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Importing And Buying Cars, Costa Rica

Options, Answers & Info for First-Time Punters

Recently a letter to the editor appeared in the Tico Times, advising people to "Learn From Our Mistakes When Shipping Your Car" (Beedle, 2008). If moving is stressful, then finding your feet in a foreign country can be insane. But it doesn't have to be. Your choices are only as good as the information you have available. Whether you are thinking about shipping a car from overseas or buying one within Costa Rica you need to know and consider the following.

The Basics
What kind of car do you want to buy/import? Are the right parts available here for maintenance and repair? Is the car appropriate for Costa Rican roads, which are often unpaved, potholed, and damaged during the green season? Will you need a vehicle with 4x4? Only you know your individual needs. Meeting them is the next step.

Driving Your Car to Costa Rica
Obviously this is an option and an adventurous one at that. If you drive from the United States you will pass through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.  It is not within the scope of this article to go into detail about all these border crossings, however there is a lot of information you should know if you chose to do this. A good starting point for your research is: www.costaricareisen.com/firmen/autohandel/info_eng.htm.

The Back & Forth
Even if you're just drifting about in a fairly non-committal way, it's better to know the laws instead of finding out the hard way. To renew your visa you must leave the country every 90 days, for 3 days. This is not the same for your car - your car has to stay out for 90 days before it can return. You must also carry with you the original import and visa documents while driving a United States registered car within Costa Rica (Beedle, 2008). Some people think they can leave the country for 72 hours and then bring the same car back in with a different license plate to get new permits. However this is illegal. If you are caught doing this, your car may be confiscated and you can be sent to jail, deported, and banned from Costa Rica for a number of years (Charles Zeller, shiptocostarica@racsa.co.cr, personal communication December 24, 2008). Your car is allowed in Costa Rica for six months before you have to pay any taxes. It doesn't matter which car the country is from, they will just put an extra stamp on your passport for your car. However, from January 1st 2009, Costa Rica will enter into the CAFTA agreement, so perhaps this rule will change (Marielos Meléndez, Lawyer@CostaRicaLawyer.com,personal communication, December 27, 2008).

Shipping
There are many different shipping companies to choose from, so it's definitely worth checking out options to find the best deal. You can start fishing around by submitting quotes online at sites such as:
www.omegashipping.com/carshipping.asp
www.compare-international-movers.com
www.autocarshippers.com
www.abc-movers.com
www.rexcargo.com
www.jetbox.com
Remember to take into consideration costs such as storage, port fees, insurance, documentation, handling charges, customs inspections, demurrages (compensation you have to pay in case there is a loading or unloading delay), delivery etc. Any vehicle you want to ship into Costa Rica must also pass a EPA Smog Test, approved by a Local Consulate from the country of exportation. It is important to find out what your quote includes and what charges will be outstanding. To read a case example of what quotes may entail read Nicolas Ruggia's article "Bringing in Your Four-Wheeled Baby", The Tico Times, May 23 2008. For more information you can contact Charles Zeller by emailing shiptocostarica@racsa.co.cr or by phoning (toll free from USA and Canada) 1-866-245-6923 or (506) 2258-8747.
For information and advice about how to avoid shipping scams see: www.autocarshippers.com/carshippingscam.aspx.
Freight Charges
From the United States, cars are shipped into Puerto Limon. If you drove your car into Costa Rica, or for some reason you don't have a freight bill (a bill of lading), then freight will be calculated as 7% of the market value of your car. Be careful, because this calculation could produce a cost more expensive than what actual freight might have been. If you didn't have freight insurance, customs will figure one out for you by multiplying the sum of the market value and freight by 110%, then they multiply that figure by 1.5% (Howard, 2008).

The Black Book
To establish a value for the car being exported, you need to present the commercial invoice with the purchase value. If you don't have a commercial invoice you have to declare a value. You can't try and be sneaky by just making a value up, as Customs Officers follow a guide - The Black (or Blue) Book. Unless your declared value is within about 3% of what they've established, it will be rejected. The guide lists prices for new and used cars (used cars are defined as any car that is owned/titled). For examples of Canadian and United States evaluations you can visit www.blackbookguides.com.
Also go to www.crautos.com. The site is in Spanish, but don't be put off. Click on the "Blue Book" tab at the top of the page, then click "INGRESAR" ("access"). This brings you to a form where you can enter specifications to get a price estimate. The estimate is drawn from a database of vehicles used in Costa Rica.

