Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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Towns and places to visit on the west coast of Puerto Rico
How you can get around when you are there
Conclusion
 

Towns and places to visit on the west coast of Puerto Rico

The west coast of Puerto Rico is considerably less popular than the east coast. This is because the east coast has the premier tourist destination, biggest port and capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan. However, if you stay in Puerto Rico for more than a few days to a week or visit more than once, you should make your way over to the western side of Puerto Rico.

A few of the most popular towns in western Puerto Rico are Rincon, San German, Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo and Mayaguez. The overall makeup of the western coast of Puerto Rico includes beaches with surfing and fishing, restaurants, a massive forest and much more.

Specifically, there are a bunch of things on the west side of Puerto Rico that you should definitely consider making part of your stay. The first are the picturesque beaches. This includes Maria’s beach, Domes beach, Sandy beach, Crash Boat beach, and Villa Pesquera beach. Some of these beaches serve as great surf spots while all are great places for relaxing and getting a tan.

Some of the best restaurants in the western half of Puerto Rico are Mi Familias Pizzeria, La Cambija, Kahuna Burger Bar and Grill, Cinco, Zazones, Desecheo and much more. The variety of restaurants in western Puerto Rico will range from Caribbean food, to Latin food to seafood and more.

Finally, the very best attractions in the western part of Puerto Rico include a dry forest called Bosque Seco de Guánica that has over nine thousand acres for bike riding, hiking, and birdwatching. There is also a wildlife refuge, salt flats, a lighthouse, and horseback riding. You can find out where you can find all of these wonderful beaches, restaurants and attractions here.
 

How you can get around when you are there

All of the wonderful things to do and see in western Puerto Rico are not in one small area. In fact, they are spread out over hundreds of miles. So, you will obviously need a method of transportation in order to get around.

Unfortunately, this part can get expensive. If you really want to get the full experience of west Puerto Rico, you should spend at least ten days to two weeks there. For longer periods of time like this, rentals can limit what you can do, and the expense can add up quickly and will not stop until you return the vehicle.

Fortunately, you do have another option that is not using taxis and/or ride share apps. You can always ship your car to Puerto Rico. This is an especially good option if you plan no staying in Puerto Rico for an extended period. Not only will this be the most convient and comfortable option, but for longer stays it will likely help you save some money and stress.
 

Conclusion

People often entirely miss the incredible opportunity to visit the west side of Puerto Rico because of how popular the San Juan area of Puerto Rico is. They are missing out on amazing beaches, gorgeous rainforest, incredible restaurants and much more. If you do plan on visiting west Puerto Rico, you will need a way to get around. As long as it is not a short stay, your best bet will be to ship your car there.

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The best places to use a moped in Puerto Rico
Advice for riding your moped safely
Conclusion
 

The best places to use a moped in Puerto Rico

Mopeds are fairly popular in Puerto Rico. You will see them in various areas across the island. However, what many people tend to not understand is that these moped riders you see are experienced residents of Puerto Rico who have been navigating traffic there for years.

Generally, Puerto Rico has very dense and aggressive traffic across the island, particularly in areas such as San Juan. However, that also includes the interisland highways on your way to places such as El Yunque National Rainforest. This means the main island of Puerto Rico is generally not a great place for inexperienced riders to use their mopeds.

With that being said, riding your mopeds for short trips on the main island of Puerto Rico should be fine as long as you exercise caution. If you really want to be able to enjoy a long ride on your moped in Puerto Rico without dense and crazy traffic, you should consider the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

These are smaller islands off the coast of the main island of Puerto Rico. They are both absolutely beautiful and much less populated than the main island. In fact, there are very few cars on the islands due to the fact that there is no bridge connection between either and the main island of Puerto Rico. There are people who rent cars and emergency vehicles out on the roads on the lesser known islands, but they are far and few in-between.

The one thing to keep in mind about using a moped on these islands is that you only have two options: you can rent one when you get there, or you can take one with you on the ferry. Unfortunately, you will not be able to ride there or even ship your moped there.
 

Advice for riding your moped safely

The heavy and unpredictable traffic in Puerto Rico will make riding your moped in most places a bit of a dangerous trip. Other drivers do not do a very good job at paying attention and obeying very basic traffic laws such as not running red lights.

This means you will need to do whatever is in your power to stay safe while you are on your moped in Puerto Rico. First and foremost, wear a helmet at all times. You also always need to be aware of your surroundings and pay attention.

