Vehicle: Ship existing or buy new/used?
Hello all!
I have a 2005 Nissan Xterra Off-road edition that I bought new and I love. My monthly payments are USD 440. If I sell it in the US I will pay off the loan and have about 5,000 USD in my pocket. I hear I need a car in Doha - would I be better off just shipping the thing (from the US West Coast)? What will that cost me and are there import taxes to worry about? How long will it take? Will I be able to maintain it?
I often take it off-roading in the deserts of Baja California - are there places/groups in Doha that do off-roading?
Iam in the process of moving from Dubai to Doha, which isn't as far as you but i have similar shipping issues.
even though the two cities are a drive away, the container has to go by ship because of customs regulations.
anyway, I looked at importing my car from Dubai. To do so I would have to pay off the loan, get export plates, either ship or pay someone to drive it then clear red tape at the other end before re-registering.
The shipping company gave me quotes for shipping and it was quite reasonable.
However, when I investigated I discovered there is an amazing array of new and used cars similar to mine in Doha.
Like you, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle.
It hurt, but I sold my car...and am now looking forward to buying a fabulous new one in Doha!
Thanks Las Vegas,
I sort of figured 4x4s would be at a premium here; for 4 or 5 thousand I think it might be worth shipping my Xterra - but as 10thfloor points out, I guess I'd have to pay it off first in order to get the title - which adds an unexpected complication.
My current expectation is to stay at least 2 years, and although my employer has been generous with my salary the "expat package" is not to be found. In other words - everything is on my own dime.
As with most things it seems there isn't an obvious advantage to either scenario. Thanks to all for their input though!
I believe a friend of mine shipped his car from Las Vegas via Los Angeles to Qatar in a container that also included his furniture for about $4000 and that was in December 2004. The car was Honda Odessey that he ended up selling and buying a 4wd new vehicle in Qatar.
Do your homework. Contact a shipper and ask what it would cost. With a good estimate of shipping costs you can make your decision easily. I wanted to ship a car here also but found that shipping costs were too high. I have friends who went through the same exercise.
Also, you cannot ship a car from the U.S. that has a lien on it. You would have to pay it off and have a clear title for the car.
Decisions about what car to buy here and whether to buy new or used depend on how long you plan to stay and what transportation benefits your employer may offer you.
Generally, good used 4x4's sell at premium prices here. That's why many elect to buy new instead. Check out the classified ads on QL and also local newspapers like Gulf Times.
On a positive note, you can really enjoy off roading here.
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