Despite these guides, the Costa Rican government often has the final say over car values and may assign higher values to cars than what is quoted in the Book (www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses). "Costa Rican Market Values" are applied by the government by basing values on the selling prices of used vehicles in C.R. Depending on the year and model of your car, this price can be multiplied by between 0.432 - 0.502 to establish the import value. And this is what can make things pricey. For more detailed information and an example of how such calculations can produce high costs see www.1costaricalink.com/elresidente/oo-3-4-2001.htm.

Costs and calculations
You can be stung with high import taxes and duties when importing a car. The Costa Rican government taxes at between 50-80% the value of the CIF (cost + insurance + freight) OR 50-80% the value determined by the Costa Rican Finance Ministry's Car-Tica system (Ruggia, 2008).
Factors taken into consideration when establishing the value include not only the car purchase value and year, but also the model, cubic centimeters, and any vehicle extras. The older your car is, the less it will be taxed (old cars are roughly defined as 10 years or more) (www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/information/import-export). As of January 1st 2009, regardless of whether you drove your car into Costa Rica or had it shipped, models 2007,2008 and 2009 will be charged 52.9% of the import value at Hacienda. Models 2006 and 2005 are charged 63.7% and anything older is charged 79.03% (Charles Zeller, shiptocostarica@racsa.co.cr, personal communication December 23, 2008).

To get a more accurate idea of what you might be charged, check the government website "Ministerio de Hacienda" at www.hacienda.go.cr/autohacienda/autovalor.aspx. At this site you enter the specifications of your car to come up with a cost. Caution: Sometimes Government websites are out of date and the best thing you can do is ask an expert or official. Another way to obtain an estimate of duties is to send a fax or email to the Association of Residents (arcr@casacanada.net / www.arcr.net) detailing where you want to ship the car from, the car's make, model, serial number (VIN), features, e.g. manual or automatic, air conditioning, power windows, and any other non-standard equipment. You can also email Charles Zeller (contact details under "Shipping a car") and you can contact the National Auto Research by writing to:
2620 Barrett Road,
P.O. Box 758,
Gainsville, GA 30503.
Phone (800) 554-1026 and fax (770) 532-4792
(www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/information/import-export; Howard, 2008).

Registration & License Plates
After a new car has been brought into the country it's supposed to be registered at the tax office in San Jose within two days (www.costaricareisen.com/firmen/autohandel/info_eng.htm).You can get the paperwork to register it from customs. The cost of registration depends upon the value of your car. Firstly, the papers need to be taken to the vehicle section of the Registro Público, or Public Registry, and then the Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes). In time you are issued with a placa provisional (temporary paper license plate) by the Public Registry, which you display on your windshield. The paper will probably fade, so attach a photocopy to the windscreen and keep the original in the glove box. You have to watch the expiry date of the paper plates while you're waiting for your permanent metal plates, as you can get a fine (from about 10,000 to 20,000 colones or $20 to $40) if they run out and you don't renew them. You cannot renew your paper license until the day it expires. You have to go back to the Registro Público to have it renewed and there is no charge to do this (Administrator, 2008). Once the metal plates are ready you need to go to the Registro Nacional (National Registry), bringing with you:
Your temporary paper plate,

Title of ownership (título de propiedad),
Yellow registration card (tarjeta de circulación) and…
Your passport or Resident I.D. card (cédula).
Insurance
You can hire somebody to take care of all these processes for you or your dealer will do it.
Visit the National Registry's website (available in English) at www.registronacional.com (Howard, 2008; Lytle, 2008a; Administrator, 2008).

Inspection (RITEVE)
Cars require general maintenance and safety inspections to ensure they are road worthy. In Costa Rica, this is known as the RTV, or RITEVE. In addition to brake, lights, indicator, and wiper checks, exhaust emissions are also examined. Cars less than 5 years old have to be checked every 2 years while older cars are examined annually. The month you need to go for inspection depends upon the last numbers of your license plate, i.e. 1= January, 2= February and so on. Numbers ending in 0 are checked in October and November checks cars 1-5. It pays to book ahead, which you can do through phoning or visiting the website at www.rtv.co.cr. If you go to Google first, the website can be translated into English for you. From the website you can access information such as the location of Inspection Centers, contact information, advice about how to pass the inspection, legislations, appointments, etc. Appointments cost about $20-$30/25,000 colones. It is possible to hire a trusted Tico to take your car to inspection for you.  Once you have passed your RTV test, you get an inspection certificate and a sticker on the windshield. required to pay the Marchamo. For further information about the RTV see the government website at www.mopt.go.cr/Reglamentos.html. For more information see www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses and Lytle (2008a).

