How long does it take to ship a car to Germany?

From New Jersey or Florida to Bremerhaven: 28–40 days. From California: 49–89 days by sea, or 28–40 days via our New Jersey warehouse. Air freight runs 3–10 days door-to-door.

Can I ship my car to Germany duty-free?

Yes — under the 2026 EU trade agreement, American-built vehicles pay 0% import duty through 2029. Household-move imports and classic cars over 30 years old also qualify for reduced or zero duty.

How do military members ship a POV to Germany?

Military members PCSing to Germany can ship a second privately owned vehicle commercially. West Coast Shipping handles pickup near any base and delivery to your duty station area, including Ramstein, Kaiserslautern, Grafenwoehr, Stuttgart, and Vilseck.

Should I choose container or RoRo shipping to Germany?

Container shipping protects your vehicle from the elements and allows storing parts with the car. RoRo is cheaper but exposed. Container is recommended for valuable or classic vehicles.

Can I temporarily export my car to Germany?

Yes — stays under 6 months generally require no German registration; longer stays require temporary import status or full registration.

What documents do I need to ship a car to Germany?

Original title, bill of sale or lien-holder authorization, and passport copy. West Coast Shipping prepares the US export filing and coordinates German customs clearance.

What is the 30-year rule for importing classic cars to Germany?

Vehicles 30+ years old in original condition pay 0% duty and reduced 7% VAT, and qualify for H-Kennzeichen historic plates.

Car Shipping from the USA to Germany

Ship a Car to Germany from the USA: From $1,100, 0% Duty on American Cars

Q: How much does it cost to ship a car to Germany?

Consolidated container shipping from the US East Coast starts at $1,050–$1,800 port-to-port, plus destination fees from $600. US-built cars pay 0% import duty through 2029; other vehicles pay 10%. VAT is 19%, or 7% for classic cars over 30 years old.

Ship a Car to Germany starting from $1,100–$1,850 port-to-port, which takes 28–40 days from the East Coast. American-built cars now clear German customs at 0% import duty under the EU's Turnberry regulation, in force since July 1, 2026. On a $60,000 Corvette, that removes $6,000 in duty and roughly $1,140 in VAT calculated on top of it. Close to $7,000 stays in your pocket.

West Coast Shipping loads over 9,000 Germany-bound vehicles a year from the US, including dealers and auctions. The cars ship from our own warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey, loaded by our own employees, and sail to Bremerhaven.

Get instant rates → Wholesale rates →

Instant USA → Germany shipping rates

Confirm your rate and start shipping by completing our shipping form.

Shipping a car to Germany: the short version

Cost: consolidated container from $1,100–$1,850 port-to-port, plus German destination fees from $600. Get your exact rate.
Time: 28–40 days East Coast to Bremerhaven, 49–89 days from California, 3–10 days by air freight to Frankfurt.
Duty: 0% on US-built cars since July 1, 2026 (Turnberry regulation, through 2029). Other origins pay 10%.
VAT: 19% standard; 7% for collector cars 30+ years old under heading 9705.
Who handles it: our own warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey ship over 9,000 Germany-bound vehicles a year.

0% import duty on US-built cars: what changed in July 2026

The EU's 10% duty on passenger cars is gone for vehicles originating in the United States. The European Parliament approved the Turnberry regulation 440 to 151 on June 16, 2026, the Council adopted it on June 25, and the 0% rate runs through December 31, 2029.

The catch: origin follows the assembly line, not the badge.

Qualifies at 0%

Bowling Green Corvette · Detroit-built Viper · Wixom Ford GT · Spartanburg BMW Z3 M Coupe · Marysville-built second-gen Acura NSX

Still pays 10%

Brampton-built Dodge Challenger · Australian-built Pontiac GTO · Canadian-built 1998–2002 Camaro. No matter how American they look in the driveway.

Dodge Viper GTS-R, built in Detroit and eligible for 0% EU import duty — Every Viper came out of Detroit. US origin, 0% duty at the German border.

