Calculate US Car Import Costs & Taxes 2024: Import Cars from Europe to USA

The cost to import a car to the US ranges from $2,750 to $3,350 in a shared container. Importing a car to the US by airplane starts at $13,750 for shipping to major US airports including LAX, JFK, IAH, ORD, SAV and MIA.

Additional car import costs to consider include import duties, taxes, DTHC, ISF, AMS filing and more. Get a complete car import rate using our Import Calculator. Import your dream car with us today!

Vehicles typically take 35 to 91 days to sail from Europe to the US, depending on the coast they sail from.

Need your vehicle fast? Air freight delivers in just 3-10 making it the quickest shipping option.

• Collector cars
• Classic & vintage cars
• Non-running projects
• Finished vehicle logistics
• Special projects and confidential pre-releases
• Race cars
• Oversized vehicles
• Crated and palletized vehicles
• Temporary US car imports to the US for events and auction sales

Some of the most popular cars to import currently include:

• Porsche 911
• Citroen DS
• Mercedes 300SL
• BMW 2002

Yes, if your classic cars or other vehicles are over 25 years old and unmodified, they do not have to comply with DOT or EPA requirements.

You can learn more about where to buy classic cars in Europe here.

For tourists visiting the US:

• You must prove personal ownership of the vehicle (company-registered vehicles are not eligible)
• Vehicles require EPA approval before shipping
• The vehicle can remain in the US for up to 1 year

Documentation Requirements to Import Cars to USA

• Original bill of lading
• Bill of sale
• Foreign registration or US title
• EPA Form 3520-1
• DOT Form HS-7
• NHTSA approval letter

Additional Requirements by Vehicle Type:

Vehicles Under 25 Years:

• EPA emissions compliance documentation
• DOT safety standards certification
• Manufacturer's US certification label (if US-market vehicle)
• Registered importer modification approval (if non-compliant)

Classic Cars (25+ Years):

• Proof of manufacturing date
• Declaration of unmodified condition
• No EPA/DOT compliance needed

Duty Exemption Documentation:

• Proof of original US market production
• Original owner re-import documentation (if applicable)

Calculate your import costs and requirements using our US car import tax calculator.

The duty rate for vehicles manufactured abroad and imported to the US are as follows:

• 2.5% for automobiles

• 2.5% for motorcycles and auto parts

• 25% for pickup trucks due to the Chicken Tax

DUTY-FREE CAR IMPORTS APPLY IN THESE CASES:

• The car was built in USA

You can avoid the 2.5% import duty in the US only if:

• The car was originally built for the US market - here's how to find out if your vehicle was built for the US market in mind
• Or the car was originally sold in the US, remains original, and is being re-imported back by the original owner

These are some of the costs involved when importing a car to the United States from overseas. Contact us today for a bespoke quote.

• Local Transport - Transport to the port or loading warehouse via open or enclosed transport.
• Export Declaration - Documentation filed which notifies the governing body for the country of export that the vehicle is leaving the country.
• Export Charges - Loading and transport charges
• Booking Cost - Cost paid for the ocean or air freight booking.
• Customs Exams - Possibility of random customs exams upon departing overseas and arriving to the US.
• Import Duties - Calculated at 2.5% of the cargo value, unless the vehicle is a pickup truck which is taxed at a much higher 25% due to the Chicken Tax. Duties are applicable even if taxes were paid on the vehicle overseas. If the vehicle is imported for a sale in the US and is exported from the US upon sale, a duty drawback may be possible.
• HMF (Harbour Maintenance Fee) - This is a fee applicable from all US ports. Calculated at 0.125% of the value of the commercial cargo shipped through identified ports. HMF is not collected on cargo imported or transported via air.
• MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) - Calculated for all imports to the US at 0.3464 percent of the cargo value. Fee shall not exceed $614.35 and shall not be less than $31.67.

• US Customs Bond - The customs bond is purchased and non-refundable. US customs typically asks for a deposit at 10x the value of the vehicle to ensure the car is properly imported. If for some reason the vehicle is not exported, or they discover any type of issues with the value claimed they would pursue keeping that deposit. Instead of risking an enormous deposit, importers typically buy a bond that covers them. The bond can be purchased for a single car, or for a number of years.
• Cargo Damage Protection- optional cargo damage protection which covers the vehicle during shipping.
• US Port Charges - Additional destination terminal and port charges which depend on the port, terminal and carrier.
• Import Charges - Cost paid to truck the container from the port in the US.
• Unloading Charges - Unloading the vehicle from the container or crate at our warehouse.
• Local Delivery - Open or enclosed transport to any location within the United States.

There are over a dozen charges involved with importing a vehicle to the United States. We make it simple and provide a door to door service which includes most charges. 

When importing a car to the US, it’s recommended to provide the original overseas title along with a bill of sale. If an original title is included, it will be stamped upon import approval by US customs. Without a physical title, only an electronic record of the import entry will be available, which may pose challenges for registration with your local DMV.

DMV requirements for registering an imported car vary by state, but typically, the DMV will require the original foreign title, the original import documentation stamped by US customs, and the bill of sale. Ensuring you have all these documents ready can streamline the registration process.