The Marchamo
The Marchamo is a permit you need to run your car every year. It includes some liability insurance. The price, once again, depends on your car. You can check prices online at http://portal.ins-cr.com/General/Marchamo. All you need to do is click on "Consulte su Marchamo aqua" (Consult your Marchamo here) and enter your vehicle type and license plate number.
You must renew this permit every year sometime between the first of November and the last day of December, but if you want to avoid a headache, don‘t wait till the last minute. If you have outstanding parking and traffic fines you must settle these first and you also need to show proof that you've passed the RTV. When you pay you get a sticker for the windshield. If you haven't paid by the New Year you risk getting a warning, a ticket, or having your car impounded. You can pay Marchamo at MOPT, banks and online with Banco Nacional at www.bncr.fi.cr. For more information see Howard (2008), Lytle (2008a & 2008b), and www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses).

Advantages of owning/importing a car in Costa Rica

•    Vehicles retain their value in Costa Rica much longer than they may in other countries. If you bring in an older vehicle and eventually decide to sell it, you can still get a good price to help redeem what you spend getting it here. Keep in mind that this also means if you buy a used car within Costa Rica, prices may be a bit darer than what you could be used to back home (Lytle, 2008b).

•    Vehicle repair and maintenance are usually 10-15% cheaper than what you'd pay in the States. Prices vary among locations and workshops, so you can shop around (www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses/).

Disadvantages of owning/importing a car in Costa Rica

•    Gasoline can be pricey and you can't shop around because prices are set by the government. Fuel was selling at between $4.40-$5.20 per gallon, late-2008 (www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses/).

•    Import duties are not cheap. For example, a $20,000 used car, depending on the age, may cost you from $10,000 - $17,000 in duties (Lytle, 2008b).

•    Costa Rica doesn't have all the same makes and models that are available in other countries. You may wish to import a particular vehicle, but if you're not going to be able to find a knowledgeable mechanic and the right parts for your car, you might have to think twice. (Unless importing the car parts is not an issue for you).

•    If your car was purchased in the United States (or elsewhere) your warranty and guarentee may not be valid in Costa Rica.
•    You run the risk of your car being damaged during shipping.

For more information visit www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/information/import-export.
Buying a car
If you are on a budget, rather than import, it is generally always more affordable to buy a car within Costa Rica. This can also work to your advantage, as second-hand cars already in the country may be specifically designed to suit the conditions, with appropriate engine tuning, tires, etc. If you want to buy something brand new, it may be more expensive than you'd pay overseas because of the import tax paid to ship it here.

Costa Rican newspapers such as La Nación, La Teja, Diario Extra, and The Tico Times (which is in English) are a good place to start browsing for local prices. Also you can check out the websites www.crautos.com and www.wheelsCR.com. Over four weeks during late-2008, most of the cars advertised for sale in the Tico Times were 4x4 vehicles, particularly Toyota Landcruisers. Apart from Toyotas, other popular brands in Costa Rica include Nissans, Hondas, Suzukis, and Hyundais.

If you can't pay for your car straight off and want to finance it, you need to provide proof of income or a good credit record from within Costa Rica. If you don't have a stable income or haven't been in Costa Rica long enough to establish good credit, you could try getting another resident or citizen to co-sign with you. Failing that, you'll have to put up with higher interest rates (provided you find a dealer who'll finance it for you).  

It is imperative that before you sign any papers, you have the car checked out by a proper mechanic - and not the mechanic recommended by the seller.  Plus you need to know the car can pass inspection - especially if you are participating in a private sale. After all, you don't want the hassle of hidden costs. Read more at:
www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/information/import-export
www.therealcostarica.com/moving_to_costa_rica/bring_buy_car.html
www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses
www.livecostarica.net/?q=node/74

Car Insurance
Apart from the liability insurance included in the Marchamo, auto insurance isn't a requirement in Costa Rica. As a result, many people choose to remain uninsured because the worth of their car doesn't justify paying the high fees - if that's the boat you're in, then don't go causing an accident or you will be responsible for damages (www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses).