Not sure where your car was built?

Search by make, model, or year with our US-Built Car Finder, then confirm origin by the VIN. Takes about a minute.

Check if your car qualifies →

Proving US origin is what unlocks the rate. Our documentation team prepares the origin paperwork with every Germany-bound shipment, so the 0% lands on your customs invoice instead of staying in the fine print.

Read our full breakdown of the Turnberry deal and the cars that gain most →

How much does it cost to ship a car to Germany from the USA?

Three numbers decide your total: ocean freight, German destination charges, and taxes at the border.

Cost item	Amount
Consolidated container, port-to-port	$1,050–$1,800 average
Destination fees in Germany	From $600
Import duty, US-built cars	0% since July 2026
Import duty, all other origins	10% of customs value
Import VAT, standard	19% of vehicle + shipping + duty
Import VAT, collector cars 30+ years old	7% under heading 9705

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car secured in a shipping container — A 911 GT3 Cup strapped and blocked for the crossing to Bremerhaven.

Container consolidation cuts shipping costs by sharing container space with other vehicles: a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container is available when you want the car to travel alone. Door-to-door service adds US pickup and final delivery in Germany.

We accept wire transfers, checks, and bank deposits. We do not accept credit card payments. Read about banking fees when paying from overseas.

Calculate your shipping cost ↑

Germany shipping routes and rates · updated July 2026
Route	Method	From	Transit
New Jersey warehouse → Bremerhaven	Shared container	$1,100	28–40 days
Florida warehouse → Bremerhaven	Shared container	$1,225	31–34 days
California warehouse → Hamburg	Shared container	$1,850	40–45 days
Texas warehouse → Bremerhaven	Shared container	$1,250	24–34 days

Port-to-port ocean freight; door pickup anywhere in the US available. German destination fees from 600 EUR; duty and VAT depend on the car's origin and value. Get your exact rate in the calculator ↑

Shipping three or more cars a month? See our wholesale container rates for dealers and importers.

How long does car shipping to Germany take?

Every ocean shipment follows the same three phases: US clearance and loading, the Atlantic crossing, then customs and delivery in Germany. The departure coast decides the total. Bars share one 90-day scale.

East Coast: New Jersey or Florida warehouse → Bremerhaven

28–40 days total

Loading · 14 d

+3–5 d

Sailing · 14–21 d

US clearance & loading14 days
Consolidation, if shared+3–5 days
Sailing to Bremerhaven14–21 days

The fastest ocean route: weekly departures, 14–21 days on the water.

West Coast: California warehouse → Bremerhaven

49–89 days total

Loading · 14 d

+3–5 d

Sailing · 35–70 d

US clearance & loading14 days
Consolidation, if shared+3–5 days
Sailing to Bremerhaven35–70 days

Longer crossing via the Panama Canal. In a hurry? We can truck the car to New Jersey and cut weeks off the water time.

Air freight: any US airport → Frankfurt

3–10 days door to door

3–10 days

Door to door by air3–10 days

For cars that can't wait. Documentation drives the timeline, so early paperwork matters more than the flight.

US clearance & loading Consolidation, 3–5 days if shared Ocean sailing Sailing range, schedule dependent

German import customs adds a few days after arrival before the car is released for delivery. Shipping from our New Jersey warehouse puts a car in Bremerhaven the fastest.

How our Germany car shipping process works

Car transport

We collect your car anywhere in the US, open or enclosed, and bring it to our nearest warehouse in California, Florida, or New Jersey. Drop-off is always an option.

Container loading

Our own employees load and secure your car at our own warehouse. No third-party yards, no outside labor touching the vehicle.

Export clearance

Our team files US export documentation and the origin paperwork that qualifies US-built cars for 0% EU duty.

Delivery in Germany

Our agents in Germany handle import customs at Bremerhaven and deliver the car to your door, or you collect it at the port.

Vehicles staged for container loading inside West Coast Shipping's California warehouse — Inside our California warehouse. The people who load the container also prepare the export paperwork.

