I recently purchased a 2013 Kia All New Pride through Autowini, and the car has finally arrived here in Aruba. Overall, the experience was positive, but there are a few important things that I think other buyers should be aware of.
The Good:
The purchase process was relatively easy, and the delivery timeline was as promised.
Communication with the seller was clear and to the point.
I’ve already recommended Autowini to a few friends and I’m helping them purchase their own cars through the platform.
Areas for Improvement:
The car arrived with a bad battery, which I had to replace immediately.
It also came with very little oil, and the oil was extremely dark. A basic check before shipping would have made a big difference.
The stickers and documents attached to the car used very strong adhesive. Removing the paper from the front windshield required a blade, which ended up damaging the heat-repellent film. It would be better to use adhesives that are easier to remove.
The Worst Part: Customs Bureaucracy in Aruba While this isn’t Autowini’s fault directly, it has a huge impact on the customer experience. The ship arrived on a Friday morning, but I didn’t receive the car until Tuesday at 2 p.m.
The most frustrating part was a fee called Duana Parking (Customs Parking), which charges around $4 USD per hour. I ended up paying $367 USD just for that.
In addition to that, there are several mandatory fees:
Border tax + BBO (Aruba’s sales tax), which together add up to 39% of the invoice value, and this is calculated not only on the car's value but also on the shipping cost.
VR shipping fees
Documentation fee (DVV)
Handling
Car removal, and more.
It was honestly overwhelming and much more expensive than expected.
Final Thoughts:
Autowini is a solid and trustworthy platform for buying used cars from abroad. The process and pricing are generally good. However, I would recommend:
Improving the pre-shipment condition checks.
Using better adhesives for documentation.
Offering some guidance or support for buyers in countries like Aruba, where the import process is expensive and extremely bureaucratic.
Hello there Mr Carlos, thank you for your honest feedback.
Regarding the issue you mentioned, as mentioned, cars are sold as they are and no maintenance is done before shipping, that includes batteries and engine oil levels, that is why we always recommend doing an initial maintenance as soon as the cars arrive to destination.
We commit to give the best of service to our client so your opinion is very valuable to us.