The Costa Rican government has held a monopoly over insurance for the last 84 years. Cover is sold from National Insurance Institute offices (INS) and foreign insurance usually isn't valid. In October The Tico Times indicated foreign firms could provide cross-border insurance for shipping and air transportation services (TT, Oct 31, pg 15, "Auto Insurance Rates Could go up 14%"), but as for auto insurance the Tico Times reported in November that competition in the auto insurance market won't open up until 2011 (Tico Times, "Agency Rejects Request to Hike Auto Insurance" V.I. Garnica, Nov 21, pg 3).
In the meantime, visitors can get cover from the INS as long as they have a valid drivers license, are at least 18 years old, and haven't overstayed 90 days. If the car has foreign plates only third party damage is covered for the time the car is allowed in the country. If you've financed your car through a dealer, chances are they'll work out a policy for you and incorporate some kind of insurance fee into your re-payments (www.costarica.com/Retirement/Cost-of-Living/Auto-Expenses; Administrator, 2008; Lytle, 2008a & 2008b).

The Law
All you need to legally drive in Costa Rica is a valid drivers license and passport. There is a law known as "The License Plate Rule" which applies in central San José. To help keep traffic under control, days from Monday to Friday are allocated numbers: Monday 1 & 2, Tuesday 3 & 4, Wednesday 5 & 6, Thursday 7 & 8, and Friday 9 & 0. Whichever day the last number of your plate matches is the day you must keep your car off the road (between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.). If you're caught breaking the rule you can get fined approximately $10 or 5,000 colones. See a map for the restricted area at www.livecostarica.net/?q=node/183.

Recently the government cracked down on traffic violations by increasing fines substantiality. Although a judge reserves the right to replace jail time with community service, the new laws can potentially send drivers to prison for up to 3 years for racing other cars, speeding over 150 km/ph, or driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.75 grams per liter (a 155 pound man could reach this level by drinking three-four beers over an hour). A merit system has been introduced, in which drivers initially have 50 points. Points are deducted as offenses occur. If you lose all your points, you also lose your license for two years. The crimes and their penalties are listed below (Gillers, 2008):

Causing a fatal accident 6 months     8 years jail
Causing a fatal accident while drunk     3 -15 years jail
Racing against other drivers         1-3 years jail
Driving drunk (BAC 0.75 g/l)         1-3 years jail
Driving tipsy (BAC 0.5 g/l)         $410 fine
Driving faster than 150 km/hr         1-3 years jail
Driving faster than 120 km/hr         $410 fine
Driving without a valid license or permit     $410 fine
Operating a pirate taxi             $410 fine
Driving 20 km/hr above speed limit     $310 fine
Not wearing a seatbelt             $310 fine
Holding a cell phone             $310 fine
Ignoring traffic lights or signs         $310 fine

Recommendations
Obviously everything talked about above screams "paperwork." However it's not so intense if you hire help along the way. Besides, if you're working with dealers they should be doing it for you anyway.  If you believe importing a car is the right option for you, then it's a very good idea to get a good customs broker/agent on your side. Once the car has arrived to the port the agent will do the paperwork for you and calculate the taxes. Once you've paid up you can take your car. This usually takes about two days. You should also consider hiring a bi-lingual lawyer to guide you through the process (e.g. check out www.CostaRicaLawyer.com or email Marielos Melendez - who answered my questions - at Lawyer@CostaRicaLawyer.com). If you're not working with a dealer you will still need the help of a Customs agent to help you plan and prepare… And you need patience! (Lytle, 2008b).

BestsellingPrice: low to highPrice: high to lowAlphabetical: A to ZAlphabetical: Z to A

Covercraft ZBAGTK Bag-Car Cover Sale Price: $6.04   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days Average Rating: Description Car Cover Bag Features Vehicle Cover Bag Material - Plastic Reviews Car Cover by Adrian D. Brown from Clinton, MS, US on 2010-06-04 I recieved this cover and it was a little bit bigger than a pillowcase. It wasn't what was shown in the picture. Car Cover by Pete Sytsma from on 2010-03-04 I did not receive a car cover, I received a small bag the size of a grocery bag. Wow what deception and disappointment!!! is this a joke by Audrey P. Jones from on 2009-04-02 this wasn't what i thought it was unless i drove a matchbox car there i nothing i can do with this product. Ripped Off by Jacob Cortez from Texas on 2009-03-28 I feel like i was ripped off with this product. Im in the military, and deployed right now, so i had this sent home to my mom, where my car was being kept. The product took forever to get there, and when it finally did, it wasn't even a car cover. It was just a bag! The wording in the title is completly misleading. Maybe it was my fault for not reading the reviews and what not. But i still feel jipped! Boat cover bag by David Baldwin from on 2009-02-13 The way the description was worded made me think I was ordering a Bag style boat cover. It sounded too good to be true. Price was very low. I gambled and lost. It's my fault I could have communicated with the seller and then I would know it's only a small bag for a boat cover. Nice bag though.

