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Iowa ↔ Puerto Rico Car Shipping

Shipping a car from Iowa to Puerto Rico, or bringing one from the island back to Iowa? We pick up across Iowa — Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Sioux City — and truck it to our Philadelphia, PA port (about 1,150 miles from Des Moines) for the weekly sailing to San Juan. Coming the other way, we collect it at the Port of San Juan and deliver it to your door in Iowa.

Quick answer: Shipping a standard car between Iowa and Puerto Rico is estimated at $1,195–$1,395, ocean freight included, and takes about 12–14 days in total. Vehicles sail from Philadelphia, PA to the Port of San Juan; southbound sailings leave Thursdays and northbound sailings leave San Juan on Mondays. A deposit at booking secures your space and the balance is due before delivery.

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Prices & transit

Iowa ↔ Puerto Rico: Estimated Prices

Vehicle	Iowa → San Juan (est.*)	San Juan → Iowa (est.*)	Total transit
Sedan / compact	$1,195–$1,395	$1,195–$1,395	12–14 days
SUV / crossover	$1,295–$1,495	$1,295–$1,495	12–14 days
Pickup / van	$1,395–$1,695	$1,395–$1,695	12–14 days

*Estimated rates, not guaranteed. Rates change with the season, fuel, route demand and your vehicle. For your exact rate, call or text (800) 320-1050 or use the free quote form.

How it works

Both Directions, Step by Step

Iowa → Puerto Rico

Get a quote and book online or by phone. A deposit secures your sailing.
We pick up your vehicle in Iowa and truck it to Philadelphia, PA (about 1,150 miles from Des Moines).
It sails to the Port of San Juan (southbound sailings leave Thursdays).
We email your arrival notice; you pay Puerto Rico's import tax (arbitrios) and pick it up in San Juan.

Checklist (PDF)

Puerto Rico → Iowa

Book and gather Puerto Rico's export certificates (ACAA, Police, DTOP, Hacienda). Our checklist walks you through them.
Drop your vehicle at the Port of San Juan, clean, empty and with 1/4 tank or less.
It sails to Philadelphia, PA (northbound sailings leave San Juan on Mondays).
We truck it to your door in Iowa. The balance is due before delivery.

Export checklist (PDF)

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Pickup & delivery in Iowa

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Sioux City, and anywhere else in the state.

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Port & sailing

Nearest port: Philadelphia, PA, about 1,150 miles from Des Moines. Sailings to San Juan leave Thursdays; from San Juan, Mondays. Schedule

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Island coverage

San Juan, Bayamón, Carolina, Guaynabo, Caguas, Trujillo Alto, Ponce, Mayagüez, Arecibo and every municipio in between. Bilingual agents on every call.

FAQ

Iowa ↔ Puerto Rico: Questions & Answers

How much does it cost to ship a car from Iowa to Puerto Rico?

A standard sedan is estimated at $1,195–$1,395, an SUV $1,295–$1,495 and a pickup or van $1,395–$1,695. That includes pickup in Iowa, trucking to Philadelphia, PA, the ocean freight to San Juan and port handling. The same ranges apply from Puerto Rico to Iowa.

How long does it take to ship a car between Iowa and Puerto Rico?

About 12–14 days in total: pickup and trucking to Philadelphia, PA (about 1,150 miles from Des Moines), the sailing to San Juan and port processing. See the weekly sailing schedule.

Can you ship a car from Puerto Rico to Iowa?

Yes. You drop it off at the Port of San Juan with your export certificates, it sails to Philadelphia, PA on the Monday sailing, and we truck it to your door anywhere in Iowa.

Which port is closest to Iowa?

Philadelphia, PA, about 1,150 driving miles from Des Moines. We truck your car there for you; you don't need to go to the port on the mainland.

What documents do I need?

To Puerto Rico: title, photo ID, and a lender letter if the car is financed. From Puerto Rico: registration, title or lender letter, and the ACAA, Police, DTOP and Hacienda certificates. Everything is on our resources page.