How long does it take?
Ocean transit commonly 8–12 days; allow 4–6 weeks door to door for qualifying imports. The route covers about 2,800 ocean miles from South Florida to Guayaquil via the canal.

Published estimates for shipping a car from Miami to Ecuador ranged $1,875–$4,200 all-in (standard sedan, RoRo to Guayaquil; excludes Ecuadorian import charges), and transit is commonly 8–12 days.
Know this first: Ecuador bans most used-car imports — the returning-migrant household program is the exception most shippers use, and its conditions are strict.
Ocean transit commonly 8–12 days; allow 4–6 weeks door to door for qualifying imports. The route covers about 2,800 ocean miles from South Florida to Guayaquil via the canal.
Sailings from South Florida through the Panama Canal to Guayaquil.
Year-round scheduled service; canal transit adds little variability.
Published third-party estimates ranged $1,875–$4,200 all-in (standard sedan, RoRo to Guayaquil; excludes Ecuadorian import charges, collected August 2026). Where the household-move exception applies, freight plus clearance is routine; where it doesn’t, there is no lawful price. Value and age caps inside the program decide what’s worth shipping.
Published estimates collected August 2026 · standard sedan, RoRo to Guayaquil; excludes Ecuadorian import charges
$1,875–$4,200 all-in
$2,800–$4,200 total
as published by AB Group Shipping
from Miami — RoRo from $2,800, container $3,200–$4,200; RoRo Miami to Guayaquil 14–18 days
$1,875–$2,950 total
as published by A-1 Auto Transport
RoRo with US ground haul; ocean leg $1,600–$2,400; 23–29 days total
Ecuadorian import charges (35–40% plus 12% IVA) are excluded from every published figure.
These figures are estimates published by third-party transport companies, shown here for orientation with their sources and collection date. They are not quotes from Car Shipping Miami or from providers on this marketplace, and they are not binding on anyone. Independent providers set their own pricing for your specific shipment.
Sourced data
Every figure below names its source — the standard the whole site holds itself to.
1 vehicle
per qualifying household under the returning-migrant program
With value and age caps and documented time abroad — verify current terms.
Source: Ecuadorian customs (menaje de casa provisions)
8–12 days
typical ocean transit via the Panama Canal to Guayaquil
Source: Ocean carrier published schedules

Both endpoints, the vehicle and your timing. Exports add paperwork, not mystery — it starts the same way.

A provider or forwarder prices both options and files the US customs export paperwork against your title.

The car ships from a South Florida port; the importer clears destination customs and duties before it drives away.
How this route behaves
The returning-resident route typically caps vehicle value and age, requires documented time abroad, and admits one vehicle per qualifying household. The rules are precise and enforced — verify current requirements with Ecuadorian customs or a specialist before buying or booking anything.
The canal routing makes this one of the longer common lanes from Miami, but the US export file is the same: original title, CBP presentation, export filing ahead of sailing. The extra weeks live on the water and in customs, not at the Florida end.
Vehicles land at Guayaquil on the coast. Quito and the sierra are a genuine mountain drive beyond — settle who handles inland delivery, and remember carburetted classics feel the altitude.
Common questions
Ocean transit commonly 8–12 days; allow 4–6 weeks door to door for qualifying imports. The route covers about 2,800 ocean miles from South Florida to Guayaquil via the canal.
Year-round scheduled service; canal transit adds little variability.
Published third-party estimates ranged $1,875–$4,200 all-in (standard sedan, RoRo to Guayaquil; excludes Ecuadorian import charges, collected August 2026). Where the household-move exception applies, freight plus clearance is routine; where it doesn’t, there is no lawful price. Value and age caps inside the program decide what’s worth shipping.
The program typically requires documented years abroad, caps the vehicle’s value and age, and admits one vehicle per household. Verify current requirements with Ecuadorian customs or a specialist before buying or booking anything.
Quito is a genuine mountain drive beyond the port. Settle who handles inland delivery when comparing offers, and remember carburetted classics feel the altitude.
The importer — you, or whoever receives the car — pays the destination country’s duties, taxes and clearance fees on arrival. Published freight figures exclude them, and on many routes they rival or exceed the freight itself, so get the destination’s current rates before committing.
US customs requires the original title and an export filing, with the documentation presented ahead of the sailing. The destination country adds its own import forms. A provider or freight forwarder handles the filings; your job is supplying the documents early.
Roll-on/roll-off is usually the economical choice for a running car — it drives on and off the vessel. A container costs more and suits high-value cars, non-runners, or destinations where RoRo service is thin. Providers can price both for comparison.
Only with the lien holder’s written authorization — US customs will not clear a vehicle for export without the title or the lender’s permission. If the car has a loan on it, start that conversation with the lender first; it is the slowest document to obtain.
Distances and transit ranges describe how these routes typically behave. They are not quotes, and they are not a commitment by Car Shipping Miami or any provider. Import duties, taxes and vehicle-eligibility rules are set by governments and change — confirm current requirements before booking any ocean or international shipment. The provider you speak with gives the estimate that applies to your shipment.
Car Shipping Miami is a marketplace and advertising platform. Car Shipping Miami does not transport vehicles or provide transportation services. Transportation quotes and services are offered by independent providers. Review provider information and terms before choosing a service. How this marketplace works
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