11pc Safari Zebra Car Mats Seat Steering Wheel Cover Set Sale Price: $40.59   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description Total 11 pieces of Safari Zebra Print accessories set includes 2 pieces of Zebra seat covers with 2 separate head rest cover. Made with high grade heavy weight acrylic fabric with velvet and fury feel. These Low Back Zebra skin seat covers will fit any car SUV, truck or van with regular bucket seats. It will also fit seats with arm rest (zipper on the side). 2 front and 2 back pieces carpet Zebra print mat with nibbed tip backing. The front piece size is 27" X 17.25", rear size: 17.5" X 13.25" and Steering wheel cover (fits steering wheels with 14.5" ~16" diameter, and 2 seat belt covers. Features Easy Installation Side opening for arm rest Reviews Safari Zebra car mat by A. Rivera from Denver, Colorado on 2010-05-05 Pretty good quality for the price. The steering wheel cover took all I had in me to stretch it over the steering wheel but once on, it fits perfectly. The white get's dirty quickly though. LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!! by L. K. Gibson from Dallas, Texas on 2010-04-19 I love the feel, look and QUALITY of my new seat covers. I was really reluctant to order these online, but I am so glad I did! I get so many compliments on my seats now!! You can't even tell they are covers. Everyone wants to know who did my seats (not realizing its covers). It has really enhanced the look of my car! Great item by L. Burgess from on 2010-03-15 These seat covers were great, especially for the price! They were a little hard to get on, but they fit perfectly with a little effort. I would definietly order from this company again in the near future. Better than I expected by K A Maci from Midland, Texas United States on 2010-02-03 I bought the 11 piece zebra seat covers and mats for my daughter's used VW Beetle. I was not expecting them to fit well, as they were not very expensive. You know the saying...You get what you pay for. They actually fit quite well and she loves them. They were her favorite Christmas present. nice kit, all items look great by C. Rowlett from Central VA on 2010-01-18 Even though the seller raised the price a good deal from one day to the next and would not really explain (truthfully anyway) why the big price increase, they're still a decent quality. Just hate paying more for the same thing.

Car Seat Cover Full Set Front Airbags Ready & Rear Split 40/60 Gray/black Fb060 115 List Price: $99.00 Sale Price: $39.99 You save: $59.01 (60%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating: Description You are viewing our special designed 3 layer Seat Covers, sandwich with 4mm foam back with polyester - the material will make your vehicle interior look beautiful, and with a real comfortable feeling. outstanding quality and superior design make FH seat covers an exclusive product that you are looking for. Features Total: 9pcs car seat covers 2 pcs front seat covers( airbags readay) 1pc bench backreast covers ( include 3 zipper that allow you to fit those vehicles with 40/60 split, 50/50 split and the armrest in the middle) 1pc bench seat cover ( include 3 zipper that allow you to fit those vehicles with 40/60 split, 50/50 split ) 5 pcs headrest covers Reviews amazingly good for the price. by BrandonR. from on 2010-08-29 I bought these for my 2008 Nissan versa, and these seat covers fitted amazingly well. Back seats where kind of hard to install, specially because the back seats don't fold down, but i managed to install all of then correctly,and they all fit amazingly well. i have even order some more seat covers for my toyota tacoma. overall nice product for te price. Very Nice Covers by Steven Nelson from NE Wisconsin on 2010-08-22 These are very nice seat covers for the money. The front covers went on nicely and really look like they belong on the car. I am a little disappointed that the rear cover does not fit my 2010 Impala.That problem is how the rear seat is made and not the cover. I am using the seat cushion cover but not the back,due to Chevrolets design. Overall, very nice. In fact my wife is considering a set for her 2010 Ford Escape. Hope this helps don't waste your money by A. C. Shrouf from Santa Rosa, CA United States on 2010-08-18 I thought these looked great when I first got them only 3 weeks ago. They fit, and are technically doing there job, BUT after only 3 weeks of use (my new car doesn't even have 400 miles on it yet!) the drivers seat is showing significant wear. I'm not sure how much longer until it's worn through all together, but it can't be long. I was surprise at how thin they were in the first place, but thought it was just because I was used to our old ones in our truck that are made of wetsuit material. We've had those things for YEARS and they still look brand new. These however are trash. Seems like a good deal, but it's not...buyer beware. And just to clarify, my husband and I don't do anything unusual that would make it wear so quickly. No heavy duty jobs that require we wear sandpaper pants or anything (because that what it looks like we've been doing!), and we are both small in stature. We haven't even been using this as our commuter car...whoever has the baby has this car, so we've really only been riding to the store or dr's appointments in it. Great buy! by Sherry Irvin from LA PORTE, INDIANA, US on 2010-08-17 A little late in letting you know about this product - but waited until we had installed them in our Prius. We were very satisfied with these seat covers and yes they do require some time to install - and patience is key. We would recommend these seat covers and would purchase them again if necessary. Not for all cars by Jake from on 2010-08-10 We have a 2005 Toyota Prius. The seller informed us that these covers would fit our car. He was partly right. These covers are a good-buy for the money but they were difficult to install properly. Check with the seller before purchasing, as they are not for all cars.

