SHIPPING YOUR VEHICLE OVERSEAS

• Ship your vehicle 90 days before you PCS to ensure it arrives soon after your arrival to Bahrain.

• Decide between selling your other vehicles, keeping them in storage (if you’re in the Coast Guard) or leaving them with a friend or family member. There is no restriction on the age of a car you bring to the island, however, local laws prohibit the sale of the vehicle if it is older than five years.

• As per JTR Entitlement, only one vehicle is allowed per active-duty member along with their dependents during their tour.

• Electric or low-sulfur diesel cars should be stored or sold as Bahrain does not support these vehicles.

LICENSE: A valid stateside driver’s license is needed to drive your vehicle. No other local or international licenses are required to drive a personally-owned vehicle or a government-owned vehicle.

BUYING A CAR IN BAHRAIN

You have the option to buy a new or used car from dealers and private sellers in Bahrain. Buying a vehicle in compliance with U.S. specification from another military member is tax free. Be aware that vehicles sold in local dealerships are not in compliance with U.S. specification. Contact NAVSUP FLC BAHRAIN Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO) at DSN 439-4265 or email: m-ba-nsapersonalpropertybahrain@me.navy.mil for guidance.

Keep in Mind: All vehicles are required to be insured and registered with the government of Bahrain prior to being picked up from the Vehicle Processing Center. If your car is 10 years or older, you can only get liability insurance.

MOTORCYCLES

You can ship your motorcycle, but be sure to register it. Shipping motorcycles, mopeds, dirt bikes or quad bikes under 100cc to Bahrain is prohibited.

The Navy Motorcycle Rider Safety Course is a military-directed and local training requirement in order to legally drive a motorcycle as a U.S. service member in Bahrain. Please check in with either the base Safety Office or your command’s motorcycle safety representative upon arrival to verify completion of the training and/or register for either the beginner’s course (three-day class) or the refresher course (one-day class) to ensure that you are up-to-date with this requirement.

VEHICLE INSPECTION

Each vehicle is required to be inspected annually. Ensure that your vehicle always has the required equipment at all times, not just for its annual inspection.

Contact the PPSO for vehicle registration process.

What to bring to register your vehicle:

• PPSO/Bahrain customs generated documents and proof of insurance

• Local registry card (CPR)

• Registration fee (approx. $97)

Note: It’s always best to call the installation’s Pass and ID Office ahead of time to ensure you’re bringing all necessary documents. You will also need to have local insurance before being able to drive your vehicle.

The Dinar Exchange can be a “one-stop shop” for car insurance, inspection and registration (fees vary).

FUELING YOUR VEHICLE

There is no gas station on the installation, so you will have to fuel up on the economy. There also are no fuel cards or coupons. n

Welcome to Bahrain