Cuban Woman Shares Challenges of Importing a Modern Car: "Be Prepared for Missing Parts"

A Cuban woman, known as "Lia en las Redes" on TikTok, has opened up about her experience of importing a modern car into Cuba, detailing a series of challenges that range from exorbitant taxes to the difficulty of finding gasoline to operate it.

The first hurdle, as she explained, is financial: "The taxes they charge are nearly double the cost of the car," she emphasized. This comes despite the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment's decision in February to temporarily halt contracts and new shipments of combustion vehicles to Cuba, amid the severe fuel crisis gripping the nation.

Additionally, the car did not arrive as expected: "You have to be prepared for missing parts when it arrives. In my case, the first aid kit and even the gasoline were absent."

The issue with fuel was particularly striking: "The tank was full when it was sent, but it arrived completely empty."

Frustrating Bureaucracy and Delays

The logistical process was far from straightforward. Although the agency promised delivery within a month, the actual wait was much longer: "Don't expect it to arrive in a month, even if that's what the agency tells you. Mine reached Mariel in a month, but five more months passed before I was notified."

When she was finally called to pick it up, bureaucratic procedures added to her frustration: "I went excitedly when they finally called, but I had to return two days in a row because a document was missing."

Driving away with the car didn’t mark the end of her troubles.

She headed straight to a gas station, confronting the harsh reality of the country: "I waited in line from noon until six in the evening, just to fill the tank."

This ordeal epitomizes the paradox many Cubans face when acquiring a modern vehicle through immense effort: "Right now, my car is parked because gasoline is unavailable at any price."

The Worst Fuel Crisis in Decades

This account illustrates the worst fuel crisis Cuba has faced in decades. Since December 2025, Venezuela ceased oil shipments to the island; on January 9, 2026, Pemex halted its supplies; and that same month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries exporting fuel to Cuba.

The price impact has been staggering. The cost of a liter of gasoline in the informal market soared from between 700 and 1,500 pesos in January 2026 to between 4,000 and 6,000 pesos in April 2026, surpassing the average monthly salary of about 3,000 pesos.

State-run CUPET gas stations offer no viable alternative: they have waiting lists of 7,000 to 15,000 requests and only serve fifty to ninety vehicles daily, with a maximum of twenty liters per person.

Regulatory Framework for Car Importation

Regarding the regulatory framework, since January 1, 2025, Cuba has allowed individuals to import cars up to ten years old, with a limit of one vehicle every five years.

Although special taxes have been reduced compared to previous years, a car costing $20,000 in the United States can reach around $36,000 in Cuba when logistics and duties are included, and vehicles priced between $10,000 and $15,000 abroad can exceed $50,000 on the island, as reported by Árbol Invertido.

"So, dear friend, if you're still considering buying your car, you now know my experience," the Cuban woman concluded, encapsulating the frustration of those striving to improve their quality of life amidst the regime's restrictions.