Keep extra distance between you and the vehicles on the road in Puerto Rico as they have more of a tendency to stop short and/or change lanes suddenly without signaling. You should also take extreme caution when crossing any intersection. Finally, you need to drive defensively at all times.
 

Conclusion

If you plan on riding a moped on the main island of Puerto Rico, you will need to do so with an extreme amount of caution at all times. There is a ton of traffic and much of it drives very aggressively. However, as long as you are knowledgeable of the roads in Puerto Rico, are an experienced moped rider and do exercise caution, you should be fine for short trips. You can also consider riding your moped on the Puerto Rican island of Culebra and Vieques. You will need to take a ferry to get there and there are moped rentals available if you do not feel like lugging one onto the ferry.

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Know what you are doing
Do your homework
Be honest with your car transporter
Give yourself some flexibility
Conclusion
 

Know what you are doing

Before you ship you ship your car, you should research the process. You need to know what you must to do to prepare. Things like having the car cleaned before pickup and only having a quarter tank of gas are things that you need to do in order to prepare for your shipment, yet many people do not know that.
 

Do your homework

Researching the companies that you are considering shipping your car with is a critically important step in the auto transport process. You should read online reviews on sites like Google and Transport reviews. These reviews will let you know how real past customers feel about a particular company and the service that they received from that company.

You will also want to call each company and ask them a few questions. These questions include asking them what services they offer, how their pricing works, and anything else that might make you hesitant to ship.
 

Be honest with your car transporter

It is important that you are honest with your auto transporter about your car’s make and model as well as its condition. If you are not, your car might not be able to be transported and then you will lose out on your deposit. If you need to reschedule your shipment because you gave incorrect shipping details during your booking, the new transport that you book could possibly take weeks before your car is picked up.
 

Give yourself some flexibility

Most car shipping companies will give you pick-up and delivery “windows”. This simply means that you will be given a date range of about three days where your car will be picked-up or delivered. When it comes to shipping a car, it is not possible to say with complete certainty when exactly your vehicle will be picked up or dropped off. This is because there are factors at play which are completely unpredictable such as traffic and weather.

So, you should do whatever you can to be flexible with the dates of your shipment. If this means being without your car for a day or two, you are better off than trying to get your vehicle delivered on an exact date which is nearly impossible. For example, if you are moving from Puerto Rico to a new home in Panama your vehicle shipment will likely take over a week, which means you might have to go a few days without your car.
 

Conclusion

Shipping your car can be a great way to make traveling or moving easier and less stressful. However, if you are shipping your car for the first time, you could possibly find the process confusing. All you need to do to get the most out of your auto transport experience is to do your research before you ship and then prepare for your shipment once you book it.

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Why a dash camera can make a huge difference in Puerto Rico
Dash cam 101
Conclusion
 

Why a dash camera can make a huge difference in Puerto Rico

A dash camera is an extremely useful tool when it comes to defending yourself from being held responsible for an accident that was not your fault. In reality, if you are driving and someone cuts you off and/or stops short and you hit them from behind, even though it is their fault, you will be held accountable for the damage to both cars.

That is because after the accident has occurred, there is no actual proof of what exactly happened except for the damage to both cars. In that particular circumstance, the driver who was hit from behind gets no fault because, generally, there is nothing they can do to prevent that from happening. However, if you have a reliable dash cam, you will possibly be able to prove it was the fault of the other driver in front of you in that situation. This way, you could end up not being liable at all or being only partially liable.

In Puerto Rico, this will be more useful than it is almost anywhere else. As we have alluded to in other posts, driving in Puerto Rico is full of uncertainty. Many drivers here do not obey the most basic traffic laws. This leads to a higher amount of accidents than normal. So, having a dash cam when you are driving here is more of a necessity than it is a luxury.
 

Dash cam 101

Dash cams are small cameras that you mount on the dashboard of your car that are intended to run perpetually as you drive. They are intended to capture and record the perspective of the driver as they navigate traffic.
There are several different types of dash cams that you can choose for your car. They include single lens and dual lens cams. A single lens dash cam will be for recording the road in front of you only. Dual lens will be for recording the road in front of you as well as either the inside of your car or the road behind you. We recommend a dual lens cam that records both the road in front of you as well as the road behind you.

