How to ship a car from the USA to Germany

Germany has always been a popular shipping destination, and American cars have made a home in the German automotive market. If you’re getting ready to ship a vehicle to Germany, this article covers the basics of exporting a car from the USA to Germany.

EasyHaul has extensive experience in shipping vehicles overseas, check our quote calculator to get started. So, if you’re shipping a vehicle to Germany, here’s what you need to know. 

What to consider when importing a car to Germany?

Before your vehicle leaves the US, it’ll go through US Customs. When you ship vehicles with EasyHaul, we take care of customs clearance and all the necessary paperwork for you. To export a vehicle, you’ll need a valid title. Vehicles that only have a bill of sale or a junk/parts only designation cannot be exported. 

Shipping methods

There are a few shipping methods to choose from. The most popular method is container consolidation, in which your vehicle will be shipped in a 40-foot container with other vehicles. This is often the least expensive option. You can also choose to have your vehicle shipped by itself in a 20-foot container. That’s a good option for exotic and expensive cars that need extra protection.

Ports

The cheapest port in Germany is Bremerhaven. Hamburg is another popular destination. A great place to start is our guaranteed quote calculator located right on our home page.

Import regulations and tax rates

An imported car should comply with all the regulations in Germany. Before importing, the vehicle needs to be clean of foreign soils and mud according to the European Union requirements. EasyHaul takes care of documentation and customs clearance on the US side, but you will have to arrange for customs clearance at the arrival port, as well as shipping from the port to your destination.

Be aware of different tax rates for old and new cars that are imported to Germany. As the USA is not in the European Union, the cars exported from there are under a standard consumption tax. For new cars, there is a 19% VAT. A car is defined as new if the mileage is no more than 6000 km (~3730 miles) and if it isn’t older than 6 six months from the production date. If the car is older, you will be required to register it in Germany and pay all the registration costs. After you have registered the car, you have to pay motor size taxes, 2€ per 100cm3 for gasoline engines and 9,5€ for diesel-powered cars. 

There is also a way not to pay import taxes at all. You won’t have to pay import taxes if you meet the following requirements:

• you have renounced residency in your country
• you are moving to Germany in order to live there
• you will not resell the car within a year since import
• you have been a resident of any other country outside of the EU for 12 months before your arrival.

Final word from EasyHaul

Make it easier and save your time. Our company has shipped hundreds of thousands of vehicles, many of them overseas. If you need to ship a car to Germany  do not hesitate to contact EasyHaul and get an instant shipping quote or with any other questions you may have. We make shipping easy for you.