This
information is printed
with permission from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Foreign Trade. For
further information, please
contact the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign
Trade at 21 Dominica Drive,
Kingston 5, Jamaica Tel
(876) 926-4420; Fax: (876)
929-6733. E-Mail: mfaftjam@toj.com
After
the vehicle is landed;
documentation must be
obtained and given to
a Licensed Customs Broker
who will interact with
the Customs Department
on behalf of the importer.
When the documents have
been processed by the
Customs Department and
found to be correct, the
licensed customs broker
will make payment of all
duties, taxes, etc. on
your behalf. The broker
may then proceed to the
clearance point (e.g.
wharf, airport, etc.)
and effect clearance of
the vehicle.
Apart
from the Import License
issued by the Trade Board,
which authorizes the importation
of the motor vehicle,
the following is also
required:
-
Title
- ownership
documents which
helps Registration
to classify the
motor vehicle for
Certificate valuation
purposes and is
provided by the
owner.
-
Invoice
- for a new
motor vehicle (less
than 3000 miles)
an invoice is needed
from the supplier.
-
Bill
of Lading -
provides information
about the particulars
of the vehicle,
the date it landed
in the island, and
at which port of
entry. This is obtained
from the Shipping
Agent.
-
Bill
of Sight - this
is a document on
which details of
the motor vehicle
being imported are
recorded. This is
obtained from a
Licensed Customs
Broker.
-
Taxpayer
Registration Number
(TRN) - a unique
nine-digit identification
number required
for the transaction
of business with
all Revenue Departments
(including the Customs
Department). This
is obtained from
the Revenue Board.
-
Tax
Compliance Certificate
(TCC) - a document
issued as proof
that payments of
tax liabilities
and wage-related
statutory deductions
are up-to-date.
This is obtained
from the Revenue
Board.
-
C78/Import
Entry - this
is the primary import
document on which
all particulars
of the motor vehicle,
the importer, shipping
information, etc.
are recorded. This
is prepared and
submitted to Customs
by a Licensed Customs
Broker.
Putting
the Vehicle on the Road
Before
driving on the public
road, prior to removing
the motor vehicle form
the wharf, you should
obtain motor insurance
coverage through an insurance
agency or broker. On clearing
the vehicle, and having
paid the relevant fee
at the nearest Taxpayers
Service Center or Collector
of Taxes of the Inland
Revenue Department,
a Certificate of Fitness
should be obtained from
a Motor Vehicle Examination
Depot to indicate that
it complies with Jamaica
standards, for example,
please note that in the
case of vehicles imported
from North America an
other territories where
one drive on the right
side of the road, it is
necessary to adjust or
change the vehicle's headlights
prior to presenting it
for examination.
Finally,
the insurance cover note
or certificate, the Certification
of Fitness, and the Import
Entry documentation should
be taken to the Taxpayers
Service Center so that
the vehicle can be registered,
registration plates purchased,
and an application made
for a Title of Ownership
of the vehicle. Each of
these items attracts a
fee. Drivers should note
that if you do not already
have a valid Jamaican
driver's licence, you
can drive in Jamaica on
a valid overseas licence
for one (1) year only
before it is necessary
to secure a Jamaican licence.