In order to install a dash cam, the process is simple. Keep in mind, depending on the dash cam that you end up getting the overall process could end up differing slightly. First, you will need to put the memory card in, then you will need to mount it on your dashboard which you usually do by attaching it to your dashboard or windshield via suction cup and, finally, you will need to plug it into your car via power adapter.
 

Conclusion

Dash cams are not something that you should forego if you plan on driving with any sort of frequency in Puerto Rico. They can be the difference between you being legally and financially responsible for an accident and not being held accountable at all. This is especially important in Puerto Rico where drivers can be extremely aggressive and careless when driving.

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What to know when you are getting your auto insurance policy
Why car insurance is critically important in Puerto Rico
Final word
 

What to know when you are getting your auto insurance policy

You must have car insurance when you are driving in Puerto Rico. If you are caught driving in Puerto Rico without car insurance, you will get a ticket for five hundred dollars as soon as you are caught. So, car insurance will be another cost of owning a car in Puerto Rico that you have to endure, but it does not have to break the bank.

Believe it or not, each and every auto insurance policy will be tailored to each individual that gets one, based on their particular needs. With this in mind, it is actually possible to make several choices when you are working out a policy with your insurance company that can actually help you save a considerable amount of money.

First, if you are insuring multiple drivers and/or cars, you should bundle them under the same policy. Each car/driver will have a lower rate than if you got an individual policy for each. You can always also take a defensive driving course (every driver on your policy will need to take the course) and your policy rate will be lower as a result.

Next, you can make an effort to drive fewer miles in your car in the months or year leading up to getting a new policy. If you are able to prove that you drive fewer miles when you are signing up for a new auto insurance policy, you will possibly be able to save some money as a result. Also, work on your credit rating in the time before you shop for a policy because having a better credit score will help you save on your policy too.

Finally, you should consider getting an anti-theft system installed in your car. Yes, that will cost you a bit, but it will be well worth it with all the money you save on your car insurance. You can actually save up to twenty five percent on your premiums by doing this.
 

Why car insurance is critically important in Puerto Rico

As we mentioned above, it is illegal to drive around without having your car insured in Puerto Rico just like it is anywhere else. However, there is a much more practical application for having auto insurance in Puerto Rico than just avoiding an expensive ticket. Car insurance protects you in case you get into a bad accident and cannot afford thousands of dollars in repairs for your vehicle and/or someone else’s.

In Puerto Rico, you are at a high risk of an accident in comparison to most other places in the world. Drivers in Puerto Rico tend to ignore or loosely interpret even the most basic traffic laws. This does occur anywhere you drive in the world but not on a widespread basis as it does in Puerto Rico. Here, you will witness other drivers change lanes very suddenly without signaling, stop suddenly and park in the middle of the street, go through red lights without even slowing down and more. Thus, car insurance is critically important here.
 

Final word

There is no way you can avoid getting car insurance in Puerto Rico without putting yourself at a great risk of a big ticket, or worse, being responsible for thousands of dollars of damage from a car accident. Although, it does not mean you need to pay a maximum amount of money on auto insurance. In fact, there are multiple ways of lowering the price of your premium. You just need to put in the time and effort to do so.

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How a pet can distract you while driving
Why you need to focus on Puerto Rico’s roads
Conclusion
 

How a pet can distract you while driving

When you have to drive somewhere with your pet, you risk a lot of distraction. Pets such as dogs or cats do not know any better and might be tempted to jump on you while you are in the middle of driving. This can be disastrous for you and has been in the past for many motorists. That is why you should take every precaution possible when you are driving with your pets, especially in Puerto Rico.

First and foremost, your pets should always ride in the backseat of the car. This way there is much less of a chance that they are able to make contact with you as you drive. If you have a pet small enough to fit in a pet carrier, you should put them in one. This will include cats and small dogs. If not, you should consider buying a barrier that will prevent larger dogs from slipping up front from the backseat.
 

Why you need to focus on Puerto Rico’s roads

Driving with a pet in your car without taking the correct safety precautions can be dangerous no matter where you are. But, driving in Puerto Rico with the risk of a major distraction has much more potential for danger than normal. This is because the casual attitude many drivers have in regards to basic traffic laws in Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, you will frequently see other drivers going through red lights and stop signs. You will also see people doing things like turning right from the left lane and likely without even signaling. On top of that, there are frequently animals crossing the road. All of this makes driving more tricky and potentially dangerous in Puerto Rico.
 