Univerisal Full Set Car Seat Covers Solid Black 114 List Price: $69.99 Sale Price: $24.99 You save: $45.00 (64%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating: Description This Seatcover features innovative fabrics and design for both fashion and fit. This seatcover updates the appearance of old or dirty seats and protects against splits, stains, fading, dirt, and pet hairs. The seatcover is easy to install and fits most vehicle. Features Total: 8pcs car seat covers 2 pcs front bucket seat covers 1 pc rear bench seat's back covers 1 pc rear bench seat covers 4 pcs headrest covers Reviews Poor Material, Cheap Quality by Kalpesh Dalwadi, Colorado Springs. from on 2010-08-22 I bought this covers for my Toyota Camry 1993. For an old car i didn't wanted to spend much and this cost me $35 with shipping. While it fitted good on the front bucket seats, the rear bench seat back cover is not a perfect fit. Major complain with this covers is the nylon kind of cloth that is used. Once you sit on it and it rubs with the body/cloths, threads start to come out of the covers. I am pretty sure this will not last more than couple of months. For my Hyundai Santa Fe, I bought Synterior (company name) seat covers from ebay and those are made of thin vinyl material which imitates leather like looks. That one cost $44 (free shipping) , fitted my truck seats in a nice way and far better quality. This one are definitely not worth paying $35 or even buying!! Universal car seat covers by Mikefulbak69 from on 2010-08-16 Service was fast, delivered on time and not very expensive; but the quality of the product is cheap and not practical for my car-may be universal, but doesn't mean it looks good for every car! Meh... by Jose from on 2010-08-07 Considering the price they are pretty good, better than using old T-shirts, towels or blankets as seat covers - these covers are made out of a thin and cheap stretch nylon/polyester material that is backed by some even cheaper and thinner sponge material. The fabric reminds me of the stuff they make cheap Halloween costumes for kids out of. The headrests are horrible - basically an ill-fitting bag that slides over the headrest - you get 4 of them. The front seat covers are easy enough to get on because they are only 1 piece each, had a bit of trouble getting the top part to clear the headrest hole, but with little modification it was no problem. The rear seats were another issue - if you're comfortable taking the bottom of your rear set out, again, no worries - but if you're not then I suggest another set. The rear seat is 2 pieces - a piece for the backrest and another for the bottom seat part. I have a 2009 Chevy Malibu and the bottoms to the rear seats were easy enough to pop out and secure the cover - the covers are held in place by a series of cheap elastic bands and clips, don't pull too hard or they rip right off. There are no holes for the seat belts so you may have to so some modding, like I did - my rear seat is a 60/40 folding one so that was another issue - I think that this set is more intended for the once piece backrest not the split one - I also had to remove the rear headrest and poke holes through the fabric so I could reinstall; either way it fit, and when the fabric settled and wrinkles came out, it didn't look too shabby. Overall I give them a 3 out of 5, but only because they're so cheap in price - the fabric is so-so and the construction is meh...if you've got some spare change and need covers this is for you, if you want quality then visit the dealer. Just like I had anticipated. :) by Reviewer from on 2010-07-26 I have a PT Cruiser so I knew that universal seat covers would be a bit big on my seats but it fits really well! I only had to place some U-glue on the headrest covers to make them look like a custom fit. I did have to cut holes for seatbelts on the back seats but I got a steal of a price. I feel as if they were the best deal for the cost. If you want a perfect fit for both the front and back, just remember you will have to buy direct from the car manufacturer and they always think their products are made out of freaking gold. For us, this was a great deal that arrived as promised. Car seat covers by amazon girl from on 2010-06-28 Great fitting product, smooth look, decent fabric, I especially like the back seat cover, looks nice & for a great price!

