exemption from the US). Transit time is 4 to 7 days from Florida.
Advantages: No shipping wait, no customs hassle, no risk of transport damage. The car is already on the island, registered, and you can test drive it. You can be on the road within a day or two.
Disadvantage: Prices are higher than you would pay for an equivalent car in the Netherlands or US. This is because import costs are already baked into the price.
Our recommendation: Unless you qualify for the verhuisboedel exemption, buying locally is usually simpler and often cheaper than importing. Start browsing on Merkado to get a feel for prices and availability.
Browse listings on Merkado to compare prices across multiple dealers and private sellers. You can filter by make, price range, year, and more.
Popular choices for expats: Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson for families, Toyota Yaris or Kia Picanto for city driving, and any SUV if you plan to visit the rugged north coast regularly.
Since May 2025, a CRIB number (personal tax identification number) is mandatory for vehicle registration. If you are a new resident, apply at Belastingdienst. Processing takes a few days. If you are already registered with the Belastingdienst, a staff member can look up your existing number.
The full process is described in our buying guide, but in short: register at UOVV (Keuringslokaal Parera or online via SITA), get the vehicle inspected (XCG 30), get insurance, pay road tax, and receive your plates.
You do not need to be a resident to register a vehicle. A valid passport or driver's license is sufficient for the registration itself.
Insurance is mandatory. The minimum is WA (third-party liability) coverage. If you are coming from the Netherlands, you can transfer your no-claim years (BM-verklaring) to a Curaçao insurer for a significant discount, up to 80%. Request your BM-verklaring from your Dutch insurer before leaving. Inter-Assure explicitly accepts Dutch no-claim certificates through the Roy-data system.
See our full insurance guide for a comparison of all providers.
Getting a car loan as a new expat is the trickiest part. Most banks require:
If you have just arrived, most banks will not approve a car loan right away. Here are alternatives:
Cash purchase: The most straightforward option. No approvals needed.
Personal loan: Island Finance offers personal loans up to XCG 30,000 (unsecured personal loan, not a dedicated car loan) without requiring a car as collateral. Requirements may be more flexible than traditional banks.
Leasing: Companies like URALCO Leasing, Autolease Curaçao, and Ruseler Car Rentals offer private lease contracts starting from 3 months. This can be a good bridge solution while you establish local banking history.
Employer assistance: Some employers in Curaçao help new hires with car purchases or provide a company car. Worth asking during negotiations.
Once you have established residency and banking history, MCB, Banco di Caribe, RBC, Vidanova Bank, and Orco Bank all offer car loans with terms up to 6 to 7 years. Read our financing guide for details.
Assuming European specs. Cars in Curaçao come from everywhere. A Toyota bought locally might be US-spec (miles on the odometer, different safety features) or Japanese-spec (right-hand drive). Always verify the specs before buying.
Underestimating tropical wear. Cars age differently in Curaçao. The constant heat, salt air, and UV exposure take a toll on paint, rubber seals, AC systems, and batteries. A 5-year-old car in Curaçao may show more wear than a 5-year-old car in the Netherlands.
Skipping the pre-purchase inspection. The official keuring (government inspection) only checks lights, horn, brakes, wipers, mirrors, and tires. It does not check the engine, transmission, suspension, or anything under the hood. Always pay an independent mechanic to do a thorough check before buying.
Forgetting about Forensys. If you get into a traffic accident involving another party, you must call Forensys for an independent report. Without this report, your insurance will not process the claim. Save the Forensys Curaçao phone number in your phone on day one — you will need it if you are ever in an accident.
Curaçao drives on the right (same as the Netherlands and the US). A few things to know:
No. You can register and insure a car with your foreign passport or driver's license. However, for long-term residents, a local driver's license is recommended. Foreign licenses are generally accepted for short stays (up to 3 months). For long-term residents, converting to a local license is recommended.
Technically, you could have someone buy on your behalf with a power of attorney. But it is not recommended. Test drive the car, check it in person, and handle the paperwork yourself.
If your documents are in order, 1 to 2 business days. The vehicle inspection itself takes about 4 minutes (plus waiting time). The main bottleneck is usually getting an appointment at Keuringslokaal Parera.
Increasingly, yes. EVs have 0% import duty (vs. 27% for petrol), there are around 32 public charging stations on the island (most are free to use), and the island is small enough that range is not an issue. Several Chinese EV brands are now sold through local dealers. See our EV guide.
Start your car search before you arrive. Browse all cars for sale in Curaçao on Merkado to get a feel for prices and availability.