Jamaica facing shortage of imported used cars

Jamaican used car dealers are facing challenges procuring five year old vehicles for the local market, due to increased international demand for units.

According to Lynvale Hamilton, President of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association, more countries have entered the trade and this has resulted in dwindling supplies. As a result, he told RJR News that Jamaican dealers are also having a hard time finding vehicles at reasonable prices.

“You have the more developed countries dipping into the market more and you have other countries coming into the market and making it very difficult for us to get the cars, and thus the prices are rising,” he explained.

Hamilton said there was no evidence of this situation changing soon, “and if it doesn’t we’ll definitely have to seek some assistance from the (Jamaican) government to get in cars at reasonable prices.” 

Adjust age limit    

One of the strategies being considered by the Jamaican used car dealers is to ask the government to raise the age limit for imported vehicles.

“Because other Caribbean countries and other countries who have no restriction and a six-year policy, they are also importing these cars, so if there’s anything to really revitalize the market or save the industry, it would be to get even a batch of older cars until this thing wears off,” he said.