does anyone know if I can ship a year old car into Qatar from the States? and what is the process?

renno
By renno
By anonymous• 7 Oct 2009 22:01
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

I have a Grand Cherokee Limited V8 1999. It was brought to Qatar by an American in 2007 (8 years old) and got stuck in the customs for three months. After that they released the car into Qatar and I bought it in 2007. Since the first registration in Qatar was 2007, I had a "new" car. Technical inspection is required in 2010. That's what I was told at the yearly registration ceremony. So, you see, everything is possible in Qatar. Concerning the so-called Middle-East specifications: I don't think that the climate in the Death Valley in Arizona is better than in Qatar. Therefore: no problems with cooling and AC! (At least not with the American version of the Jeep!)

By Dracula• 7 Oct 2009 22:00
Rating: 4/5
Dracula

For your own good, please follow my advice. If you don’t you will certainly regret it!

Do NOT bring any container into Qatar. It will take months to be cleared and they will not release it until they open and check every single item, no matter how small it will be.

You will be chasing your container for a few months and you will be lied all the time until you loose control and hope.

By the time the container is finally released, you would have settled down with new staff.

Bringing a container will restrict your freedom of movement.

In case things go wrong as they often do at the beginning here, you would be tied up and mobility for you would be compromised.

It’s not worth the trouble, as you can find everything here ate very cheap prices!

Bring your personal luggage and the rest you will easily find it here (including good deals for 2nd hand cars, equipped for this weather) at reasonable prices!

By Dracula• 7 Oct 2009 21:58
Rating: 4/5
Dracula

For your own good, please follow my advice. If you don’t you will certainly regret it!

Do NOT bring any container into Qatar. It will take months to be cleared and they will not release it until they open and check every single item, no matter how small it will be.

You will be chasing your container for a few months and you will be lied all the time until you loose control and hope.

By the time the container is finally released, you would have settled down with new staff.

Bringing a container will restrict your freedom of movement.

In case things go wrong as they often do at the beginning here, you would be tied up and mobility for you would be compromised.

It’s not worth the trouble, as you can find everything here ate very cheap prices!

Bring your personal luggage and the rest you will easily find it here (including good deals for 2nd hand cars, equipped for this weather) at reasonable prices!

By Dracula• 7 Oct 2009 21:55
Rating: 5/5
Dracula

You can import a car into Qatar as long as it is not older than 5 years and a 5% duty is due unless it was registered previously in another GCC country and you have proof duties were paid previously.

You will have no problems with a US spec car as the only difference with GCC specs are the emissions, metric instrumentation, and a speed warning that "dings" at 120 kph. There is no difference in A/C specs, or radiator capacity. This is a common misconception here that is repeated over and over by people who have not actually investigated the facts. It is no hotter in Qatar than parts of Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, and Death Valley, CA.

Your shipper should be able to tell you what exactly paperwork you will need, but they will need the original lien free title to get the car out through US Customs and then into Qatar, a power of attorney, and an NOC from your employer in Qatar.

By pmcorrea• 7 Oct 2009 21:12
pmcorrea

I know it is possible. They don't allow anything older than 5 years old to be shipped in though. Search this site (assuming you haven't already) and you may find your answer. Just be aware though that the vehicles here may be manufactured to different specs than the ones back home. Here they have to operate in extreme temperatures and withstand sand all the time.

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