Importing a Car to Austria

Importing Your Car to Austria? Car Import from the USA to Austria starts at a cost of $1,195 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4-6 weeks, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about importing your car to Austria in our 2024 guide.

Importing a Car to Austria: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Vehicle Import Approval

Importing a Car to Austria: Costs & Time Frame

Importing a Car to Austria: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Austria

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Austria

Other Austria/US Shipping Options

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your car overseas to Austria.

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

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

• Whether you plan to permanently keep your car in Austria or if it’s just a temporary move. A temporary stay in Austria will require you to purchase a short term insurance policy and transfer license plates once you ship your car
• Whether you have been the owner of the car for at least 6 months
• Whether you’re importing a new or used vehicle

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

When importing cars, you should never assume your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. Importing classic cars or used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for newer vehicles for import into Austria.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Austria, fill out our free quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval
Upon arrival of your vehicle shipment to Austria, the vehicle must be declared in Customs.

The documentation you require will depend on whether your are importing your car from an European Union (EU) or a non-EU country. When importing your car from an EU country, you will not be require to pay import taxes or duties. From an EU country, you will require:

• Purchase Invoice
• Registration certificate or any equivalent official document
• Invoice, if there has been a sale

If you are moving to Austria permanently from somewhere outside of the European Union, you will also require:

• Provide proof of ownership and value of the car
• A Certificate of Conformity to declare the car’s safety
• Completed Customs Import Declaration – Form ZBefr 2aE
• A T1 Consignment Note
• Proof of your new primary residence in Austria
• Proof that your car has been used by you for at least 6 months and it is not a new vehicle

Things to Consider

• All transport vehicles shipped to Austria must comply with the legal and technical requirements stipulated by the Austrian government. Austrian specifications cover factors such as emissions, noise and lights. Having your car converted to meet with Austrian specifications can prove costly so you should consider this in addition to the import cost.
• Before your car can be successfully registered in Austria, it must be entered into the approval database.
• Austrian law obliges any user of a motor vehicle to take out a third-party liability insurance policy or ‘Haftpflichtversicherung’ before hitting the road. You will need proof of insurance in order to successfully register your car in Austria.

Taxes & Duties for Austria Car Importing

Prior to car import to Austria from the USA, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Austrian requirements.

If you are importing a vehicle to Austria from the USA, your car will be subject to local customs duties and taxes. You will be required to pay a 10% duty on the value of the car, a 20% import turnover tax, and the standard consumption tax (NOVA or Normverbrauchsabgabe) at the time of importation.

Depending on the horse-power of your car you may be required to pay an additional road tax. This will not apply if your car has less than 24 horse-power.

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

• If your car is imported from certain countries that are not part of the EU, including Switzerland and Norway, you will be exempt from paying customs duty, provided that you can supply proof of preferential origin.

If you meet the following requirements, you will not need to pay duties and fees on your car shipped into Austria:

• Your shipped car has more than 600 km (372 miles) on the clock and you have owned it for more than 6 months.
• You have lived in your current country of residence for more than 1 year.
• You are importing your car to Austria for your own personal use

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

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

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo service) –Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This international car shipping option tends to be cheaper as other than the shipping cost, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

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

Shared container service – This method for car import to Austria requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container. While there are more fees involved to ship a car from the USA to Austria with shared container service than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your shipped vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load before import to Austria.

Full container load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your car. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other car owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when importing cars with dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

nce your vehicle reaches its destination in Austria, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the import process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when importing to Austria, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

Other services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

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

Destination Terminals – Austria

Here are the entry terminals in Austria that we can ship a car to.

Before import to Austria, the undercarriage of your car 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 before car import to Austria. 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 prior to car transport.

In order to successfully register your shipped car upon arrival in Austria, you will require the following documentation:

• Vehicle Title
• Proof of Identity (Identity Card or Passport)
• Proof of Insurance (this must be third-party liability insurance)
• Tax Confirmation document (to confirm that you have paid the relevant taxes)
• Certificate of Conformity

Additionally, if the car is a company vehicle, you will require an extract from the commercial register or business license to prove the company’s place of establishment.

You’ll have 30 days after you ship your vehicle to register it in Austria. Additional information about registering your imported car in Austria can be found here.

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

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