Expat Community > Uruguay

Expat91364
Joined 2016
Posts: 380

New Car Buying in Uruguay

6 years ago

Having recently bought a new car, called a 0km car here I thought to share my experience.

First off, there are a fair amount of options available but a couple important things to know.

First is that car prices are fixed. Every dealer charges the same, all have the same list price which you can usually find on the manufacturers or dealers web site. You can arrange for a test drive of course before you buy. They don't negotiate. Ask for free mats or something.

Options are limited by packages or trim level. You can't order a trim package and then add options to it, you just have to go to the next level usually, if say you want 6 airbags (highly recommended here) you may wind up with a bunch of things you don't really want or need.

Cost is like anything imported here and far more expensive than in the US. But there are some inexpensive vehicles too. Fiat which is built in Brazil and has much less import taxes can be had new for $15,000 to $20,000 USD rather basic models and the warranty is not all that long, I think 2 years. Sure in the States they might be $10-12,000 but when something like a Toyota RAV 4 is $50K the Fiat seems like a real bargain!!!!

There are high end brands that will cost a small fortune, Mercedes, Porche, BMW all in the 100k and up range., Ford or Chevy, Jeep and Dodge all starting at least 50% more than in the US.

Hyundai and Kia the Korean brands as well as Nissan, Toyota etc. And they have French brands that haven't sold in the US for almost 30 years like Peugeot and Renault. Peugeot is quite common here and has a great reputation. Our old car is Peugeot and going on 13 years now and we live near the beach which is tough on cars.

Now there are new imports from China and these have come a long way in the 5 years I have been here.

I decided to try a BYD and take a chance as they are the most advanced technically and have a 5 year warranty. They are also sold and maintained by the Peugeot dealer which seems to say something. Fully $15k less than an equivalent Hyundai didn't hurt either. I am so far pleasantly surprised and really enjoying it.

The purchase process is easy if you will take a car in stock, otherwise you can wait a good long time for the next batch of cars to arrive from wherever they are coming from. You will need an insurance agent who can quote you what the insurance options are and they will deal directly with the car dealer so you can pick up the car. If you are registering it in a different area than where you are buying they will arrange temp certificate for driving the vehicle.

I registered the my car in Maldonado but bought it in Montevideo. You go to Intendencia office of motor vehicle, they direct you to an inspector outside who will check all the hidden VIN numbers and make sure they match what your purchase papers show.

You need your insurance papers from your brokers who can email them to you, You have to prove your address so bring a bill from the water company or the electric company. And like always here, bring your Cedula. They will give you a slip with how much to pay and you go down the street and pay it at an Abitab or Redpago and then go back and pick up your plates.

Really not bad at all

TIP! Of course the plate holes for mounting are not where the mounting bolts are on the car so you need a drill and bit and the hardware store doesn't have the right size bolt. Ask the dealer for bolts to mount the plates so you can do it at home.

Since not much in the way of reviews out there for BYD cars I will update this with news, if there is any....

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