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Import Cars to the US in 2024: US Car Imports from Europe, UK & More

With 2 decades of international logistics experience, we have shipped and imported thousands of cars and motorcycles from Germany to the US. We provide door-to-door car import service by ocean and air to the US using our own warehouses in CA, FL and NJ to ensure your vehicle arrives safely. Our team is highly experienced in handling classic and priceless collector cars imported from around the world.

Get an instant rate on car imports and import duties and taxes using our US Car Import Calculator.

No one likes surprises, here's what our car import rates include.

Import Cars to the USA

Why Choose West Coast Shipping to Import Your Car to the US?

We've imported cars for nearly 2 decades and we have extensive experience in handling priceless cars and navigating the strict US import process.  

Our door to door car import service gets your car to the US.  Cars are safely collected from any location overseas, securely loaded for their journey overseas, and overseas export customs cleared. Cars then arrival in the US through one of our own warehouses here. We have locations in California, Florida and New Jersey. After clearing import customs, cars are safely unloaded and stored until your arrival, or until local ground transport delivers the car to your door. We partner with reliable logistics partners around the globe to ensure that all vehicles are safely loaded and secured for their overseas overseas via container or by air plane. We import thousands of cars each year, and have consolidated car import service available from Europe and the UK

How To Import a Car to the United States
classic car warehouse storage

We have made it more affordable to import cars to the US using our consolidation import container service from Europe and the UK. Now you can get your hands on the never before available cars while saving on shipping costs.

How do we save you money on shipping when importing your car to the US?  Due to the large volume of vehicles we import, we can offer shared container imports from the most popular destination in Europe and the UK. With shared container service, we safely load 2 to 3 cars in a container and save you a fortune on shipping costs. We offer dedicated import container service for when the car must be in its own exclusive container. And we import cars by plane to airports nationwide.

We currently offer shared container shipping to the US from Europe and the UK. We arrange for transport from anywhere in Europe, to your door in the US.

Frequently Asked Questions about US Car Imports:

US Car Imports

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 overseas and importing them to the US is becoming increasingly popular due to their 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.  

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Extensive Experience With All Types of Vehicle Imports

We ensure the safe and reliable transport of your vehicles worldwide and hold the extensive experience needed to handle some of the most priceless cars around the world.

  • 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

 US Car Import Rate Calculator

Get a door-to-door rate to import your car to the USA instantly using our car import calculator.

What do the Import Rates Include?

We believe in making it easy to import cars to the US. We do our best to give one rate which includes everything to get your cars here, including duties, shipping, ground transport and more. Here are all of the charges included:

  • Inland pickup in Europe/UK via open or enclosed* trailer
  • Warehouse acceptance fee
  • Warehouse storage fee
  • Booking fee
  • Handling fee
  • Chassis Fee
  • Drayage
  • Block & brace
  • Seal fee
  • Humidifier fee
  • Picture fees
  • Ocean freight service
  • Mailing of documents
  • ISF Filing
  • DTHC
  • Appointment fee
  • Gate fee
  • AMS Filing
  • Release fee
  • Unloading in one of our own secure warehouses
  • 5 days of free storage at our warehouses
  • Delivery to your door via open or enclosed* trailer

*when the option is selected in the import calculator when calculating the rate.

Transit Times

  • 2 weeks to clear customs, load into a container and onto the ocean vessel
  • An additional week for shared container service
  • 2-3 weeks sailing from Europe to New Jersey
  • 5-10 weeks sailing from Europe to California

US Car Import Services:


zenvo us car import

US Car Import Laws & Regulations

25 Year Rule

Federal Restrictions

  • Vehicle must be over 25 years old
  • Original engine or EPA certified engine

State Restrictions Vary by State

  • Some states require seat belts, headlights and certain emission standards.
  • For example, California requires vehicles manufactured after 1975 to be certified to operate in the state.

Temporary Car Imports

  • For tourists visiting the US who can prove that the vehicle belongs to them. Car must be registered to the individual and not a company.
  • Vehicles still require EPA approval which must be approved prior to shipping
  • Ability to keep the vehicle in the US for up to 1 year

Race Car Imports to the US

  • Vehicle can be of any year
  • Requires EPA approval prior to shipping
  • Must be a track/race car originally built by the manufacturer (road to track conversions are not supported)
Returning US Vehicles
  • Vehicle must have originally been build for the US market
  • Vehicles shipped from the US overseas and then returned back to the US by the original owner can request duty exemption

Show & Display Import Law

The car has to meet the following criteria:

  • Production run didn’t surpass 500 examples
  • Never been offered for sale in the US
  • Must be out of production
  • Must not be a kit car or a replica

Find out more about importing cars under the Show & Display law.

Even after getting it into the US, you have other laws to follow:

  • You are not allowed to sell the vehicle without the permission of the NHTSA
  • You are also not allowed to drive more than 2,500 miles per year.

Here's the list of previously approved cars by the NHTSA under the Show & Display Law.


US Car Import Documentation Checklist

Tackling Import, EPA &  DOT Requirements

For cars less than 25 years old, the Environmental Protection Association (EPA) requires that your vehicle meets US emission standards. Take a look at this article to find out if your vehicle meets US standards.

Cars under 25 years old also have to conform to the Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. This includes safety standards, bumper standards, and theft prevention requirements. It is unlikely a car obtained overseas can meet all of these requirements, unless the same vehicle was originally made for the US market. Vehicles manufactured for the US will have a manufacturer's certification label near the driver’s side door of the vehicle, specifically denoting the vehicle as certified to meet US standards.

Race cars have no age requirement and can be imported of any year, but only if the car was originally produced by the manufacturer as a race car. This exemption is not applicable if the car is converted from a road car to a track car. It must have been a track car built by the factory. 

If your car does not meet the US car import requirements, the vehicle can only be imported by a registered importer. The car must also be modified into compliance, which can be an expensive and lengthy process. Ultimately it is up to the US Customs and Border Protection agency to approve the vehicle to enter the United States.

If your classics or any vehicles are over 25 years old and are also unmodified, then they do not have to comply with DOT or EPA requirements.

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

IMPORT DUTIES

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

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO IMPORT CARS

To import a car to the United States, the US Customs and Border Protection requires the following documents:

  • original bill of lading

  • bill of sale

  • Foreign registration or US title

  • Letter of approval from the NHTSA

  • EPA Form 3520-1

  • DOT Form HS-7

CARGO DAMAGE PROTECTION

Protect your vehicle during their import journey. Find our more about Cargo Damage Protection. Get an instant rate by using our import rate calculator.


document-handling

US Customs Clearance 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.

documents-1

Registering Import Vehicles 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.


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What Are The Costs to Import a Car?

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.  

CONTACT US TODAY TO IMPORT YOUR VEHICLE
GET YOUR RATE

About Us

We pride ourselves in safe and reliable international car shipping for consumers, dealers, collectors, and wholesalers around the world. We speak English, German, French, Dutch, Arabic, & Spanish.

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