Master Lock 715DAT Car Cover Cable and Lock Kit List Price: $9.47 Sale Price: $8.09 You save: $1.38 (15%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description Master Lock Car Cover Cable and Lock Kit includes 1 to 0.13 inch steel body and shackle. This cable is finished with a vinyl coating which offers a long life and features a warded locking mechanism for extra protection. It is easy to install and is corrosion resistant. Features Include 1to 0.125 inch steel body and shackle Features a vinyl coating Consists of warded locking mechanism Easy to install Corrosion resistant Reviews As Advertized by Timothy Hartle from Fairfax, VA USA on 2009-11-04 It's not fancy and the lock isn't the most secure type, but it's exactly what I was looking for at a price that's hard to beat. Longer by D. Moss from Tennessee on 2009-02-18 It needs to be about 6" longer other than that it's great....fast shipping got it 3 days sooner than they said.

New Design 11 Pieces Tweety Bird Attitude Logo Car Seat Covers Set Includes Front and Rear Seat Covers, Steering Wheel Cover, Seat Belt Covers List Price: $79.99 Sale Price: $43.95 You save: $36.04 (45%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description This is a set of the latest design Tweety Bird Attitude design Seat covers set. Includes 2 front seat cover, rear seat cover, steering wheel cover and 2 seat belt covers. Made of polyester with embossed logo. Features 2 Regular bucket seat covers and a rear seat cover 1 steering wheel cover and 2 seat belt covers Easy clean and intallation Official licensed Twetty Bird Attitude Logo Reviews New Design 11 Pieces Tweety Bird Attitude Logo Car Seat Covers Set Includes Front and Rear Seat Covers, Steering Wheel Cover, Se by Lady T from on 2010-07-30 First- the website doesn't tell you what is included in the set Second- there are only 9 items in the bag according to the actual packageBut the design is great, the quality is worth it. Good purchase if you love tweety and have the money I would research a little more for something that actually has 11 items. Missing something? by J. Myer from Texas on 2010-03-12 someone can not count! you only get eleven pieces. the stuff we did get was ok, but the title needs to be changed.

Universal Disposable Car Cover 12 x 24 FT All Sizes Sedan Mini Van SUV Truck Furniture Room Sofa List Price: $20.00 Sale Price: $11.00 You save: $9.00 (45%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Description This disposable cover is universally fit for smaller jobs like covering Cars and Station Wagons. It can protect just about everything when a temporary solution is needed. This cover is fitted with with an elastic hem to ensure a tight fit and offers protection from dirt, dust, grime, and foul weather. Contractors and Painters are big fans of this cheap solution to a very expensive problem. Protect vehicles, patio furniture and shrubbery from paint or power wash over spray or the dust and dirt created from a construction job. Our Universal Disposable Covers are up to the task whenever or wherever you need them! Features This disposable cover is universally fit for smaller jobs like covering Cars and Station Wagons. It can protect just about everything when a temporary solution is needed. This cover is fitted with with an elastic hem to ensure a tight fit and offers protection from dirt, dust, grime, and foul weather. Protect vehicles, patio furniture and shrubbery from paint or power wash over spray or the dust and dirt created from a construction job. Weight is around 1 lb, thickness is 20 mic. Can be reused if you can fold it up (very difficult). 12 x 24 FT. Buy 5 and get free shipping

5 Pieces Zebra Print High Back Car Seat Covers Set with Steering Wheel and Seat Belt Covers Sale Price: $31.50   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description This package includes: 2 high-back seat covers, 1 steering wheel cover, 2 shoulder pads. Features 2 front seat cover 1 steering wheel cover 2 shoulder pad protect against debris Universal fit Reviews Seatcover by Neet13 from on 2010-07-01 I dont recomend this product at all, very cheap.. Seat covers wont stay on and the strap broke! Steering wheel cover didnt fit and it broke as well.. A complete waste of money.. du shizznit by Mark Twain from Florida, MO USA on 2010-02-25 deez seets iz freesch!? now u pimp kan ryd dem hows in styl fu sho fu sho!@$$! wut kan ay sey dem bichez luv du skin got tu put du kuvuz on dem o da hos get blud on dem no meen? zebra heaven by Surfing with lions from southern MI on 2010-02-10 Came to the door quickly, looked of quality, installed easily and is trouble free as of yet. A must buy for the zebra lovers.

