By Denny Choy, AutoGuide, September 30, 2011
In the past,
unrestricted vehicle sales were only limited to cars built before the Cuban
revolution of 1959, giving the streets of Cuba a unique backdrop of Chevrolet Bel Airs, Chrysler Imperials
and Studebaker Commanders. Decades under Cuba’s communist regime had prevented
its people from purchasing land or new automobiles but finally, a new law
legalizing the sale and purchase of any model and any year of cars for all
citizens will take effect this Sunday. Cubans will also be allowed ownership of
more than one car.
The new laws are
passed in hopes to shift a free-market reform, allowing citizens to perform
some private enterprise and to rent out rooms or hire employees as well.
In accordance to
the new law for vehicle purchases, cars that
the state could once seize from Cubans who decide to emigrate can now be
transferred to a relative or sold outright. Now, any transaction between a
buyer and seller require both parties to pay a 4 percent tax. Moreover, the
buyer must be able to show that the money used for the purchase was obtained
legally. What this means is the buyers will go to a state-owned dealership to
prove that the money used for the purchase of the vehicle was salary earned
from an approved field. Money given to the buyer by relatives abroad do not
apply.
While this makes it
easier than the past, the number of citizens that can actually make enough
money to take advantage of the law are wealthy doctors, sponsored athletes, and
individuals that have traveled abroad and were eligible to import a car.
2 comments:
Can I as an american citizen purchase a car in cuba and bring it to the U.S.
I am not sure about the extent of the new Cuban law. But the U.S. embargo in place for 50 years will not allow you to import a car from Cuba.
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