Classic cars: the 30-year rule and 7% VAT

American classic car prepared for export to Germany — 30 years old, original, out of production: 0% duty and 7% VAT at the German border.

Germany treats genuine classics kindly. A car at least 30 years old, in original condition, and no longer in production qualifies as a collectors' piece under tariff heading 9705: 0% duty and import VAT reduced from 19% to 7%. In 2026, the 30-year line sits at 1996.

Once registered, cars over 30 can apply for the H-Kennzeichen historic plate: a flat annual road tax and access to city emissions zones that newer cars can't enter.

One caution: original condition does real work in that definition. A heavily modified car or a restomod can fail the 9705 test and lose the reduced VAT, even when it's well past 30. If your car is US-built, the 0% duty holds either way.

More on the 30-year rule for Germany →

Documents you need to ship a car to Germany

For US export

Original vehicle title, or lien release letter
Bill of sale
Completed online shipping form
EIN letter for US citizens, passport copy for international citizens

For German registration

Customs clearance certificate from import
TÜV inspection certificate
German vehicle insurance certificate
Proof of ownership: title and purchase documents

Our export team handles the US paperwork and coordinates with German customs, including the US-origin documentation for the 0% duty rate.

Wholesale car shipping to Germany for dealers and importers

Dealers, auctions, and wholesale importers moving multiple cars a month get dedicated container programs from our California, Florida, and New Jersey warehouses: vehicle collection, export clearance, consolidation of cars and parts, your carrier bookings or ours, and the option to use your own import agent on dedicated containers.

Containers with vehicles bound for Germany at a US port — Consolidated containers leave for Bremerhaven every week from all three warehouses.

Explore wholesale car shipping →

Frequently asked questions about car shipping to Germany

How much does it cost to ship a car to Germany?

Consolidated container shipping averages $1,100–$1,850 port-to-port from our California, Florida, and New Jersey warehouses, plus German destination fees from 600 EUR. Use our calculator for an instant rate on your exact vehicle and route.

Do I pay import duty on an American car in Germany?

No. Since July 1, 2026, US-built cars clear EU customs at 0% duty under the Turnberry regulation, in effect through December 31, 2029. Cars built outside the US still pay 10%. Origin follows the factory, not the badge: a Detroit-built Viper qualifies, a Brampton-built Challenger does not. Check where your car was built or read our full Turnberry breakdown.

How much VAT do I pay when importing a car to Germany?

19% import VAT on the combined value of the car, shipping, and any duty. Collector cars over 30 years old in original condition pay 7% instead.

How long does shipping a car from the USA to Germany take?

28–40 days from the East Coast and 49–89 days from the West Coast, pickup to delivery. That covers about 14 days for US clearance and loading, 3–5 extra days if sharing a consolidated container, and 14–21 days sailing from the East Coast (35–70 from California). Air freight takes 3–10 days door to door.

Which US ports do you ship to Germany from?

We load Germany-bound containers at our own warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey, sailing to Bremerhaven. East Coast departures take 28–40 days pickup to delivery; California adds sailing time at a lower trucking cost for West Coast cars. Air freight departs from any major US airport to Frankfurt in 3–10 days. Germany is one of 100+ destinations on our international car shipping routes.

Can I ship a classic car to Germany?

Yes. Cars over 30 years old in original condition clear at 0% duty with VAT reduced to 7%, and qualify for H-Kennzeichen historic registration in Germany. In 2026 that covers vehicles built in 1996 or earlier. Read the 30-year rule guide.

Can I import my car to Germany duty-free when relocating?

Yes. If you are transferring your primary residence to Germany and have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months, it can enter duty- and VAT-free, provided you do not sell or transfer it within 12 months of import.

How do I register an imported car in Germany?

Pass the TUV inspection, arrange German vehicle insurance, then register at the local Kfz-Zulassungsstelle with the customs clearance certificate, original title, and purchase documents. Cars over 30 years old can apply for H-Kennzeichen historic plates.

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