Mommy's Helper Car Seat Sun Shade Sale Price: $9.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description The Mommy's Helper Car Seat Sun Shade can keep your child's car seat an average of 26 degrees F cooler.Unwrap the car Seat Sun Shade and stretch over the child's car seat, covering the entire seat with shade.To remove, simply stretch the sun shade back over car seat. Wrap up shade and use built-in elastic strap to secure for storage between uses. Features Cools and protects your child's car seat Helps protect car seat from heat and UV rays Elastic sizing allows cover to fit most car seats Easy to use Easy to store Reviews wow by Camilla from Houston, TX on 2010-08-13 We were very pleasantly surprised by this product. It keeps the seat much colder than the rest of the car. Some reviews mention that you need two hands to put the cover on, but I've never had to put my baby down to use it. Simply hook it over one corner first, and the rest will easily come. You don't even need to have the cover neatly wrapped around the seat for it to keep the temperature in the seat down. Sun shades for the windows, or tinted windows does not do the job as well. Works Great by Karen M. Johnson from LIBERTY, MO USA on 2010-07-17 Easy to use and works as advertised. My daughter's car seat (with this cover over it) had direct sunlight (90 degrees outside) coming in the window for an hour while we shopped and when we got back in the metal and plastic parts of her car seat were only warm, not hot to the touch so I didn't have to run the AC to cool off the car before putting her in the seat. Just what I wanted. Great for the Texas heat!! by J. Stickler from Ft. Worth, TX on 2010-07-06 This car seat cover is wonderful!! It keeps the metal on the buckles cool so I don't have to worry about them burning my baby's skin. Definately does what it says it does by Gayle Pierce from Los Angeles, CA on 2010-07-02 Works great at keep the seat cool. Especially the metal pieces don't get hot in the southern California sun DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! by from on 2010-06-23 I bought this because the buckles on the car seat were always too hot. It did NOT keep the car seat cool, nor did it cool off the buckles. It actually felt like it trapped the heat in there! I returned it and just put a towel over the buckles, which seems to work better! Very disappointed!!!

Covercraft Ready-Fit Deluxe 380 Series Long Car Cover, Tan List Price: $195.90 Sale Price: $93.93 You save: $101.97 (52%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: Description Covercraft Ready-Fit Deluxe 380 Series Long Car Cover is designed to naturally resist moisture as well as acid rain, industrial pollutants, tree sap and bird droppings. It features three-layer construction with a protective middle layer film barrier. The film barrier has microscopic holes, smaller than droplets of water to prevent moisture allowing any moisture vapor or heat to easily escape from under the cover. This fabric weighs a mere3.2 ounce per square yard. It protects the vehicle against dents, dings and scratches. The breathable fabric allows circulation of air through it constituting to quick drying and reduces heat buildup. Its middle layer acts as a filtration barrier against most airborne pollutants. This cover is easy to use, prevents stretch or shrinks and retains shape. It includes a bottom-edge elastic that holds the cover tight and is equipped with grommets for a cable lock as well as an additional grommet that can be installed to accommodate the vehicle’s antenna .The easy to store fabric is long lasting and is backed by a 3 year limited warranty on material as well as workmanship. Features Designed lightweight and compact for easy storage Features 3-layer polypropylene construction with natural moisture resistance and treated for extra UV protection Includes a bottom-edge elastic and grommets The Deluxe 380 Series a semi-custom cover fitting cars from 17 feet 6 inches to 19 feet 6 inches long Fits 15 feet to 16 feet long cars Reviews Great cover by Michelle Dear from on 2010-08-02 This cover worked very well for my 2001 Toyota Solara. It's easy to take on and off, and is a one-size-fits-all for various brands.It was very easy for me to figure out exactly which type of cover I needed to get and order off of Amazon from this seller.I recommend this cover brand and seller.