US CAR IMPORT

IMPORT CARS FROM AUSTRALIA

We specialize in car imports from Australia to the US by ocean and air. Our expert US based team ships over 16,000 cars worldwide each year through our facilities in California, Florida and New Jersey. We provide an unmatched door-to-door import car service from Australia using our network of trusted partners, agents, and reliable carriers worldwide.

"West Coast Shipping has consistently demonstrated reliability, efficiency, and excellent customer service in my interactions with them. I’ve been trusting them with my classic cars for years.Alex and Tak are always there to quickly answer my questions, give me a quote, or address my concerns.Shipping classic cars overseas is not a light operation, but these guys know what they’re doing."

Serge V

France

“I have shipped my car from California to Germany. I got the car to my garage with no damage, issues and with flawless service from West Coast Shipping. I would like to especially thank Monica for answering my one hundred questions that I had with not loosing her mind. This company is amazing and It's very obvious that these folks love to do what they do. Because they are damn good at it, if not the best!”

Johnny Wilde

Germany

"It took 6 months of planning to get to this point today. My motorcycles was checked in in 6 minutes and it was that simple. I enjoyed the employees there they're very helpful and have excellent customer service skills. André was very courteous and helpful and gave me a tour too."

MotoTouring Worldwide

Dream Cars. Delivered.

We help car enthusiasts import their dream cars from anywhere in the world.

The United States imports more vehicles than any other country in the world. Buying cars from Australia and importing them to the US is becoming increasingly popular due to vehicle rarity and the potential to get a good deal on cars due to a strong US dollar. The increasing popularity allows us to offer shared container service, saving you up to 50% on car imports.

Trusted by Collectors, Dealers, Auctions & Manufacturers Worldwide

Our global team works to provide safe and reliable international shipping for collector cars worldwide. With extensive experience and door to door transport options we've become the go-to team to provide international logistics support for car events, rallies, shows and auctions around the world. We are here to guide you through the import process and the complexities with importing vehicles and US Customs the NHTSA, DOT and the EPA.

We Collect The Vehicle

We arrange for the collection of your vehicle from anywhere in Australia and deliver to our partner export facility.

Open Car Carrier Transport
Enclosed Trailer Transport
Deliver yourself

porsche-956-enclosed-transport

We Clear Import Paperwork

After securely receiving your vehicle documents, our team works to clear the vehicle with US Customs and the NHTSA, DOT & EPA to clear customs.

Vehicle registration, US title, or carnet
Your identification/passport
EPA Form 3520-1
DOT Form HS-7
Letter of approval from the NHTSA
Bill of sale if vehicle just purchased

car-export-documents

We Load & Ship

Your vehicle is safely prepared and securely loaded for the journey overseas.

Vehicle inspected
Gas drained
Container block & brace
or palletized/crated for Air Freight

We Clear US Customs

We handle the US import process to legally import your vehicle in to the US.

Permanent relocation to the US
Temporary vehicle import
Duty drawbacks
Support for events, auctions, vacations and races.

zenvo us car import

We Deliver To Your Door

Once the vehicle arrives to the port or airport, we handle the unloading and can deliver to your door.

Professional vehicle unloading
Vehicle preparation
Temporary storage
Delivery direct to your door after unloading

west-coast-shipping-warehouse

Australia Car Import FAQ

The United States makes it easy to permanently import nearly any car, as long as it is 25 year or older.

If the car you are importing is 25 years and older, you are not required to conform to DOT & EPA rules as long as the vehicle is unmodified.

If your vehicle is under 25 years old, you can still import a car as long as it meets the following criteria:

Factory built race cars have no age requirement and can be imported regardless of age
Unmodified US built vehicles can be returned back to the United States
Show & display vehicles for events, testing, and other applicable use cases

You also have the option to import newer vehicles as long as they are in the US only temporarily.

Yes, we provide a complete door to door car import service from Australia to the US.

Our service is door to door, which consists of the following:

Collecting the vehicle in Australia
German car export procedures
Loading it into a container or onto an airplane
International shipping by ocean or air
US car import clearance
Unloading from the container or airplane
Delivery to your door in the US
Available car storage and vehicle preparation at one of our warehouses in California, Florida or New Jersey

Rates for importing a car from Australia can vary based on the port they are sent to, and the shipping method chosen.

Don't forget that when importing a vehicle from Australia, the cost can include:

Collecting the vehicle in Australia via open or enclosed transport
Vehicle preparation, loading & bracing for the voyage
Containerized shipping
Export fees
Import duties & taxes
Destination fees

Here is how much it will costs on average to ship a car from Australia to the US:

From Australia to NY/NJ: $9,750
From Australia to California: $6,750
From Australia to Florida: $9,750

Rates can vary based on the shipping service.

This is the duty rate for vehicles from Australia and imported to the US:

2.5% for automobiles
2.5% for motorcycles and auto parts
25% for pickup trucks due to the Chicken Tax

To import a car in to the United States you are required to provide the following documents:

original bill of lading (provided by the shipper)
bill of sale (if the vehicle was just sold)
Foreign registration, US title or carnet
Letter of approval from the NHTSA
EPA Form 3520-1
DOT Form HS-7

Our car import team will review your provided documents to ensure the vehicle can be imported.

Importing a car can take anywhere from a weeks to a month or two, depending on the shipping route, vehicle location, and documentation approval.

Typically when shipping a car from Australia to the US, the transit times are as follows:

to California: 18 days
to Florida: 40 days
to New Jersey: 48 days

Note that the transit times are based on the shipping routes, and do not include the amount of time it takes to:

collect the vehicle in Australia
deliver the car to an export facility
load the car
clear the export documents
any port delays

To import cars from Australia to the US in a container, we utilize the following ports:

Port of Adelaide
Port of Brisbane
Port of Melbourne
Port of Sydney

Yes, you can register your Australian imported cars in the US.

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.

After your vehicle arrives in the US, the paperwork undergoes a thorough review by US customs. The customs office meticulously checks for irregularities, mistakes, and any signs of negligence. If the customs officer believes your documentation lacks high-quality scans or has illegible handwriting, they may request a detailed review, resulting in a customs exam. Even minor issues, such as poor scan quality or illegible handwriting, can prompt a more in-depth examination of your paperwork and vehicle.

Ensuring your documents are clear and accurate can help avoid delays and additional scrutiny during the customs clearance process.