Import Car to Germany

Importing a Car from the USA to Germany? Car imports from the USA to Germany start at a cost of $749 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4 – 6 weeks, depending on make and model of the car, the nearest departure port in the United States, and your final destination in Germany. Below, our 2024 car imports guide will explore everything you need to know about importing cars from the USA to Germany.

US to Germany Vehicle Import Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Vehicle Import Approval

US to Germany Car Import Costs & Time Frame

US to Germany Vehicle Import Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Germany

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Germany

Other Germany/US Shipping Options

Are you ready to get started importing a car from the USA to Germany?

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship cars from the US to Germany.

More information on the process of importing a car to Germany can be found here.

As you engage in the car import process, some of the most important questions to consider before shipping your car include:

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for import to Germany. Your actual tax rate for shipping a car is based on these details.

You should never assume your car shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. Some vehicles such as used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for newer vehicles for import into Germany. To obtain an estimate of the cost to import a car to Germany, fill out our free quick quote form.

Upon arrival of your car import to Germany, the car must be declared in Customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

Things to Consider

Applicable Import Duties & Tax When Shipping Cars to Germany

Prior to importing a vehicle from US to Germany, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with German requirements. The USA is not one of the member countries of the European Union, and anyone from countries outside the EU who wants to ship a car to Germany as a destination country needs to pay certain import duties and taxes.

If you are importing a vehicle younger than 30 years to Germany from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties as well as a value-added tax or VAT of 19 levied by the German government. There is an exception on the import duty in case your vehicle is in original shape and older than 30 years; your vehicle can then be considered as an old-timer. Please note that it will be the customs officers’ decision to waive the import duty, we have no way to influence their decision.

However, in certain circumstances you might be able to gain exemption from paying customs duties and taxes.

The amount of taxes and import duties payable when shipping a car to Germany from the US will vary and depends on the details of your shipment. To obtain an estimate of the cost to import a car to Germany, fill out our free quick quote form.

Import Car from USA to Germany can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.

Roll-On/Roll-Off – With RoRo shipping, ehicles are loaded into a vessel containing a large cargo area that resembles a big parking garage. If you are looking to reduce your shipping cost, this option tends to be more affordable as other than shipping charges, the only charges that need to be paid are port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service as the containers depart on a weekly basis.

Shared Container Service – A single container will be used to transport multiple vehicles. More fees are involved than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method as the container will have to be processed; however, these fees are divided between the multiple vehicle owners using the container. These fees include a terminal handling charge, a trucking charge, unloading charges for when the vehicle reaches a bonded warehouse, and customs clearance charges.

One downside of this method is that shipping is only possible when there are enough vehicles to fill up the container, so there might be a wait if the requisite number has not been reached.

Full Container Load – This resembles the shared container service, except that each container is limited to one vehicle. Fees, which match those that must be paid for the shared container service, are similar except that they are not divided between several clients.

Container loading offers a very high level of security. Upon receipt of the vehicle, photographs will be taken of the vehicle itself and the loading process, and the container door will be locked. The vehicle will not be accessible by anyone until arrival at the final destination when the container is opened by one of our agents. Photographs will once again be taken to document the unloading process. As the vehicle remains completely secure throughout the entire process, items can also be loaded into the vehicle and transported along with it; however, it is advisable to pack and load all items securely as we will not be liable for any loss or damage.

This shipping method tends to be faster as there are weekly departures, more than are possible with the roll-on/roll-off service.

We use only a steel loading system for added protection against loss and damage, unlike other companies that use wood ramps; this is ideal for importing classic cars.

Sourcing Vehicles – Vehicle owners wishing to sell their cars can benefit from our comprehensive list of car buyers, who source for and buy vehicles for clients located overseas for an additional fee or commission.

Other Services – We also offer car shipping services in other overseas territories and countries to include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the destination country (USA), and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car transport to Germany, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which to ship cars in the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah and more.

Destination Ports – Germany

Here are the German entry ports where you can import cars.

Before importing your vehicle to Germany, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods. CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement to import cars to Germany. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.

Motor vehicles shipped to Germany have a registration to operate on German roads. All motor vehicles shipped to Germany must pass a safety inspection (German TÜV) before registration in Germany.

In case any homologation/conversion processes need to be done to the car to get it TÜV ready we can liaise you to our partner who is sitting right in the warehouse in Bremen. This way the car doesn’t need to be transported to another location as all can be done “in-house.” With offices in both Berlin and Bremen, Germany CFR Classic can assist with vehicle inspections, help you understand how to pay import duties, and assist with other arrangements for car shipping from USA to Germany.

Importing a Car from the US to Germany
Importing a Car from Germany to the US
Car Shipping from USA to Germany
Car Shipping from Germany to USA
Cargo Shipping from the US to Germany
Cargo Shipping from Germany to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to Germany
Moving Household Goods from Germany to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

Back to Top.