Conclusion

Driving around with a pet in the car can be fun but it also can be dangerous because a pet can suddenly jump on you while you are driving and cause an accident. That is precisely why you should take the proper safety precautions such as keeping your pet in a pet carrier and/or keeping them in the backseat of the vehicle. This is particularly important in Puerto Rico where other drivers can be quite careless and dangerous with the way that they drive.

When you need your car shipped to or from Puerto Rico, let Puerto Rico Car Transport take the stress and worry out of the process for you. We can get any type of vehicle to Puerto Rico or the United States with minimal involvement from yourself. Call today for a free quote at (904) 322-7644.

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The basics about Ponce, Puerto Rico
Getting your car to Ponce
Conclusion
 

The basics about Ponce, Puerto Rico

Ponce is an area of Puerto Rico that you will want to visit when you have the chance to. It is the most populated city on the island other than San Juan and features some incredible architecture. It also features several gorgeous beaches such as Playa Carrucho, Playa Larga and El Tuque. There is also a famous boardwalk for you to stroll if you want some sun and relaxation without the sand.

Ponce also has several islands which you can visit via boat or ferry. There is no lack of things to do when you visit Ponce. You can take tours of museums, historical tours, walking tours and more. If you are a coffee lover, you will fall in love with Ponce. On top of having some of the best locally grown coffee in the northern hemisphere, it also has a coffee museum called Hacienda Buena Vista where you can see exactly how coffee is made.
 

Getting your car to Ponce

Getting your car to Ponce is a bit more complex than if you were trying to get it somewhere like San Juan. That is because all car shipments to Puerto Rico must be dropped off at the port in San Juan. So, that does mean that you will need to get your car in San Juan and then drive to Ponce instead of travelling to Ponce directly.

The ride from San Juan to Ponce is really not too bad at all. The drive will take about the same amount of time as it takes to drive from New York to Pennsylvania depending on when you are driving. In general, the drive will take a little over two hours depending on the route you take and the amount of traffic that is on the road when you decide to drive.

You will need to bring identification when you go to the port to pick your car up. You should also remember to get gas when you leave the port with your car because, at most, it has a quarter tank left and you will likely need close to a full take to make the drive down to Ponce.
 

Conclusion

Ponce has never been nearly as popular as San Juan and when you really take a close look at both cities, this should definitely not be the case. The two cities have similar numbers in terms of population, and both have beautiful cityscapes, beaches and numerous other attractions for tourists and residents alike. This also means that Ponce is a great area to have your own car so that you can get around easily.

If you need your car shipped to Puerto Rico, you can always give us a call with any questions or to book your shipment. We can be reached any time at (904) 322-7644.

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The higher risk for an accident in Puerto Rico
Taking care of your fenders
Final word
 

The higher risk for an accident in Puerto Rico

You are at a bit of a higher risk of getting into an accident or a fender bender when you are in Puerto Rico. This is partially because of the condition of the roads and partially because of the low obedience to traffic laws by other motorists.

The roads in Puerto Rico have been improving in the several years since hurricane Maria but they are still not in great condition. There are a considerable number of potholes and cracks remaining in the roads of Puerto Rico. If you hit a larger one of these, it can jar you from control of the vehicle momentarily which can lead to an accident.

Other drivers in Puerto Rico put you at an even higher risk of getting into a fender bender or worse. The issue is that traffic laws in Puerto Rico are enforced much less than they are in other places such as the United States. Thus, many drivers rarely or never obey basic traffic laws like stopping at stop signs, waiting for someone who has the right-of-way to go before them or not parking in the middle of an active street.

It is because of that; you are more likely to end up in a fender bender on the roads of Puerto Rico than anywhere else. So, you can begin to see the importance of your car’s bumpers in Puerto Rico.
 

Taking care of your fenders

Taking care of your fenders is pretty simple. First and foremost, you should always drive with caution and defensively when you are in Puerto Rico. Being proactive and doing your best to prevent any damage from occurring is the best way to care for your bumpers.

If you do end up with any damage, you should get it fixed or repaired as soon as possible because a damaged bumper will not perform nearly as well in any future accidents. If your fender gets scratched or chipped, it is possible that you can repair it yourself as long as you have the know-how and the proper tools but we recommend that you take it to a professional. The same goes for dents or cracks but those are higher priority as they will heavily affect the performance of the fender.

Finally, you can also be proactive by getting bumper guards for your car. These are usually heavy-duty foam pads that will prevent scratches and chips from occurring in much lower speed crashes. They will not prevent dents or cracks in higher speed accidents. You can read more about the different types of bumper pads here.
 

