Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions which other owners have already asked, and the answers. If you have a questions, please fill out the form to get it answered here.

HOW DO I SHIP ITEMS SUCH AS TV'S, FURNITURE? IS THERE A TAX IN VENEZUELA?

Small items under $100 get in free, as do books and other printed matter. In some cases, you can ship all your household goods tax-free and cars just pay a 2% duty. But as a rule, it is recommend that you try to buy everything here instead of shipping it from abroad. To find out more, click here.

CAN I CARRY A GUN IN VENEZUELA?

As a general rule, no. There are exceptions, but you would normally need to either be a resident or affiliated with the government of this country, or both.

HOW DO I BUY A USED CAR?

Several websites list used vehicles, including tucarro.com and autofuturo.com (both in Spanish, with prices listed in local currency). Cars keep their value surprisingly well and used cars are fairly expensive, as a proportion of the original value.

CAN I GET A LOCAL MORTGAGE?

Yes. There is some bureaucracy involved, but it is do-able. There are basically two kinds of mortgages: Normal commercial mortgages and government-subsized "soft" mortgages, also issued by by banks. The latter is the most attractive but the paperwork and red tape which is involved is daunting. Find out more...