Cabinet Makes Order Allowing More Vehicle Types To Be Exempted From The General Rule That The Import Of Vehicles Eight Years Or Older Are Prohibited

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By Alric Lindsay

According to a publication in the Cayman Islands Gazette dated September 4, 2024, the Cabinet issued an order under the Customs and Border Control Act (2024 Revision) to broaden the categories of vehicles that are not subject to the general prohibition on importing vehicles that are eight years or older. The newly exempted vehicles include ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles, and vehicles used by disabled individuals.

The amended rule is referred to under the Cayman Islands Gazette as the Customs and Border Control (Prohibited Goods) (Amendment) Order, 2024.

The Order states:

Import of vehicles whose model year is eight years or older

4A. (1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the import of a vehicle whose model year is eight years or older is prohibited.

(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply —

(a) to an ambulance;

(b) to a fire engine;

(c) to a vehicle imported by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for use in the performance of the functions of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service;

(d) to a vehicle that is —

(i) designed for personal use on a road by a person with a physical disability, where, in accordance with the provisions of the Traffic Act (2023 Revision), that disability does not render the person unable to drive the vehicle safely; or

(ii) constructed or adapted to transport a person with a physical disability;

(e) subject to the conditions in paragraph 4, to an omnibus;

(f) to an exhibition vehicle;

(g) subject to the conditions in subparagraph (3), to a vehicle that is manufactured and assembled in North America or Europe and

that is —

(i) a classic, vintage, antique, replica or kit car or any other vehicle that is at least twenty years old; and

(ii) used for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest but not for general transportation;

(h) to a vehicle that is not constructed or adapted for use on roads;

(i) to a vehicle used for construction, road maintenance, engineering, agricultural or earthmoving work or the transportation of heavy goods or equipment including —

(i) a backhoe;

(ii) a bulldozer;

(iii) a crane truck or boom truck;

(iv) an excavator;

(v) a forklift;

(vi) a front end loader;

(vii) a lorry;

(viii) a mechanical shovel;

(ix) a tractor;

(x) a track-laying or wheeled vehicle; and

(xi) a truck head or trailer head;

(j) to a trailer;

(k) to a vehicle that is constructed or adapted for the delivery of goods or mail to consumers or addresses;

(l) to a motorcycle;

(m) to a scooter; and

(n) subject to the conditions in subparagraph (4), to a vehicle

that —

(i) for at least one year before the date of the intended importation, is owned and used by a Caymanian residing abroad for at least one year, including a Caymanian residing abroad for at least one year for the purposes of education; and

(ii) is to be imported by the Caymanian for personal use because the Caymanian is returning to the Islands to take up residence.