The new regulations for buying, selling, importing, assembling, and transferring the ownership of vehicles in Cuba are now in effect.
The package introduces changes for individuals and legal entities, opens direct importation of certain electric vehicles, and modifies several of the restrictions that have thus far governed the automotive market on the island.
The provisions were published on August 4 in the and established that they would take effect seven days later, that is, this Tuesday, August 11.
The package centers on Decree 163/2026 of the Council of Ministers and is accompanied by several resolutions from agencies related to transportation, trade, finance, and Customs.
One of the most important updates is that Cuban individuals will be able to import directly, once and without a commercial character, a fully electric car or rural vehicle. This possibility is also extended to foreigners covered by the regulations.
If the electric vehicle enters the country accompanied by a charging station powered by renewable sources capable of meeting all its energy needs, it will be exempt from taxes and tariffs.
If this condition is not met, a fixed customs tax must be paid, which varies according to the value of the vehicle: $500 for those valued at up to $10,000; $1,000 if they exceed that amount and reach up to $20,000; $1,500 for values between $20,000 and $30,000; and $2,000 when the value exceeds $30,000.
The regulation also expands the possibilities for other means of transportation: complete vehicles, engines, and certain parts and components may be imported, although the quantities and conditions depend on the type of equipment.
In the case of scooters and electric motorcycles, the entry of up to two units or one of each type is authorized. For combustion or hybrid vehicles, one motorcycle of up to 250 cubic centimeters is allowed every five years.
You will also be able to import an electric or hybrid tricycle every five years, as well as a combustion one of up to 250 cubic centimeters during that same period.
The regulation also allows the introduction of light trailers with a maximum load capacity of 750 kilograms.
Along with mopeds, motorcycles, or tricycles, full-face protective helmets will be allowed under the conditions stipulated in the new regulations.
The opening, however, does not mean that any Cuban can import a gasoline or hybrid car directly.
This possibility remains reserved for certain categories of Cuban workers abroad, including personnel from diplomatic, consular, and state business missions, cooperators, professionals, and other workers who meet the established requirements.
For several of those beneficiaries, it is required to have stayed for at least two consecutive years on the mission.
They will be able to import, just once, a combustion, hybrid, or electric vehicle with an original capacity of up to eight seats, or acquire it within Cuba through authorized dealers. Crew members of ships and aircraft will be subject to specific procedures.
The rules for acquiring vehicles within the country are also changing. Cuban individuals and foreigners with the residence categories outlined in the decree will be able to purchase new or used vehicles from authorized dealers, using payments in U.S. dollars or other convertible currencies and utilizing instruments approved by the Central Bank of Cuba.
In private sales, the buyer must declare under oath the lawful source of the funds and list the vehicles they already own.
Payments may be made in Cuban pesos, dollars, or other convertible currencies, but not in cash, and the change of ownership must be registered in the Vehicle Registry within 30 days following the transaction.
The new framework also removes the previous limit of acquiring six vehicles within five years, one of the restrictions that the Government had indicated it intended to relax as part of the transformations in the transportation sector.
Another development relates to assembly and manufacturing. Non-state legal entities will be able to participate in projects to produce or assemble vehicles, particularly electric ones, as long as they receive the necessary authorizations.
The import operations of the components must be carried out through the entities authorized for those foreign trade activities.
The flexibility also does not eliminate state control over which vehicles will be available in the market: Decree 163/2026 establishes a Motor Vehicle Evaluation Committee, chaired by the Minister of Transport, responsible for evaluating and approving suppliers, brands, and models for commercialization through import, assembly, or national manufacturing.
The new provisions replace Decree 119/2024, which supported the previous policy in effect since January 2025, and are part of the economic transformations announced by the Government in recent months, including the intention to promote electric mobility and the use of charging systems based on renewable energy.
With the implementation of the new package, several rules regarding the acquisition, importation, and transfer of vehicles in Cuba will come into effect on August 11, although restrictions will remain depending on the type of vehicle, the status of the importer, and the state authorizations required for certain operations.
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