Is It Worth Bringing a Car Along with Your International Move to Argentina?

When someone asks us whether they can include their car as part of their international move to Argentina, the first thing we do at Universal Cargo is check whether they meet the requirements of the special import regime for used vehicles.
Because yes—it’s possible, but not everyone qualifies.

Who can bring a car as part of their move?

This regime is regulated by Law 25.871 and AFIP General Resolution 3109/2011, and it’s intended for:

• Argentine citizens returning to the country after living abroad for at least two consecutive years.
• Foreign nationals with permanent residency in Argentina who have also lived abroad for more than two years.

This does not apply to tourists, students, or foreign nationals with temporary visas.

What conditions must the car meet?

To import your car under the special regime, these are the key requirements:

• The car must be registered under the name of the person importing it.
• It must have been purchased at least three months prior to returning to Argentina. Only one car per person is allowed.
• The importer must not have previously used this benefit to bring in another vehicle.
• The CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight), as determined by Argentine Customs, must not exceed USD 15,000.
• The car cannot be sold for two years after entering the country.
• This regime does not apply to motorcycles, trucks, RVs, or boats.

A Real Case: Laura from Germany

We recently worked with Laura, an Argentine citizen who had been living in Germany for over eight years. She was moving back to Argentina with her family and wanted to bring her car and her motorcycle.
But here’s where a key difference came up: motorcycles are not included in the special regime and must pay import taxes regardless of their value.

The result? Laura decided to include only her car, which did qualify.
We handled everything—packing, shipping, customs paperwork, and final delivery.
Her car and household goods arrived smoothly and without surprises.

What if the car doesn’t qualify?

This is where you need to be cautious:

• If the CIF value exceeds USD 15,000, import taxes apply—and they can be substantial.

In general, it only makes sense to bring the car if:

• It’s a collector’s item or hard to find in Argentina.
• It has significant sentimental value.
• It qualifies under the special regime and is valued below USD 15,000 CIF.

Logistics: Will the car fit in the container?

Yes. Most cars fit comfortably in a 40-foot container, leaving room for many cubic meters of personal effects.
In contrast, a 20-foot container has very limited space left once the car is inside.

Door-to-door service: We handle it all

If your car and personal situation meet the requirements, we take care of the entire logistics process:

• Packing at origin.
• Inland transport to the port.
• International shipping.
• Export customs clearance.
• Customs clearance and nationalization in Argentina.
• Final delivery to your new home.

Want to find out if you can bring your car as part of your move?

Get in touch with us. At Universal Cargo, we take care of your most valuable belongings—from the starting point to your final destination.

May 2025