Final word

Your car bumpers are an important line of protection against damage to the rest of your car that many people forget about or neglect. They are even more important in Puerto Rico where the roads in certain areas can be in poor condition and drivers across the island can be aggressive or careless. So, be sure that you drive carefully, you get any damage on the bumper repaired and consider bumper guards for your car as well.

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Financing a car
Leasing a car
Shipping a car
 

Financing a car

When you finance a car what you are essentially doing is taking out a loan and using that money to make payments on a car that you will eventually own once you have made all of the payments. This means there will be a third party involved where you will take the loan from. This could be a bank or an independent company that deals with these types of loans.

The pros of financing a car are that you will eventually own the car, there are no restrictions on what you can do with it, you can get it repaired wherever you would like, and you will not need to worry about trading it in one day if you do not want to.

The cons of financing a car are that the payments are more expensive than leasing, you will need to pay interest on the loan that you took, and it will likely take a few years before you officially own the car.
 

Leasing a car

Leasing a car is another way that you can have your very own car in Puerto Rico. It will obviously also be more convenient option than renting a car will be. When you lease a car paying for the use of a car over an extended period such as three years.

The advantages to leasing a car in Puerto Rico are that you will have lower monthly payments and you will also be able to drive a different car that is new or pretty new every few years. On top of that, trading in any leased vehicle will be much easier than a car you owned or financed.

The downsides of leasing a car are pretty numerous. You will have a mileage limit, there will be restrictions on what you can do with the car such as no off-roading, you will never own the car, you must return the car without any damage, there are limits to where you can get your car repaired and more. Odds are that you are better of financing or shipping a car that you already own.
 

Shipping a car

The best choice you likely have is to ship your car to Puerto Rico. It involves the least work and time on your part of any of the options. It is likely also the cheapest and most convenient. There are also the fewest number of downsides as well. Just about the only downside will be that you will be without your car for between a few days up to two weeks while it ships.

The upsides are numerous. That includes the lowest cost of any option and a one-time cost at that. It also includes the most convenience as we just mentioned. Finally, once your car has been delivered, you will be able to do whatever you wish with your car. You can contact Puerto Rico Car Transport today if you wish to ship your car to PR.

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Puerto Rico’s climate and weather
How you can weatherproof your car in Puerto Rico
Conclusion
 

Puerto Rico’s climate and weather

Puerto Rico has year-round hot weather and the potential for heavy rain as well as strong sunshine and salt air. These conditions are great for people enjoying a day out at the beach. But they are not great for your car and its finish.

All of those things can potentially cause costly damage to your car’s finish. In Puerto Rico, the average temperature fluctuates between about sixty and eighty degrees throughout the year depending on the time of the year and where you are in Puerto Rico exactly. The amount of rain that you will end up dealing with will also depend on where you are in Puerto Rico. In San Juan, for example, there are nearly two hundred days of rain per year on average. However, in areas that are more in-land the amount of rainy days per years is slightly less.

On days where it is not raining, you get a lot of very strong sunshine. This could cause some minor issues on its own such as causing your car’s paint to fade if it is a darker shade such as black. However, in combination with the ever-present salt air in Puerto Rico due to the proximity to the ocean, there could be more severe consequences for your car’s finish.

When the air has salt in it from the ocean, it can get stuck to your car and bake in the sun causing corrosion and rust. This can be quite costly to get fixed. Your other option will be to be proactive and take preventative measures in order to stop this sort of weather effect from occurring to your vehicle in Puerto Rico.
 

How you can weatherproof your car in Puerto Rico

Weatherproofing your car in Puerto Rico, especially in areas near the ocean such as San Juan, is definitely something that you should not put off for long. The first thing you will want to do in terms of weatherproofing your car in Puerto Rico is to protect the paint. You can do this by getting your car washed and waxed regularly. The wax will add another layer of protection against Puerto Rico’s weather.

You should also keep your car sheltered whenever you can. This could mean keeping your car in a garage or using a car cover to keep it covered. This way you can completely prevent ay weather-related damage from occurring to your car.
 

Conclusion

Puerto Rico’s weather is some of the most beautiful weather in the entire world with the exception of some rainy days. However, the sunny weather and salt air can cause some serious issues for your car and its finish. That is why you need to be proactive and keep your car covered when you can as well as getting it washed and waxed regularly.